Abstract
Background: Loneliness is an important factor affecting mental well-being in elderly. The socio-demographic and health related factors determine feeling of loneliness in them.
Aims and Objectives: To study Socio-demographic and health related correlates of loneliness in elderly
Material and Methods: Cross sectional study done on 77 lonely and 22 non-lonely elderly were assessed clinically and using Geriatric Depression Scale-Short form [GDS-SF]and Loneliness Scale. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS-20 software.
Result: Depressive symptoms were associated with lonely group significantly (t = 9.776,p = .000). Unmarried, widowed and divorced status were more associated with loneliness (chi-square-8.160, p-0.043*). While other factors like female gender, history of self-harm, presence of stressors, divorced and widowed status, living without partner, having medical illness, poor perceived health, having alcohol and tobacco dependence, having subjective memory complains, impaired ADL(Activities of Daily Living) and presence of disability though not statistically significant but were more associated with lonely group. Social network related factors like number of social contacts and time spent in social activities were negatively associated with loneliness (t-value=-2.304,p-value-0.023*and t-value=-2.290,p-value-0.024*). Also on looking at the trend from normal àlonelyà lonely and depressed both, the above variables as well as GDS scores showed decreasing trend. Meaning that change in these variables is associated with transition of person without loneliness and depression to having them gradually over a period of time in that order
Conclusion: Sociodemographic and health related factors are associated with feeling of loneliness in elderly. Number of social contacts and time spent in social activities significantly differ in normal, lonely and depressed elderly.
Keywords: elderly, loneliness, sociodemographic factors, health-related factors.
References
1. Situation Analysis of the Elderly in India, Central Statistics Office Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation. Government of India. June 2011.
2. Jones DA, Victor CR, Vetter NJ. The problem of loneliness in the elderly in the community: characteristics of those who are lonely and the factors related to loneliness. R Coll Gen Pract. 1985 March; 35(272): 136–139.
3. Singh S, Raut NB, Subramanyam AA, Kamath R, Pinto C, Shanker S. Perception of old age and self: A comparative study of elderly females living in community and in old age homes. J Geriatr Ment Health 2014; 1:32-7.
4. Peplau LA., Perlman D. Perspectives on loneliness. In L. A. Peplau & D. Perlman (Eds.), Loneliness: A Sourcebook of Current Theory, Research and Therapy (pp. 1-20). 1982. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
5. Dahlberg L, Kevin JM. "Correlates of social and emotional loneliness in older people: evidence from an English community study." Aging Ment Health.2014; 18.4: 504-514.
6. Raut NB,Singh S, Subramanyam AA., Pinto C, Kamath RM,Shanker S. Study of loneliness, depression and coping mechanisms in elderly. Journal of J Geriatr Ment Health 2014; 1: 20-27.
7. Cervinkova M, Muhumad K.Effect of loneliness on elderly people's lives. A dissertation submitted to Tampere University of applied sciences (2011).
8. Cacioppo JT, Hughes ME, Waite LJ, Hawkley LC, Thisted RA. Loneliness as a specific risk factor for depressive symptoms: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Psychol aging. 2006; 21(1): 140.
9. Bhatia S, Swami H M, Thakur J S, Bhatia V. A study of health problems and loneliness among the elderly in Chandigarh. Indian J Community Med 2007; 32:255-8.
10. De Jong Gierveld, J, Van Tilburg T. Manual of the Loneliness Scale .1999. Department of Social Research Methodology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam (updated version 18.01. 02).
11. Sheikh JI, Yesavage JA. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Recent evidence and development of a shorter version. In T.L. Brink (Ed.), Clinical Gerontology: A Guide to Assessment and Intervention.1986. (pp. 165-173). NY: The Haworth Press, Inc.
12. Yesavage JA., Brink TL, Rose TL, Lum O, Huang V, Adey MB et al. Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: A preliminary report. J Psychiatr Res 1983; 17:37-49.
13. Kivett VR.Discriminations of loneliness among the rural elderly: implications for intervention. Gerontol 1979; 19: 108-115.
14. Mullins IC, Dugan E.The influence of depression, and family, friends and relations, on residients’ loneliness in congregate housing. Gerontol 1990; 30: 377-384.
15. Bondevik, M., & Skogstad, A.The oldest old, ADL, social network, and loneliness. West J Nurs Res 1998; 20: 325-343.
16. Andersson, L, Stevens N. Associations between early experiences with parents and well-being in old age. J Gerontol 1993; 48:109-116.
17. Chang SH., Yang MS. The relationships between the elderly: loneliness and its factors of personal attributes, perceived health status and social support. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 1999; 15:337-347.
18. Sicotte M, Alvarado BE, León EM.,Zunzunegui MV.Social networks and depressive symptoms among elderly women and men in Havana, Cuba. Aging and Mental Health, 2008; 12(2):193-201
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i11.55
