Adapting the UCLA 3-item loneliness scale for community-based depressive symptoms screening interview among older Chinese: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Loneliness is a significant and independent risk factor for depression in later life. Particularly in Asian culture, older people may find it less stigmatising to express loneliness than depression. This study aimed to adapt a simple loneliness screen for use in older Chinese, and to ascertain its relevance in detecting depressive symptoms as a community screening tool.

Design, setting and participants

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1653 older adults aged 60 years or above living in the community in Hong Kong. This was a convenient sample recruited from four local non-governmental organisations providing community eldercare or mental healthcare services. All data was collected by trained social workers through face-to-face interviews.

Measures

SUBMITTER: Liu T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7733209 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature