Physical limitations and loneliness: The role of guilt related to self-perception as a burden

Limitations in performing physical activities have been associated with greater loneliness in older adults. This association could be moderated by maladaptive social cognition or feelings, such as guilt related to perceiving oneself as a burden. This study analyzes the effect of guilt related to self-perception as a burden on the relationship between physical limitations and loneliness in older adults.

Participants were 190 community-dwelling people aged over 60 years who did not show cognitive or functional limitations in daily life activities. We used linear regression to test the influence of guilt related to self-perception as a burden on the association between physical limitations and loneliness.

The interaction between physical limitations and guilt related to self-perception as a burden was found to be significant in the explanation of loneliness, explaining 18.10% of the variance. Specifically, the relationship between physical limitations and loneliness was stronger when levels of guilt related to self-perception as a burden were high or medium than when these levels were low.

The findings suggest that feelings of loneliness are more frequent in people who report more physical limitations and, at the same time, report guilt for perceiving themselves as a burden. Guilt related to perceiving oneself as a burden seems to be a relevant modulator variable for understanding the effects of physical limitations on loneliness.