Higher Levels Of Loneliness Research Articles

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LONELINESS WITH CELEBRITY WORSHIP AMONG ADOLESCENTS USING BTS FAN ACCOUNTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA TWITTER

This research examines a relationship between loneliness with celebrity worship among adolescents using BTS fan accounts on social media twitter. BTS is one of the Boy groups that occupy the first position from 2018 to 2021 which is widely discussed by fans on Twitter social media. Through social media, fans often perform celebrity worship behavior towards their idols. Celebrity worship is described as obsessive behavior involving a one-way relationship between a fan and one or more idols. Many factors influence fans to shape celebrity worship behavior, in this research is loneliness. This study involved 200 respondents, consisting of 193 females and 7 males who had moderate and high levels of loneliness and celebrity worship. The measuring instruments used are the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3) which was adapted by Malahayati (2018) and the Celebrity Attitude Scale (CAS) which was adapted by Lauwhanda (2020). Analysis uses pearson correlation technique, and obstains r (200) = 0.625, p = 0.000 < 0.05. The result shows that there is positive and significant correlation between loneliness and celebrity worship.

Satisfaction with care in patients with schizophrenia treated in a pilot-program model and traditional care.

The purpose of this study was to compare satisfaction with care in patients with schizophrenia in two CMHT models: traditional and pilot program group with concurrent assessment of symptom severity and social functioning. Ninety patients with schizophrenia treated in Community Mental Health Teams were included in the study, 60 in the traditional model and 30 in the pilot-program model.A demographic data questionnaire, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Verona Service Satisfaction Scale (VSSS-54), the Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS), the Social Network Index (SNI),and a scale measuring loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale) were used. The pilot-program group was characterized by significantly lower age of subjects (p=0.048), less psychiatric medication use (p=0.027), higher total(p<0.001) and positive (p<0.001) symptom severity in PANSS, smaller social network (p=0.003), less role activity in social network (p<0.001), higher level of loneliness (p=0.001) and higher level of disability (p<0.001). The pilot-program group had significantly higher satisfaction with involvement of families in the therapeutic process(p = 0.024). In the pilot-program group, younger, more severely ill patients with higher severity of symptoms and worse social functioning were included in the treatment with no differences in the number of hospitalizations between the groups. It can be concluded that CMHT in the pilot-program Mental Health Centers (MHCs) protects this group of patients from hospitalization. There was also higher satisfaction with family involvement in the therapeutic process in the pilot-program group. A valuable continuation of the study would be to evaluate the treatment outcomes in all CMHTs operating under the pilot-program MHCs.

Sex differences in friendships and loneliness in autistic and non-autistic children across development

BackgroundAutistic children have been shown to have less complete definitions of friendships and higher levels of loneliness than their non-autistic peers. However, no known studies have explored sex differences in autistic children’s understanding of friendships and reported loneliness across development. Autistic girls demonstrate higher levels of social motivation than autistic boys and appear to “fit in” with their peers, but they often have difficulty recognizing reciprocal friendships during middle childhood. As autistic girls develop a more complex understanding of friendship during adolescence, they may begin to redefine their friendships and experience heightened loneliness. Here, we explored how autistic and non-autistic boys and girls define the meaning of friendship and report feelings of loneliness across development. We also examined their perceptions of friendships and loneliness.MethodsThis mixed-methods study analyzed the transcribed clinical evaluations of 58 autistic children (29 girls) matched to 42 non-autistic children (21 girls) on age and IQ. Transcripts were coded for four categories that children used to define friendships—personality, companionship, dependability, and intimacy—and for reported loneliness. We then compared these codes across diagnosis, sex, and age. Content analyses were further implemented to gain a more holistic understanding of children’s perceptions of friendships and loneliness.ResultsGirls, regardless of diagnosis, were more likely than boys to refer to personality when defining the meaning of friendship, and the likelihood of referring to dependability and intimacy increased with age. Most children reported having at least one friend, though some autistic adolescents reported not having friends or were uncertain whether they had friends. While autistic and non-autistic boys and girls were equally likely to report feeling lonely at times, several autistic girls and boys reported being frequently lonely.LimitationsThis study was a secondary data analysis. The standardized set of questions on the ADOS limited the amount of information that children provided about their friendships and perceptions of loneliness.ConclusionAs with non-autistic children, autistic children acquire a more complex understanding of friendship throughout development. However, as children begin to prioritize dependability and intimacy in friendships, autistic adolescents may have difficulty developing friendships characterized by these constructs. Furthermore, the quantity and/or quality of autistic children’s friendships may not be sufficient to alleviate loneliness.

