Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale Research Articles

Purpose in life, loneliness and depression among patients with substance use disorders in the psychiatric hospitals in Ghana.

Substance use disorder is a global mental health issue. Purpose in life, Loneliness and depression are key indicators of poor mental health, and people with substance use disorder are more likely to experience low purpose in life, depression, and loneliness. This study aims to further the understanding of purpose in life, depression and loneliness among substance use disorders (SUD) patients in three hospitals in Ghana. It uses a cross-sectional survey design. A total of 425 SUD inpatients were screened. Beck Depression Inventory-II, the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Purpose in Life Test were utilised to measure depression, loneliness, and purpose in life respectively. Data were analysed using the SPSS version 23 for Windows. Data from 378 participants were collected for this study using a cross sectional survey design; after data cleaning, frequency tables (for categorical variables) and descriptive statistics (for continuous variables) were used to summarise the demographics and the three outcome variables depression, purpose in life, and loneliness. Our findings indicate that overall, participants are more likely to experience low sense of purpose in life, depression, and loneliness compared to the general population. There was no statistically significant relationship between depression and loneliness (r = 0.030, p = 0.567). There was a statistically significant negative relationship between depression and purpose in life (r = -0.514, p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant positive relationship between purpose in life and loneliness (r = 0.147, p = 0.004). There was no gender difference in depression, purpose in life, and loneliness among SUDs patients in psychiatric hospitals. There were no significant differences in purpose in life, depression and loneliness based on marital status. It is anticipated that the findings of this study will inform policies and clinical practice regarding service provision for patients with SUDs.

Ketogenic diet has a positive association with mental and emotional well-being in the general population

ObjectivesA ketogenic diet reduces pathologic stress and improves mood in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the effects of a ketogenic diet for people from the general population have largely been unexplored. A ketogenic diet is increasingly used for weight loss. Research in healthy individuals primarily focuses on the physical implications of a ketogenic diet. It is important to understand the holistic effects of a ketogenic diet, not only the physiological but also the psychological effects, in non-clinical samples. The aim of this cross-sectional study with multiple cohorts was to investigate the association of a ketogenic diet with different aspects of mental health, including calmness, contentedness, alertness, cognitive and emotional stress, depression, anxiety, and loneliness, in a general healthy population. MethodsTwo online surveys were distributed: cohort 1 used Bond-Lader visual analog scales and Perceived Stress Scale (n = 147) and cohort 2 the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (n = 276). ResultsA ketogenic diet was associated with higher self-reported mental and emotional well-being behaviors, including calmness, contentedness, alertness, cognitive and emotional stress, depression, anxiety, and loneliness, compared with individuals on a non-specific diet in a general population. ConclusionThis research found that a ketogenic diet has potential psychological benefits in the general population.

Depression among psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees and its associated factors regarding work, social support, and loneliness

BackgroundThis study aimed to survey the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees (physicians in psychiatric residency training).MethodsThis cross-sectional study surveyed Thai psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees from January to February 2023 using an online questionnaire. The questionnaires consisted of (1) the demographic and work-related information; (2) perceptions towards social support and work; (3) the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Thai version; and (4) the 6-item Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale Thai version. All data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the associated factors concerning depression were analyzed via multiple linear regression analyses.ResultsOf the 225 total participants, 52(23.1%) and 173 (76.9%) were psychiatry trainees and psychiatrists, respectively. Most of them were female (64.9%) with overall median age (interquatile) was 34 (30, 42) years. Regarding the PHQ-9 findings, the prevalence of depression among all participants was 12.4% (psychiatrists 13.9% and psychiatry trainees 7.7%). From regression analyses, depression was associated with loneliness and perceived levels of work satisfaction and work stress in psychiatrists, while in psychiatry trainees, depression was associated with loneliness and perceived level of ability to control work schedule.ConclusionsOne-tenth of psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees had depression. Although the prevalence of depression in this study was not extremely high, key contributing factors related to depression, such as loneliness, work satisfaction, work stress, and ability to control the work schedule should be required to action to reduce the depression rate among mental health personnel.

