Sandeep Grover1, Madhur Verma2, Tarundeep Singh3, Neha Dahiya4, Ritu Nehra5. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. Electronic address: drsandeepg2002@yahoo.com. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India; Department of Community Medicine, Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College, Karnal, Haryana, India; Department of Community Medicine, School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. Electronic address: drmadhurverma@gmail.com. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India; Department of Community Medicine, School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. Electronic address: tarundeep.singh@gmail.com. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India; Department of Community Medicine, School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. Electronic address: drnehadahiya@gmail.com. 5. Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India; Department of Community Medicine, School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. Electronic address: nehra@rediffmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Psychological and sociological factors like loneliness have a noteworthy influence on the aging. Very less is known about loneliness amongst the elderly populations living with various Non-communicable diseases. AIM: The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and correlates of loneliness among elderly patients with Non-communicable diseases. METHODOLOGY: 296 patients attending the chronic disease clinic of two Community Health Centres were evaluated on University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (UCLA LS), Geriatric Depression Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7 scale) and Vulnerability to Abuse Screening Scale. RESULTS: More than half (55.4%) of the participants experienced loneliness as per the three item UCLA LS. When the total scores of UCLA scale were used to evaluate the severity of loneliness, half of the study participants had either moderate (N = 39; 13.2%), moderately high (N = 52; 17.6%) and high (N = 55; 18.6%) level of loneliness. Higher proportion of patients experiencing loneliness had anxiety and reported abuse. Significant predictors of loneliness included presence of diabetes mellitus or hypertension, generalized anxiety disorder and abuse. CONCLUSION: Older adults living with non-communicable diseases are at a higher risk for loneliness. Mutual help groups kind of models can be developed to help in "re-peopling" elderly. Primary health centres should help in improving the overall health and morale amongst the elderly by stamping down their apprehensions and anxieties.
BACKGROUND: Psychological and sociological factors like loneliness have a noteworthy influence on the aging. Very less is known about loneliness amongst the elderly populations living with various Non-communicable diseases. AIM: The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and correlates of loneliness among elderly patients with Non-communicable diseases. METHODOLOGY: 296 patients attending the chronic disease clinic of two Community Health Centres were evaluated on University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (UCLA LS), Geriatric Depression Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7 scale) and Vulnerability to Abuse Screening Scale. RESULTS: More than half (55.4%) of the participants experienced loneliness as per the three item UCLA LS. When the total scores of UCLA scale were used to evaluate the severity of loneliness, half of the study participants had either moderate (N = 39; 13.2%), moderately high (N = 52; 17.6%) and high (N = 55; 18.6%) level of loneliness. Higher proportion of patients experiencing loneliness had anxiety and reported abuse. Significant predictors of loneliness included presence of diabetes mellitus or hypertension, generalized anxiety disorder and abuse. CONCLUSION: Older adults living with non-communicable diseases are at a higher risk for loneliness. Mutual help groups kind of models can be developed to help in "re-peopling" elderly. Primary health centres should help in improving the overall health and morale amongst the elderly by stamping down their apprehensions and anxieties.