Prevalence of Loneliness in Older Adults: A Scoping Review

Sarah Schroyen · Niels Janssen · Lukas A. Duffner · Marja Y. Veenstra · Effrosyni Pyrovolaki · Éric Salmon +1 more

21 citations0/0 files storedHealth & Social Care in the Community

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Health disparities and outcomes COVID-19 and Mental Health Aging, Health, and Disability

Abstract

Objectives. To review the prevalence of loneliness (during/after COVID-19) in older people. Design. Scoping review using Medline and PsycInfo for worldwide prevalence estimates (white published literature search) and Google for prevalence data inside the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (grey literature). Setting. Worldwide prevalence estimates and a focus on the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. Participants. Papers published between 2016 and 2022 and a mean age of minimum of 65 years. Measurements. Prevalence estimates for older people. Results. The white literature search yielded 37 articles. Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, loneliness estimates were the highest in Nigeria (46%) and the lowest in Australia (5%) (mean prevalence was 25.6%). Loneliness was reported to be higher in specific populations, for example, people living in specific communities such as senior housing communities or with impairments, than in the general population, with a mean prevalence estimate of 47.8%. During COVID-19, the prevalence of loneliness was higher than that before the pandemic: we observed a mean prevalence of 39.4%, in comparison to 25.6 before COVID-19. The grey literature search showed that, compared to Belgium and the Netherlands (13.5% and 36.5%, respectively), loneliness estimates were the lowest in Germany, with a mean prevalence of 7.7%. Conclusion. Large international differences in the prevalence of loneliness were observed between countries and populations studied. Several hypotheses could explain such differences, including sociocultural or historical-political characteristics. Without surprise, the pandemic and associated measures were linked to a higher level of loneliness. Furthermore, recommendations for addressing loneliness, including interventions, are discussed.

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References

2015Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality 2010Loneliness Matters: A Theoretical and Empirical Review of Consequences and Mechanisms 2010A Meta-Analysis of Interventions to Reduce Loneliness 2020COVID-19 and the consequences of isolating the elderly 2012Loneliness, health, and mortality in old age: A national longitudinal study 2001Influences on Loneliness in Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis 2015Loneliness and Health in Older Adults: A Mini-Review and Synthesis 2020Loneliness and social isolation interventions for older adults: a scoping review of reviews

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