Loneliness and time abroad in Polish migrants in the UK: Protective role of religious experience.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between time spent abroad, level of religious experience, and loneliness in Polish migrants in the UK. Factors differentiating the level of loneliness were migration time (up to one year, from one to five years, and over five years) and religious experience, which was postulated to have a protective function against the level of loneliness experienced. The R-UCLA test was used to verify the level of loneliness, and religious experience was measured with the Religious Experience Scale in participants (N = 200) who were Polish migrants. The results showed that the relationship between time abroad and loneliness is not linear-the highest levels of loneliness were experienced in those who had been living in the UK between one and five years, which is consistent with the observations of Homoncik et al. (2017). Furthermore, the level of religious experience was significantly related to loneliness in that those with high levels of religious experience displayed lower levels of loneliness than those with low levels of religious experience. These results may suggest the need for interventions to raise awareness of potential risks among people with high levels of loneliness.

Multimorbidity Patterns in Older Adults: the Role of Social Variables and Lifestyle Behaviors

Introduction: While some condition clusters represent the chance co-occurrence of common individual conditions, others may represent shared causal factors. The aims of this study were to identify multimorbidity patterns in older adults and to explore the relationship between social variables, lifestyle behaviors, and the multimorbidity patterns identified. Methods: This was a cross-sectional design. Data came from 3,273 individuals aged ≥65 from the Seniors-ENRICA-2 cohort; information on 60 chronic disease categories, categorized according to the 2nd edition of the International Classification of Primary Care and the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases, was obtained from clinical record linkage. To identify multimorbidity patterns, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted over chronic disease categories with a prevalence >5%, using Oblimin rotation and Kaiser’s eigenvalues-greater-than-one rule. The association between multimorbidity patterns and their potential determinants was assessed with multivariable linear regression. Results: The three-factor solution (Musculoskeletal diseases and mental disorders, Cardiometabolic diseases, and Cardiopulmonary diseases) explained 64.5% of the total variance. Being older, lower occupational category, higher levels of loneliness, lower levels of physical activity, and higher body mass index were associated with higher scores in the multimorbidity patterns identified. Female sex was linked to the Musculoskeletal diseases and mental disorders pattern, while being male was revealed to the two remaining multimorbidity patterns. A high diet quality was inversely related to Cardiometabolic diseases, while optimal sleep duration was inversely related to Cardiopulmonary diseases. Conclusion: Three multimorbidity patterns were identified in older adults. Multimorbidity patterns were differently associated with social variables and lifestyles behavioral factors.

Loneliness and Well-Being in Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review.

Concerns have been raised about the loneliness and well-being of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The extent to which the ongoing pandemic has impacted loneliness and the association between loneliness and well-being is unclear. Therefore, a systematic review of empirical studies on the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted to examine the (1) prevalence of loneliness in children and adolescents, (2) associations between loneliness and indicators of well-being, and (3) moderators of these associations. Five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, Web of Science, ERIC) were searched from 1 January 2020 to 28 June 2022 and 41 studies met our inclusion criteria (cross-sectional: n = 30; longitudinal: n = 11; registered on PROSPERO: CRD42022337252). Cross-sectional prevalence rates of pandemic loneliness varied, with some finding that over half of children and adolescents experienced at least moderate levels of loneliness. Longitudinal results reflected significant mean increases in loneliness compared to pre-pandemic levels. Cross-sectional results indicated that higher levels of loneliness were significantly associated with poorer well-being, including higher depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, gaming addiction, and sleep problems. Longitudinal associations between loneliness and well-being were more complex than cross-sectional associations, varying by assessment timing and factors in the statistical analyses. There was limited diversity in study designs and samples, preventing a thorough examination of moderating characteristics. Findings highlight a broader challenge with child and adolescent well-being that predates the pandemic and the need for future research to examine underrepresented populations across multiple timepoints.

Is it my fault? The role of the feeling of guilt in adolescent peer victimization.

