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