Knuutila MT, Rautiainen L, Lehti TE, Karppinen H, Kautiainen H, Strandberg TE, Öhman H, Savikko NM, Jansson AH, Pitkälä KH. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older People's Loneliness: Findings from a Longitudinal Study between 2019 and 2021 among Older Home-Dwellers in Finland.
J Nutr Health Aging 2023;
27:619-625. [PMID:
37702334 DOI:
10.1007/s12603-023-1949-2]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the change in feelings of loneliness among Finnish community-dwelling older people from before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 to during the pandemic in 2021. Moreover, we explore the changes in other dimensions of psychological well-being (PWB) during the study period.
DESIGN
Questionnaires were mailed in the 2019 Helsinki Aging Study, a repeated cohort study. A follow-up interview was carried on over the telephone during the year 2021.
SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS
A random sample of 2,917 home-dwelling older people aged 75-104 years residing in Helsinki, Finland were mailed the questionnaire. Altogether 898 participated in the follow-up.
MEASUREMENTS
Loneliness was measured using a single item question "Do you suffer from loneliness?". Other items of psychological well-being were measured: "Are you satisfied with your life?" (yes/no), "Do you feel useful?" (yes/no), "Do you have a zest for life?" (yes/no),"Do you have plans for the future?" (yes/no), and "Do you feel depressed?"("rarely or never"/ "sometimes"/ "often or always").
RESULTS
Altogether 898 people participated both in 2019 and 2021. The subjects' mean age was 83 years and 66% were women. Between 2019 and 2021, the prevalence of experienced loneliness increased among older home-dwellers from 26% to 30%. During two years of the pandemic feelings of loneliness (RR 1.79, 95% CI: 1.30 to 2.46) and depression (RR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.67) increased even adjusted with various confounders.
CONCLUSION
Considering the impact loneliness has on health and well-being, the finding of increased feelings of loneliness among older people is alarming. Actions to combat loneliness need to be taken.
Collapse