Factors Associated with Loneliness in Rural Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on Connection with Others
The spread of COVID-19 is considered to have strengthened people’s awareness of others. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced connection with others among older adults and increased loneliness. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting loneliness among older adults in rural are...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/3/484 |
| _version_ | 1797471277133332480 |
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| author | Hiyori Hanesaka Michiyo Hirano |
| author_facet | Hiyori Hanesaka Michiyo Hirano |
| author_sort | Hiyori Hanesaka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The spread of COVID-19 is considered to have strengthened people’s awareness of others. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced connection with others among older adults and increased loneliness. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting loneliness among older adults in rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on the connection with others. The target group included 932 rural Japanese adults, aged 65–74 years. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted. Valid responses were obtained from 405 participants (valid response rate: 43.5%). A multiple regression analysis was performed using the forced entry method with loneliness as the dependent variable. The independent variables were those showing significant associations with loneliness based on the univariate analysis. Sex (β = −0.139), economic situation (β = −0.103), neighborhood ties (β = −0.260), independent view of self (β = −0.213), interdependent view of self (β = 0.171), and communication through phone (β = −0.128) were significantly associated with loneliness. Connection with others and subjective views of the relationship between self and others were associated with loneliness in situations where one was more aware of the behavior of oneself and others in an infectious disease pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:46:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f884c849662b4a1ea7239ce78eb78a51 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:46:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-f884c849662b4a1ea7239ce78eb78a512023-11-24T01:22:17ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322022-03-0110348410.3390/healthcare10030484Factors Associated with Loneliness in Rural Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on Connection with OthersHiyori Hanesaka0Michiyo Hirano1Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, JapanFaculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, JapanThe spread of COVID-19 is considered to have strengthened people’s awareness of others. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced connection with others among older adults and increased loneliness. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting loneliness among older adults in rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on the connection with others. The target group included 932 rural Japanese adults, aged 65–74 years. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted. Valid responses were obtained from 405 participants (valid response rate: 43.5%). A multiple regression analysis was performed using the forced entry method with loneliness as the dependent variable. The independent variables were those showing significant associations with loneliness based on the univariate analysis. Sex (β = −0.139), economic situation (β = −0.103), neighborhood ties (β = −0.260), independent view of self (β = −0.213), interdependent view of self (β = 0.171), and communication through phone (β = −0.128) were significantly associated with loneliness. Connection with others and subjective views of the relationship between self and others were associated with loneliness in situations where one was more aware of the behavior of oneself and others in an infectious disease pandemic.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/3/484COVID-19older adultsrurallonelinessneighborhoodindependent view of self |
| spellingShingle | Hiyori Hanesaka Michiyo Hirano Factors Associated with Loneliness in Rural Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on Connection with Others Healthcare COVID-19 older adults rural loneliness neighborhood independent view of self |
| title | Factors Associated with Loneliness in Rural Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on Connection with Others |
| title_full | Factors Associated with Loneliness in Rural Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on Connection with Others |
| title_fullStr | Factors Associated with Loneliness in Rural Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on Connection with Others |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Associated with Loneliness in Rural Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on Connection with Others |
| title_short | Factors Associated with Loneliness in Rural Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on Connection with Others |
| title_sort | factors associated with loneliness in rural older adults during the covid 19 pandemic focusing on connection with others |
| topic | COVID-19 older adults rural loneliness neighborhood independent view of self |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/3/484 |
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