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Burns A, Leavey G, Lawlor B, Golden J, Reilly D, O’Sullivan R. Attributions of Loneliness-Life Story Interviews with Older Mental Health Service Users. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:1133. [PMID: 38891208 PMCID: PMC11171849 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12111133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence on the prevalence and impact of loneliness, particularly among older people. However, much less is known about the personal origins of loneliness and how it persists, or not, over an individual's life course. This study aimed to increase understanding of the personal experiences of loneliness among older adults across the life course. Central to this study was giving voice to the participants and allowing them to define loneliness, what it meant to them, and how it affected them throughout their lives. This qualitative study employed 18 life story interviews with older adults attending a mental health service. We explored their personal experiences of loneliness and the situations and factors associated with loneliness across the life course. We identified three distinct typologies of loneliness: those who experienced (1) chronic loneliness since childhood, (2) chronic loneliness after a life-changing event in midlife, and (3) loneliness which remained situational/transitional, never becoming chronic. This study found the seeds of chronic life course loneliness are often determined in childhood. Early detection and intervention may prevent situational loneliness from becoming chronic. More research is needed from a life course approach to help understand and address the causes and consequences of loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Burns
- Institute of Public Health, D08 NH90 Dublin, Ireland
- Bamford Centre for Mental Health & Wellbeing, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK
| | - Gerard Leavey
- Bamford Centre for Mental Health & Wellbeing, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK
| | - Brian Lawlor
- Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jeannette Golden
- Martha Whiteway Day Hospital, Mercer’s Institute for Successful Ageing, St. James’s Hospital, D08 KC95 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Dermot Reilly
- Martha Whiteway Day Hospital, Mercer’s Institute for Successful Ageing, St. James’s Hospital, D08 KC95 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Roger O’Sullivan
- Institute of Public Health, D08 NH90 Dublin, Ireland
- Bamford Centre for Mental Health & Wellbeing, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK
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Bethell J, Andrew MK, Hothi S, Mick P, Morgan D, O'Connell ME, Phillips NA, Stewart S, Walker JD, Wittich W, McGilton KS. Does social connection mediate the association between neuroticism and cognition? Cross-sectional analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Aging Ment Health 2024; 28:482-490. [PMID: 37667914 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2023.2252369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study tested the association between neuroticism and six cognitive measures, and examined the potential mediating roles of social connection (social isolation and loneliness) among middle-aged and older adults. METHODS This cross-sectional study was a secondary analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) Comprehensive Cohort, a sample of Canadians aged 45-85 years at baseline. Respondents with data collected at the first follow-up, between 2015 and 2018, were included (n = 27,765). Structural equation modelling was used to assess the association between neuroticism and six cognitive measures (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test immediate recall and delayed recall, Animal Fluency Test, Mental Alternation Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test and Stroop Test interference ratio), with direct and indirect effects (through social isolation and loneliness). All analyses were stratified by sex, including females (n = 14,133) and males (n = 13,632). RESULTS In unadjusted models, there was evidence of associations between neuroticism and all cognitive measures, except the Stroop Test interference ratio, suggesting higher neuroticism was associated with lower scores on memory and executive function tests. In the models of these other five outcomes, there was consistent evidence of indirect effects (through social isolation and loneliness) and, in some cases, direct effects. The results are discussed in context with limitations, including the use of cross-sectional design and alternative hypotheses to explain the association between personality and cognition. CONCLUSION Among middle-aged and older adults, for both males and females, the findings suggest that the association between neuroticism and cognitive outcomes may be mediated by aspects of social connection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Bethell
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Melissa K Andrew
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Sobhneek Hothi
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Health Studies, University College, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Paul Mick
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Debra Morgan
- Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Megan E O'Connell
- Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Natalie A Phillips
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Research in Human Development, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Steven Stewart
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jennifer D Walker
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Walter Wittich
- School of Optometry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Katherine S McGilton
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Barjaková M, Garnero A, d'Hombres B. Risk factors for loneliness: A literature review. Soc Sci Med 2023; 334:116163. [PMID: 37625251 PMCID: PMC10523154 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Increasingly, loneliness is being recognised as a serious problem with detrimental effects on health, as well as on social cohesion and community trust. To effectively tackle this complex issue, a clear understanding of the phenomenon and its main drivers is needed. Over years of scientific research on loneliness, many potential risk factors have emerged and been tested empirically. OBJECTIVE This narrative review of 109 studies provides a concise summary of empirical evidence on the main potential risk factors for loneliness and presents an additional section dedicated to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD Given the very large number of existing studies, emphasis is placed on recent meta-analyses and systematic literature reviews as well as longitudinal studies. Similarly, given the large number of possible risk factors for loneliness, which may differ based on the geographical and cultural context, this review focuses on studies from Europe and North America. RESULTS The results show that demographic factors often correlate with loneliness, but in many cases the link becomes negligible when controlling for other factors. Often, physical and mental health problems are found to be associated with loneliness, and so are some psychological factors, such as neuroticism or extroversion. Loneliness also depends on the environment in which one lives, and possibly the broader socio-economic and socio-cultural contexts. Nevertheless, the review shows that ultimately everything comes down to the quantity and quality of social relationships. In particular, marital status, living arrangements and the characteristics of one's personal social network are quite consistently found to be among the strongest predictors of loneliness. These main findings about the risk factors for loneliness remained valid also during the COVID-19 pandemic. POLICY IMPLICATIONS The findings of this review have implications for policy, as understanding who the most vulnerable groups are is key for designing targeted policy solutions that tackle loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Garnero
- Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, OECD, France
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Hu C, Dai Z, Liu H, Liu S, Du M, Liu T, Yuan L. Decomposition and comparative analysis of depressive symptoms between older adults living alone and with others in China. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1265834. [PMID: 37809006 PMCID: PMC10556662 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1265834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective This research dealt with investigating and measuring the contribution of the factors that impact depression in older adults living alone vs. those living with others (hereafter referred to as "not alone") in China. Design This investigation adopts a cross-sectional research design. The dataset employed for this study comprises data from 2018 the Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Setting The research involved data sourced from China, specifically from 23 of its provinces. From the 8th CLHLS, 12,197 older adults were selected who met the study requirements. Measures Binary logistic regression models were established to delve into the primary factors impacting the depressive symptoms of the individuals. Furthermore, Fairlie models were employed to assess these factors between older adults living alone and those not living alone. This approach facilitated an in-depth analysis of their respective contributions. Results It was observed that the demographic of Chinese older adults exhibited depressive symptoms at a rate of 11.92%. Older adults who resided alone (15.76%) exhibited a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in comparison to their counterparts living in not-alone settings (11.15%). Employing Fairlie decomposition analysis, it was determined that this observed disparity in depressive symptoms, amounting to 55.33% of the overall difference, could be primarily attributed to distinct factors. This encompassed variance in marital status (20.55%), years of school (4.63%), self-reported local income status (7.25%), self-reported sleep status (17.56%), and self-reported health status (4.24%). Conclusion The resulting data indicated that depressive symptoms exhibited an elevated prevalence in older adults living alone than in those living not alone. This discrepancy was predominantly attributed to variance in socioeconomic marital status, years of school, self-reported local income status, self-reported sleep status, and self-reported health status by living alone vs. not alone. Mitigating these influential factors could help develop targeted and meticulous intervention strategies, precisely tailored to improve the mental well-being of older adults at high risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqun Hu
- Faculty of Military Health Service, Department of Health Management, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhixin Dai
- Faculty of Military Health Service, Department of Health Management, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Faculty of Military Health Service, Department of Health Management, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Suiyi Liu
- Department of Medical Engineering, Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Maolin Du
- Department of Office, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tongtong Liu
- Faculty of Military Health Service, Department of Health Management, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Yuan
- Faculty of Military Health Service, Department of Health Management, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
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Conti C, Lanzara R, Rosa I, Müller MM, Porcelli P. Psychological correlates of perceived loneliness in college students before and during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period: a longitudinal study. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:60. [PMID: 36879326 PMCID: PMC9987403 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01099-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness is increasingly acknowledged as a serious public health issue. This longitudinal study aimed to assess the extent to which psychological distress and alexithymia can predict loneliness among Italian college students before and one year after the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS A convenience sample of 177 psychology college students were recruited. Loneliness (UCLA), alexithymia (TAS-20), anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), and somatic symptoms (PHQ-15) were assessed before the COVID-19 outbreak and one year after the spread of COVID-19 worldwide. RESULTS After controlling for baseline loneliness, students with high levels of loneliness during lockdown showed worsening psychological distress and alexithymic traits over time. Suffering from depressive symptoms before COVID-19 and the aggravation of alexithymic traits independently predicted 41% of perceived loneliness during the COVID-19 outbreak. CONCLUSIONS College students with higher levels of depression and alexithymic traits both before and one year after the lockdown were more at risk of suffering from perceived loneliness and may constitute the target sample for psychological support and intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Conti
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Roberta Lanzara
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza" University of Rome, Via Degli Apuli, 1, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilenia Rosa
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza" University of Rome, Via Degli Apuli, 1, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Markus M Müller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg General Hospital, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Piero Porcelli
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
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Does loneliness lie within? Personality functioning shapes loneliness and mental distress in a representative population sample. JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS REPORTS 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
