Activity space patterns and loneliness: Evidence from the pan-Canadian COHESION cohort

This study examines the association between activity space and loneliness, hypothesizing that individuals with broader (i.e., more spatially extensive and diverse) daily movement patterns are less likely to experience loneliness.

Data were derived from the COHESION Study, a nationwide Canadian cohort. Participants (N = 1176) who completed the VERITAS map questionnaire were included. The primary outcome, loneliness, was assessed using a validated three-item scale, and activity spaces were calculated using the activspace R package. An ordinal logistic regression model analyzed the relationship between activity space and loneliness, controlling for sociodemographic and health variables.

The analysis revealed significant sociodemographic differences between three levels of loneliness. Age, relationship status, sense of belonging, and physical activity were significant predictors. Loneliness was negatively associated with age and sense of belonging, and positively associated with having a chronic disease, knowing someone who died from COVID-19, and infrequent physical activity. Being in a relationship were strong protective factors against loneliness. Individuals with lower levels of loneliness reported significantly more extensive activity spaces. In particular, the number of unique locations visited - used as a proxy of social activity space - was inversely associated with loneliness, although the strength of this association was modest.

The study underscores the importance of considering a range of sociodemographic and health factors in understanding loneliness. Broader activity spaces and other factors such as older age, higher physical activity, and higher social connections were directly correlated with lower level of loneliness. These findings can inform public health interventions aimed at reducing loneliness, particularly during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.