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Loneliness and quality of life in older adults: the mediating role of depression
- Authors:
- AHADI Batool, HASSANI Bentolhoda
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing International, 46(3), 2021, pp.337-350.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
This study's objective was to investigate the mediating role of depression in the relationship between loneliness and older adults' quality of life. Promoting the quality of life in individuals is one of the main issues that is consistently emphasized by the World Health Organization. The importance of this issue doubles, especially in older ages. Many elders face new challenges in this period and do not have access to their supportive resources as correctly as the past. Service providers for older people usually concentrate on providing physical facilities for them; however, psychological factors, with the same proportion, might affect the promotion or subsidence of older adults' quality of life. Two hundred and sixty-three participants (M = 68.99 years, SD = 7; 43% females) completed self-reported measures of loneliness, depressive symptoms, and quality of life. The researchers used Structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze data. Older adults people who had a higher sense of loneliness and depression reported lower quality of life. The results also showed that depression had a partial mediator role in the relationship between loneliness and life quality. With the expansion of previous studies that showed a significant relationship between loneliness, depression, and quality of life, this study revealed that loneliness in the older adults directly and indirectly (through the incidence of depressive symptoms) lowered the quality of life. (Edited publisher abstract)
Insights into loneliness, older people and wellbeing, 2015
- Author:
- THOMAS Jennifer
- Publisher:
- Office for National Statistics
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 10
- Place of publication:
- Newport
This article focuses on older people's well-being, loneliness and some of the risk factors associated with loneliness such as living alone, housing tenure, marital status, ill health and support networks. The ONS Measuring National Well-being programme aims to produce accepted and trusted measures of the well-being of the nation - how the UK as a whole is doing. This analysis shows that older people are more satisfied with life generally and with their social networks and the support they provide. This may be due to having lower expectations due to a cohort effect or more mature perspectives but ultimately they are more content than their younger counterparts. However, the impact of loneliness on well-being is considerable, especially for the oldest old who are most likely to feel lonely and are subject to a high number of risk factors. The paper argues that the UK needs to consider how to minimise some of the impact that risk factors of loneliness has, particularly bereavement, poor health, and housing tenure. (Edited publisher abstract)
"You never get used to loneliness": older adults' experiences of loneliness when applying for going on a senior summer camp
- Authors:
- LARSSON Kjerstin, WALLROTH Veronika, SCHRODER Agneta
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 62(8), 2019, pp.892-911.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The aim of the present study was explore why the informants were feeling lonely and considered themselves to be in need of attending a senior summer camp, and how the informants were experiencing loneliness before they went to the senior summer camp. Interviews was made with nineteen older adult people (15 women and 4 men). A phenomenological inspired approach was used for the analysis of the interviews. Eight themes resulted: Hard to make new friends, Other circumstances making it hard to be social, Feel very lonely even if they lead rich social lives, Loss of loved ones, Do not want to do things alone, Friends make a difference, Do not feel lonely but need a change and Loneliness occurs at certain times. Through this analysis, the authors gain insights to better understand loneliness as a multifaceted phenomenon that is associated with both personal circumstances and social situations. Many of the informants experienced being very lonely, even if they lead rich social lives. The experience of loneliness was connected to not having anyone they can turn to in confidence or to share experiences with and the need to belong to something or the need of a change in everyday life. (Edited publisher abstract)
How much does it hurt to be lonely? Mental and physical differences between older men and women in the KORA-Age Study
- Authors:
- ZEBHAUSER A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 29(3), 2014, pp.245-252.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objective: Loneliness has a deep impact on quality of life in older people. This study compared the intensity of and factors associated with loneliness between men and women. Methods: Analyses are based on the 2008/2009 data of the KORA-Age Study, comprising 4127 participants in the age range of 64–94 years. An age-stratified random subsample of 1079 subjects participated in a face-to-face interview. Loneliness was measured by using a short German version of the UCLA-Loneliness-Scale (12 items, Likert scaled, ranging from 0 to 36 points). Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the associations of socio-demographic, physical, and psychological factors with loneliness. Results: The mean level of loneliness did not significantly differ between men and women. However, among the oldest old (those of 85 years and older), loneliness was higher in women. Depression, low satisfaction with life, and low resilience were associated significantly with loneliness, which was more pronounced in men. Living alone was not associated with loneliness, whereas lower social network was associated with a three time higher risk for feeling lonely in both men and women. Conclusions: The extent of loneliness was equally distributed between men and women, although women were more disadvantaged regarding living arrangements as well as physical and mental health. However, loneliness was stronger associated with adverse mental health conditions in men. These findings should be considered when developing intervention strategies to reduce loneliness. (Edited publisher abstract)
Happier and less isolated: internet use in old age
- Author:
- LELKES Orsolya
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 21(1), 2013, pp.33-46.