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Zaccaria D, Cavalli S, Masotti B, Gomes Da Rocha C, von Gunten A, Jopp DS. Social Isolation and Loneliness among Near-Centenarians and Centenarians: Results from the Fordham Centenarian Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19105940. [PMID: 35627476 PMCID: PMC9141482 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19105940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Social isolation and loneliness have been recognized as problems older people face due to their adverse effects on health and mortality, but very few researchers have analyzed their co-occurrence, which might be particularly prevalent and critical among the very old. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of combinations of social isolation and loneliness among near-centenarians and centenarians. We used data collected from 94 individuals aged 95–107 from the Fordham Centenarian Study. We built a four-group typology and explored associations with individual characteristics in various domains (demographic, socioeconomics, social, health, care, and psychological) with multinomial logistic regression models. Considering their combinations, the most prevalent groups were “isolated and lonely” and “neither isolated nor lonely” (29.8% and 28.7%, respectively). The “lonely but not isolated” (20.2%) and “isolated but not lonely” (21.3%) groups were also notably large. The likelihood of belonging to each group varied according to various individual characteristics, such as education, health, and personality. Social isolation and loneliness are distinct phenomena among centenarians. The consideration of their varied combination can help better assess life conditions at very old ages. Taking into account the differences between groups can facilitate the design of tailored interventions to improve the lives of near-centenarians and centenarians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Zaccaria
- Centre of Competence on Ageing, Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), 6928 Manno, Switzerland; (S.C.); (B.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Stefano Cavalli
- Centre of Competence on Ageing, Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), 6928 Manno, Switzerland; (S.C.); (B.M.)
| | - Barbara Masotti
- Centre of Competence on Ageing, Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), 6928 Manno, Switzerland; (S.C.); (B.M.)
| | - Carla Gomes Da Rocha
- Service of Old Age Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; (C.G.D.R.); (A.v.G.)
- School of Health Sciences, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, 3960 Sion, Switzerland
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Armin von Gunten
- Service of Old Age Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; (C.G.D.R.); (A.v.G.)
| | - Daniela S. Jopp
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland;
- Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research (LIVES), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Tümer A, Dönmez S, Gümüşsoy S, Balkaya NA. The relationship among aging in place, loneliness, and life satisfaction in the elderly in Turkey. Perspect Psychiatr Care 2022; 58:822-829. [PMID: 34018200 DOI: 10.1111/ppc.12855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study was conducted to determine the relationship between aging in place, loneliness, and life satisfaction in older people. DESIGN AND METHODS The descriptive and cross-sectional study has used the Aging in Place Scale (APS), the Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS), and the Loneliness Scale for the Elderly (LSFE). The study was examined the correlation among APS, LSS, and LSFE. FINDING In our study, when we examined the subscales of the APS scale, we found that the perceived social support, physical competence, and achievable social support of the elderly were at a high level. These high levels led to increased life satisfaction and decreased loneliness. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS The results obtained in this study are particularly important for highlighting the importance of aging in place in reducing loneliness, which has a negative impact on the mental health of the elderly, and in shedding light on increasing life satisfaction in the later stages of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adile Tümer
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey
| | - Sevgül Dönmez
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey
| | - Süreyya Gümüşsoy
- Atatürk Health Care Vocational School, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Nevin A Balkaya
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey
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Tsai TY, Chiu CJ, Wang TY, Tseng HH, Chen KC, Chen PS, Yang YK. Loneliness and isolated living status in middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan: exploration on stress-related biomarkers, depressive symptoms, and disability. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:177. [PMID: 35279110 PMCID: PMC8917755 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-03824-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Loneliness is a subjective feeling by which an individual perceives a lack of closeness in interpersonal relationships. An isolated living status is linked with higher odds of risky health behavior. The conflicting impacts of loneliness and isolated living status on stress-related biomarkers, depressive symptoms, and disability remain unexplained. METHODS Six hundred twenty-nine participants aged 66.0 (SD=7.3) separated into four groups: "Lonely and Isolated," "Not Lonely, but Isolated," "Lonely, but Not Isolated," and "Neither Lonely, nor Isolated," were retrieved from the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study conducted in 2000. Follow-up health indicators in 2006 included three stress-related biomarkers, depressive symptoms, and two physical disability indicators. A hierarchical regression was performed for the analysis. RESULTS Firstly, compared to the "Neither Lonely nor Isolated" group, only the "Lonely, but Not Isolated" participants at baseline retained positive associations with the stress-related biomarkers levels 6 years later (urine cortisol level (B=9.25, 95% CI=3.24-15.27), serum Interleukin-6 level (B=2.76, 95% CI=0.72-4.79) and the serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level (B=0.40, 95% CI=0.17-0.62)). However, such associations were not observed in the "Lonely and Isolated" participants. Secondly, only "Lonely and Isolated" participants at baseline were positively associated with depressive symptoms 6 years later (B=1.70, 95% CI=0.11-3.30). Finally, the associations between combinations of loneliness and isolated living status and physical disability were eliminated after adjusting the covariables. CONCLUSION Four combinations of loneliness and isolated living status were associated with different impacts on stress-related biomarkers, depressive symptoms, and physical disability. Further dynamic investigations are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Yu Tsai
- grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan ,grid.410770.50000 0004 0639 1057Department of Psychiatry, Tainan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Ju Chiu
- Institute of Gerontology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan, 70428, Taiwan.
