BACKGROUND: Social isolation is one of the most important emerging issues among ageing populations, as it reduces well-being, health and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to identify prevalence and risk factors of social isolation in older Malaysians. METHODS: The sample for this study was drawn from a national survey entitled 'Patterns of Social Relationships and Psychological Well-Being among Older Persons in Peninsular Malaysia'. Social isolation was measured with the Lubben Social Network Scale. RESULTS: The findings from the present study showed that 49.8% of older Malaysians are at risk for social isolation. The results of logistic regression analysis revealed that the number of sons, number of brothers, number of sisters, household size, self-rated health, place of residence, home ownership, sex and ethnicity were significantly associated with social isolation. CONCLUSION: These findings may have some implications for social and health-care policymakers in planning and developing new and effective interventions such as educational programmes to reduce social isolation among this vulnerable population.
BACKGROUND: Social isolation is one of the most important emerging issues among ageing populations, as it reduces well-being, health and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to identify prevalence and risk factors of social isolation in older Malaysians. METHODS: The sample for this study was drawn from a national survey entitled 'Patterns of Social Relationships and Psychological Well-Being among Older Persons in Peninsular Malaysia'. Social isolation was measured with the Lubben Social Network Scale. RESULTS: The findings from the present study showed that 49.8% of older Malaysians are at risk for social isolation. The results of logistic regression analysis revealed that the number of sons, number of brothers, number of sisters, household size, self-rated health, place of residence, home ownership, sex and ethnicity were significantly associated with social isolation. CONCLUSION: These findings may have some implications for social and health-care policymakers in planning and developing new and effective interventions such as educational programmes to reduce social isolation among this vulnerable population.
Authors: Gregory N Bratman; Christopher B Anderson; Marc G Berman; Bobby Cochran; Sjerp de Vries; Jon Flanders; Carl Folke; Howard Frumkin; James J Gross; Terry Hartig; Peter H Kahn; Ming Kuo; Joshua J Lawler; Phillip S Levin; Therese Lindahl; Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg; Richard Mitchell; Zhiyun Ouyang; Jenny Roe; Lynn Scarlett; Jeffrey R Smith; Matilda van den Bosch; Benedict W Wheeler; Mathew P White; Hua Zheng; Gretchen C Daily Journal: Sci Adv Date: 2019-07-24 Impact factor: 14.136
Authors: Ahreum Lee; Caitlin McArthur; Areti Angeliki Veroniki; Monika Kastner; George Ioannidis; Lauren E Griffith; Lehana Thabane; Jonathan D Adachi; Alexandra Papaioannou Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2021-07-05 Impact factor: 2.692