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Predictors of loneliness and different types of social isolation of rural-living older adults in the United Kingdom

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2016

JOLANTHE LOUISE DE KONING ,
AFRODITI STATHI  and
SUZANNE RICHARDS
JOLANTHE LOUISE DE KONING*
Affiliation:
Department for Health, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Bath, UK.
AFRODITI STATHI
Affiliation:
Department for Health, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Bath, UK.
SUZANNE RICHARDS
Affiliation:
Primary Care Research Group, Medical School, University of Exeter, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Jolanthe Louise de Koning, 6.11 Wessex House, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK E-mail: J.de.Koning@bath.ac.uk
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Abstract

Loneliness and social isolation are recognised, conceptually distinct threats to health and wellbeing in older age but limited evidence is available on their predictors in rural populations. This study performed logistical regression modelling to explore the predictors of loneliness, isolation from one's family and isolation from one's community in 884 British rural-living older adults (57.9% female; mean age = 71.5, standard deviation = 8.1 years) within the Grey and Pleasant Land data-set. While 13 per cent of participants reported feeling lonely, 49 per cent reported isolation from their family and 9 per cent reported isolation from their community. Minimal cross-over between groups was observed. Widowhood, financial difficulties, area deprivation, and self-reported impairments in physical and mental health predicted loneliness. Greater financial difficulty gave lower odds of isolation from one's family, and higher levels of community engagement gave lower odds of isolation from the community. Ageing in place (longer residency) was the only common predictor for all three dependent variables. Initiatives aimed at tackling loneliness and social isolation in rural-living older people must recognise that the two concepts are distinct, affecting different population sub-groups with mostly different risk factor profiles. Future interventions and policies should clearly identify whether their target is loneliness or social isolation and tailor their interventions appropriately.

Keywords

Lonelinesssocial isolationrural area
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 37 , Issue 10 , November 2017 , pp. 2012 - 2043
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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