No relationships between self-reported Instagram use or type of use and mental well-being: A study using a nationally representative online sample of UK adults

Use of Instagram has grown rapidly in the last decade, but the effects of Instagram use on well-being are still unclear, with many studies based on younger samples with a female bias. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between Instagram use and levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness in a nationally representative sample of UK adults by age and gender. An online sample of 498 UK adults were recruited using Prolific (Age: M = 49, SD = 15, range 19–82 years old; 52% female, 47% male). Participants stated whether or not they used Instagram, reported their frequency of Broadcast, Interaction and Browsing Instagram use and completed the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A genetic matching algorithm was used to match Instagram users (n = 372) and non-Instagram users (n = 100) on age, gender, education and nationality. There were no significant differences between users versus non-users of Instagram in levels of anxiety, depression or loneliness. There were also no significant associations between type of Instagram use (Broadcast, Interaction or Browsing) and levels of anxiety, depression or loneliness. The Bayes Factors for these models moderately to strongly supported the null model of no effect for Depression and Loneliness. This research adds to recent findings that suggests that the overall effect of SNSs on well-being may be small to non-existent. Future research should examine how exposure to different types of content on social media are related to well-being.

Longitudinal Impact of the Pandemic on Social Disruption and Loneliness in Autistic and Non-Autistic Youth

ABSTRACT Objective The coronavirus pandemic drastically increased social isolation. Autistic youth already experience elevated social isolation and loneliness, making them highly vulnerable to the impact of the pandemic. We examined trajectories of social disruption and loneliness in autistic and non-autistic youth during a six-month period of the pandemic (June 2020 until November 2020). Method Participants were 76 youth, ages 8 through 17, (Mage = 12.82, Nautistic = 51) with an IQ ≥ 70. Youth completed a biweekly measure of loneliness (Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale) and their parent completed a measure of pandemic-related family social disruption (Epidemic Pandemic Impacts Inventory). Results There were no time trends in loneliness across all youth, however, social disruption displayed linear, quadratic, and cubic trends. Non-autistic youth reported relatively greater declines in social disruption compared to autistic youth. Additionally, autistic youth reported relatively greater declines in loneliness relative to non-autistic youth. Greater social disruption was associated with higher loneliness, however, autistic youth demonstrated a relatively stronger relationship between social disruption and loneliness compared to non-autistic youth. Conclusions The current study was one of the first to investigate social disruption and loneliness in autistic youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results indicated that autistic youth experienced relative decreases in loneliness during this time, perhaps due to reductions in social demands. Nonetheless, when autistic youth did experience social disruption, they reported relatively higher levels of loneliness. This work contributes to our understanding of risk factors for loneliness and highlights the need to understand the benefits, as well as the challenges, to remote schooling and social interactions.

Identifying the impact of social isolation and loneliness on psychological well-being among the elderly in old-age homes of India: the mediating role of gender, marital status, and education

BackgroundSocial isolation and loneliness can be detrimental to the overall functioning of the older adults. The study examines the impact of social isolation and loneliness on the psychological well-being of older adults residing in various old-age homes in India and investigates the mediating role of gender, marital status, and education level in the way social isolation and loneliness affect psychological well-being.MethodsData has been collected from 320 individuals aged sixty years or above. Data were collected using standardized measures like Lubben Social Network Scale- 6, revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, and shortened version of psychological well-being scale by Ryff & Keyes (1995). Multivariate and mediation analysis were performed to understand the associations of social isolation and loneliness with psychological well-being.ResultsA statistically significant MANOVA effect was obtained for social isolation (F = 3.836, p < .01), and loneliness (F = 3.782, p < .01). Gender and education as independent factors were significantly associated with the psychological well-being of individuals. However, both gender and education did not mediate the impact of social isolation and loneliness on the psychological well-being of older adults. Further, marital status had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between social isolation, loneliness, and psychological well-being.ConclusionsThe findings of the study can be incorporated into measures aiming at alleviation of feelings of social isolation and loneliness among the elderly. Further, the findings can be used to design various intervention strategies aimed at the reduction of social isolation and loneliness among older adults and the restoration of their psychological well-being.

