Older persons making a life closure: experiences of loneliness in an academic nursing home - a phenomenological qualitative interview study.

BACKGROUND: Loneliness is a public health concern and more than half of the residents in nursing homes experience lonliness. Risk factors are age and loss of close relatives. PURPOSE: This study aimed to describe experiences of loneliness among older people living in an academic nursing home. METHODS: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten older people and data analysed with systematic text condensation inspired by a phenomenological approach. RESULTS: Three themes were identified: "Relatives and health care professionals matter"; "Acceptance and meaningful existence alleviate loneliness"; and "Challenges affecting the experience of loneliness". The older persons described themselves as lonely, but their experience of loneliness differed. They managed loneliness by adapting to it or getting used to it; some also chose to be alone. To add meaningfulness to their daily life, talking about memories and their past were appriciated. Personality traits and variations in functional ability were identified as barriers to social interactions. CONCLUSIONS: Health care professionals can reduce negative experiences of loneliness by listening to nursing home residents, creating a meaningful daily life with individualized activities, and by encouraging contacts with close relatives. This can be a way of maintaining older persons' dignity and coping with the longing for what has been.

The Mediating Role of Workplace Loneliness in the Effect of Resilience on Work Alienation in Nurses.

The aim of the current research was determining the mediating role of workplace loneliness (WL) in the effect of resilience on work alienation (WA). This study was conducted in Istanbul, Türkiye, between June 2021 and November 2021. Research data were obtained from nurses working in private hospitals operating in Istanbul. The results of the research showed that resilience had a negative effect on WL and WA, and WL had a positive effect on WA. Finally, WL had a mediating role in the effect of resilience on WA. This study showed that resilience is a determinant of both WL and WA.

The impact of unmet community service demand on the loneliness of older adults: based on CLHLS (2008-2018).

PURPOSE: To explore the impact of unmet community service demands on loneliness among older adults. METHODS: Based on the longitudinal tracking data of CLHLS (2008-2018), latent growth curve model (LGCM) was used to describe the trajectory of loneliness among older adults. Panel regression was used to analyze the impact of unmet community service demands on loneliness, and latent classification analysis (LCA) was used to classify the older adults and analyze the differences in loneliness among different types of older adults. RESULTS: A total of 1445 older people participated in all four surveys, and 22.4% of them reported feeling lonely. From 2008 to 2018, there was a significant non-linear increase in loneliness, with average values of 1.77, 1.81, 1.83, and 1.96, respectively. The level of community service supply (1.31) was far from meeting the demand level (5.11). Unmet community service demands were associated with a higher prevalence of loneliness (ß = 0.012, P = 0.003, 95% CI = [0.004, 0.020]). In addition, according to the demand difference for community services, older adults were classified into the comprehensive demand type (Type I) and the medical demand type (Type II). The loneliness of Type I older adults was significantly higher than that of Type II (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: With the passage of time, loneliness of older adults is showing an accelerating upward trend. Unmet community services can lead to enhanced loneliness among older adults, and the higher the demand for community services, the stronger the loneliness. The government should increase the supply of community services to meet the basic and socio-emotional needs of the older adults to reduce loneliness.

The Relationship Between Loneliness and the Overuse of WeChat Among Chinese Elderly: The Chain Mediation Role of Sensation Seeking and Fear of Missing Out.

