October 21, 2015Journal of Aging and Health
Longitudinal Relationship Between Loneliness and Social Isolation in Older Adults
Key result
Higher and increasing social isolation linked to greater odds of loneliness in older adults.
- n=5,870
Population
5,870 adults 65 years and older (mean age 72.89 ± 5.59 years) from the Cardiovascular Health Study
Design
Cohort
Follow-up
5 years
Authors
Discussion
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Member takes
Implication
Cautious interpretation needed in geriatric care; leaves open whether reducing isolation alleviates loneliness.
Study Design
Type
Cohort (n=5,870)
Structured PICO
P
Population
5,870 adults 65 years and older (mean age 72.89 ± 5.59 years) from the Cardiovascular Health Study
O
Outcome
Loneliness (assessed using a dichotomized loneliness question)patient reported
In older adults, both the average level of social isolation and recent increases in isolation are strongly associated with loneliness.
Cite This Study
Petersen et al. (2015) conducted a cohort in Loneliness and social isolation (n=5,870). Social isolation was evaluated on Loneliness. Higher average levels of social isolation and increases in isolation were associated with higher odds of loneliness among older adults over a 5-year period.