[Social inequalities in health among the elderly population: review of indicators used in Spain]

[Unwanted loneliness, health and social inequalities throughout the life cycle]

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the prevalence of unwanted loneliness in our context and its association with health from a life cycle and social inequalities perspective.

METHOD

Cross-sectional study based on data from the Health Survey of the Basque Country (n = 7.228; response rate 79%). The prevalence of unwanted loneliness, its association with perceived health and mental health, and social inequalities according to social class were analysed. To analyse the association, age-adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) calculated from robust Poisson models were calculated.

RESULTS

The feeling of unwanted loneliness affects 23.3% of men and 29.7% of women, being higher in older people and young adults, and in the most disadvantaged social classes. Feeling alone is associated with worse health, both general (PRa men 2.11, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.77-2.51; PRa women 2.10, 95%CI 1.83-2.41) and mental (PRa men 3.95, 95%CI 3.15-4.95; RPa women 3.50, 95%CI 2.99-4.12). Social inequalities in loneliness, as well as the association between it and poor health, was greater among young adults.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study have important implications for intervention in the reduction and prevention of unwanted loneliness, underlining the importance of the life cycle and social inequalities.