Prevalence of and risk factors for loneliness in rural older adults
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The study investigated the prevalence of and risk factors (socio-economic, health and kinship ties) for loneliness in older adults in rural India. METHODS: Data were collected from a random sample of 897 older adults in rural India. Loneliness was measured through a 3-item scale, and measures of kinship ties and health status were included. A hierarchical regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of loneliness was 48%. The kinship factors contributed more to loneliness than the socio-demographic and health variables. The subjective aspects of kinship ties (relationship strain, support, family cohesion) explained more variance in loneliness than the structural aspects (living arrangements, family size). Within the functional component of kinship ties, relationship strain contributed more to loneliness. CONCLUSION: Strategies to combat loneliness should include multidynamic interventions on strengthening family ties and promoting optimal health during old age.
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The higher prevalence of loneliness among women than men may be attributed to the higher prevalence of functional disability in women than in men in this study and possibly kinship relationship stress, support, and cohesion impacting to a greater extent on loneliness in women than in men.
“The higher prevalence of loneliness among women than men may be attributed to the higher prevalence of functional disability in women than in men in this study and possibly kinship relationship stress, support, and cohesion impacting to a greater extent on loneliness in women than in men [5].”
From Factors associated with loneliness in a national study among persons 80 years and older in India in 2017-2018 (2025) · cites this paper as [5]
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- Authors
- Chokkanathan, S.
- Affiliations
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- Corresponding author
- Chokkanathan, Srinivasan
- Venue
- Australasian Journal on Ageing
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2020-10-23
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- e545-e551
- ISSN
- 0726-4240 (ISSN-L)
- 1440-6381
- 1741-6612
- OpenAlex
- W3093712818
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 2
- FWCI
- 1.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Australian Journal on Ageing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues
- Keywords
- loneliness, older adults, rural India, kinship ties, family cohesion, relationship strain, family support, living arrangements, family size, health status, socioeconomic factors, prevalence, risk factors
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Health Status, Humans, Loneliness, Risk Factors, Rural Population, Prevalence
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