Background: With the advent of new media technology, WeChat, as China's largest social networking platform, has significantly impacted people's lives. Growing concerns exist about social media usage, particularly regarding mental health issues stemming from problematic smartphone use. However, limited research has explored the relationship between social media usage and mental health among older adults in China, particularly the mechanisms influencing this relationship. This study addresses this gap by investigating the relationship between excessive WeChat use and loneliness among older adults, examining the mediating roles of sensation seeking and fear of missing out (FoMO). Methods: To clarify the intermediary role of sensation seeking and FoMO in the relationship between elderly loneliness and problematic phone use, this study employed the loneliness scale, brief sensation seeking scale, the scale of FoMO and WeChat overuse scale in a questionnaire survey on the Chinese elderly aged 55 to 89 (N=913). A chained mediation model was constructed, with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and mediation effect tests performed. Results: The results indicate that the relationship between loneliness and excessive WeChat use among Chinese elderly is mediated by sensation seeking and FoMO. Conclusion: The findings reveal that loneliness, sensation seeking and FoMO and problematic mobile phone use (WeChat) are interconnected; (ii) sensation seeking and FoMO are the two important intermediary mechanisms between loneliness and problematic mobile phone use; and (iii) sensation seeking and FoMO can act as mediators in the relationship between loneliness and problematic mobile phone use among the elderly. In the difference test of demographic variables, it was found that women had more WeChat overuse behavior than men, and urban residents demonstrated significantly higher levels of overuse than their township residents. The study has revealed the psychological mechanism between loneliness and problematic mobile phone use among the elderly, which provides guiding suggestions for the prevention and intervention of such behaviors in the elderly.

Loneliness and Alcohol use among College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Appalachia.

Objective: Binge drinking and heavy alcohol use are highly prevalent among college students. During the COVID-19 pandemic, due to lockdown restrictions and other challenges, many college students were burdened with loneliness, which can contribute to chronic stress, and substance use. The current study explores the association between loneliness and various levels of alcohol use among college students in the rural, underserved region of Central Appalachia, USA. Methods: Data were collected from a regional sample (n = 320) of college age adults, age 18-25 in the Central Appalachian region. The UCLA-3 item Loneliness Scale (UCLA-3) was used in the study to evaluate loneliness. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between levels of loneliness and three separate outcomes, including past year binge drinking, past year heavy alcohol use, and past year weekly alcohol use. Results: Overall, 25.5% of the participants reported severe loneliness, 33.6% reported moderate, and 40.9% reported low levels of loneliness. Results of the adjusted models revealed that severe loneliness was associated with higher odds of heavy alcohol use (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI [1.02, 3.50]) and binge drinking (AOR = 2.96, 95% CI [1.16, 7.51]), and not associated with weekly alcohol use. Conclusion: The study found that higher levels of loneliness were linked to both binged drinking and heavy alcohol use. Further efforts for counseling and treatment among college students who are burdened with severe loneliness should be considered. The chronic stress associated with severe loneliness needs to be further addressed, particularly among emerging adults.

Voice assistants' influence on loneliness in older adults: a systematic review.

Purpose: This review aims to examine how the use of voice assistants influences loneliness in older adults.Materials and methods: This study follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Databases such as CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciELO, Google Scholar, and IEEE Xplore were used. We implemented search strategies in English to locate studies published between January 2010 and January 2023, including those examining the impact of voice assistant usage on loneliness in older adults. Descriptive information was examined, assessing its quality with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.Results: A total of 499 studies were yielded from the initial search, with 13 included in the final analysis. Positive outcomes in reducing loneliness were reported in 84.6% of these studies. There was a prevalence of quasi-experimental studies, alongside heterogeneous measurement instruments, scarce use of standardized tests, and small samples predominantly consisting of women. Commercial voice assistants were the most commonly utilized.Conclusions: Voice assistants show potential in mitigating feelings of loneliness in older adults. Adequate training and adaptation to specific needs seem essential to maximize their effectiveness. In particular, voice assistants available in the consumer market hold significant potential in this area. Further research is necessary to comprehend their impact, encompassing potential risks and ethical considerations.

Effectively integrating voice assistants into day-to-day lives of older people can have a positive role on their psychological well-being and significantly contribute to improving their mental health by mitigating feelings of loneliness.Interventions incorporating voice assistants should focus on adapting to the specific needs of each individual. Adequate training and understanding needs are essential elements to maximize the effectiveness of these interventions.Given that most of the reviewed studies present small samples with a predominance of female participants, future initiatives should ensure that these interventions are equitable and beneficial for all demographic groups.Further research should focus on understanding and improving the accessibility of commercial voice assistants targeted at the general population. This involves ensuring that these technologies are easily adoptable by older adults through specific training and outreach strategies, which is especially important in the context of rehabilitation.

[The loneliness barometer 2024: methodology and selected results]. / Einsamkeitsbarometer 2024: Methodik und ausgewählte Ergebnisse.

Loneliness is a relatively new topic in the field of health and social policy. A pivotal requirement for the formulation of effective policies addressing loneliness in Germany lies in the access to comprehensive, longitudinal data.In 2024, the first "Loneliness Barometer" was conducted by the Loneliness Network Germany (KNE) at the Institute for Social Work and Social Pedagogy e. V. (ISS e. V.) on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). It is a report on the long-term development of loneliness within the German population (18 years and older), for which representative data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP, 1992-2021) were analysed. The loneliness barometer is also intended to provide evidence-based statements on the long-term development of loneliness burdens in Germany in the future.This article provides an insight into the decisions made in the development of the Loneliness Barometer methodology and presents selected key findings from the first Loneliness Barometer. Leveraging data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), the Loneliness Barometer underscores the multifaceted disparities faced by individuals grappling with heightened loneliness levels. These disparities manifest across various domains: diminished health outcomes, constrained social and financial resources encompassing education and employment, reduced economic participation, curtailed political engagement and heightened scepticism towards democratic institutions. The article concludes with considerations of the limitations and future development possibilities of the Loneliness Barometer.

Comparing cognitive behavioral therapy and social prescribing in patients with loneliness on long-term opioid therapy to reduce opioid misuse: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic pain on opioids frequently experience loneliness, which is associated with poorer health outcomes and higher risk for opioid misuse and opioid use disorder. Given that almost half of opioids are prescribed in primary care, a critical need exists for the development and testing of interventions to reduce loneliness in primary care patients at risk for opioid misuse. Cognitive behavioral therapy and social prescribing have been shown to be efficacious in reducing loneliness and improving outcomes in other populations but have not been tested in patients at risk for substance use disorder. The overall objective of our study is to reduce opioid misuse and opioid use disorder by addressing loneliness in patients on long-term opioid therapy in real-world primary care settings. METHODS: We will conduct a 3-arm pragmatic, randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of two group-based, telehealth-delivered interventions with treatment as usual: (1) cognitive behavioral therapy to address maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors around social connection and (2) a social prescribing intervention to connect participants with social opportunities and develop supportive social networks. Our primary outcome is loneliness as measured by the UCLA Loneliness Scale and our dependent secondary outcome is opioid misuse as measured by the Common Opioid Misuse Measure. We will recruit 102 patients on long-term opioid therapy who screen positive for loneliness from 2 health care systems in Washington State. Implementation outcomes will be assessed using the RE-AIM framework. DISCUSSION: Our study is innovative because we are targeting loneliness, an under-addressed but critical social risk factor that may prevent opioid misuse and use disorder in the setting where most patients are receiving their opioid prescriptions for chronic pain. If successful, the project will have a positive impact in reducing loneliness, reducing opioid misuse, improving function and preventing substance use disorder. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT06285032, issue date: February 28, 2024, original.

Digital Interventions for Reducing Loneliness and Depression in Korean College Students: Mixed Methods Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the prevalence of loneliness and depression among college students. Digital interventions, such as Woebot (Woebot Health, Inc) and Happify (Twill Inc), have shown promise in alleviating these symptoms. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness and acceptability of Woebot and Happify in reducing loneliness and depression among college students after the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A mixed methods approach was used over 4 months. A total of 63 participants aged 18 to 27 years from Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea, were initially recruited, with an inclusion criterion of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale score ≥34. The final sample consisted of 27 participants due to attrition. Participants were randomly assigned to Woebot (15/27, 55%); Happify (9/27, 33%); or a control group using Bondee (Metadream), a metaverse social network messenger app (3/27, 11%). Quantitative measures (UCLA Loneliness Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and qualitative assessments (user feedback and focused interviews) were used. RESULTS: Although mean decreases in loneliness and depression were observed in the control and intervention groups after the intervention, the differences between the control and intervention groups were not statistically significant (UCLA Loneliness: P=.67; Patient Health Questionnaire-9: P=.35). Qualitative data indicated user satisfaction, with suggestions for improved app effectiveness and personalization. CONCLUSIONS: Despite limitations, this study highlights the potential of well-designed digital interventions in alleviating college students' loneliness and depression. The findings contribute to the growing body of research on accessible digital mental health tools and underscore the importance of comprehensive support systems. Further research with larger and more diverse samples is needed to better understand the effectiveness and optimization of such interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Service KCT0009449; https://bit.ly/4d2e4Bu.