Burden of care and a sense of loneliness in caregivers of children with type 1 diabetes. a cross-sectional study

BackgroundTreatment of type 1 diabetes is a process involving not only sick children, but also their caregivers.AimTo assess the burden of care and sense of loneliness in caregivers of children with type 1 diabetes. Also, an analysis was conducted of the connection between sociodemographic factors characterizing caregivers and the clinical factors characterizing sick children and between the burden of care and the sense of loneliness.Materials and methodsThe study included 125 caregivers of children with type 1 diabetes. In order to collect the research data, the Caregiver Burden Scale and the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale were used.ResultsIn the research group, the total result in the caregiving burden scale was 2.14, which remains within the average burden level. Caregivers showed the highest burden level in the General Strain Subscale. The analysis showed that mothers experience a greater burden of care than fathers in the General Strain Subscale and that caregivers of younger children are more burdened with care within the Isolation and Disappointment Subscales. Moderate high degree of loneliness was shown in 4.8% of caregivers. A higher burden of care for caregivers of children with type 1 diabetes is accompanied by a higher sense of loneliness.ConclusionsThe results of this study may help healthcare professionals plan a holistic, family-centered care program that will take into account factors that increase the burden of care: younger age of the affected child, motherhood, caregiver unemployment, feelings of loneliness, lower education, caregiver unemployment, blood glucose meter measurements, and frequent night-time blood glucose measurements.

The impact of loneliness on quality of life in people with Parkinson's disease: results from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe.

Loneliness is a growing issue for public health in an aging society. However, there is a lack of research on loneliness in people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). We analyzed cross-sectional and longitudinal data from wave 5 (N = 559 PwPD) and 6 (N = 442 PwPD) from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Loneliness was assessed using the three-item version of the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Descriptive statistics, group comparisons, multiple linear regressions, and generalized estimating equation analysis were performed to explore loneliness prevalence, its relationship with other factors, and its impact on Quality of Life (QoL) in PwPD. Depending on the used cut-off, the prevalence of loneliness in PwPD ranged from 24.1 to 53.8%. These prevalences were higher compared to people without PD. Loneliness was mainly linked to decreased functional abilities, weaker grip strength, more symptoms of depression, and country of residence. Loneliness was also associated with current QoL and predicts future QoL in PwPD, highlighting its impact on well-being. Addressing loneliness could potentially improve QoL for PwPD, making it a modifiable risk factor that clinicians and policy-makers should consider.

Psychological factors associated with COVID-19 related anxiety and depression in young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the corresponding lockdown have drastically changed our lives and led to high psychological distress and mental health problems. This study examined whether psychological factors such as loneliness, perfectionism, and health anxiety are associated with COVID-19 related anxiety and depression during the pandemic in young Korean adults, after controlling for various socio-demographic factors and early life stress. A total of 189 participants (58.2% women) completed a cross-sectional online survey including the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, 3-item Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, and Whiteley Index-6. Hierarchical linear regression analyses with three blocks were employed to identify the factors that contributed to COVID-19 related anxiety and depressive symptoms. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that higher health anxiety was significantly associated with more severe COVID-19 related anxiety (standardized regression coefficient, β = 0.599, p < 0.001). Additionally, higher levels of loneliness (β = 0.482, p < 0.001), perfectionism (β = 0.124, p = 0.035), and health anxiety (β = 0.228, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with higher depression scores. The three psychological factors explained 32.8% of the total variance in depressive symptom scores, after taking all covariates into account. The results showed that health anxiety was a risk factor for both COVID-19 related anxiety and depression in young adults. Loneliness was the strongest predictor of depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings highlight the importance of identifying vulnerable individuals and encouraging psychological counselling and social connections to reduce the burden of psychiatric disorders during the pandemic.

Social cognitive bias increases loneliness both directly and by decreasing social connection in patients with schizophrenia.