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
This paper explores the impact of internet use in old age on social isolation and on subjective wellbeing. Using a European multi-country cross-sectional dataset with over 11,000 observations, the study found that those who use the internet regularly have a lower chance of being isolated, more so for those who use the internet every day, controlling for personal characteristics such as income, marital status, gender and health condition. Thus, personal social meetings and virtual contacts are complementary, rather than substituting for each other. Internet use may be a useful way of reducing social isolation. A positive relationship was also found between regular internet use and self-reported life satisfaction, all else being equal. (Edited publisher abstract)
Quality of life in older outpatients living alone in the community in Italy
- Authors:
- BILOTTA Claudia, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 20(1), January 2012, pp.32-41.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Living alone has been associated with a number of concerns regarding both physical and psychological health. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the living conditions of community-dwelling older people and their quality of life (QOL) considered in all its specific domains. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to determine: which dimensions of QOL were independently associated with living alone; and the independent correlates of these dimensions of QOL amongst older outpatients. A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 239 community-dwelling outpatients aged 65 years and over consecutively referred to a geriatric medicine clinic in Italy between June and November 2009. The participants underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment, which included evaluation of QOL. The findings show that the QOL of older people living alone at home is similar to the QOL of the older adults living with others. Two specific dimensions of QOL were worse in older people living alone: ‘social relationships and participation’ and ‘home and neighbourhood’. Amongst the 107 subjects living alone, depression, having no caregiver, and having never been married were characteristics independently associated with a poor QOL.
Quality of life in older age: messages from the Growing Older Programme
- Editors:
- OWEN Tom, BELL Louise
- Publisher:
- Help the Aged
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 19p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The purpose is to understand the aspects of quality of life which are seen as most important by older people. This is so that care interventions can be targeted at the areas of their lives that older people themselves value most. The qualitative component has involved in-depth interviews with older people. These were aimed at finding out the key components that older people believe comprise 'quality of life' and how these are played out in their lives.
Caring for older people: loneliness
- Author:
- FORBES Anne
- Journal article citation:
- British Medical Journal, 10.8.96, 1996, pp.352-354.
- Publisher:
- British Medical Association
This article discusses the signs and effects of loneliness and the schemes and activities available to support older people who may otherwise be lonely.
The impact of intersectionality of multiple identities on the digital health divide, quality of life and loneliness amongst older adults in the UK
- Author:
- LIU Ben Chi-pun
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 51(8), 2021, pp.3077-3097.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The study measures the digital divide between digital/internet users and non-digital/internet users and the intersectional impact of multiple identities, i.e. gender, race and social status, on older adults in the UK. The analysis interviewed 9,246 adults aged fifty-five plus years in 2012 and 8,484 in 2014 in the English Longitudinal Study on Ageing. The digital health divide was evaluated both by CASP-19 (quality of life, QoL) and UCLA-Loneliness Scale with the intersectional effect of respondents’ multiple identities and digital/internet use. The results suggested a reduction in the digital divide amongst elders in the UK. Generalised estimating equations found that, amongst regular internet users having good social status, white females attained good QoL and little loneliness (CASP-19: β = 2.921, p <0.001; Loneliness: β=–0.631, p <0.001); and white and BME (black and minority ethnic) males both scored low on the loneliness scale (white: β=–0.809, p < 0.001 BME: β= –0.549, p <0.05). BME females with poor social status despite regular internet use got lower QoL and greater loneliness scores (CASP-19: β=–3.107, p <0.05; Loneliness: β=0.935, p <0.001), showing inequalities in their health outcomes. The intersectional perspective of cumulative disadvantages can help social workers better understand how the multiplicative effect of multiple identities socially excludes the vulnerable adults. Implications for research and practice are discussed. (Edited publisher abstract)
Life in lockdown: social isolation, loneliness and quality of life in the elderly during the COVİD-19 pandemic: a scoping review
- Authors:
- KASAR Kadriye Sayin, KARAMAN Emine
- Journal article citation:
- Geriatric Nursing, early cite 12 March 2021,
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) had an unprecedented effect all over the world, especially in older individuals. The aim is to evaluate the social isolation, loneliness and quality of life of elderly individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic and to map suggestions to reveal and improve the current situation. This was a scoping review. Articles since December 2019 to March 2021 published on PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Cochrane Library, CINAHL databases with the following MeSh terms (‘COVID-19’, ‘coronavirus’, ‘quality of life’ ‘aging’, ‘older people’, ‘elderly’, ‘loneliness’ and ‘social isolation) in English were included. The research, by consensus, resulted in seven studies selected for full reading, including three descriptive and cross-sectional studies, a quasi-experimental study, a pre-post pilot program, an editorial note and a correspondence. In generally, these recommendations were grouped as evaluating the current state of loneliness and isolation in elderly people, making more use of technology opportunities, using cognitive behavioral therapies and different individual intervention components. (Edited publisher abstract)