Loneliness and smoking status: a pilot study of extended-stay hotel residents in Atlanta, Georgia

As the housing industry struggles to meet growth demands in the United States, more people rely on extended-stay hotels (ESH) as their primary housing source. These settings often serve as a last resort for low-income families, many of whom face substandard housing quality and other conditions that can intensify environmental health risks. One complex environmental issue that disproportionately impacts ESH residents is tobacco smoke exposure. Although ESH residents understand the negative impacts of smoking on themselves and bystanders, previous qualitative research has found that ESH residents may view smoking as a shared activity that facilitates social engagement. However, other quantitative studies have demonstrated that smoking results in increased social isolation and loneliness. In this pilot study, we used multiple linear regression analyses to examine survey data from ESH residents, investigating the relationships between smoking status and loneliness.

Data were obtained from a pilot study of ESH residents in Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. Participants completed a survey that included a demographic questionnaire, the De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale, and a smoking status questionnaire. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to investigate the degree to which smoking status is associated with loneliness.

The analysis based on a sample of 77 adults (aged 23-72) indicated that female smokers reported feeling lonely less often than male smokers in this sample (B = 1.10, p = 0.037). Additionally, men reported experiencing more social loneliness than women in this sample.

These results suggest that smoking status alone does not significantly predict loneliness in ESH residents. However, when smoking status is considered alongside gender, it substantially influences the loneliness experienced by ESH residents. Larger longitudinal samples are necessary to explore causal relationships between loneliness and smoking status in ESH residents across the adult lifespan.