While considerable emphasis has been put on investigating the mechanisms that drive reduced social connection in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ), recent studies have increasingly focused on the issue of loneliness in SCZ. As both social cognitive bias and self-reported empathy predict loneliness in non-clinical populations, the current study aims to examine the relationship between loneliness, reduced social connection and social cognitive biases, and self-reported empathy in SCZ. Ninety-three adult SCZ and sixty-six matched healthy individuals completed a battery of questionnaires measuring loneliness and social connection (Revised-UCLA Loneliness Scale, Lubben-Social Network Scale, Social Disconnectedness Scale), cognitive biases (Ambiguous Intentions Hostility Questionnaire, Davos Assessment of Cognitive Biases Scale, Cognitive Biases Questionnaire for psychosis) and self-reported empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index). Significant predictors of loneliness in SCZ were entered into two latent variables ("Social Threat Bias", "Social Connection"), and structural equation modeling was used to explore the direct and indirect relationships between Social Threat Bias, symptoms. and loneliness in SCZ. Patients reported higher levels of loneliness, cognitive biases and personal distress compared to controls. Furthermore, SCZ reported less social connection and perspective taking compared to controls. Structural equation modeling revealed that Social Threat Bias was linked to increased loneliness in SCZ both directly and indirectly via decreased social connection. Negative symptoms were directly linked with loneliness, while the association between affective symptoms and loneliness was mediated via Social Threat Bias. The results of the current study suggest that social threat bias should be considered while planning the interventions aimed to reduce loneliness in schizophrenia.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with myasthenia gravis.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of the pandemic on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), anxious-depressive symptoms, feelings of loneliness, and fear of COVID-19 between people with myasthenia gravis (MG) and healthy controls. We also wanted to know in which group the variable fear of COVID-19 interfered the most with the results. This cross-sectional study involved 60 people with MG and 60 healthy controls. Participants using an online platform completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Fear of COVID19 Scale (FCV- 19S). The MG group reported worse levels in HRQoL indicators (p = 0.043- <.001), more severe anxiety-depressive symptoms (p = 0.002), and greater fear of COVID-19 (p < 0.001), but there were no differences in feelings of loneliness (p = 0.002). Furthermore, after controlling for the effect of the fear of COVID-19 variable, the differences remained for physical health indicators, but not for the most of psychosocial indicators (Social Functioning p = 0.102, η2p = 0.023; Role Emotional p = 0.250, η2p = 0.011; and HADS Total p = 0.161, η2p = 0.017). The harmful effect of the COVID-19 pandemic was greater in the MG group, and the perceived fear of COVID-19 had also a greater impact among this group, which has increased its negative effect on their psychosocial health.

Stress and loneliness: exploring adolescents' use of social media as a coping strategy during COVID-19.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, adolescents used various coping strategies to manage stress and loneliness. One such strategy was to engage in active coping, social relations coping and humour coping via social media. Such coping strategies can be helpful but can also reinforce stress and loneliness. To explore adolescents' use of social media to manage stress and loneliness at a time of restricted social contacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including potential differences between adolescents according to gender, age, area of residence and extent of social media use. A cross-sectional design and an online questionnaire were used to survey a convenience sample of adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years in Jordan. Three data collection tools were used - the modified Brief Coping Scale, the six-item Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale. A total of 770 adolescents participated, half of whom were using social media more than before the pandemic. Increased use of active coping, social relations coping and humour coping was associated with decreases in stress and loneliness. Active coping contributed the most to reducing levels of stress while social relations coping contributed the most to reducing levels of loneliness. Younger participants made more use of active coping and humour coping than older participants. Social media use can be a positive coping strategy for adolescents to manage stress and loneliness during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exploring Loneliness, Fear and Depression among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Era: A Cross-Sectional Study in Greek Provincial Towns.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, life changed abruptly for older adults in Greece. Social isolation, lockdowns, the fear of serious illness and death, all contributed to an increased risk of developing depression. To explore the presence and severity of depression in older adults in Greek provincial towns during the pandemic and to explore any possible relationships with loneliness and fear. A convenience sample of 200 participants aged >65, completed a socio-demographic form, the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Geriatric Depression-15 Scale (GDS-15) and the COVID-19 Fear Scale (FCV-19S). Data were collected from April to May 2022. The average age of participants was 76.6 years and 35.5% of the participants presented depressive symptoms (mean prevalenceof depression 5 ± 3.7). A moderate to low level of loneliness (mean value 39 ± 11.3) and a moderate level of COVID-19 fear (mean value 18.9 ± 6.5) were also experienced. Higher levels of loneliness were found among participants with lower perceived health status and among those participants registered in Primary Health and Social Care (PHSC) services. Loneliness was positively correlated with depression (r = 0.7, p < 0.001), and increased loneliness and depression were associated with an increase in fear of COVID-19 (r = 0.2, p = 0.01 for both). During the pandemic, older adults experienced loneliness, fear of COVID-19 and depression which were positively associated with each other. It is imperative to develop PHSC policies that are aimed at addressing the mental health problems of the older population, which have been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, through developing their resilience, offering psychological support and promoting social connections.

Association Between Loneliness, Premenstrual Symptoms, and Other Factors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study with Japanese High School Students.

