Social Isolation, Loneliness and Health Among Older Adults

Coyle, Caitlin E.; Dugan, Elizabeth

doi:10.1177/0898264312460275

Cited by 875Health disparities and outcomesAging, Health, and DisabilityAging and Gerontology Research

Social Isolation, Loneliness and Health Among Older Adults

Coyle, Caitlin E., Dugan, Elizabeth·2012·Journal of Aging and Health

DOI 10.1177/0898264312460275

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Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationship of social isolation, loneliness and health outcomes among older adults. Methods: Using data from the Leave Behind Questionnaire of the Health and Retirement Study (2006 and 2008), ( n = 11,825) several indicators of social isolation were scaled and the Hughes 3-Item Loneliness Scale was used. Two measures of health (self-rated health and mental health conditions) were examined using logistic regression. Results: Loneliness and social isolation were not highly correlated with one another ( r = 0.201, p = 0.000). Loneliness was associated with higher odds of having a mental health problem ( OR: 1.17; CI: [1.13, 1.21], p = 0.000); and isolation was associated with higher odds of reporting one’s health as being fair/poor ( OR:1.39; CI: [1.21, 1.59], p = 0.000). Discussion: The results suggest that global measures of isolation, that fail to distinguish between social isolation and feelings of loneliness, may not detect the impact on physical and mental health in older adults.

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Reasons for increased social isolation in older adults include declining physical health reducing ability to attend social activities and reduced availability of social networks due to friends and family moving away or dying.
“Reasons for the increased social isolation in older adults are varied but include: (1) the impact of declining physical health in later life which reduces older people's ability to attend social activities, and (2) the reduced availability of social networks due to friends and family moving away or dying (Coyle & Dugan, 2012).”
From The relationship between social media use and psychosocial outcomes in older adults: A systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as Coyle & Dugan, 2012
Loneliness and social isolation are conceptually distinct and the correlation between the two constructs is modest.
“While loneliness and social isolation often cooccur, they are conceptually distinct and the correlation between the two constructs is modest (Coyle & Dugan, 2012;Matthews et al., 2015).”
From Investigating the interplay of loneliness and social isolation across adolescence: Findings from a nationally representative longitudinal study (2026) · cites this paper as Coyle & Dugan, 2012
The cross-sectional association between loneliness and social isolation at age 18 (r=0.38) is comparable but somewhat stronger than that observed in studies using structural indicators of social isolation in adulthood (e.g., r≈0.18-0.30).
“This may be reflected in the cross-sectional association between the constructs at age 18 (r = 0.38), which is comparable but somewhat stronger than that observed in studies using structural indicators of social isolation in adulthood (e.g., r ≈ 0.18-0.30;Preacher et al., 2005;Coyle & Dugan, 2012;Steptoe et al., 2013).”
From Investigating the interplay of loneliness and social isolation across adolescence: Findings from a nationally representative longitudinal study (2026) · cites this paper as Coyle & Dugan, 2012
Other studies have found that both isolation and loneliness were independent risk factors for a range of health outcomes.
“Other studies have found that both isolation and loneliness were independent risk factors for a range of health outcomes (Shankar et al. 2011, 2013, Coyle and Dugan 2012).”
From Social isolation, loneliness and health in old age: a scoping review (2017) · cites this paper as Coyle and Dugan 2012
Loneliness is only moderately correlated with objectively measured concepts such as social isolation, social network size and objective social support received.
“Loneliness has been shown to be only moderately correlated with more objectively measured concepts such as social isolation, social network size and objective social support received from others [30, 31].”
From Associations between loneliness and perceived social support and outcomes of mental health problems: a systematic review (2018) · cites this paper as [31]

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Authors: Coyle, C. E., & Dugan, E.
Affiliations: University of Massachusetts Boston (US)
ORCID: Coyle, Caitlin E.
Venue: Journal of Aging and Health
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2012-09-23
Volume: 24
Issue: 8
Pages: 1346-1363
ISSN: 0898-2643 (ISSN-L)
1552-6887
DOI: 10.1177/0898264312460275
OpenAlex: W2162577640
Cited by: 875
References: 17
Citations by year: 2026: 65 · 2025: 95 · 2024: 98 · 2023: 127 · 2022: 107 · 2021: 115 · 2020: 89 · 2019: 42 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 2
FWCI: 14.48
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Journal of Aging and Health (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Keywords: social isolation, loneliness, older adults, self-rated health, mental health, health outcomes
MeSH terms: Aged, Mental Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Status, Humans, Loneliness, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Social Isolation, Logistic Models, Diagnostic Self Evaluation

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Social Isolation, Loneliness and Health Among Older Adults

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