INTRODUCTION

To explore gender differences in the relationship between loneliness and health-related behavioral risk factors (BRFs) among the Hakka elderly.

METHODS

Loneliness was measured by . Seven BRFs were examined. Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and tests were conducted to compare the differences in ULS-8 scores among the Hakka elderly with different BRFs. Generalized linear regression models were employed to examine the associations of specific BRF and its number with the ULS-8 scores among the Hakka elderly in male, female, and total samples.

RESULTS

Physical inactivity ( = 1.96,  < 0.001), insufficient leisure activities participation ( = 1.44,  < 0.001), unhealthy dietary behavior ( = 1.02,  < 0.001), and irregular sleep ( = 2.45,  < 0.001) were positively correlated with the ULS-8 scores, whereas drinking ( = -0.71,  < 0.01) was negatively associated with the ULS-8 scores in the total sample. In males, insufficient leisure activities participation ( = 2.35,  < 0.001), unhealthy dietary behavior ( = 1.39,  < 0.001), and irregular sleep ( = 2.07,  < 0.001) were positively associated with the ULS-8 scores. In females, physical inactivity ( = 2.69,  < 0.001) and irregular sleep ( = 2.91,  < 0.001) was positively correlated with the scores of ULS-8, while drinking ( = -0.98,  < 0.05) was negatively associated with the ULS-8 scores. More BRFs were significantly related to greater loneliness ( < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

There are gender differences in the relationship between loneliness and BRFs among the Hakka elderly, and individuals with more BRFs were more likely to feel loneliness. Therefore, the co-occurrence of multiple BRFs requires more attention, and integrated behavioral intervention strategies should be adopted to reduce the loneliness of the elderly.