Adolescence is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood where people are vulnerable to stress. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause sustained stress in the population. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation and loneliness have increased. Loneliness is associated with increased stress, psychological distress, and a higher risk of mental illnesses, such as depression. This study examined the association between loneliness, premenstrual symptoms, and other factors in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic among adolescent females in Japan. A school-based cross-sectional survey of 1450 adolescent female students in Japan was conducted in mid-December of 2021. Specifically, paper-based questionnaires were distributed in class, and the responses were collected. The Premenstrual Symptoms Questionnaire (PSQ), 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, 3-item Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (R-UCLA), and Fear of COVID-19 Scale were used as measurement tools. The prevalence of loneliness was defined as a total R-UCLA score ≥ 6. The prevalence of loneliness was 29.0%. The prevalence of serious psychological distress was also high (8.2%), especially in the lonely group (16.0%). Multivariable regression analysis identified the following factors associated with loneliness: second year (odds ratio [OR] 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-2.14), longer internet use (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.02-1.20), total PSQ score (OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.06-1.11), and psychological distress (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.01-1.08). Adolescent females in Japan showed a high prevalence of loneliness. School year (2nd year), longer periods of internet use, premenstrual symptom severity, and psychological distress were independently associated with loneliness. For clinicians and school health professionals, special concern should be given to the psychological health of adolescent females during the COVID-19 pandemic.

정서표현 양가성이 외로움에 미치는 영향

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effects of cognitive emotion regulation and emotional expressiveness on the relationship between ambivalence over emotional expressiveness and loneliness.&#x0D; Methods A sample of 704 undergraduate students completed the survey including Ambivalence over Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire (AEQ-K), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire(CERO), The Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire(EEQ), The Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 21.0.&#x0D; Results Emotional expression ambivalence showed a significant positive correlation with cognitive emotion regulation and loneliness, and a significant negative correlation with emotional expression. Cognitive emotion regulation showed a significant positive correlation with emotional expression, but sub-factors showed opposite correlations with emotional expression. On the other hand, there was no significant correlation between the cognitive emotion regulation and loneliness, but the sub-factors showed a significant correlation with loneliness. Emotional expressiveness showed a significant negative correlation with loneliness. As a result of structural equation model validation, Cognitive emotion regulation and emotional expressiveness mediated the relationship between ambivalence over emotional expressiveness and loneliness.&#x0D; Conclusions The results of this study suggests that the counselor's intervention in emotional expression is necessary, such as helping clients who use maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies to use adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies or to express emotions in counseling.

PERCEIVED STRESS AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LONELINESS AMONG DAY SCHOLARS AND HOSTELIZED STUDENTS

The current study aimed to investigate the association between perceived stress and social and emotional loneliness among day scholars and hosteler students. After the extensive evaluation of the literature following hypotheses were formulated 1). There would be a significant relationship between perceived stress and social and emotional loneliness among day scholars and hosteler students, 2). There would be significant differences in perceived stress and social and emotional loneliness among day scholars and hosteler students. 3). Gender would exhibit significant differences in perceived stress and social and emotional loneliness among day scholars and hosteler students. For this study total of 120 participants were selected through simple random sampling from different universities located in Lahore. For measuring the variables, the revised UCLA loneliness scale and the perceived stress scale were used. Expressive and illative statistics including Pearson correlation and independent sample T-Test regression analysis were functional.

Loneliness among surgical patients - measuring levels of loneliness using De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale and Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale

Objective: Loneliness is a state that most people will experience during their lifetime. In order to raise awareness of loneliness and its complexity, we attempted to measure the span of loneliness among the surgical patients hospitalized in the Department of Surgery in the 4th Military Teaching Hospital in Wroclaw. &#x0D; The aim of this study was to establish correlations between loneliness, measured using and four other variables: age, gender, nutritional state and quality of life of surveyed patients.&#x0D; Material and methods: A total of 100 patients in the Surgery Department in the 4 th Military Teaching Hospital in Wroclaw, Poland, were enrolled. The Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire was used to assess their nutritional status; the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHO-QoL-BREF) was used to assess their quality of life; the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS) and Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (R-UCLA) were used to assess their loneliness level.&#x0D; Results:The WHO-QoL-BREF showed that patients’ quality of life (QoL) self-perception was between average and good, health self-perception was average as well. Lowest score of QoL was found in the physical domain whereas the highest was found in the social domain. The MNA showed that 8% of the study group was malnourished, 49% at risk of malnutrition&#x0D; and 43% displayed a normal nutritional status. 49% of the study group experience loneliness during study by DJGLS. A significant positive correlation between loneliness status and QoL was observed in physical health self-perception (r=0,226, p=0,024). Negative correlation was found between loneliness and QoL in psychological, social and environmental domains (p&lt;0,001).&#x0D; &#x0D; Conclusions: Loneliness has a significant negative impact on the quality of life.Sex, age and nutritional status can not be predictors of patient’s loneliness.&#x0D; More than half of patients were in a disturbing nutrition state.&#x0D;