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between feelings of guilt, peer victimization in school, and loneliness based on adolescents' gender. A total of 671 Spanish students (50.7% boys), aged 10-16 years old (M = 13.04, SD = 1.80) from six public primary and secondary schools participated in the study. A Multivariate Analysis of Variance (3 × 2) was calculated. Adolescents with high levels of guilt presented greater physical, verbal, and relational victimization, as well as higher levels of loneliness. In addition, boys high in guilt had the highest scores in overt physical victimization, while girls high in guilt had the highest levels of loneliness. Results obtained suggest that adolescents with greater feelings of guilt feel responsible for being victims of peer aggression and for feeling lonely. These findings suggest the need to address the feeling of guilt, taking into account the gender perception.

Brain tumours in the time of COVID-19: An online survey on patients' disease experience in one Italian region.

Since the outbreak, in 2019, of COVID-19, the world has experienced marked changes in daily habits, partly reflecting the exceptional social restrictions and health measures adopted to contain the disease. All these measures significantly affected not only peoples's daily lives and psychological well-being but also the possibility for the healthcare system to function properly. In this setting, brain tumour patients were at risk due to their higher physical and mental fragility and their need for regular care. The aim of the present study was to assess, using a self-reported online questionnaire, the patients's perceptions regarding their disease experience. We developed an online anonymous self-report survey to assess patients's disease experience during the pandemic. We investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients's cancer care schedules, their psychological distress and emotions felt during the pandemic, their levels of worry about COVID-19, and their oncological conditions. 107 patients answered our survey, most of them suffering from a glioma. Less than one-third of the sample had their appointments cancelled, delayed or converted into online visits due to the pandemic. Of the patients who answered the survey, 95% declared they were satisfied with their Institute's oncological management. The feelings reported most often were peacefulness or anxiety/worry; the majority of the sample reported high levels of loneliness, which tended to increase with age, whilst the psychological distress was correlated with age and with having a recurrence of the disease. Half of the sample declared severe worry about their oncological condition, in particular subjects with a recurrence or who were receiving adjuvant therapies. Patients with recurrence tended to worry more about the possibility of contracting COVID-19, and its effects. Our findings illustrate how fragile and in need of care patients with a brain tumour may be, especially those with more severe clinical conditions. These data may help boost healthcare professionals's knowledge about brain tumour patients's needs and fears, so as to be able to offer them a better hospital experience and improve their clinical management, while possibly also reducing the psychological burden on patients and their families.

Mental health and loneliness in Scottish schools: A multilevel analysis of data from the health behaviour in school-aged children study.

Adolescent loneliness and poor mental health represent dual public health concerns. Yet, associations between loneliness and mental health, and critically, how these associations vary in school settings are less understood. Framed by social-ecological theory, we aimed to identify key predictors of adolescent mental health and examine school-level variation in the relationship between loneliness and mental health. Cross-sectional data on adolescents from the 2018 wave of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (HBSC) in Scotland were used (N=5286). Mental health was measured as a composite variable containing items assessing nervousness, irritability, sleep difficulties and feeling low. Loneliness was measured via a single item assessing how often adolescents felt 'left out'. Multilevel models were used to identify social-ecological predictors of mental health, associations with loneliness and between-school variation. Loneliness, as well as demographic, social and school factors, was found to be associated with mental health. Mental health varied across schools, with the between-school difference greater among adolescents with high levels of loneliness. Additionally, the negative effect of loneliness on mental health was stronger in schools with lower average mental health scores. The findings suggest that schools can play an important role in shaping adolescent mental health. Our study uniquely identifies that school-based interventions targeting mental health may be especially necessary among lonely adolescents, and programmes aimed at tackling loneliness may be more beneficial in schools with poorer mental health.

