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Loneliness in senior housing communities
Harry Owen Taylor1, Yi Wang1, Nancy Morrow-Howell1
1a The Brown School of Social Work , Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO, USA.
Journal of Gerontological Social Work
|May 24, 2018
Summary
Loneliness is prevalent in senior housing, particularly linked to depressive symptoms. Interventions should target both loneliness and mental health in these communities.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Social Sciences
Background:
- Limited research exists on loneliness in senior housing communities.
- Community-dwelling older adults are frequently studied, but specific residential settings require further investigation.
- Understanding loneliness prevalence and correlates in senior housing is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the extent and correlates of loneliness among residents of public senior housing communities.
- To identify factors associated with loneliness in this specific older adult population.
- To inform the development of effective interventions within senior housing settings.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey design utilizing questionnaires.
- Sample of 148 respondents from three public senior housing communities.
- Loneliness assessed using the Hughes 3-item loneliness scale; multivariate regression analyzed correlates including socio-demographics, health, social engagement, and support.
Main Results:
- A significant portion of residents experienced moderate (42.7%) to severe (26.6%) loneliness.
- Depressive symptoms were the primary correlate of loneliness in multivariate analyses.
- Prevalence of loneliness was found to be high, challenging popular assumptions.
Conclusions:
- Senior housing communities, despite high loneliness rates, present opportunities for intervention.
- Interventions should holistically address both individual loneliness and co-occurring mental health issues, such as depression.
- Future strategies should leverage senior housing settings to mitigate loneliness in older adults.
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