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Typologies of Loneliness, Isolation and Living Alone Are Associated with Psychological Well-Being among Older Adults in Taipei: A Cross-Sectional Study

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  • Hui-Chuan Hsu

    (School of Public Health, Research Center of Health Equity, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan)

Abstract

Background: Loneliness, isolation, and living alone are emerging as critical issues in older people’s health and well-being, but the effects are not consistent. The purpose of this study was to examine the clustering of loneliness, isolation, and living alone, the risk factors and the associations with psychological well-being. Methods: The data were collected from the 2019 Taipei City Senior Citizen Condition Survey by face-to-face interviews and included a community-based sample ( n = 3553). Loneliness, isolation, and living arrangement were analyzed by cluster analysis to define Loneliness-Isolation-Living-Alone clusters. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the factors related to Loneliness-Isolation-Living-Alone clusters, and linear regression was used to examine association of clusters with psychological well-being. Results: Five clusters of older adults were identified and named as follows: Not Lonely-Connected-Others (53.4%), Not Lonely-Isolated-Others (26.6%), Not Lonely-Alone (5.0%), Lonely-Connected (8.1%), and Lonely-Isolated-Others (6.9%). Demographics, financial satisfaction, physical function, family relationship, and social participation were related to the Loneliness-Isolation-Living-Alone clusters. Compared with the Not Lonely-Connected-Others cluster, the Lonely-Connected cluster and Lonely-Isolated-Others cluster had higher depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction, and the Not Lonely-Isolated-Others cluster reported lower life satisfaction; the Not Lonely-Alone cluster was not different. Discussion: Loneliness and isolation are negatively associated with psychological well-being, and living arrangement is not the determinant to loneliness or isolation. Older adults are suggested to strengthen their informal social support, and the government may encourage social care and create an age friendly environment to reduce loneliness and isolation.

Suggested Citation

  • Hui-Chuan Hsu, 2020. "Typologies of Loneliness, Isolation and Living Alone Are Associated with Psychological Well-Being among Older Adults in Taipei: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:24:p:9181-:d:458886
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    2. Daniele Zaccaria & Stefano Cavalli & Barbara Masotti & Carla Gomes Da Rocha & Armin von Gunten & Daniela S. Jopp, 2022. "Social Isolation and Loneliness among Near-Centenarians and Centenarians: Results from the Fordham Centenarian Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-19, May.
    3. Chin-Chen Liu & Yi-Tung Lin & Kung-Chuan Cheng & Hsueh-Hsing Pan & Chou-Ping Chiou, 2022. "Predictors of Depression Level among Community-Dwelling Elderly Persons," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-9, August.
    4. Susan Ka Yee Chow & Florence M. F. Wong & Edward Kwok Yiu Choi, 2021. "Loneliness in Old Age, the Related Factors, and Its Association with Demographics and Districts of Residence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-14, September.
    5. Lijuan Zhao & Lin Wu, 2022. "The Association between Social Participation and Loneliness of the Chinese Older Adults over Time—The Mediating Effect of Social Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-17, January.

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