A LIVE ONLINE EXERCISE PROGRAM FOR OLDER ADULTS’ IMPROVED DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS: A PILOT RCT

Abstract Exercise improves mental health and effectively alleviates cognitive and physical declines. Unfortunately, engagement in physical activity decreases as individuals age and this was likely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. New technologies to deliver live online home-based group exercise classes may help mitigate mental and physical health declines in older adults while maintaining social connectivity. We evaluated the feasibility of an age-appropriate and ability-modified at-home exercise program via live video stream. The impact on loneliness, anxiety, and depression in older adults were exploratory outcomes. In this two-arm pilot RCT, we randomly assigned sedentary community-dwelling adults (65-80 years) to a waitlist control (CON) or an active group (ACTIVE) of thrice-weekly, 8-wk online live exercise program delivered via Zoom by trained exercise professionals. Attendance was recorded, and participant satisfaction to ACTIVE was assessed. Pre- and post-intervention loneliness, anxiety, and depression were collected using the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (R-UCLA), the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI), and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). 32 participants were randomized (ACTIVE: n=16, mean age 70 ± 4, 69% women, 30 ± 5 kg/m2; CON: n=16, mean age 71 ± 5; 88% women; 29 ± 5 kg/m2). Attendance to online classes was &amp;gt;80% and all ACTIVE participants reported being satisfied with the exercise sessions. There was no intervention effect compared to CON on loneliness and anxiety. An effect of the intervention was observed for depression (ACTIVE: -1.94; CON: -0.07; p=0.015). We demonstrated good feasibility, satisfaction, and preliminary efficacy of a live online exercise program on older adults’ mental health.

Assessing Loneliness among Adults Receiving Outpatient Treatment with Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD).

Loneliness is a significant risk factor for substance use, however, impacts of treatments on loneliness are relatively unexplored. Living in a rural location is a greater risk factor for loneliness. This study examined data from a quasi-experimental study in rural Appalachia, comparing the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) versus Treatment as Usual (TAU) among adults receiving MOUD in outpatient therapy. Our objective was to determine whether observed reductions in self-reported craving, anxiety, depression, and increased perceived mindfulness would also improve loneliness reports. Eighty participants (n = 35 MBRP; n = 45 TAU) were included in the analysis from a group-based Comprehensive Opioid Addiction Treatment program. Outcomes tracked included craving, anxiety, depression, mindfulness, and loneliness as measured by the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (R-UCLA). A linear mixed model ANOVA determined the significance of the treatments on changes in loneliness scores at baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks post-recruitment. Both groups reported significantly reduced loneliness over the course of the study (F = 16.07, p < 0.01), however there were no significant differences between groups. Loneliness was also significantly positively (p < 0.01) correlated with anxiety (0.66), depression (0.59), and craving (0.38), and significantly (p < 0.01) inversely correlated (−0.52) with mindfulness. Results suggest that participation in MOUD group-based outpatient therapy has the potential to diminish loneliness and associated poor psychological outcomes. Thus, it is possible that a more targeted intervention for loneliness would further diminish loneliness, which is important as loneliness is linked to risk for relapse.

Grandchild care and loneliness among older Europeans: Longitudinal evidence from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe.

Restricted knowledge exists with regard to the association between grandchild care and loneliness among older Europeans. Hence, our goal was to investigate the association between the onset of grandchild care and loneliness in different European regions and stratified by sex longitudinally. Longitudinal data were taken from waves 5 to 6 of the 'Survey of Health Ageing, and Retirement in Europe' (SHARE) (n=83,416 observations). Loneliness was assessed using the established three-item version of the Revised UCLA Loneliness scale. Transitions into grandchild care (= onset of grandchild care) served as key independent variable. It was adjusted for several covariates in regression analysis. Linear FE regressions with cluster-robust standard errors were used to mitigate the challenge of unobserved heterogeneity. Linear FE regressions showed that the onset of grandchild care was significantly associated with an increase in loneliness levels among women (but not men) in Southern Europe (β=0.28, p=0.01), whereas the onset of grandchild care was not significantly associated with changes in loneliness levels in both sexes in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Northern Europe and Israel. Our study emphasized the association between the onset of grandchild care and increases in loneliness among women in Southern Europe. Efforts (e.g., respite services) are required to support this group to avoid loneliness.