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Prevalence of loneliness amongst older people in high-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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  • Kavita Chawla
  • Tafadzwa Patience Kunonga
  • Daniel Stow
  • Robert Barker
  • Dawn Craig
  • Barbara Hanratty

Abstract

Background and objective: Loneliness is associated with increased rates of morbidity and mortality, and is a growing public health concern in later life. This study aimed to produce an evidence-based estimate of the prevalence of loneliness amongst older people (aged 60 years and above). Study design and setting: Systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of observational studies from high income countries 2008 to 2020, identified from searches of five electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE, PsychINFO, CINAHL, Proquest Social Sciences Premium Collection). Studies were included if they measured loneliness in an unselected population. Results: Thirty-nine studies reported data on 120,000 older people from 29 countries. Thirty-one studies were suitable for meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence estimate of loneliness was 28.5% (95%CI: 23.9% - 33.2%). In twenty-nine studies reporting loneliness severity, the pooled prevalence was 25.9% (95%CI: 21.6% - 30.3%) for moderate loneliness and 7.9% (95%CI: 4.8% - 11.6%) for severe loneliness (z = -6.1, p

Suggested Citation

  • Kavita Chawla & Tafadzwa Patience Kunonga & Daniel Stow & Robert Barker & Dawn Craig & Barbara Hanratty, 2021. "Prevalence of loneliness amongst older people in high-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(7), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0255088
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255088
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    Cited by:

    1. Gustafsson, Per E. & Fonseca-Rodríguez, Osvaldo & Nilsson, Ingeborg & San Sebastián, Miguel, 2022. "Intersectional inequalities in loneliness among older adults before and during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: A total population survey in the Swedish eldercare setting," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).

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