Italian University Students’ Resilience during the COVID-19 Lockdown—A Structural Equation Model about the Relationship between Resilience, Emotion Regulation and Well-Being

Over the past two years, the consequences of the severe restrictions imposed by the rapid spread of COVID-19 among the global population have been a central focus of scientific research. The pandemic has been a singular and unexpected event that found people unprepared and vulnerable in responding to its emergence, resulting in substantial psychological distress. Scientific evidence has highlighted that adolescents and emerging adults have been among those populations at greatest risk of adverse psychological outcomes, even in the long term. In particular, more than one-third of young adults reported high levels of loneliness, and nearly half of 18- to 24-year-olds felt lonely during the pandemic, experiencing both psychological and emotional distress. The lockdown, the consequent suspension of face-to-face academic activities and the severe restriction of social life have disrupted the daily routines of students already involved in coping with developmental tasks related to identity formation and the relational experience. Under such conditions, emotions and emotional regulation skills are crucial in adapting behavior to reach academic goals and face mounting levels of distress. Therefore, several studies have investigated resilience mechanisms and coping strategies of emerging adults during the pandemic. The present study focuses on university students and explores the impact of resilience and emotional regulation on adverse psychological outcomes related to persistent distress conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Students were administered a self-report assessment battery through an online platform at the beginning (T0) and the end of the lockdown (T1). A structural equation model (SEM) was used to explore the relationship between resilience, emotional regulation difficulties and psychological distress (depression, anxiety and stress). The findings indicate that psychological resilience and emotion regulation are protective factors that buffer the extent of possible distress resulting from an adverse condition such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Neighbourhood Ethnic Density, Local Language Skills, and Loneliness among Older Migrants-A Population-Based Study on Russian Speakers in Finland.

So far, little attention has been paid to contextual factors shaping loneliness and their interaction with individual characteristics. Moreover, the few existing studies have not included older migrants, identified as a group who are vulnerable to loneliness. This study examined the association between neighbourhood ethnic density (the proportion of own-group residents and the proportion of other ethnic residents in an area) and loneliness among older migrants. Furthermore, we investigated whether local language skills moderated this association. A population-based representative survey (The CHARM study, n = 1082, 57% men, mean age 63.2 years) and postal code area statistics were used to study Russian-speaking migrants aged 50 or older in Finland. The study design and data are hierarchical, with individuals nested in postcode areas. We accounted for this by estimating corresponding mixed models. We used a linear outcome specification and conducted logistic and ordinal robustness checks. After controlling for covariates, we found that ethnic density variables (measured as the proportion of Russian speakers and the proportion of other foreign speakers) were not associated with loneliness. Our interaction results showed that increased own-group ethnic density was associated with a higher level of loneliness among those with good local language skills but not among those with weaker skills. Good local language skills may indicate a stronger orientation towards the mainstream destination society and living in a neighbourhood with a higher concentration of own-language speakers may feel alienating for those who wish to be more included in mainstream society.

Loneliness among Elderly

Ageing is a series of processes that begins with life and continues throughout the life cycle. Beyond the biological changes, life transitions such as retirement, relocation and urbanization influence the lives of elderly people and put them at risk for loneliness. The feeling of loneliness has many deleterious consequences. Hence the present study aims to assess loneliness among elderly people. The sample of the study is 400 elderly people living in the randomly selected wards of Tirupati. The perceived loneliness scale developed by Jha (1997) was used to assess the loneliness among elderly. Results revealed that 17% of the elderly had a high level of loneliness, most of the elderly (67%) had a moderate level of loneliness and 16 % had a low level of loneliness. Female elderly, elderly with lower education levels, who are suffering from chronic illness, had obtained significantly higher mean scores on loneliness.

Understanding men's beliefs and concerns about linking health data in the context of precision medicine.

Linking data is a critical feature of precision medicine initiatives that involves integrating information from multiple sources to improve researchers' and clinicians' ability to deliver care. We have limited understanding of how individuals perceive linking data as it relates to precision medicine. The aim of this study was to identify how sociodemographics, comorbidities, and beliefs about precision medicine influence two outcomes related to linking data: beliefs about linking data and concerns about linking data among men. We recruited 124 adult men from primary care practices at a large clinical research university to complete a cross-sectional survey that included questions about sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, beliefs, benefits, and limitations of precision medicine, and two outcomes of interest: beliefs about the value of linking data and concerns about linking data. Descriptive statistics, bivariate associations, and multivariable regression were conducted. Participants had positive beliefs about linking data for precision medicine (M = 4.05/5) and average concern about linking data (M = 2.1/5). Final multivariable models revealed that higher levels of loneliness are associated with more positive beliefs about linking data (β = 0.41, p = 0.027). Races other than African American (β = -0.64, p = 0.009) and those with lower perceived limitations of precision medicine were less likely to be concerned about linking data (β = -0.75, p = 0.0006). Our results advance the literature about perceptions of linking data for use in clinical and research studies among men. Better understanding of factors associated with more positive perceptions of data linkages could help improve how researchers recruit and engage participants.

