Loneliness, Social Networks, and Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Countries

Abstract

ObjectiveIt is widely recognized that social networks and loneliness have effects on health. The present study assesses the differential association that the components of the social network and the subjective perception of loneliness have with health, and analyzes whether this association is different across different countries.MethodsA total of 10 800 adults were interviewed in Finland, Poland and Spain. Loneliness was assessed by means of the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Individuals’ social networks were measured by asking about the number of members in the network, how often they had contacts with these members, and whether they had a close relationship. The differential association of loneliness and the components of the social network with health was assessed by means of hierarchical linear regression models, controlling for relevant covariates.ResultsIn all three countries, loneliness was the variable most strongly correlated with health after controlling for depression, age, and other covariates. Loneliness contributed more strongly to health than any component of the social network. The relationship between loneliness and health was stronger in Finland (|β| = 0.25) than in Poland (|β| = 0.16) and Spain (|β| = 0.18). Frequency of contact was the only component of the social network that was moderately correlated with health.ConclusionsLoneliness has a stronger association with health than the components of the social network. This association is similar in three different European countries with different socio-economic and health characteristics and welfare systems. The importance of evaluating and screening feelings of loneliness in individuals with health problems should be taken into account. Further studies are needed in order to be able to confirm the associations found in the present study and infer causality.

Patterns of attendance to health checks in a municipality setting: the Danish ‘Check Your Health Preventive Program’

“…People living alone do not have the same amounts of contacts to the rest of the society (as for instance people living together with friends or family). Poor social support has been found to be associated with a lower participation rate (Hoebel et al, 2014) and loneliness and living alone is (together with poor social network) associated with poorer health status (Rico-Uribe et al, 2016). Together with our positive finding of inviting spouses together, this suggests that other ways of recruiting people, for instance through social networks (family, friends, clubs, societies, or at work) might work as a way of increasing participation rate in health checks.…”

Loneliness and depression in the elderly: the role of social network

“…Loneliness has been defined as a discrepancy between desired and real social relations [1] and is associated with decreases in health status and quality of life [2].…”

Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Health Behaviors at Older Ages: Longitudinal Cohort Study

“…Social isolation can be defined as a paucity of social contacts, while loneliness is described as the subjective experience of social isolation. Both have been associated with increased risks for poor self-reported health [4][5][6], depressive symptoms [7,8], cognitive decline [9][10][11], coronary heart disease and stroke [12,13], and all-cause mortality [14][15][16] among older men and women. Both are thought to influence health outcomes through direct biological mechanisms, as evidenced by their independent associations with increased inflammatory and stress biomarkers, as well as through health-related behavioral mechanisms [1,[17][18][19][20][21][22].…”