Dataset Information

Examining social isolation and loneliness in combination in relation to social support and psychological distress using Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging (CLSA) data.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Although a large body of research has focused on social isolation and loneliness, few studies have examined social isolation and loneliness together. The objectives of this study were to examine: 1) the relationship between four groups derived from combining social isolation and loneliness (socially isolated and lonely; only socially isolated; only lonely; neither socially isolated nor lonely) and the desire for more social participation, and social support; and 2) the relationship between the four groups and psychological distress. METHODS:The study was based on the Comprehensive Cohort of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Using CLSA baseline data (unweighted N = 30,079), ordinary and logistic regression analysis was used to examine the cross-sectional relationship between the four social isolation/loneliness groups and desire for more social participation and four types of social support (tangible, positive interaction, affection, and emotional support). Prospective logistic regression analysis was possible for psychological distress, which was derived from the Maintaining Contact Questionnaire administered about 18 months after the baseline questionnaire (unweighted N = 28,789). RESULTS:Findings indicate that being socially isolated and lonely was associated with the most social support gaps; this group also had an increased likelihood of psychological distress, relative to those who were neither socially isolated nor lonely. Participants who were only socially isolated, and those only lonely also perceived some social support gaps. In addition, the only lonely group was more likely to be psychologically distressed than the only socially isolated group and the neither isolated nor lonely group. CONCLUSION:Examining the four social isolation/loneliness was useful, as it provided more nuanced risk profiles than would have been possible had we examined social isolation and loneliness separately. Findings may suggest avenues for interventions tailored to the unique needs of at-risk individuals.

SUBMITTER: Menec VH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7089537 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Examining social isolation and loneliness in combination in relation to social support and psychological distress using Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging (CLSA) data.

Menec Verena H VH Newall Nancy E NE Mackenzie Corey S CS Shooshtari Shahin S Nowicki Scott S

PloS one 20200323 3

<h4>Background</h4>Although a large body of research has focused on social isolation and loneliness, few studies have examined social isolation and loneliness together. The objectives of this study were to examine: 1) the relationship between four groups derived from combining social isolation and loneliness (socially isolated and lonely; only socially isolated; only lonely; neither socially isolated nor lonely) and the desire for more social participation, and social support; and 2) the relatio ...[more]

PMID: 32203553

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Project description:BackgroundLoneliness is a public health concern and its influence on morbidity and mortality are well documented. The association between loneliness and emergency department visits is less clear. Further, while sex and gender-related factors are known to be associated with loneliness and health services use, little research looks at the relationship by gender. Our study aimed to estimate the association between loneliness and emergency department use in the previous 12 months. We aimed to determine if this association differed based on gender identity and gender-related characteristics.MethodsWe used a retrospective cohort study design to analyze population-based survey data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). We analysed data from the baseline and follow-up 1 survey respondents (2015-2018) from both the tracking (telephone interviews) and comprehensive (in-home data collection) cohorts (n=44816). Loneliness was assessed using a dichotomous measure (lonely/not lonely) from a validated scale. Emergency department visits were dichotomous (yes/no) by self-reported emergency department use in the 12 months prior to the survey date. Multivariable logistic regression analyses using analytic weights examined the association between loneliness and emergency department visit, controlling for other demographic, social, and health related factors.ResultsWe identified 44,413 respondents to the baseline and follow-up 1 survey. The prevalence of loneliness in our sample was 23.1% (n=10263). Of those who had been to the emergency department in the previous year, 27.2% (n=2793) were lonely. Lonely respondents had higher odds of an emergency department visit (aOR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.05-1.21), adjusted for various demographic and health factors. Loneliness was associated with emergency department visits more so in women (aOR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.05-1.25) than in men (aOR: 1.10, 95% CI: 0.99-1.22).ConclusionsIn our study, loneliness was associated with emergency department visits in the previous 12 months. When our analysis was disaggregated by gender, we found differences in the odds of emergency department visit for men, women, and gender-diverse respondents. The odds of ED visit were higher in women than men. These findings highlight the general importance of identifying loneliness in both primary care and hospital. Care providers in ED need resources to refer patients who present in this setting with health issues complicated by social conditions such as loneliness.