Health Outcomes Associated with Loneliness and Social Isolation in Older Adults Living with HIV: A Systematic Review.

Self-management of HIV is crucial to reduce disease-related negative health outcomes. Loneliness and social isolation are associated with poor disease self-management (e.g., medication non-adherence and care disengagement) in younger people with HIV and negative health outcomes in the general older adult population. Older adults with HIV (OWH) are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation, but the associated health outcomes remain unclear. A comprehensive review of Pubmed, Embase, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases was conducted. Criteria for inclusion were original quantitative research, published in the English language, included adults with a mean age ≥ 50 years, and included a measure for loneliness or social isolation, and a health outcome measure. A total of 41 studies were analyzed and 19,282 participants contributed to this review. The main findings were that loneliness and social isolation were associated with negative health behavior, disease self-management, physiological, and psychological outcomes. Pooled prevalence of loneliness was 33.9% across 8 studies. Loneliness and social isolation are highly prevalent in OWH and are associated with negative outcomes in OWH, similarly to older adults in the general population. Older adults with HIV, however, are challenged by unique psychosocial circumstances that place them at greater risk for loneliness and social isolation and associated negative health outcomes. These findings should be verified in larger, diverse, and longitudinal samples to better understand interrelationships of psychosocial factors and clinical outcomes in OWH.

Association between experienced stigma, anxiety, depression and loneliness among people with drug-resistant tuberculosis in Lagos Nigeria: The moderating role of social support.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the moderating effect of social support on the association between experienced stigma versus anxiety, depression and loneliness among people with drug-resistant tuberculosis. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 203 adults on treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis for at least 8 weeks. Validated scales were used to assess experienced stigma, anxiety, depression, loneliness and social support. Partial correlations and hierarchical multiple regression were used to determine the moderating effect of social support on the association between experienced stigma versus anxiety, depression and loneliness. The interaction was visualised using slope analysis. RESULTS: Anxiety, loneliness and depression were reported by 148 (72.9%), 114 (56.2%) and 128 (63.1%) of the 203 participants, respectively. Experienced stigma was positively associated with depression (B = 0.428, p < 0.001), anxiety (B = 0.374, p < 0.001) and loneliness (B = 0.285, p = 0.001). Social support was negatively associated with depression (B = -0.255, p < 0.001), anxiety (B = -0.406, p < 0.001) and loneliness (B = -0.270, p = 0.001). The impact of experienced stigma on depression was different at low (B = 0.567, SE = 0.115, p < 0.001) and high (B = 0.275, SE = 0.253, p = 0.024) groups of social support. Similarly, at low social support, the effect of experienced stigma on loneliness (B = 0.491, SE = 0.250, p < 0.001) and anxiety (B = 0.254, SE = 0.060, p = 0.044) was different compared to the effect of experienced stigma on loneliness (B = 0.275, SE = 0.253, p = 0.024) and anxiety (B = 0.127, SE = 0.094, p = 0.307) at high group of social support. CONCLUSION: In this study, social support reduced the effects of experienced stigma on anxiety, depression and loneliness suggesting that improving social support among people with drug-resistant tuberculosis is crucial in reducing the negative effects of stigma on anxiety, depression and loneliness.

Loneliness, cerebrovascular and Alzheimer's disease pathology, and cognition.

