Lim Michelle H, Halim Nicole, Palmer Robert, Moss Tim J, von Saldern Simon, Marshall Bernie, Smith Ben J
Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
Healthy Male, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Health Promot J Austr. 2025 Oct;36(4):e70090. doi: 10.1002/hpja.70090.
Masculinity norms and risky behaviours are often identified as drivers of poorer health among men, and one underlying factor that is increasingly found to be important is loneliness. The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of loneliness in Australian men and its relationship with preventive health capabilities.
A national cross-sectional survey of men aged 18 years and over (N = 1282) was conducted. Levels of loneliness (low, moderate, and severe) were stratified by socio-demographic and health status characteristics. Multivariable modelling was used to examine relationships between severe loneliness and prevention knowledge and attitudes, health literacy, and health empowerment.
The prevalence of moderate and severe loneliness was 27.2% and 15.8%, respectively. Severe loneliness was mostly reported by men in middle adulthood, without a partner, of low socioeconomic status, working in sales or service occupations, or living with a disability or mental health condition. Men with severe loneliness were less likely to have positive attitudes towards preventive care, including colon cancer screening, visiting their general practitioner, blood pressure checks, skin checks, and prostate cancer screening. They also showed lower health literacy and lower health empowerment compared to others.
Loneliness at a moderate or severe level is prevalent among Australian men, with severe loneliness strongly related to important prerequisites for preventive health action. SO WHAT?: The quality of men's relationships should be given higher priority in strategies to engage and support men to prevent disease and injury, and maintain wellbeing across the life course.
男性气质规范和危险行为通常被认为是导致男性健康状况较差的驱动因素，而越来越被发现重要的一个潜在因素是孤独感。本研究的目的是描述澳大利亚男性中孤独感的患病率及其与预防健康能力的关系。
对18岁及以上的男性进行了一项全国性横断面调查（N = 1282）。孤独感水平（低、中、高）按社会人口统计学和健康状况特征进行分层。采用多变量模型来研究严重孤独感与预防知识和态度、健康素养以及健康赋权之间的关系。
中度和重度孤独感的患病率分别为27.2%和15.8%。重度孤独感主要在中年男性中报告，这些男性没有伴侣、社会经济地位低、从事销售或服务职业，或患有残疾或心理健康问题。有严重孤独感的男性对预防性护理（包括结肠癌筛查、看全科医生、血压检查、皮肤检查和前列腺癌筛查）持积极态度的可能性较小。与其他人相比，他们的健康素养和健康赋权也较低。
中度或重度孤独感在澳大利亚男性中普遍存在，重度孤独感与预防健康行动的重要前提密切相关。那么该怎么做呢？：在吸引和支持男性预防疾病和伤害以及在整个生命过程中维持健康的策略中，应更加重视男性人际关系的质量。