Internalized Stigma, Self-Esteem, Loneliness, and Suicide Probability in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder in Remission

Objective: It was aimed to investigate internalized stigma, self-esteem, suicide probability, and loneliness in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) in remission. Methods: Fifty patients diagnosed with AUD according to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and 50 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5), Suicide Probability Scale (SPS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSS), and University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS) were administered to all participants. In addition, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMIS) was applied to the AUD group. Results: UCLA-LS scores were found to be significantly higher in the AUD group than the control group (p=0.014). RSS scores were found to be significantly lower in the AUD group compared to the control group (p=0.019). The SPS total score and all subscale scores were similar in the AUD group and healthy controls (for all; p&gt;0.05). In the AUD group, as ISMIS scores increased, SPS scores and UCLA-LS scores increased (respectively; p=0.022, p=0.003), while as UCLA-LS scores increased, SPS scores increased and RSS scores decreased (respectively; p=0.005, p=0.001). In the regression analysis, loneliness predicts the probability of suicide in AUD patients. Conclusion: It can be said that even if AUD patients are in remission, they have lower self-esteem and higher levels of loneliness, and the probability of suicide is not different from healthy controls. In addition, it can be said that as internalized stigma increases in AUD patients, the level of loneliness and the possibility of suicide increase.

Young people's recommended coping strategies to manage social isolation: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in the UK

Loneliness is common in young people, yet there are few evidence-based interventions to manage youth loneliness. Understanding the ways in which young people cope with social isolation may inform the development of targeted loneliness programmes for young people. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic when social restrictions were at a peak, 2500 young people aged 12–25 years were asked to report freely on coping strategies that they would recommend to peers to manage isolation and loneliness. The coding of qualitative responses suggested that young people recommended a range of different coping strategies, which we grouped into categories: contact seeking, approach, distraction, self-care, self-talk, self-compassion, and gratitude. Regression analyses showed that age, sex and socioeconomic background were associated with recommendation of some of the coping strategies. Paradoxically, recommendation of self-compassion was associated with higher levels of loneliness, while recommendation of approach and self-talk was associated with higher levels of wellbeing. This study highlights the importance of exploring how young people manage loneliness, a complex process that involves various strategies and is associated with an individual's demographic characteristics.

Feeling low and lonely: Personality traits, love styles, and social rejection

To better understand how personality traits related to interpersonal functioning, we considered (N = 308) the possibility that personality leads to certain love styles which then lead to social rejection in the forms of low self-esteem and high loneliness. We focused here on the Five Factor model derived from the DSM (i.e., psychoticism, antagonism, disinhibited, negative affect, and detachment) to augment work on the traditional Big Five. All measured personality traits were connected to ludus, storge, pragma, and mania love styles. Moreover, each trait was associated with lower levels of self-esteem but higher levels of loneliness. We showed that these personality traits may be associated with problematic love styles which in turn lead to more social rejection. We interpret out results using sociometer theory.

What’s Up? Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Social Media use among Persons with Acquired BrainInjury

Background: Acquired brain injury can lead to both perceived and actual social isolation. Social media has been proposed as having the potential to reduce social isolation after a brain injury. Research has revealed mixed results into the relationship between social media use and social isolation, and there has been little research of those with an acquired brain injury. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine potential associations between social media use, subjective, and objective social isolation among persons with an acquired brain injury. Method: The participants in this study were 40 members of the support group Headway. Questionnaires were used to measure social media use, loneliness, and social isolation. Results: There were no significant correlations found between social media use and subjective, or objective social isolation. There were significant correlations between loneliness, social isolation, and demographic factors. Conclusion: This study found a high prevalence of loneliness in this sample of individuals with an acquired brain injury. Future research should further explore factors associated with social media use contributing to, or protecting against social isolation, to reduce the high levels of loneliness reported in this population. Keywords: Acquired brain injury; social media; loneliness; social isolation

Prevalence of loneliness and its correlates among patients with schizophrenia.

