Loneliness in Relation to Social Factors and Self-Reported Health Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
Background: Loneliness is described as a public health problem and can be both a consequence of aging and a cause of ill health. Lonely older adults tend to have difficulties making new social connections, essential in reducing loneliness. Loneliness often varies over time, but established lonelines...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Primary Care & Community Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319231198644 |
| _version_ | 1797687792861446144 |
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| author | Anna Axén Elin Taube Johan Sanmartin Berglund Lisa Skär |
| author_facet | Anna Axén Elin Taube Johan Sanmartin Berglund Lisa Skär |
| author_sort | Anna Axén |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Loneliness is described as a public health problem and can be both a consequence of aging and a cause of ill health. Lonely older adults tend to have difficulties making new social connections, essential in reducing loneliness. Loneliness often varies over time, but established loneliness tends to persist. Maintaining good health is fundamental throughout the life course. Social connections change with aging, which can contribute to loneliness. Aim: This study aimed to investigate loneliness in relation to social factors and self-reported health among older adults. Method: A cross-sectional research design was used based on data from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care, Blekinge (SNAC-B), from February 2019 to April 2021. Statistical analysis consisted of descriptive and inferential analysis. Results: Of n = 394 participants, 31.7% (n = 125) stated loneliness. Close emotional connections were necessary for less loneliness. Loneliness was more common among those who did not live with their spouse or partner and met more rarely. Furthermore, seeing grandchildren and neighbors less often increased loneliness, and a more extensive social network decreased loneliness. Conclusion: This study underlined the importance of social connections and having someone to share a close, emotional connection with to reduce loneliness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:22:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2a515934d125400a930d8930ddb938c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-1327 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:22:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Primary Care & Community Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-2a515934d125400a930d8930ddb938c32023-09-13T01:34:00ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Primary Care & Community Health2150-13272023-09-011410.1177/21501319231198644Loneliness in Relation to Social Factors and Self-Reported Health Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional StudyAnna Axén0Elin Taube1Johan Sanmartin Berglund2Lisa Skär3Malmö University, Malmö, SwedenMalmö University, Malmö, SwedenBlekinge Institute of Technology, Karlskrona, SwedenBlekinge Institute of Technology, Karlskrona, SwedenBackground: Loneliness is described as a public health problem and can be both a consequence of aging and a cause of ill health. Lonely older adults tend to have difficulties making new social connections, essential in reducing loneliness. Loneliness often varies over time, but established loneliness tends to persist. Maintaining good health is fundamental throughout the life course. Social connections change with aging, which can contribute to loneliness. Aim: This study aimed to investigate loneliness in relation to social factors and self-reported health among older adults. Method: A cross-sectional research design was used based on data from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care, Blekinge (SNAC-B), from February 2019 to April 2021. Statistical analysis consisted of descriptive and inferential analysis. Results: Of n = 394 participants, 31.7% (n = 125) stated loneliness. Close emotional connections were necessary for less loneliness. Loneliness was more common among those who did not live with their spouse or partner and met more rarely. Furthermore, seeing grandchildren and neighbors less often increased loneliness, and a more extensive social network decreased loneliness. Conclusion: This study underlined the importance of social connections and having someone to share a close, emotional connection with to reduce loneliness.https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319231198644 |
| spellingShingle | Anna Axén Elin Taube Johan Sanmartin Berglund Lisa Skär Loneliness in Relation to Social Factors and Self-Reported Health Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study Journal of Primary Care & Community Health |
| title | Loneliness in Relation to Social Factors and Self-Reported Health Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Loneliness in Relation to Social Factors and Self-Reported Health Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Loneliness in Relation to Social Factors and Self-Reported Health Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Loneliness in Relation to Social Factors and Self-Reported Health Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Loneliness in Relation to Social Factors and Self-Reported Health Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | loneliness in relation to social factors and self reported health among older adults a cross sectional study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319231198644 |
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