Loneliness, social network size and mortality in older adults: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Loneliness and social network size have been found to be predictors of mortality in older adults. The objective of this study was to investigate whether loneliness and small social network size are associated with an increased mortality risk and to review the evidence for either network size, or loneliness that constitutes the higher mortality risk. A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE and PsychInfo in January/February 2018 and March/April 2021. Studies that mentioned outcome data were included in the meta-analysis and coded using the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale for Cohort Studies. The meta-analysis showed that both loneliness and small social network size are associated with mortality risk in older adults (Hazard Ratio 1.10 (95% Confidence Interval 1.06–1.14) for loneliness and 0.96 (95% Confidence Interval 0.93–0.99) for larger network size). Sensitivity analyses according to the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale yielded varying results. Heterogeneity was large. In conclusion, both loneliness and small social network size in older adults are associated with increased mortality, although the effect size is small. Targeting subjective and objective aspects of older adults’ social contacts should be on the agenda of preventive as well as personalized medicine. In order to be able to compare the association between loneliness and network size and mortality, more studies are needed that include both these risk factors. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10433-022-00740-z.

Loneliness in Relation to Social Factors and Self-Reported Health Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

“… 6 Thus, the focus should be on increasing the social network and the personal experience of social connections. 38 Still, instead of focusing on the number of social connections, improving the quality of the present connections should be encouraged. 39 Additionally, having few friends is associated with becoming lonelier over time, 6 and the loss of social activities increases the risk of loneliness more than does a small network or poor health.…”

Meta-Analysis the Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness on Cardiovascular Disease and Death in Elderly

“…O'Suilleabhain et al (2019), found that the elderly who experienced emotional loneliness 18.6% increased the risk of all causes of death (HR= 1.18; p= 0.029). Schutter et al (2022), in a meta-analysis study showed that loneliness and social network size were less associated with the risk of death in the elderly (HR= 1.10; 95% CI= 1.06 to 1.14). Gao et al (2021), The prevalence of loneliness varies between 25.3 and 32.4% in Latin America and 18.3% in India.…”

Love songs and serenades: a theoretical review of music and romantic relationships

“…Finally, love promotes the health and survival in both adults and their offspring ( Fletcher et al, 2015 ), and this is likely to be the case for music. Romantic love has been associated with increased wellbeing ( Esch and Stefano, 2005 ), which may be related to the general health benefits that accompany social connection ( Holt-Lunstad et al, 2010 ; Schutter et al, 2022 ). Similarly, numerous studies have examined the links between music and well-being, particularly in relation to emotion regulation ( Baltazar and Saarikallio, 2016 ), which may have an underlying social nature ( Schäfer et al, 2020 ).…”