TABLE 3.

Hierarchical regression analyses for changes in loneliness predicting changes in physical health and health literacy related outcomes (N = 607)

Outcome variables	Model 1		Model 2		Model 3		Model 4 (predictor ‐ change in loneliness)
	β	p	β	p	β	p	β [95% confidence interval]	p
Physical health outcomes
Weight (Kilograms)	0.06	0.18	0.11	0.01	0.02	0.58	0.02 [−0.03, 0.06]	0.75
Body mass index (Kilogram/metre 2)	0.01	0.91	0.10	0.02	0.03	0.52	0.01 [0.00, 0.03]	0.78
Somatic health (PHQ)	−0.26	<0.001	0.22	<0.001	<0.001	0.99	0.11 [0.01, 0.20]	0.01*
Perceived general health	−0.42	<0.001	−0.08	0.030	0.007	0.83	−0.08 [−0.09, −0.07]	0.04*
Sleep (ISI)	−0.40	<0.001	0.14	<0.001	−0.06	0.06	0.11[0.06, 0.16]	0.006**
Diet (DQT)	−0.32	<0.001	−0.09	0.03	0.13	0.001	−0.11 [−0.20, −0.01))	0.02*
Alcohol use	−0.41	<0.001	0.04	0.31	0.09	0.02	−0.04 [−0.10, 0.02]	0.40
Physical activity	−0.71	<0.001	0.02	0.44	0.03	0.30	0.04 [0.00, 0.07]	0.30
Health literacy scales
Feeling understood and supported by healthcare providers	−0.28	<0.001	0.002	0.97	0.02	0.69	0.06 [0.06, 0.06]	0.19
Having sufficient information to manage my health	−0.25	<0.001	−0.006	0.89	−0.02	0.65	−0.03 [−0.04, −0.03]	0.49
Actively managing my health	−0.25	<0.001	−0.029	0.47	0.03	0.41	−0.06 [−0.06, −0.05]	0.22
Social support for health	−0.10	0.01	−0.02	0.69	0.11	0.01	−0.18 [−0.18, −0.17]	<0.001***
Appraisal of health information	−0.32	<0.001	0.01	0.81	−0.04	0.28	0.07 [0.07, 0.07]	0.12
Ability to actively engage with healthcare providers	−0.06	0.15	−0.11	0.009	0.19	<0.001	−0.002 [−0.01, 0.00]	0.96
Navigating the healthcare system	−0.94	0.02	−0.009	0.82	0.15	<0.001	−0.04 [−0.04, −0.04]	0.41
Ability to find good health information	−0.15	<0.001	−0.07	0.09	0.06	0.19	0.10 [0.09, 0.10]	0.04*
Understand health information well enough to know what to do	−0.09	0.04	−0.01	0.77	0.06	0.16	0.10 [0.10, 0.11]	0.03*

Note: Hierarchical Multiple Regression analyses results. β = Standardised regression parameter estimates. β values specified in the table are for the last predictor/control variable entered in each model (italicised here). Predictors entered: Model 1 – Age, gender, pre COVID‐19 scores for the dependent/outcome variable; Model 2 – Age, gender, pre COVID‐19 scores for the dependent variable, post onset of pandemic depressive symptomology, change in social anxiety; Model 3 ‐ Age, gender, pre COVID‐19 scores for the outcome variable, post onset of pandemic depressive symptomology, change in social anxiety, change in social isolation; Model 4 ‐ Age, gender, pre COVID‐19 scores for the dependent variable, post onset of pandemic depressive symptomology, change in social anxiety, change in social isolation, change in loneliness. Significant p‐values are bolded only for unique contribution of loneliness (Model 4); *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 (two‐tailed tests).