Abstract
Loneliness is a serious concern in aging populations. The key risk factors include poor health, depression, poor material circumstances, and low social participation and social support. Oral disease and tooth loss have a significant negative impact on the quality of life and well-being of older adults. However, there is a lack of studies relating oral health to loneliness. This study investigated the association between oral health-related quality of life (through the use of the oral impact on daily performances—OIDP—measure) and loneliness amongst older adults living in England. Data from respondents aged 50 and older from the third (2006–2007) and fifth (2010–2011) waves of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing were analyzed. In the cross-sectional logistic regression model that adjusted for socio-demographic, socio-economic, health, and psychosocial factors, the odds of loneliness were 1.48 (1.16–1.88; p < 0.01) higher amongst those who reported at least one oral impact compared to those with no oral impact. Similarly, in the fully adjusted longitudinal model, respondents who reported an incident oral impact were 1.56 times (1.09–2.25; p < 0.05) more likely to become lonely. The association between oral health-related quality of life and loneliness was attenuated after adjusting for depressive symptoms, low social participation, and social support. Oral health-related quality of life was identified as an independent risk factor for loneliness amongst older adults. Maintaining good oral health in older age may be a protective factor against loneliness.
Highlights
Loneliness can affect people at any stage of life but older people, especially those over 80 years, are at particular risk (Dykstra 2009)
Maintaining good oral health in older age may be a protective factor against loneliness
Loneliness was more prevalent in women, amongst those aged 75 years and over, and amongst those who did not live with a partner
Summary
Loneliness can affect people at any stage of life but older people, especially those over 80 years, are at particular risk (Dykstra 2009). Older people are at increased risk of experiencing social isolation through the loss of a spouse, close relatives, and friends. Eur J Ageing (2017) 14:101–109 needs to be differentiated from social isolation as the latter refers to the absence of relationships with other people (de Jong Gierveld and Havens 2004), in contrast to the subjective nature of loneliness, which refers to the perception of a discrepancy between expectations and satisfaction in a person’s social relationships (Peplau and Perlman 1982). Loneliness can be experienced as emotional loneliness—missing the companionship of one particular person such as a spouse or close friend. Social loneliness refers to the lack of a wider circle of friends and acquaintances that can provide a sense of belonging and companionship
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