Social and Emotional Loneliness in Older Community Dwelling-Individuals: The Role of Socio-Demographics

Abstract

Background: Social determinants have a major influence on individuals’ health, and among them, loneliness has an important impact on the health of the elderly. Objectives: The aims were to determine loneliness and its social and emotional components in a sample of elderly people and to assess its prevalence and associations with sociodemographic variables. Methods: Analytical, cross-sectional, observational research was carried out based on a population over 60 years of age in Valencia (Spain). Loneliness was assessed with the De Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Results: Five-hundred and thirty community-dwelling individuals participated. The mean age of the sample was 72.7 years (84.2% women); 36.2% suffered from moderate loneliness and 6.6% suffered from extreme loneliness. The sociodemographic variables most significantly related to loneliness were being single, separated, or divorced (p < 0.01). Among widowers, loneliness was inversely associated with years of widowhood (p < 0.01). Having sons/daughters was a significant protective factor (p < 0.05), while having grandchildren or siblings did not have a significant influence. The ability to walk and smartphone and video call use were not associated with loneliness. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of unwanted loneliness in community-dwelling individuals, and some social factors play an important role. Interventions against loneliness among older people are a priority for welfare and public health.

Loneliness among elderly people as a public health threat

“…The intensity of loneliness can be objectively measured and compared across individuals using objective tools, such as the university of california Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (uLS-8) [9]. Although loneliness is steeply increasing among young people [10], it most common problem among the elderly, where it affects about one in three [11] -particularly females, widows, and divorcees who now live alone and did not establish friendships earlier in life, as well as people discriminated against because of a health condition that is visible or known to their environment [12]. having offspring has a protective effect against loneliness, and the negative effects among the widowed tend to decrease with years of widowhood [11].…”

“…Although loneliness is steeply increasing among young people [10], it most common problem among the elderly, where it affects about one in three [11] -particularly females, widows, and divorcees who now live alone and did not establish friendships earlier in life, as well as people discriminated against because of a health condition that is visible or known to their environment [12]. having offspring has a protective effect against loneliness, and the negative effects among the widowed tend to decrease with years of widowhood [11]. Lonely old people are deprived of the proven benefits of intergenerational face-to-face contact, with human physical and mental health, social skills, and relationships [13].…”

“…Loneliness-related pathologies tend to intensify each other. Loneliness among the elderly is not significantly lessened by smartphone or video calls [11], but the Internet can limit social isolation, help form new social connections, and possibly also provide social support [27]. The perceived loneliness of elderly people who used mobile Internet can be decreased by a third compared to those who do not [28].…”

Servicios de ayuda en el hogar en Galicia, ¿un recurso para intervenir en la soledad?

“…Al igual que en otros trabajos, las personas, con el paso de los años, podrían ser más vulnerables como consecuencia de potenciales cambios y pérdidas asociados a la edad 20 . En este trabajo, la soledad es un sentimiento frecuente entre las personas usuarias de los servicios de ayuda en el hogar, mayor incluso que entre quienes no precisan de este servicio [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] .…”

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Immobilized Lifestyle of Institutionalized Older Persons: An Empirical Study

“…The latter is often experienced by older persons whose partners have died, causing them to live alone and lack reliable relationships with others. Regardless of its specifics, loneliness has negative consequences for both the mental and the physical health of older persons, manifesting in depression, increased stress levels, and sudden mood changes [28]. Thus, loneliness, defined as an unpleasant subjective state of sensing a discrepancy between the desired amount of affection or emotional support and the amount received, is an effect of social isolation prevalent among older persons [29].…”