Frailty Research Organized Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 10;19(24):16622. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192416622.
Social determinants have a major influence on individuals' health, and among them, loneliness has an important impact on the health of the elderly.
The aims were to determine loneliness and its social and emotional components in a sample of elderly people and to assess its prevalence and associations with sociodemographic variables.
Analytical, cross-sectional, observational research was carried out based on a population over 60 years of age in Valencia (Spain). Loneliness was assessed with the De Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale.
Five-hundred and thirty community-dwelling individuals participated. The mean age of the sample was 72.7 years (84.2% women); 36.2% suffered from moderate loneliness and 6.6% suffered from extreme loneliness. The sociodemographic variables most significantly related to loneliness were being single, separated, or divorced ( < 0.01). Among widowers, loneliness was inversely associated with years of widowhood ( < 0.01). Having sons/daughters was a significant protective factor ( < 0.05), while having grandchildren or siblings did not have a significant influence. The ability to walk and smartphone and video call use were not associated with loneliness.
There is a high prevalence of unwanted loneliness in community-dwelling individuals, and some social factors play an important role. Interventions against loneliness among older people are a priority for welfare and public health.
社会决定因素对个人健康有重大影响，其中孤独感对老年人健康有重要影响。
旨在确定老年人样本中的孤独感及其社会和情感成分，并评估其流行程度及其与社会人口学变量的关联。
基于瓦伦西亚（西班牙）的一个 60 岁以上人群进行了分析性、横断面、观察性研究。孤独感采用 Jong-Gierveld 孤独量表进行评估。
共有 530 名社区居住者参与了研究。样本的平均年龄为 72.7 岁（84.2%为女性）；36.2%的人患有中度孤独感，6.6%的人患有极度孤独感。与孤独感最显著相关的社会人口学变量是单身、分居或离婚（<0.01）。在丧偶者中，孤独感与丧偶年限呈负相关（<0.01）。有儿子/女儿是一个显著的保护因素（<0.05），而有孙子孙女或兄弟姐妹则没有显著影响。行走能力以及使用智能手机和视频通话与孤独感无关。
社区居住者中存在较高比例的不想要的孤独感，一些社会因素起着重要作用。针对老年人孤独感的干预措施是福利和公共卫生的优先事项。