Project description:ObjectivesOur primary objective was to estimate the association between loneliness and unmet healthcare needs and if the association changes when adjusted for demographic and health factors. Our secondary objective was to examine the associations by gender (men, women, gender diverse).Design, setting, participantsRetrospective cross-sectional data from 44 423 community-dwelling Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging participants aged 45 years and older were used.Primary outcome measureUnmet healthcare needs are measured by asking respondents to indicate (yes, no) if there was a time when they needed healthcare in the last 12 months but did not receive it.ResultsIn our sample of 44 423 respondents, 8.5% (n=3755) reported having an unmet healthcare need in the previous 12 months. Lonely respondents had a higher percentage of unmet healthcare needs (14.4%, n=1474) compared with those who were not lonely (6.7%, n=2281). Gender diverse had the highest percentage reporting being lonely and having an unmet healthcare need (27.3%, n=3), followed by women (15.4%, n=887) and men (13.1%, n=583). In our logistic regression, lonely respondents had higher odds of having an unmet healthcare need in the previous 12 months than did not lonely (adjusted odd ratios (aOR) 1.80, 95% CI 1.64 to 1.97), adjusted for other covariates. In the gender-stratified analysis, loneliness was associated with a slightly greater likelihood of unmet healthcare needs in men (aOR 1.90, 95% CI 1.64 to 2.19) than in women (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.53 to 1.95). In the gender diverse, loneliness was also associated with increased likelihood of having an unmet healthcare need (aOR 1.38, 95% CI 0.23 to 8.29).ConclusionsLoneliness was related to unmet healthcare needs in the previous 12 months, which may suggest that those without robust social connections experience challenges accessing health services. Gender-related differences in loneliness and unmet needs must be further examined in larger samples.

Project description:BackgroundThe aim is to investigate whether social isolation and loneliness are associated with changes in grip strength, gait speed, BMD, and fractures.MethodsCanadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) Comprehensive Cohort participants aged 65 years and older at baseline (2012-2015) who completed the three-year follow-up interview (2015-2018) were included in this analysis (n = 11,344). Social isolation and loneliness were measured using the CLSA social isolation index (CLSA-SII, range 0-10). We calculated absolute and percent change in grip strength (kg) and gait speed (m/s) and annualized absolute (g/cm2) and percent change in femoral neck and total hip BMD during the three-year follow-up. Self-reported incident fractures of all skeletal sites in the previous 12 months were measured at three-year follow-up. Multivariable analyses were conducted. Odd ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) are reported.ResultsThe mean age (standard deviation [SD]) was 72.9 (5.6) years and 49.9% were female. The mean (SD) of CLSA-SII at baseline was 3.5 (1.4). Mean absolute and percentage change (SD) in grip strength (kg) and gait speed (m/s) were -1.33 (4.60), -3.02% (16.65), and -0.05 (0.17), -3.06% (19.28) during the three-year follow-up, respectively. Mean annualized absolute (g/cm2) and percentage change (SD) in femoral neck and total hip BMD were -0.004 (0.010), -0.47% (1.43) and -0.005 (0.009), -0.57% (1.09), respectively. 345 (3.1%) participants had incident fractures. As CLSA-SII increased (per one unit change), participants had 1.13 (adjusted OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.27) times greater odds for incident fractures. The interaction term between the CLSA-SII and centre for epidemiology studies depression 9 scale (CES-D 9) for self-reported incident fractures was shown (interaction OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04).ConclusionsSocially isolated and lonely older adults were more likely to have had incident fractures, but social isolation was not associated with the three-year changes in grip strength, gait speed, or BMD.

Project description:PurposeThe Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) Comprehensive cohort was established to provide unique opportunities to study the genetic and environmental contributions to human disease as well as ageing process. The aim of this report was to describe the genomic data included in CLSA.ParticipantsA total of 26 622 individuals from the CLSA Comprehensive cohort of men and women aged 45-85 recruited between 2010 and 2015 underwent genome-wide genotyping of DNA samples collected from blood. Comprehensive quality control metrics were measured for genetic markers and samples, respectively. The genotypes were imputed to the TOPMed reference panel. Sex chromosome abnormalities were identified by copy number profiling. Classical human leukocyte antigen gene haplotypes were imputed at two-field (four-digit).Findings to dateOf the 26 622 genotyped participants, 24 655 (92.6%) were identified as having European ancestry. These genomic data were linked to physical, lifestyle, medical, economic, environmental and psychosocial factors collected longitudinally in CLSA. The combined analysis, including CLSA genomic data, uncovered over 100 novel loci associated with key parameters to define glaucoma. The CLSA genomic dataset validated the contribution of a polygenic risk score to screen individuals with high fracture risk. It is also a valuable resource to directly identify common genetic variations associated with conditions related to complex traits. Taking advantage of the comprehensive interview and physical information collected in CLSA, this genomic dataset has been linked to psychosocial factors to investigate both the independent and interactive effects on cardiovascular disease.Future plansThe CLSA overall is ongoing. Follow-up data will continue to be collected from participants in the current genomic subcohort, including the DNA methylation and metabolomic data. Ongoing studies focus on elucidating the role of genetic factors in cognitive decline and cardiovascular diseases. This genomic data resource is available on request through the CLSA data access application process.

Dataset Information

Examining social isolation and loneliness in combination in relation to social support and psychological distress using Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging (CLSA) data.

Publications

Examining social isolation and loneliness in combination in relation to social support and psychological distress using Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging (CLSA) data.

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