Social and Emotional Loneliness among Older People Living in Nursing Homes in Spain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

(1) Background: Loneliness, little studied in Nursing Homes (NHs), can affect physical and mental health. We aimed to verify the prevalence of loneliness in 5 NHs and its associated factors. (2) Methods: Cross-sectional study. Older adults aged 65 or over with preserved cognitive status were included. The De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale was used to assess overall, social, and emotional loneliness; sociodemographic and health-related variables were collected. The chi-square (or Fisher’s) test and logistic regression were used for bivariate and multivariate analysis respectively. (3) Results: The final sample consisted of 65 participants (81.5% female) with a mean age of 84±7.13. Prevalence of overall loneliness was 70.7% (95%CI:58.2-81.4), social loneliness 44.6% (95% CI: 33.1-56.6) and emotional loneliness 46.2% (95% CI: 34.5–58.1). Overall loneliness was associated with lower perceived quality of life (Odds Ratio-OR= 5.52, 95% CI:1.25-24.38) and NH with state subsidized places (OR=0.19, 95% CI: 0.05-0.74); social loneliness with having 0-1 children (OR=0.25, 95% CI: 0.08-0.77), and emotional loneliness with depression (OR=4.54, 95% CI: 1.28-16.08) and urinary incontinence (UI) (OR=4.65, 95% CI: 1.23-17.52). (4) Conclusions: Loneliness was present in almost 71% of residents and was associated with the type of NH and poorer quality of life, emotional loneliness with depression and UI and social loneliness with having less than 2 children.

The Buffering Role of Self-compassion in the Association Between Loneliness with Depressive Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study Among Older Adults Living in Residential Care Homes During COVID-19

“…The findings of this study amplify previous evidence that loneliness is a critical predictor of depressive symptoms in older adults (Berg-Weger & Morley, 2020). Loneliness is a major mental consequence of COVID-19 and a viable risk factor for depressive symptoms among older adults living in RCHs (Molas-tuneu et al, 2022). During COVID-19, higher loneliness levels are associated with an excessively high risk of exacerbated depressive symptoms (Liu et al, 2021;Zhao et al, 2019).…”

A Comparative Study of Loneliness in Older Adults Based on Place of Residence in Indonesia

“…20 %-34 % of older people in China, Europe, Latin America, and the United States of America are lonely (12). An amount of 70,8 % of institutionalized older people in the Osona region is suffered loneliness (13), and 60 % of the older adult who lives alone at home experience loneliness (14). Furthermore, it creates a sense of alienation and decreases meaningful relationships with others due to dissatisfaction during social interaction.…”