Hearing impairment and loneliness in older adults in Shandong, China: the modifying effect of living arrangement.

Abstract

Hearing impairment is a highly prevalent condition and potential risk factor of loneliness in older adults. There is little evidence on whether living arrangement modifies the effects of hearing impairment on loneliness in older adults. (1) Explore the relationship between hearing impairment and loneliness in old adults; (2) investigate the modifying effect of living arrangement on the association between hearing impairment and loneliness. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of 7070 participants (aged 60-101) in Shandong province of China. Hearing impairment was measured by a single self-reported question. Variables about social demography and physical functioning were assessed using self-administered questionnaires, and loneliness using short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale. Linear regression models were performed to evaluate the association between hearing impairment and loneliness and possible effect modified by living arrangement. After controlling variables, older adults with hearing impairment reported significantly higher levels of loneliness than those with normal hearing (β = 0.024; P < 0.001). Living arrangement has a significant modifying effect on association between hearing impairment and loneliness. Our results underscored the potential impact of hearing impairment on loneliness in older adults, and also suggested that having adult children in the same village/community may play a protective role in reducing the loneliness of older adults with hearing impairment.