Journal Article

High prevalence and adverse health effects of loneliness in community-dwelling adults across the lifespan: role of wisdom as a protective factor

Yamada, Yasunori, Jeste, Dilip V., Palmer, Barton W., Tu, Xin M., Lee, Ellen E., Liu, Jinyuan, Daly, Rebecca, Kim, Ho-Cheol, Tarr, Peri, Depp, Colin, Glorioso, Danielle

2019

Overview

ABSTRACTObjectivesThis study of loneliness across adult lifespan examined its associations with sociodemographics, mental health (positive and negative psychological states and traits), subjective cognitive complaints, and physical functioning. DesignAnalysis of cross-sectional data Participants340 community-dwelling adults in San Diego, California, mean age 62 (SD = 18) years, range 27–101 years, who participated in three community-based studies. MeasurementsLoneliness measures included UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 (UCLA-3), 4-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Social Isolation Scale, and a single-item measure from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD) scale. Other measures included the San Diego Wisdom Scale (SD-WISE) and Medical Outcomes Survey- Short form 36. ResultsSeventy-six percent of subjects had moderate-high levels of loneliness on UCLA-3, using standardized cut-points. Loneliness was correlated with worse mental health and inversely with positive psychological states/traits. Even moderate severity of loneliness was associated with worse mental and physical functioning. Loneliness severity and age had a complex relationship, with increased loneliness in the late-20s, mid-50s, and late-80s. There were no sex differences in loneliness prevalence, severity, and age relationships. The best-fit multiple regression model accounted for 45% of the variance in UCLA-3 scores, and three factors emerged with small-medium effect sizes: wisdom, living alone and mental well-being. ConclusionsThe alarmingly high prevalence of loneliness and its association with worse health-related measures underscore major challenges for society. The non-linear age-loneliness severity relationship deserves further study. The strong negative association of wisdom with loneliness highlights the potentially critical role of wisdom as a target for psychosocial/behavioral interventions to reduce loneliness. Building a wiser society may help us develop a more connected, less lonely, and happier society.

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press,Elsevier Inc
• Subject: Adult / Adults / Age / Aged / Aged, 80 and over / Aging / Anxiety / Associations / California - epidemiology / Cognitive ability / Cognitive functioning / Cognitive skills / Community / Complaints / Cross-Sectional Studies / Dementia / depression / Epidemiology / Female / Functional impairment / gender differences / Humans / Independent Living - psychology / Independent Living - statistics & numerical data / Living alone / Loneliness / Loneliness - psychology / Longevity / Male / Measurement / Measures / Mental depression / Mental disorders / Mental Health / Middle Aged / Optimism / Original Research Article / Physical ability / Prevalence / Protective Factors / Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Psychosocial factors / Psychosocial intervention / Regression Analysis / resilience / Risk Factors / Severity / Sex differences / Social isolation / Society / Sociodemographics / Studies / Subjectivity / Surveys and Questionnaires / Well being / Wisdom / Women