INTRODUCTION: Loneliness has a rising public health impact, but research involving neuropathology and representative cohorts has been limited. METHODS: Inverse odds of selection weights were generalized from the autopsy sample of Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center cohorts (N = 680; 89 ± 9 years old; 25% dementia) to the US-representative Health and Retirement Study (N = 8469; 76 ± 7 years old; 5% dementia) to extend external validity. Regressions tested cross-sectional associations between loneliness and (1) Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cerebrovascular pathology; (2) five cognitive domains; and (3) relationships between pathology and cognition, adjusting for depression. RESULTS: In weighted models, greater loneliness was associated with microinfarcts, lower episodic and working memory in the absence of AD pathology, lower working memory in the absence of infarcts, a stronger association of infarcts with lower episodic memory, and a stronger association of microinfarcts with lower working and semantic memory. DISCUSSION: Loneliness may relate to AD through multiple pathways involving cerebrovascular pathology and cognitive reserve. HIGHLIGHTS: Loneliness was associated with worse cognition in five domains. Loneliness was associated with the presence of microinfarcts. Loneliness moderated cognition-neuropathology associations. Transportability methods can provide insight into selection bias.

[Is loneliness the future geriatric syndrome of the 21st century?] / ¿Es la soledad el futuro síndrome geriátrico del siglo XXI?

The aging of the world population is now an unquestionable fact. The World Health Organization (WHO) points out in its World Report on Aging and Health published in 2015 two main causes: the increase in life expectancy and the decrease in fertility rates. The United Nations (UN) announced that Spain will become the oldest country in the world in 2050, with 44% of citizens over 60 years of age and the median age of 55.2 years. Whether this event is interpreted optimistically or as a demographic problem will depend on the quality of the years of life gained.

El envejecimiento de la población mundial es ya un hecho incuestionable. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) señala en su Informe mundial sobre el envejecimiento y la salud publicado en 2015 dos causas principales: el aumento en la esperanza de vida y el descenso de las tasas de fecundidad. La Organización de Naciones Unidas (ONU) anunció que España llegará a ser el país más envejecido del mundo en 2050, siendo el 44% de la ciudadanía mayor de 60 años y la mediana de edad de 55,2 años. Si este acontecimiento es interpretado con optimismo o como un problema demográfico dependerá de la calidad de los años de vida ganados.

From childhood emotional abuse to adolescent loneliness: The roles of self-compassion and rejection sensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Emotional abuse is one of the important risk factors for adolescent loneliness. However, there is a shortage of information regarding protective factors and potential mediating mechanisms between emotional abuse and adolescent loneliness, which require further investigation. OBJECTIVES: The present study explored the chain mediating role of self-compassion and rejection sensitivity on the pathway from childhood emotional abuse to adolescent loneliness, based on attachment theory and a stress process model. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Five hundred sixty-seven Chinese adolescents aged 12 to 17 years participated in this study. METHODS: An online questionnaire was utilized to assess a variety of variables including childhood emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, self-compassion, rejection sensitivity, and loneliness. To increase the validity of the results, physical and sexual abuse were included as covariates since emotional abuse may co-occur with these types of abuse. RESULTS: Emotional abuse in childhood is significantly positively correlated with adolescent loneliness. Emotional abuse in childhood can affect adolescent loneliness not only directly, but also indirectly through self-compassion (including its components of self-warmth and self-coldness) and rejection sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds further light on the chain mediating role of self-compassion and rejection sensitivity in the relationship between emotional abuse in childhood and loneliness in adolescence, suggesting that intervention programs targeting increased self-compassion and decreased rejection sensitivity may be effective to reduce loneliness in adolescents.

