Bidirectional Longitudinal Association between Back Pain and Loneliness in Later Life: Evidence from English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

This study examined the bidirectional and temporal-ordinal relationship between loneliness and back pain.

Methods

Data from 7,730 participants in waves 6 (2012-2013), 7 (2014-2015), and 8 (2016-2017) of the national English Longitudinal Study of Ageing were analyzed. Back pain was graded on a scale of 0-10 (0, no discomfort; 10, unbearable pain). Loneliness was measured using the Revised University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale. A targeted minimum loss-based estimator was used to examine the bidirectional longitudinal associations between back pain and loneliness.

Results

No loneliness in waves 6 and 7 (relative risk [RR]=0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-0.94), no loneliness in wave 6 but loneliness in wave 7 (RR=0.58; 95% CI, 0.50-0.68

SUBMITTER: Suzuki Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10982446 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature