Lonely People Research Articles

Investigating the prevalence and associated factors of depression, anxiety, and loneliness among people with type-2 diabetes in Bangladesh: a community-based study

Diabetes mellitus is a major worldwide health concern. Diabetes has been associated with a number of adverse mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, and loneliness that can negatively impact diabetes outcomes. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with depression, anxiety, and loneliness in people, in the community, suffering with diabetes in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 600 people with type-2 diabetes (54.83% females; mean age: 52.70 ± 11.56 years) between July and September 2022. Purposive sampling method was used to recruit the participants. A validated semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic and other data. Depression, anxiety, and loneliness were measured using the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and UCLA Loneliness scale, respectively. Bivariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to ascertain factors that were significantly associated with these mental health conditions. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and loneliness was 31.17%, 21.83%, and 28.00%, respectively. A lack of formal education, and not taking part in physical activities were significantly associated with all three mental health states. Duration of diabetes and being on medication for high cholesterol were also associated with depression and anxiety. Older age and being widowed were significantly associated with loneliness. This study found that depression, anxiety, and loneliness are prevalent among Bangladeshi people with diabetes, with certain sociodemographic and diabetes-related factors associated with increased risk. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to people within the communities, at grassroot levels in order to improve reduce health inequality, and improve the mental health of people living with diabetes.

Landscapes, cultures and technologies of loneliness: A call for participatory research with young adults

In this viewpoint, we propose directions for research about loneliness among young adults. We argue that loneliness should not be individualized as a problem of ‘lonely people’ and ‘at risk’ groups but rather approached as an environmental and collective problem. Based on scholarship about the challenges that young adults face nowadays we identify three central themes: landscapes, cultures and technologies of loneliness. These themes can best be researched with participatory approaches involving collaborations with young adults in different life world-settings.

Being a good neighbour – about supporting older people in the context of neighbourhood services

The aim of the article is to present the idea of neighbourhood services, which were introduced into the catalog of benefits of the social assistance system under the amendment to the Social Assistance Act at the end of July 2023. Their implementation is possible from November 1, 2023. Neighbourhood services should be understood as support provided to lonely people who, due to age, illness, or other reasons, require the help of other people and for whom their immediate family is unable to provide this support. The services may include assistance in meeting basic living needs, hygiene and nursing care that does not require specialized knowledge and competences and ensuring contacts with other people. Support is provided by people living in the neighbourhood of the person in need. The work of caregivers-neighbours is rewarded in cash by the commune, whose council specifies in a resolution the detailed conditions for granting these services, their size and scope, and the method of settling their performance. The article presents the idea of neighbourhood support in theory and practice, as well as legal provisions regarding neighbourhood services in accordance with the Social Assistance Act. The last part of the text is devoted to good practices in the field of services and neighbourhood care in Poland and USA.

Loneliness in times of global polycrises

Global polycrises comprise the synchronous or consecutive occurrence of various crises, with no intervening phases of stability, e.g., coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, inflation, war and climate crisis. This poses challenges for both society as awhole and its individual members. Polycrises are associated with enormous psychological stress, especially for vulnerable groups. Polycrises also impair social interaction, which can trigger or intensify subjectively stressful loneliness. The aim of this narrative review is to show how loneliness affects social behavior in times of global polycrises and what the consequences are. Loneliness is associated with both mental and physical morbidity and mortality as well as being asignificant barrier to recovery. Studies have shown that there is amutual detrimental influence between mental illness and loneliness. The social behavior of chronically lonely people is characterized by anegative cognitive bias, hypervigilance in the social context and adysregulated oxytocin system. Furthermore, the quality and quantity of these relationships are significantly impaired. The social consequences of loneliness are, for example, adecrease in social engagement and low voting participation. The phenomenon of loneliness clearly shows that crises can exacerbate latent problems and bring them to the surface; however, crises should also be seen as an opportunity to openly and constructively address shame-laden topics such as loneliness in public discourse and in psychotherapeutic settings.

MODERN MECHANISMS OF NON-STATE ACTORSIN THE SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEM PARTICIPATION

The article is devoted to the current topic of development of the social protection system. Statistics show that the number of citizens demanding support from the state is growing: society is aging, there is an increase in the number of people with disabilities, and the number of inpatient social service organizations is growing. The total number of disabled people is more than 11 million people, the number of lonely elderly people is more than 7 million people, which requires the development of modern mechanisms for social protection of the population. The theoretical analysis made it possible to highlight the features of understanding and propose an expanded description of the category “social protection” from the perspective of the individual and the state, including social security, guarantees, assistance, support¸ compensation, insurance, generally characterized by the consumption of all types of social services within the framework of the state social policy . The proposed theoretical three-level model of providing social protection takes into account factorial and dynamic elements and can be the basis for building an effective social security system with the involvement of socially oriented non-profit organizations. The analysis of statistical data revealed an increase in the number of volunteers in the implementation of civil initiatives of socially oriented non-profit organizations, which requires systematic development and implementation in state social support programs to increase the efficiency of social protection processes. A study of the target audience's awareness of the work of socially oriented non-profit organizations confirmed the need to popularize ongoing social projects to expand the scope of social services. The proposed generalized model of the mechanism of social interaction when including the resources of socially oriented non-profit organizations based on forecasting social processes will make it possible to effectively manage the formation of social support programs for the population to increase the efficiency of social protection processes.

On “Things” Making Social Possible: Glass, Clock, Contraceptives

This theoretical study aims to elaborate on an alternative approach, proposing that social relations are made possible by inanimate objects. For example, the means of production, which are used as a category of analysis in social theory, have been tried to be understood by investigating only their social projections, without mentioning these tools themselves. The main aim of this study is to reconsider this theoretical attitude, which results from sociology's view of lonely people as a category of analysis and which creates a deficiency in making sense of historical and social dynamics. In this context, by combining knowledge archaeology and Actor Network Theory, it is aimed to explain things as tools that make the social possible and to present the thesis that gender-based dynamics and/or social class, can also be investigated with this method.

Unleashing the Personality Divide: Resilience in Dog Owners, Neuroticism in Cat Owners

ABSTRACT Personality differences have been reported in “dog people” and “cat people” across all Big Five personality traits. Dog ownership has also been associated with reduced loneliness in people living alone during periods of prolonged isolation, which may be suggestive of higher levels of resilience in this population of pet owners. This research extends these findings by investigating the predictive power of dog vs. cat ownership on Big Five personality traits and resilience in an Australian population, after controlling for age and gender. Three hundred and twenty-one participants completed an online survey consisting of questions on demographics, pet ownership, and personality, as well as providing free-hand responses for their choice in pet. As hypothesized, dog ownership was found to positively predict resilience, while cat ownership positively predicted neuroticism. In contrast to our expectations, no other personality differences were found between pet owners. Qualitative insights suggest pet choice is driven simply by “liking” that pet (i.e., being a “dog person” or “cat person”), pet personality factors, lifestyle habits, and living situations. Findings suggest that personality factors might explain why people who choose to own dogs fare better than people who choose not to own dogs during challenging times of social isolation, which may be unrelated to the animal itself.

Can AI-powered Chatbots and Robots Lower the Risk of Loneliness in People With Neurologic Diseases?

Can AI-powered Chatbots and Robots Lower the Risk of Loneliness in People With Neurologic Diseases?

The loneliness factor in eating disorders: Implications for psychopathology and biological signatures

ObjectivesEating disorders (ED) are severe psychiatric conditions. While the biological consequences of EDs are well established, including an increase in inflammatory biomarkers, the influence of psychological factors, such as loneliness, has only recently gained attention in research. Loneliness has been associated with more severe psychopathology in ED patients, while its association with inflammatory biomarkers has only been explored in the general population. For these reasons, we aimed to investigate any possible associations between psychological features, trauma, and inflammatory biomarkers with loneliness in people with ED. MethodsThis study examined the interaction between loneliness, eating psychopathology, and biological markers in people with EDs. A group of 97 female patients with various diagnoses of ED was assessed for loneliness, general and eating psychopathology, traumatic history during childhood, and clinical biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and urinary-free cortisol (UFC). ResultsThe results indicated that individuals with ED who reported moderate to severe loneliness also displayed greater general psychopathology (p = 0.001), weight concerns (p = 0.007), and physical neglect during childhood (p = 0.006). Furthermore, people with higher levels of loneliness also had higher inflammatory indexes (ESR p = 0.001, CRP p = 0.027) and were positively correlated with markers of stress reaction such as UFC (p < 0.05). ConclusionThe findings underscore the importance of considering loneliness in the assessment of individuals with an ED. We observed notable associations between loneliness and increased psychopathology (both general and specific to eating), as well as higher levels of inflammation and childhood physical neglect. Addressing loneliness may contribute to improving overall well-being and potentially support recovery. This consideration encompasses both psychological and physical factors that interplay in the clinical presentation of individuals.

Self-Efficacy, Resilience, and Loneliness in People with Schizophrenia

ABSTRACT Self-efficacy and resilience have been associated with loneliness in schizophrenia. Studies reported that people with schizophrenia have low self-efficacy, resilience, and experience a greater level of loneliness, which could lead to worsening symptoms. However, inpatient and outpatients’ differences in these variables have rarely been investigated. This study aimed to compare self-efficacy, resilience, and loneliness among people with schizophrenia from outpatients and inpatients. A total of 130 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were included in this study. The data were collected using the socio-demographic questionnaire, the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10 (CD-RISC 10), and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale Version 3. The Chi-Square, Mann-Whitney, and the t-test were used for data analysis. The results indicated that inpatient has higher self-efficacy and resilience than outpatients. Interestingly, inpatient significantly has lower loneliness than outpatients. The findings support the evidence of psychological differences in schizophrenia and provide a better understanding of different settings with this diagnosis. In the clinical practice, these results suggest developing interventions to enhance resilience and self-efficacy in schizophrenia. Keywords: Loneliness, Resilience, Self-Efficacy, Schizophrenia

HISTORY OF FORMATION AND CONTRIBUTION OF CARITAS PHU CUONG IN THE FIELD OF CHARITY TO BINH DUONG PROVINCE

This paper presents the history of Caritas Phu Cuong as a charity and social organization that plays an important role in helping the poor and disabled people of Binh Dương province. In addition, the study also analyze the role and contributions of Caritas Phu Cuong in the field of charity for Binh Duong province in the following aspects: medical examination and medicine distribution for the poor people; life protection program; taking care of lonely elderly people; support people with disabilities to integrate into the community; build a library of books and toys for children; organize compassion classes for children of workers in difficult circumstances; bright path scholarship (Slovakia); environmental protection and human trafficking prevention programs. Finally, the article will discuss the role, functions and scope of activities of Caritas Phu Cuong in different historical periods to adapt to the changes in the socio-political context of Vietnam.

COVID-19 restrictions promoted the newly occurring loneliness in older people - a prospective study in a memory clinic population.

A high burden and many negative outcomes for older people were associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Social isolation and loneliness are prevalent health problems impacting well-being and quality of life and may have increased due to pandemic-related restrictions. Methods: This study investigate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on loneliness in people visiting a mem40ory clinic between March 2020 and September 2022. We conducted a prospective, single-center, questionnaire-based observational follow-up study to assess potential predictors of newly occurring, pandemic-related loneliness. Next to a newly developed COVID-19 questionnaire, a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory and the Geriatric Depression Scale were used. In total 426 people (mean age: 76.48 years, 12.9% cognitively intact, 33.1% diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment, 49.8% diagnosed with dementia, and 4.2% diagnosed with depression) completed the COVID-19 questionnaire at baseline and 166 at follow-up. Newly occurring loneliness was indicated by 22.3% of baseline participants and by 24.1% of follow-up participants. Results of logistic regression analysis showed that living alone (OR 5.452) and having less contact with friends (OR 2.771) were most predictive of the occurrence of loneliness. The use of digital communication media as an alternative strategy for social interaction was lowest in dementia patients (6-13%). In conclusion, personal contacts and a close friendship network appear to be more decisive to prevent loneliness in older people than does the use of digital communication media. However, promoting an intensified use of digital communication media may be useful to counteract loneliness, especially in dementia patients.

Digital loneliness-changes of social recognition through AI companions.

Inherent to the experience of loneliness is a significant change of meaningful relatedness that (usually negatively) affects a person's relationship to self and others. This paper goes beyond a purely subjective-phenomenological description of individual suffering by emphasizing loneliness as a symptomatic expression of distortions of social recognition relations. Where there is loneliness, a recognition relation has changed. Most societies face an increase in loneliness among all groups of their population, and this sheds light on the reproduction conditions of social integration and inclusion. These functions are essential lifeworldly components of social cohesion and wellbeing. This study asks whether "social" AI promotes these societal success goals of social integration of lonely people. The increasing tendency to regard AI Companions (AICs) as reproducers of adequate recognition is critically discussed with this review. My skepticism requires further justification, especially as a large portion of sociopolitical prevention efforts aim to fight an increase of loneliness primarily with digital strategies. I will argue that AICs rather reproduce than sustainably reduce the pathodynamics of loneliness: loneliness gets simply "digitized."

Self-Concept Clarity and Loneliness among College Students: The Chain-Mediating Effect of Fear of Negative Evaluation and Self-Disclosure.

Self-concept clarity is considered a crucial indicator of mental health. Although several studies have examined the correlation between self-concept clarity and loneliness, few studies have investigated the underlying mechanism. Based on the evolutionary theory of loneliness and social penetration theory, this cross-sectional study focused on cognitive and behavioral factors in interpersonal communication situations, aiming to explore the relationship between self-concept clarity and loneliness as well as its internal mechanism. An online questionnaire survey comprised 1145 college students in China to assess their self-concept clarity, fear of negative evaluation, self-disclosure, and loneliness. After controlling for demographic variables, the results showed that self-concept clarity was not only able to directly and negatively predict loneliness but also indirectly predict loneliness through the independent mediating effects of fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure, as well as the chain-mediating effect of fear of negative evaluation to self-disclosure. This study provides important implications for cognitive and behavioral intervention strategies to alleviate people's loneliness and improve their mental health.

Sex-based trajectories of health system use in lonely and not lonely older people: A population-based cohort study.

There is growing interest in understanding the care needs of lonely people but studies are limited and examine healthcare settings separately. We estimated and compared healthcare trajectories in lonely and not lonely older female and male respondents to a national health survey. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of community-dwelling, Ontario respondents (65+ years) to the 2008/2009 Canadian Community Health Survey-Healthy Aging. Respondents were classified at baseline as not lonely, moderately lonely, or severely lonely using the Three-Item Loneliness Scale and then linked with health administrative data to assess healthcare transitions over a 12 -year observation period. Annual risks of moving from the community to inpatient, long-stay home care, long-term care settings-and death-were estimated across loneliness levels using sex-stratified multistate models. Of 2684 respondents (58.8% female sex; mean age 77 years [standard deviation: 8]), 635 (23.7%) experienced moderate loneliness and 420 (15.6%) severe loneliness. Fewer lonely respondents remained in the community with no transitions (not lonely, 20.3%; moderately lonely, 17.5%; and severely lonely, 12.6%). Annual transition risks from the community to home care and long-term care were higher in female respondents and increased with loneliness severity for both sexes (e.g., 2-year home care risk: 6.1% [95% CI 5.5-6.6], 8.4% [95% CI 7.4-9.5] and 9.4% [95% CI 8.2-10.9] in female respondents, and 3.5% [95% CI 3.1-3.9], 5.0% [95% CI 4.0-6.0], and 5.4% [95% CI 4.0-6.8] in male respondents; 5-year long-term care risk: 9.2% [95% CI 8.0-10.8], 11.1% [95% CI 9.3-13.6] and 12.2% [95% CI 9.9-15.3] [female], and 5.3% [95% CI 4.2-6.7], 9.1% [95% CI 6.8-12.5], and 10.9% [95% CI 7.9-16.3] [male]). Lonely older female and male respondents were more likely to need home care and long-term care, with severely lonely female respondents having the highest probability of moving to these settings.

Needs and Suggestions of the Accompaniment Service: A Survey Study of the Residents of Chengdu

The emergence of the companion not only solves the difficulties encountered by some residents when they go to the doctor alone, but also provides companionship for the residents and makes up for the gap in the hearts of the lonely people who go to the doctor. However, as a new industry, there are still many problems in the escort service industry, and residents have different needs and suggestions for the escort industry. Based on the questionnaires distributed to collect the survey samples, this study mainly uses descriptive statistical analysis, frequency analysis, column (cross) analysis, reliability and validity analysis, KANO single-factor analysis, factor analysis, intra-group correlation analysis, PRICE competence model analysis, structural equation modelling analysis, etc., to investigate the different needs of the residents for accompanying services, and the results of the survey suggest that the accompanying service platform should have a perfect management system, service management system, service management system and service management system. The findings suggest that the platform should have a perfect management system and diversified types of services; the accompanying staff should be professionally trained and have relevant medical knowledge and professionalism.

Social participation mediates the relationship between self-efficacy and loneliness among people with stroke during COVID-19: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Background People post-stroke experience increased loneliness, compared to their healthy peers and loneliness may have increased during COVID due to social distancing. How social distancing affected loneliness among people after stroke is unknown. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory suggests that self-efficacy may be a critical component affecting individuals’ emotions, behaviors, attitudes, and interpretation of everyday situations. Additionally, previous studies indicate that self-efficacy is associated with both loneliness and social participation. This study investigates relationships among self-efficacy, social participation, and loneliness in people with stroke. Objectives Determine how social participation affects the relationship between self-efficacy and loneliness in people with stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods 44 participants were community-dwelling individuals, ≥ 6 months post-stroke who participated in a 2-hour phone interview. A regression-based mediation analysis was conducted using these measures: Participation Strategies Self-Efficacy Scale, Activity Card Sort for social participation, and UCLA Loneliness Scale for loneliness. Results The total effect of self-efficacy on loneliness was significant (b = -0.36, p = .01). However, social participation fully mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and loneliness (indirect effect, b = -0.11, 95% CI [−0.24, −0.01]; direct effect, b = -0.25, 95% CI [−0.03, 0]). Conclusions Self-efficacy is associated with both social participation and loneliness in people with stroke in this cross-sectional study. Mediation analysis findings suggest that interventions focused on increasing social participation may prevent or potentially alleviate loneliness in people with stroke who have low self-efficacy.

There is no one size fits all: Elements of implementing virtual bike rides to address loneliness in people living with dementia.

This study aimed to identify factors that hinder or facilitate the implementation of an exergaming technology, SilverFit Mile, which offers virtual cycling, for nursing home residents with dementia in and its potential impact on feelings of loneliness. The study followed a descriptive qualitative approach using semi structured interviews with eight care professionals in nursing homes in the Netherlands and based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Thematic text analysis was used to analyze the interviews. We identified three main themes and twelve subthemes based on the CFIR. The main themes were residents' personal characteristics, implementation factors, and loneliness. SilverFit Mile was more suitable for those familiar with cycling and those who enjoyed more solitary activities. Organizational factors such as staff's low digital literacy, lack of time, and need for training were found barriers to implementation, while facilitators included fostering social interaction. SilverFit Mile was considered positively by care staff based on observations of persons living with dementia. We identified loneliness as a relevant outcome of SilverFit Mile implementation. We argue that SilverFit Mile can foster social interaction between residents and staff through reminiscence or the physical aspect of cycling. However, a better understanding of the connection between loneliness and the use of SilverFit Mile is needed. Overall, our research provides initial ideas about how exergaming technology might address loneliness in dementia.

Nature-based social interventions to address loneliness among vulnerable populations: a common study protocol for three related randomized controlled trials in Barcelona, Helsinki, and Prague within the RECETAS European project

BackgroundThe negative effects of loneliness on population health and wellbeing requires interventions that transcend the medical system and leverage social, cultural, and public health system resources. Group-based social interventions are a potential method to alleviate loneliness. Moreover, nature, as part of our social and health infrastructure, may be an important part of the solutions that are needed to address loneliness. The RECETAS European project H2020 (Re-imagining Environments for Connection and Engagement: Testing Actions for Social Prescribing in Natural Spaces) is an international research project aiming to develop and test the effectiveness of nature-based social interventions to reduce loneliness and increase health-related quality of life.MethodsThis article describes the three related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that will be implemented: the RECETAS-BCN Trial in Barcelona (Spain) is targeting people 18+ from low socio-economic urban areas; the RECETAS-PRG Trial in Prague (Czech Republic) is addressing community-dwelling older adults over 60 years of age, and the RECETAS-HLSNK trial is reaching older people in assisted living facilities. Each trial will recruit 316 adults suffering from loneliness at least sometimes and randomize them to nature-based social interventions called “Friends in Nature” or to the control group. “Friends in Nature” uses modifications of the “Circle of Friends” methodology based on group processes of peer support and empowerment but including activities in nature. Participants will be assessed at baseline, at post-intervention (3 months), and at 6- and 12-month follow-up after baseline. Primary outcomes are the health-related quality-of-life according to 15D measure and The De Jong Gierveld 11-item loneliness scale. Secondary outcomes are health and psychosocial variables tailored to the specific target population. Nature exposure will be collected throughout the intervention period. Process evaluation will explore context, implementation, and mechanism of impact. Additionally, health economic evaluations will be performed.DiscussionThe three RECETAS trials will explore the effectiveness of nature-based social interventions among lonely people from various ages, social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. RECETAS meets the growing need of solid evidence for programs addressing loneliness by harnessing the beneficial impact of nature on enhancing wellbeing and social connections.Trial registrationBarcelona (Spain) trial: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT05488496. Registered 29 July 2022.Prague (Czech Republic) trial: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT05522140. Registered August 25, 2022.Helsinki (Finland) trial: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT05507684. Registered August 12, 2022.

Is loneliness associated with cancellation of medical appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic? Evidence from the Hamburg City Health Study (HCHS)

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic engendered numerous societal and economic challenges in addition to health-related concerns. Maintenance of healthcare utilization assumed immense significance during this period. However, few studies have examined the association between loneliness and cancelled medical appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine whether medical appointments are less likely to be cancelled with increased loneliness during a pandemic. We analyzed the association between loneliness and both patient- and provider-initiated appointment cancellations.MethodsCross-sectional data from the Hamburg City Health Study (HCHS) were collected during April 2020–November 2021. The analytical sample included 1,840 participants with an average age of 55.1 years (standard deviation: 6.5, range 45–76 years). Medical appointments cancelled by individuals—medical appointments in general, and GP, specialist, and dentist appointments—and appointments cancelled by healthcare providers served as outcome measures. Loneliness was quantified using a single item ranging from 0 to 10. Accordingly, we created empirical loneliness tertiles. Covariates were selected based on the Andersen model. Several penalized maximum likelihood logistic regressions were utilized to examine the association between loneliness and cancellation of medical appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsThe penalized maximum likelihood logistic regressions showed that, compared to individuals in the lowest loneliness tertiles, individuals in the other two tertiles reported a higher chance of medical appointments cancellation by individuals, particularly driven by cancelled GP appointments. Except for age and sex, none of the covariates were comparably associated with the outcomes. When appointments cancelled by healthcare providers served as outcomes, only a higher number of chronic conditions was significantly positively associated with it.ConclusionsIndividuals scoring higher in loneliness had a greater chance of cancelling medical (particularly GP) appointments. This may contribute to a potential cascade of loneliness and skipped medical appointments in the future, resulting in adverse health outcomes over the medium-to-long term. Future research should examine whether lonely people are more likely to lack the social motivation to visit the doctor.