Associations of Loneliness and Social Isolation With Health Span and Life Span in the U.S. Health and Retirement Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Loneliness and social isolation are emerging public health challenges for aging populations.

Methods

We followed N = 11 302 U.S. Health and Retirement Study participants aged 50-95 from 2006 to 2014 to measure persistence of experiences of loneliness and exposure to social isolation. We tested associations of longitudinal loneliness and social isolation phenotypes with disability, morbidity, mortality, and biological aging through 2018.

Results

During follow-up, 18% of older adults met criteria for loneliness, with 6% meeting criteria at 2 or more follow-up assessments. For social isolation, these fractions were 21% and 8%. Health and Retirement Study participants who experienced loneliness and were exposed to social isolation were at increased risk for dis

SUBMITTER: Crowe CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8514074 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature