Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older People's Loneliness: Findings from a Longitudinal Study between 2019 and 2021 among Older Home-Dwellers in Finland.
J Nutr Health Aging
; 27(8): 619-625, 2023.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37702334
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the change in feelings of loneliness among Finnish community-dwelling older people from before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 to during the pandemic in 2021. Moreover, we explore the changes in other dimensions of psychological well-being (PWB) during the study period.DESIGN:
Questionnaires were mailed in the 2019 Helsinki Aging Study, a repeated cohort study. A follow-up interview was carried on over the telephone during the year 2021. SETTING ANDPARTICIPANTS:
A random sample of 2,917 home-dwelling older people aged 75-104 years residing in Helsinki, Finland were mailed the questionnaire. Altogether 898 participated in the follow-up. MEASUREMENTS Loneliness was measured using a single item question "Do you suffer from loneliness?". Other items of psychological well-being were measured "Are you satisfied with your life?" (yes/no), "Do you feel useful?" (yes/no), "Do you have a zest for life?" (yes/no),"Do you have plans for the future?" (yes/no), and "Do you feel depressed?"("rarely or never"/ "sometimes"/ "often or always").RESULTS:
Altogether 898 people participated both in 2019 and 2021. The subjects' mean age was 83 years and 66% were women. Between 2019 and 2021, the prevalence of experienced loneliness increased among older home-dwellers from 26% to 30%. During two years of the pandemic feelings of loneliness (RR 1.79, 95% CI 1.30 to 2.46) and depression (RR 1.37, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.67) increased even adjusted with various confounders.CONCLUSION:
Considering the impact loneliness has on health and well-being, the finding of increased feelings of loneliness among older people is alarming. Actions to combat loneliness need to be taken.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
COVID-19
/
Solidão
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Nutr Health Aging
Assunto da revista:
CIENCIAS DA NUTRICAO
/
GERIATRIA
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article