Effects of Anxiety, Stress and Perceived Social Support on Depression and Loneliness Among Older People During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Path Analysis.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, older people were exposed to high levels of anxiety and stress leading to loneliness and depressive disorders. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of anxiety, positive coping, perceived social support, and perceived stress on depression and loneliness among older people during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a cross-sectional online/telephone survey. A non-probability convenience sampling method was used. Participants were 112 people aged 60 years and above, without cognitive impairment, who experienced confinement (from March 2020 onward) and had access to the internet or telephone. A path analysis model showed a direct significant effect of anxiety on both, depression (ß = .68, P < .001) and perceived stress (ß = .65, P < .001), as well as an indirect effect of anxiety on loneliness via perceived stress (ß = .65) * (ß = .40); and social support (ß = -.21) * (ß = -.20). The model showed adequate fit χ2(df = 4) =5.972, P = .201; RMSEA = 0.066 (0.000, 0.169), CFI = 0.992; TLI = 0.970. Anxiety had a significant effect on depressive symptoms as well as on loneliness via perceived social support and perceived stress. According to our findings, in order to reduce depressive symptoms and perceived loneliness, it is essential to develop timely interventions that decrease levels of anxiety and stress and increase levels of perceived social support in older people, particularly when there are any restrictions, physical or contextual, that prevent face-to-face contact. This can be achieved by implementing preventive community-based programs, enhancing accessibility to mental health services, and collaborating with local support groups, among others.

Digital music and movement intervention to improve health and wellbeing in older adults in care homes: a pilot mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Low physical activity among older adults is related to adverse health outcomes such as depression and loneliness, poor physical function and increased risk of falls. This study was designed to increase physical activity through a digital, group-based, physical activity and music intervention and to examine its effectiveness on social, mental and physical health outcomes. METHODS: Participants were 34 older adults (65 years +) recruited across four care homes in Scotland to a pilot study. Surveys were administered at baseline and post-intervention, comprising measures of fear of falling, depression and anxiety, loneliness, sleep satisfaction and quality of life. A battery of physical function tests and saliva sampling for cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone hormone analysis were also conducted at each time point. Additionally, process evaluation measures (recruitment, intervention fidelity, attendance, retention rates and safety) were monitored. The intervention comprised 12 weeks of three prescribed digital sessions per week: movement and music (n = 2) and music-only (n = 1), delivered by an activity coordinator in the care home. Post-intervention interviews with staff and participants were conducted to gain qualitative data on the acceptability of the intervention. RESULTS: An average of 88% of prescribed sessions were delivered. Pre- to post-intervention intention-to-treat analysis across all participants revealed significant improvements in anxiety, salivary DHEA, fear of falling and loneliness. There were no significant improvements in health-related quality of life, perceived stress, sleep satisfaction or physical function tests, including handgrip strength. Qualitative analysis highlighted benefits of and barriers to the programme. CONCLUSIONS: The digital movement and music intervention was deemed acceptable and delivered with moderate fidelity, justifying progression to a full-scale trial. Although a proper control group would have yielded more confident causal relationships, preliminary psychosocial and biological effects were evident from this trial. To show significant improvements in physical function, it is likely that a bigger sample size providing sufficient power to detect significant changes, greater adherence, longer intervention and/or higher exercise volume may be necessary. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT05601102 on 01/11/2022.

Understanding the Effect of Loneliness on Quality of Life in Older Adults from Longitudinal Approaches.

Aim: To study the longitudinal relationship between loneliness and quality of life (QoL) in adults to identify key mechanisms to better design future psychosocial interventions. Method: 13,222 participants from three consecutive waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), aged 65 or older, 56.3% women. They were analyzed using cross-lagged panel model (CLPM), random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM), and multi-group models disaggregated by gender. Results: The RI-CLPM provided a better fit than the CLPM. Both models showed the stability of QoL and loneliness. All autoregressive paths were significant, and a negative association between concurrent QoL and loneliness was observed across all waves. The CLPM supported a reciprocal relationship, while the RI-CLPM only confirmed the effects of loneliness on QoL. Women reported higher levels of loneliness and poorer QoL, but no gender differences were identified in the longitudinal association. Conclusions: Addressing loneliness in early stages could be a better preventive measure to promote quality of life in both genders.

