Loneliness, Social Networks, and Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Countries.
OBJECTIVE:It is widely recognized that social networks and loneliness have effects on health. The present study assesses the differential association that the components of the social network and the subjective perception of loneliness have with health, and analyzes whether this association is diffe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2016-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4711964?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1811320436275806208 |
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| author | Laura Alejandra Rico-Uribe Francisco Félix Caballero Beatriz Olaya Beata Tobiasz-Adamczyk Seppo Koskinen Matilde Leonardi Josep Maria Haro Somnath Chatterji José Luis Ayuso-Mateos Marta Miret |
| author_facet | Laura Alejandra Rico-Uribe Francisco Félix Caballero Beatriz Olaya Beata Tobiasz-Adamczyk Seppo Koskinen Matilde Leonardi Josep Maria Haro Somnath Chatterji José Luis Ayuso-Mateos Marta Miret |
| author_sort | Laura Alejandra Rico-Uribe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | OBJECTIVE:It is widely recognized that social networks and loneliness have effects on health. The present study assesses the differential association that the components of the social network and the subjective perception of loneliness have with health, and analyzes whether this association is different across different countries. METHODS:A total of 10 800 adults were interviewed in Finland, Poland and Spain. Loneliness was assessed by means of the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Individuals' social networks were measured by asking about the number of members in the network, how often they had contacts with these members, and whether they had a close relationship. The differential association of loneliness and the components of the social network with health was assessed by means of hierarchical linear regression models, controlling for relevant covariates. RESULTS:In all three countries, loneliness was the variable most strongly correlated with health after controlling for depression, age, and other covariates. Loneliness contributed more strongly to health than any component of the social network. The relationship between loneliness and health was stronger in Finland (|β| = 0.25) than in Poland (|β| = 0.16) and Spain (|β| = 0.18). Frequency of contact was the only component of the social network that was moderately correlated with health. CONCLUSIONS:Loneliness has a stronger association with health than the components of the social network. This association is similar in three different European countries with different socio-economic and health characteristics and welfare systems. The importance of evaluating and screening feelings of loneliness in individuals with health problems should be taken into account. Further studies are needed in order to be able to confirm the associations found in the present study and infer causality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:59:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4014b06ca84d4777b557e3a4dcdf0679 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:59:26Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-4014b06ca84d4777b557e3a4dcdf06792022-12-22T02:45:57ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032016-01-01111e014526410.1371/journal.pone.0145264Loneliness, Social Networks, and Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Countries.Laura Alejandra Rico-UribeFrancisco Félix CaballeroBeatriz OlayaBeata Tobiasz-AdamczykSeppo KoskinenMatilde LeonardiJosep Maria HaroSomnath ChatterjiJosé Luis Ayuso-MateosMarta MiretOBJECTIVE:It is widely recognized that social networks and loneliness have effects on health. The present study assesses the differential association that the components of the social network and the subjective perception of loneliness have with health, and analyzes whether this association is different across different countries. METHODS:A total of 10 800 adults were interviewed in Finland, Poland and Spain. Loneliness was assessed by means of the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Individuals' social networks were measured by asking about the number of members in the network, how often they had contacts with these members, and whether they had a close relationship. The differential association of loneliness and the components of the social network with health was assessed by means of hierarchical linear regression models, controlling for relevant covariates. RESULTS:In all three countries, loneliness was the variable most strongly correlated with health after controlling for depression, age, and other covariates. Loneliness contributed more strongly to health than any component of the social network. The relationship between loneliness and health was stronger in Finland (|β| = 0.25) than in Poland (|β| = 0.16) and Spain (|β| = 0.18). Frequency of contact was the only component of the social network that was moderately correlated with health. CONCLUSIONS:Loneliness has a stronger association with health than the components of the social network. This association is similar in three different European countries with different socio-economic and health characteristics and welfare systems. The importance of evaluating and screening feelings of loneliness in individuals with health problems should be taken into account. Further studies are needed in order to be able to confirm the associations found in the present study and infer causality.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4711964?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Laura Alejandra Rico-Uribe Francisco Félix Caballero Beatriz Olaya Beata Tobiasz-Adamczyk Seppo Koskinen Matilde Leonardi Josep Maria Haro Somnath Chatterji José Luis Ayuso-Mateos Marta Miret Loneliness, Social Networks, and Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Countries. PLoS ONE |
| title | Loneliness, Social Networks, and Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Countries. |
| title_full | Loneliness, Social Networks, and Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Countries. |
| title_fullStr | Loneliness, Social Networks, and Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Countries. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Loneliness, Social Networks, and Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Countries. |
| title_short | Loneliness, Social Networks, and Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Countries. |
| title_sort | loneliness social networks and health a cross sectional study in three countries |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4711964?pdf=render |
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