Prevalence of loneliness over ten years among the oldest old

Abstract

Aims: This study examined the prevalence of loneliness among the oldest old within a 10-year period and studied the influence of various sociodemographic, social and health characteristics on loneliness. Methods: The study used population-based data from the Umeå85+/GErontological Regional DAtabase-study (GERDA) for the years 2000–2002, 2005–2007 and 2010–2012 including 85-year-old, 90-year-old and ⩾95-year-old participants. A final sample of 304 participants in 2000–2002, 329 participants in 2005–2007 and 401 participants in 2010–2012 was included in the analyses. Results: Although the level of loneliness was already high in 2000–2002 (49.3% reported frequent loneliness), the results showed limited changes in loneliness during the 10-year study period. Loneliness was closely related to living alone, depressive symptoms and living in institutional settings. Conclusions: Although societal changes such as solitary living and growing urbanization suggest a changing trend in loneliness, we found that the prevalence of loneliness was relatively stable in this study. Nevertheless, loneliness is common among the oldest old and a focus on social issues related to living arrangements and on depressive symptoms is important in understanding loneliness.