| | - Tzu-Yun Wang
- grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan ,grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Huai-Hsuan Tseng
- grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan ,grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Kao-Chin Chen
- grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Po-See Chen
- grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan ,grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Kuang Yang
- grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan ,grid.410770.50000 0004 0639 1057Department of Psychiatry, Tainan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan ,grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Faraji J, Metz GAS. Aging, Social Distancing, and COVID-19 Risk: Who is more Vulnerable and Why? Aging Dis 2021; 12:1624-1643. [PMID: 34631211 PMCID: PMC8460299 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2021.0319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Perceived social support represents an important predictor of healthy aging. The global COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the face of social relationships and revealed elderly to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of social isolation. Social distancing may represent a double-edged sword for older adults, protecting them against COVID-19 infection while also sacrificing personal interaction and attention at a critical time. Here, we consider the moderating role of social relationships as a potential influence on stress resilience, allostatic load, and vulnerability to infection and adverse health outcomes in the elderly population. Understanding the mechanisms how social support enhances resilience to stress and promotes mental and physical health into old age will enable new preventive strategies. Targeted social interventions may provide effective relief from the impact of COVID-19-related isolation and loneliness. In this regard, a pandemic may also offer a window of opportunity for raising awareness and mobilizing resources for new strategies that help build resilience in our aging population and future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamshid Faraji
- 1Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada.,2Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Gerlinde A S Metz
- 1Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
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Yu R, Leung G, Chan J, Yip BHK, Wong S, Kwok T, Woo J. Neighborhood Social Cohesion Associates with Loneliness Differently among Older People According to Subjective Social Status. J Nutr Health Aging 2021; 25:41-47. [PMID: 33367461 DOI: 10.1007/s12603-020-1496-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine whether neighborhood social cohesion can alleviate the negative impact of low subjective social status on feelings of loneliness. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Community, Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS Older people who participated in a cohort study on osteoporosis and general health in Hong Kong (MrOs study). METHODS Data were sourced from the 14-year follow-up data of the MrOs study. Loneliness was measured using the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Neighborhood social cohesion was measured by the Hong Kong version of Neighborhood Cohesion Instrument. Linear regression models were used to examine the associations between neighborhood social cohesion and loneliness, controlled for age, sex, marital status, educational level, lifestyle, number of diseases, and maximum lifetime income. The analyses were stratified by subjective social status as measured by a 10-rung self-anchoring scale. RESULTS 1,037 participants with a mean age of 83 years were included in the study, of whom 72%, 83%, and 64% were classified as at risk of overall loneliness, emotional loneliness, and social loneliness, respectively. Those who were classified as at risk of overall loneliness reported lower subjective social status and had lower levels of neighborhood social cohesion. Linear regression models showed that higher levels of neighborhood social cohesion were associated with lower levels of overall and social loneliness. Stratified analyses showed that the associations between neighborhood social cohesion and loneliness vary across subjective social status groups. Among those with low/middle social status ranking, higher levels of neighborhood social cohesion were associated with lower overall (low-ranking B=-0.111, p=0.001; middle-ranking B=-0.057, p=0.026) and social (low-ranking B=-0.093, p<0.001; middle-ranking B=-0.073, p<0.001) loneliness scores. Among those with high ranking, higher levels of neighborhood social cohesion were associated with lower overall (B=-0.099, p=0.041) and emotional (B=-0.056, p=0.017) loneliness scores, but the associations became insignificant when controlling for maximum lifetime income. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Neighborhood social cohesion may operate differently in different social ranking groups. Interventions to alleviate feelings of loneliness should be subjective social status specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Yu
- Ruby Yu, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China., Tel: (852) 3943 5142, Fax: (852) 2637 9215 E-mail:
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