Loneliness and mental health in a representative sample of community-dwelling Spanish older adults

The Journal of Psychology
Andrés LosadaEmiliano Rodríguez-Sánchez

Abstract

Research seems to support loneliness as a risk factor for mental health problems in the elderly. Most studies analyzing the effects of loneliness on older adults' mental health have relied on convenience samples. In this study, the prevalence and predictors of feelings of loneliness were studied in a representative sample of 272 community-dwelling Spanish older adults. The potential of feelings of loneliness to significantly contribute to the explanation of mental health of the elderly was also explored. The percentage of people reporting feelings of loneliness was 23.1%. Being a woman, being older, living alone, having fewer economic resources, having lower perceived health, and being dissatisfied with the frequency of contact with relatives and friends were found to be significant predictors of feelings of loneliness. Loneliness contributed significantly to the explanation of mental health, even when other significant variables were statistically controlled. The results of this study suggest that loneliness is a relevant factor for the analysis and understanding of mental health in the elderly.

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Citations

Apr 17, 2014·International Psychogeriatrics·José Buz, Diana Pérez-Arechaederra
Dec 30, 2015·Health & Social Care in the Community·Emilie Courtin, Martin Knapp
Jun 28, 2013·International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·A ZebhauserK H Ladwig
Jul 19, 2015·Semergen·C Velarde-MayolJ M García-de-Cecilia
Jan 21, 2014·Aging & Mental Health·Robert HaganJohn Mallett
Jul 22, 2016·Journal of Women & Aging·XinQi Dong, Ruijia Chen
Jul 6, 2014·International Psychogeriatrics·Andrés LosadaMiguel Ruiz-Díaz
Nov 21, 2013·International Psychogeriatrics·Virginia Fernández-FernándezRosa Romero-Moreno
Dec 21, 2019·Journal of Aging and Physical Activity·Jolanthe de KoningAfroditi Stathi
Sep 12, 2019·Frontiers in Psychiatry·Michelle H LimJohn F M Gleeson
Apr 29, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Olga María López-EntrambasaguasAna María Díaz-Meco-Niño
Oct 12, 2017·The Spanish Journal of Psychology·Berta AusínMiguel A Castellanos
Jun 12, 2020·Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology·Michelle H LimShradha Vasan
Dec 19, 2020·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·C González-SanguinoM Muñoz
Apr 4, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Tore BonsaksenAmy Østertun Geirdal
May 1, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Cristina Huertas-DomingoAndrés Losada-Baltar
Jul 25, 2021·Journal of Clinical Medicine·Marina KotsaniAthanase Benetos

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