Abstract
Background
Although loneliness and physical function impairment (PFI) are common geriatric syndromes and public health issues, little is known about how their association varies by self-perception of health. We examine how loneliness is associated with PFI, and whether the association is modified by perceived health status.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1201 adults aged ≥50 years from the Aging, Health, Psychological Well-being and Health Seeking Behavior Study (AgeHeaPsyWel–HeaSeeB) in Ghana. We assessed loneliness using the 3-item short-form of UCLA Loneliness Scale, and PFI with a 7-item scale on mobility-related deficiencies. Adjusted logistic regressions and moderation analysis evaluated the hypothesized associations.
Results
The prevalence of moderate, severe loneliness, and PFI were 37.5%, 17.7%, and 36.1%, respectively. Regressions showed that loneliness was associated with a 23% increased risk of PFI after adjusting for several potential confounders (OR = 1.23; 95%CI = 1.03–2.81). PFI sub-types revealed similar risks. The association was modified by perceived health status such that a positive health perception attenuated the effect of loneliness on PFI (OR = 0.46, 95%CI = 0.23–0.90).
Conclusions
Individuals who were lonely had significantly higher odds for PFI but the effect was tempered by perceived health status. Social policy and public health practices for healthy aging should address loneliness and negative health perception among older people.
Although loneliness and physical function impairment (PFI) are common geriatric syndromes and public health issues, little is known about how their association varies by self-perception of health. We examine how loneliness is associated with PFI, and whether the association is modified by perceived health status.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1201 adults aged ≥50 years from the Aging, Health, Psychological Well-being and Health Seeking Behavior Study (AgeHeaPsyWel–HeaSeeB) in Ghana. We assessed loneliness using the 3-item short-form of UCLA Loneliness Scale, and PFI with a 7-item scale on mobility-related deficiencies. Adjusted logistic regressions and moderation analysis evaluated the hypothesized associations.
Results
The prevalence of moderate, severe loneliness, and PFI were 37.5%, 17.7%, and 36.1%, respectively. Regressions showed that loneliness was associated with a 23% increased risk of PFI after adjusting for several potential confounders (OR = 1.23; 95%CI = 1.03–2.81). PFI sub-types revealed similar risks. The association was modified by perceived health status such that a positive health perception attenuated the effect of loneliness on PFI (OR = 0.46, 95%CI = 0.23–0.90).
Conclusions
Individuals who were lonely had significantly higher odds for PFI but the effect was tempered by perceived health status. Social policy and public health practices for healthy aging should address loneliness and negative health perception among older people.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 101721 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Preventive Medicine Reports |
| Volume | 26 |
| Early online date | 29 Jan 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2022
© 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc.
Funding
This work was supported by Lingnan University, Hong Kong [grant numbers: RPG 1129310] to Razak M. Gyasi (https://www.ln.edu.hk/about-lu/introducinglingnan). The funders had no role in study design, data collection, and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Keywords
- emotional dysregulation
- functional impairment
- loneliness
- healthy aging
- social relationship
- sub-Saharan Africa
- Functional impairment
- Social relationship
- Emotional dysregulation
- Loneliness
- Healthy aging
- Sub-Saharan Africa