Loneliness and Social Isolation Factors Under the Prolonged COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: 2-Year Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: Worsening loneliness and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic have become serious public health concerns worldwide. Despite previous research reporting persistent loneliness and social isolation under repeated emergency declarations and prolonged pandemics, long-term studies are needed to identify the actual conditions of loneliness and social isolation, and the factors that explain them. OBJECTIVE: In this study, 3 web-based surveys were conducted at 1-year intervals during the 2 years after the first state of emergency to examine changes in loneliness and social isolation and the psychosocial factors associated with them in the Japanese population. METHODS: The first survey (phase 1, May 11-12, 2020) was conducted at the end of the first emergency declaration period, the second survey (phase 2, June 14-20, 2021) was conducted at the end of the third emergency declaration period, and the third survey (phase 3, May 13-30, 2022) was conducted when the state of emergency had not been declared but many COVID-19-positive cases occurred during this period. We collected data on 3892 inhabitants (n=1813, 46.58% women; age: mean 50.3, SD 13.4 y) living in the 4 prefectures where emergency declaration measures were applied in phases 1 and 2. A linear mixed model analysis was performed to examine the association between psychosocial variables as explanatory variables and loneliness scores as the dependent variable in each phase. RESULTS: While many psychosocial and physical variables showed improvement for the 2 years, loneliness, social isolation, and the relationship with familiar people deteriorated, and the opportunities for exercise, favorite activities, and web-based interaction with familiar people decreased. Approximately half of those experiencing social isolation in phase 1 remained isolated throughout the 2-year period, and a greater number of people developed social isolation than those who were able to resolve it. The results of the linear mixed model analysis showed that most psychosocial and physical variables were related to loneliness regardless of the phase. Regarding the variables that showed a significant interaction with the phase, increased altruistic preventive behavior and a negative outlook for the future were more strongly associated with severe loneliness in phase 3 (P=.01 to <.001), while the association between fewer social networks and stronger loneliness tended to be more pronounced in phase 2. Although the interaction was not significant, the association between reduced face-to-face interaction, poorer relationships with familiar people, and increased loneliness tended to be stronger in phase 3. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that loneliness and social isolation remained unresolved throughout the long-term COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, in the final survey phase, these issues were influenced by a broader and more complex set of factors compared to earlier phases.

Animal companionship and psycho-social well-being: Findings from a national study of community-dwelling aging Canadians.

A growing body of evidence has provided support for the beneficial impact of human-animal interactions on a range of biological, social, and psychological outcomes for humans; however, less is conclusively known about the association between animal companionship and psycho-social health specifically among aging populations. In this study, we assessed the association between animal companionship and psycho-social well-being in a large sample (N = 30,865) of community dwelling Canadians aged 45 and older. Using cross-sectional data from the Canadian Community Health Survey-Healthy Aging, we conducted hierarchical multiple regression to assess the relationship between animal companionship and four domains of psycho-social well-being (satisfaction with life, loneliness, depression, and levels of social support) after controlling for socio-demographic factors and psycho-social measures. Results indicate that those with animal companionship report significantly higher levels of social support than aging Canadians without animal companionship; however, animal companionship was also associated with significantly lower levels of life satisfaction and higher levels of both loneliness and depression. These findings complicate the existing literature on human-animal interactions by suggesting the benefits associated with animal companionship may vary across distinct domains of psycho-social health. As such, results from this study highlight the need for more nuanced model specifications when assessing the relationship between animal companionship and psycho-social well-being. Implications of these findings for the provision of social services to older adults with pets are provided.

Mediating effect of loneliness on the associations of perceived and internalized sexual stigma with suicide in gay and bisexual men.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Loneliness is prevalent among gay and bisexual men (GBM). This study evaluated the mediating effect of loneliness on the associations of perceived sexual stigma (PSS) and internalized sexual stigma (ISS) with suicide in 400 GBM. METHODS: A moderated mediation model was used to test the mediating effects of loneliness between the associations of PSS from family members and ISS with suicide and the moderating effects of sexual orientation, age, and education level on the mediating effects. RESULTS: The results indicated that both PSS and ISS were positively associated with suicide through the full mediation of loneliness. The association of ISS with loneliness was stronger in older GBM. CONCLUSIONS: Intervention programs promoting changes in attitudes toward GBM are warranted to prevent the development of PSS and ISS, loneliness, and suicide in this population.