Covariates Independent Variable Mediating Variable Dependent Variable Covariates→DV IV→M MV→DV Direct EffectIV→DV Indirect Effect Total Effect Adj R2 (IV) (MeV) (DV) (path a) (path b) (path C’) (a × b) 95%CI (C) R2 Age group Loneliness feelings Depressive symptoms Subjective age during COVID-19 pandemic ns 0.16 ** 0.27 0.27 * 0.04 −0.003–0.14 0.35 ** 0.15 *** Gender ns Marital status ns Education Malnutrition ns 0.50 * 0.08* 0.04 0.002–0.13