Dataset Information

The role of social network structure and function in moderate and severe social and emotional loneliness: The Dutch SaNAE study in older adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Loneliness is a serious public health problem. This became even more visible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the key social network aspects contributing to loneliness remain unknown. Here, we evaluated social network structure and function and associations with (moderate/severe) social and emotional loneliness in older adults.

Methods

This cross-sectional study includes online questionnaire data (SaNAE cohort, August-November 2020), in independently living Dutch adults aged 40 years and older. For the separate outcomes of social and emotional loneliness, associations with structural social network aspects (e.g., network diversity - having various types of relationships, and density - network members who know each other), and functional social network aspects (informational, emotional, and practical social support) were assessed and risk estimates were adjusted for age, educational level, level or urbanization, comorbidities, and network size. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were stratified by sex.

Results

Of 3396 participants (55 % men; mean age 65 years), 18 % were socially lonely which was associated with a less diverse and less dense network, living alone, feeling less connected to friends, not having a club membership, and fewer emotional supporters (men only) or informational supporters (women only). 28 % were emotionally lonely, which was associated with being socially lonely, and more exclusively online (versus in-person) contacts (men only), and fewer emotional supporters (women only).

Conclusion

Network structure and function beyond the mere number of contacts is key in loneliness. Public health strategies to prevent loneliness in older adults should be sex-tailored and promote network diversity and density, club membership, informational and emotional support, and in-person contact.

SUBMITTER: Steijvers LC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10788429 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The role of social network structure and function in moderate and severe social and emotional loneliness: The Dutch SaNAE study in older adults.

Steijvers Lisanne Cj LC Brinkhues Stephanie S Suanet Bianca B Stijnen Mandy Mn MM Hoebe Christian Jpa CJ Dukers-Muijrers Nicole Htm NH

Heliyon 20231216 1

<h4>Background</h4>Loneliness is a serious public health problem. This became even more visible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the key social network aspects contributing to loneliness remain unknown. Here, we evaluated social network structure and function and associations with (moderate/severe) social and emotional loneliness in older adults.<h4>Methods</h4>This cross-sectional study includes online questionnaire data (SaNAE cohort, August-November 2020), in independently living Dutch adul ...[more]

PMID: 38226216

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Project description:BackgroundLoneliness is a major health issue among older adults. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between loneliness, in its social and emotional facets, and the cognitive (language), and behavioral/psychological functioning as well as quality of life (QoL) in people with mild and moderate dementia, i.e., considering dementia severity as an individual characteristic.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 58 people with mild dementia and 55 people with moderate dementia. Participants completed the Social and Emotional Loneliness scale, along with measures assessing their language skills, the frequency and severity of their behavioral and psychological symptoms, and their QoL.ResultsSocio-demographic characteristics and depression, but not loneliness or its social and emotional facets, contributed to explain participants' behavioral and psychological symptoms, regardless of dementia severity. Loneliness explained, though to a small extent (8% of variance), language skills in people with moderate dementia, with social loneliness only accounting for language skills (18% of variance) in this group. Loneliness also modestly accounted for dysphoria symptoms in both the mildly and moderately impaired (6% and 5% of variance, respectively) individuals with social loneliness predicting dysphoric mood in the former group only (7% of variance). Loneliness also explained, to a larger extent, QoL in both the mildly impaired and moderately impaired individuals (27% and 20% of variance, respectively), its social facet predicting QoL in the mildly impaired (30% of variance), and its emotional facet in the moderately impaired (21% of variance) group.ConclusionThese findings suggest that loneliness and its facets have a clear impact on perceived QoL, and influence the language skills and dysphoria symptoms of people with dementia, to a degree that depends on dementia severity. The assessment of loneliness and its facets in people with dementia considering dementia severity, and the promotion of social inclusion to reduce it should be considered by professionals.

Dataset Information

The role of social network structure and function in moderate and severe social and emotional loneliness: The Dutch SaNAE study in older adults.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

The role of social network structure and function in moderate and severe social and emotional loneliness: The Dutch SaNAE study in older adults.

Similar Datasets

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