There are limited data on loneliness and its correlates in patients with schizophrenia. To evaluate prevalence and correlates of loneliness in patients with schizophrenia, currently in clinical remission. A total of 160 patients of schizophrenia in clinical remission were assessed on UCLA Loneliness Scale, Positive and Negative syndrome scale, Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Brief COPE, Beck's Hopelessness Scale, Brief Dyadic Scale of Expressed Emotions, and Self-report Quality of Life Measure. The mean age of the study sample was 34.99 (SD = 9.13) years. The prevalence of loneliness in the study sample was 80%, with mean total UCLA-loneliness scale score of 30.04 (16.9).Compared to participants without loneliness, those with loneliness had had higher CDSS score, had poor quality of life, lower self-esteem, experienced higher level of stigma, more often used maladaptive coping strategies such as self-blaming and reported a higher level of hopelessness. In the correlation analysis, higher level of loneliness was associated higher severity of depression, higher level of stigma (except for stigma resistance) and discrimination, poorer quality of life, lower self-esteem, perception of a higher level of expressed emotions, higher use of maladaptive coping in the domains of behavioral disengagement, and self-blaming, and a higher level of hopelessness. In regression analysis, the maximum variance of loneliness was explained by quality of life score (29%), followed by hopelessness score (8.8%) and discrimination score (2%). There is a high prevalence of loneliness in patients with schizophrenia, and there is a need to routinely evaluate the patients of schizophrenia for loneliness and address the same.

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AND LONELINESS AMONG OLDER PUERTO RICANS: HOW DOES DISCRIMINATION MATTER?

Abstract Loneliness is associated with worse mental health conditions, more functional limitations, and higher mortality among older adults. Almost one third older Puerto Ricans have experienced loneliness. Research has shown that post-traumatic stress has been associated with higher risk of loneliness among older adults; however, such an association has not been examined among Puerto Ricans despite their high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, perceived discrimination, a critical risk factor of social isolation, is likely to reduce help-seeking behaviors and aggregate loneliness among individuals who have experienced trauma. Nonetheless, few studies have focused on the moderating role of perceived discrimination on the association between post-traumatic stress and loneliness. This study examines the association between post-traumatic stress and loneliness and whether that association differs by everyday perceived discrimination among older Puerto Ricans. Data were collected from 304 Puerto Ricans aged 60 and above living in the Greater Boston area who responded to questionnaires. We used ordinary least squares regression to examine the association between post-traumatic stress, perceived everyday discrimination, and loneliness. We found that post-traumatic stress was significantly associated with higher levels of loneliness; however, the association differed by perceived everyday discrimination. The association between post-traumatic stress and loneliness was stronger for those that perceived a higher level of everyday discrimination. Findings underscored the role that perceived discrimination plays in exacerbating loneliness among older Puerto Ricans experiencing post-traumatic stress and have clinical and public health implications for service delivery and mental health promotion among older Puerto Ricans.

FEELING VS BEING CONNECTED: DIFFERENTIATING LONELINESS AND ISOLATION IN NEAR- AND CENTENARIANS

Abstract While gerotranscendence theories postulate that older adults tend to orient themselves toward solitude, activity theories highlight the importance of continuing social and meaningful engagement for well-being across lifespan. The distinction between loneliness and social isolation is particularly observable in older adults of advanced age who are often facing accelerated decline in physical and functional health, therefore restricting their opportunities to interact with others. This has been particularly disturbing during the previous two years under COVID. This study utilized data from the 2nd Hong Kong Centenarian Study which interviewed 120 family caregivers of older adults aged 95 or above in 2021–2022 when the city experienced almost an entire year of the outbreak. Using family or friend proxy information as well as caregiver ratings of whether older adults expressed feelings of social isolation and loneliness, we found that 10.7% of older adults reported high levels of loneliness and isolation; 26.7% feeling low in both; 11.5% were isolated but not lonely, and 38.2% were lonely but not isolated. Loneliness ratings were more strongly associated with psychological well-being (Patient Health Questionnaire-4), autonomy, happiness, perceived usefulness, worries, and death anxiety than did isolation, with the latter negatively correlated with optimism. Participants rated in the low isolation/loneliness group were least (death) anxious than the other three groups. Our findings underscore the divergence of isolation and loneliness for adults of advanced age and call for psychological support for oldest-old adults who continue to face social isolation, especially when society gradually recovers from COVID.