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Risk factors for loneliness among older people in a Nordic regional context – a longitudinal study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 December 2021

Fredrica Nyqvist Open the ORCID record for Fredrica Nyqvist [Opens in a new window] ,
Marina Näsman Open the ORCID record for Marina Näsman [Opens in a new window] ,
Jessica Hemberg Open the ORCID record for Jessica Hemberg [Opens in a new window]  and
Mikael Nygård Open the ORCID record for Mikael Nygård [Opens in a new window]
Fredrica Nyqvist*
Affiliation:
Social Policy Unit, Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland
Marina Näsman
Affiliation:
Social Policy Unit, Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland
Jessica Hemberg
Affiliation:
Department of Caring Sciences and Health Sciences, Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland
Mikael Nygård
Affiliation:
Social Policy Unit, Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland
*
*Corresponding author. Email: fredrica.nyqvist@abo.fi
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Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of loneliness among older people and to identify risk factors for loneliness in a Nordic regional context over a six-year period. Longitudinal data from the Gerontological Regional Database (GERDA) study of 4,269 older adults living in northern Sweden and western Finland, aged 65, 70, 75 and 80 at baseline in 2010, were analysed. Logistic regressions were used to analyse socio-demographic, social and health-related risk factors at baseline and changes in these for experiences of loneliness at follow-up. The results showed that most older adults (85%) did not experience loneliness at baseline or at follow-up in our study region. However, 3 per cent of the sample reported loneliness in both study years, indicating enduring and chronic loneliness. Analyses revealed that being widowed and becoming a widow/er as well as poor self-rated health at baseline and the onset of depression were risk factors for loneliness. Finally, the risk of loneliness was higher in older people living in Sweden. Further work is needed to explore changes and stability in loneliness as well as to increase our understanding of between-country differences in loneliness.

Keywords

lonelinessolder peoplelongitudinal studyFinlandSweden
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 43 , Issue 10 , October 2023 , pp. 2372 - 2393
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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