Cited by 286Health disparities and outcomesAging and Gerontology ResearchCOVID-19 and Mental Health

High prevalence and adverse health effects of loneliness in community-dwelling adults across the lifespan: role of wisdom as a protective factor

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Lee, Ellen E., Depp, Colin, Palmer, Barton W., Glorioso, Danielle, Daly, Rebecca, Liu, Jinyuan, Tu, Xin M., Kim, Ho-Cheol +3 more·2019·International Psychogeriatrics

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study of loneliness across adult lifespan examined its associations with sociodemographics, mental health (positive and negative psychological states and traits), subjective cognitive complaints, and physical functioning. DESIGN: Analysis of cross-sectional data. PARTICIPANTS: 340 community-dwelling adults in San Diego, California, mean age 62 (SD = 18) years, range 27-101 years, who participated in three community-based studies. MEASUREMENTS: Loneliness measures included UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 (UCLA-3), 4-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Social Isolation Scale, and a single-item measure from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD) scale. Other measures included the San Diego Wisdom Scale (SD-WISE) and Medical Outcomes Survey- Short form 36. RESULTS: Seventy-six percent of subjects had moderate-high levels of loneliness on UCLA-3, using standardized cut-points. Loneliness was correlated with worse mental health and inversely with positive psychological states/traits. Even moderate severity of loneliness was associated with worse mental and physical functioning. Loneliness severity and age had a complex relationship, with increased loneliness in the late-20s, mid-50s, and late-80s. There were no sex differences in loneliness prevalence, severity, and age relationships. The best-fit multiple regression model accounted for 45% of the variance in UCLA-3 scores, and three factors emerged with small-medium effect sizes: wisdom, living alone and mental well-being. CONCLUSIONS: The alarmingly high prevalence of loneliness and its association with worse health-related measures underscore major challenges for society. The non-linear age-loneliness severity relationship deserves further study. The strong negative association of wisdom with loneliness highlights the potentially critical role of wisdom as a target for psychosocial/behavioral interventions to reduce loneliness. Building a wiser society may help us develop a more connected, less lonely, and happier society.

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  1. Theeke LA and Mallow J (2013). Loneliness and quality of life in chronically ill rural older adults. Am J Nurs, 113, 28– 37; quiz 38. PMC4323171 23958674

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Authors
Lee, E. E., Depp, C., Palmer, B. W., Glorioso, D., Daly, R., Liu, J., Tu, X. M., Kim, H.-C., Tarr, P., Yamada, Y., & Jeste, D. V.
Affiliations
  • IBM (United States) (US)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • IBM Research - Tokyo (JP)
Corresponding author
Jeste, Dilip V.
Venue
International Psychogeriatrics
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-10
Volume
31
Issue
10
Pages
1447-1462
ISSN
1041-6102 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2905099661
Cited by
286
References
86
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 44 · 2022: 51 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 16
FWCI
26.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Psychogeriatrics (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (UL1TR001442)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH094151, T32MH019934)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
Keywords
loneliness, wisdom, lifespan, community-dwelling adults, mental health, physical function, social isolation, living alone, sociodemographic factors, subjective cognitive complaints, protective factors
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, California, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Loneliness, Longevity, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Surveys and Questionnaires, Regression Analysis, Risk Factors, Prevalence, Independent Living, Protective Factors

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