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The Association between Loneliness and Health Related Quality of Life (HR-QoL) among Community-Dwelling Older Citizens

Author

Listed:
  • Siok Swan Tan

    (Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Irene N. Fierloos

    (Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    Joint second author.)

  • Xuxi Zhang

    (Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    Joint second author.)

  • Elin Koppelaar

    (Research Centre Innovation in Care, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 25035, 3001 HA Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Tamara Alhambra-Borras

    (Polibienestar Research Institute, University of Valencia, Carrer del Serpis, 29, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Tasos Rentoumis

    (Alliance for Integrated Care, Amfitritis 14, Palaio Faliro, 175 61 Athens, Greece)

  • Greg Williams

    (Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK)

  • Tomislav Rukavina

    (Department of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Trg braće Mažuranića 10, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia)

  • Rob van Staveren

    (Zorg Op Noord, Cypresbaan 7, 2908 LT Capelle aan den IJssel, The Netherlands)

  • Jordi Garces-Ferrer

    (Polibienestar Research Institute, University of Valencia, Carrer del Serpis, 29, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Carmen B. Franse

    (Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Hein Raat

    (Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Background : This study aimed to assess the association between loneliness and Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QoL) among community-dwelling older citizens in five European countries. We characterize loneliness broadly from an emotional and social perspective. Methods : This cross-sectional study measured loneliness with the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale and HR-QoL with the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey. The association between loneliness and HR-QoL was examined using multivariable linear regression models. Results : Data of 2169 citizens of at least 70 years of age and living independently (mean age = 79.6 ± 5.6; 61% females) were analyzed. Among the participants, 1007 (46%) were lonely; 627 (29%) were emotionally and 575 (27%) socially lonely. Participants who were lonely experienced a lower HR-QoL than participants who were not lonely ( p ≤ 0.001). Emotional loneliness [std-β: −1.39; 95%-CI: −1.88 to −0.91] and social loneliness [−0.95; −1.44 to −0.45] were both associated with a lower physical HR-QoL. Emotional loneliness [−3.73; −4.16 to −3.31] and social loneliness [−1.84; −2.27 to −1.41] were also both associated with a lower mental HR-QoL. Conclusions : We found a negative association between loneliness and HR-QoL, especially between emotional loneliness and mental HR-QoL. This finding indicates that older citizens who miss an intimate or intense emotional relationship and interventions targeting mental HR-QoL deserve more attention in policy and practice than in the past.

Suggested Citation

  • Siok Swan Tan & Irene N. Fierloos & Xuxi Zhang & Elin Koppelaar & Tamara Alhambra-Borras & Tasos Rentoumis & Greg Williams & Tomislav Rukavina & Rob van Staveren & Jordi Garces-Ferrer & Carmen B. Fran, 2020. "The Association between Loneliness and Health Related Quality of Life (HR-QoL) among Community-Dwelling Older Citizens," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:2:p:600-:d:309835
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mary Ann Jarvis & Anita Padmanabhanunni & Jennifer Chipps, 2019. "An Evaluation of a Low-Intensity Cognitive Behavioral Therapy mHealth-Supported Intervention to Reduce Loneliness in Older People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Christoph Becker & Isadora Kirchmaier & Stefan T Trautmann, 2019. "Marriage, parenthood and social network: Subjective well-being and mental health in old age," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jens Klein & Olaf von dem Knesebeck & Daniel Lüdecke, 2020. "Social Inequalities and Loneliness as Predictors of Ageing Well: A Trend Analysis Using Mixed Models," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-14, July.
    2. David McDaid & A-La Park, 2022. "Understanding the Economic Value and Impacts on Informal Carers of People Living with Mental Health Conditions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-15, March.
    3. David McDaid & A-La Park, 2021. "Modelling the Economic Impact of Reducing Loneliness in Community Dwelling Older People in England," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-16, February.
    4. Iria Dobarrio-Sanz & Crístofer Ruiz-González & Cayetano Fernández-Sola & Pablo Roman & José Granero-Molina & Jose Manuel Hernández-Padilla, 2021. "Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions of Loneliness amongst Older Adults: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-14, November.
    5. Rachelle Meisters & Polina Putrik & Daan Westra & Hans Bosma & Dirk Ruwaard & Maria Jansen, 2021. "Is Loneliness an Undervalued Pathway between Socio-Economic Disadvantage and Health?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-13, September.

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