Qian Yiqing, Pomeroy Mary Louise, Petchler Claire M, Abshire Saylor Martha, Cudjoe Thomas K M, Ornstein Katherine A
Center for Equity in Aging, School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Center for Equity in Aging, School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2025 May 24. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbaf101.
Older adults and their family and unpaid caregivers are at risk of social isolation and loneliness, leading to adverse health outcomes. We investigated the prevalence and correlates of social isolation and loneliness among caregivers of older Medicare beneficiaries.
Our sample included 2,174 caregivers from the National Study of Caregiving IV Round 12 linked with the National Health and Aging Trends Study Round 12, representing approximately 23.9 million caregivers. Informed by stress and coping theories, we estimated the prevalence of and examined correlates of social isolation and loneliness using logistic regression including caregiver, care recipient, and shared characteristics. All analyses were weighted to yield population estimates.
About 12% of caregivers (2.8 million) were socially isolated and 27% (6.3 million) were lonely. Being male, unmarried/uncoupled, in poor/fair health, caring for a spouse/partner, and caring for an older adult with dementia was associated with social isolation. Being unmarried/uncoupled and in poor/fair health was also associated with loneliness. Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic caregivers were less likely to be lonely than non-Hispanic White caregivers.
This study provides new population-based insights into the prevalence and distinct correlates of social isolation and loneliness among family and unpaid caregivers of older adults. Given the essential roles of caregivers in long-term care for aging populations, it is critical to understand the complexities of social isolation and loneliness experienced by caregivers. Enhancing social connection and support for caregivers, particularly those at high risk, is important as our understanding of the burden of isolation and loneliness expands.
老年人及其家庭和无偿照料者面临社会孤立和孤独的风险，这会导致不良健康后果。我们调查了老年医疗保险受益人的照料者中社会孤立和孤独的患病率及其相关因素。
我们的样本包括来自全国照料研究第四轮第12次调查的2174名照料者，这些数据与全国健康与老龄化趋势研究第12轮相关联，代表了约2390万照料者。依据压力与应对理论，我们使用逻辑回归估计了社会孤立和孤独的患病率，并研究了其相关因素，逻辑回归包括照料者、受照料者以及共同特征。所有分析都进行了加权以得出总体估计值。
约12%的照料者（280万）存在社会孤立，27%（630万）感到孤独。男性、未婚/非伴侣关系、健康状况差/一般、照料配偶/伴侣以及照料患有痴呆症的老年人与社会孤立有关。未婚/非伴侣关系以及健康状况差/一般也与孤独有关。非西班牙裔黑人照料者和西班牙裔照料者比非西班牙裔白人照料者更不容易感到孤独。
本研究为老年人家庭和无偿照料者中社会孤立和孤独的患病率及其不同相关因素提供了基于总体人群的新见解。鉴于照料者在老年人口长期护理中的重要作用，了解照料者所经历的社会孤立和孤独的复杂性至关重要。随着我们对孤立和孤独负担的认识不断扩展，加强对照料者，尤其是高风险照料者的社会联系和支持非常重要。
