The prevalence of loneliness and its determinants among geriatric population in Bengaluru City, Karnataka, India

2016-10-22T03-07-52Z
Source: International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health
R. Anil, K. N. Prasad, M. Puttaswamy.
Background: Loneliness affects all the individuals, but the extent of problem among geriatric population is not really known. This study is conducted to different socio-economic environment, co-morbid conditions and disabilities affecting daily activities related to old age loneliness with an objective to estimate the prevalence of loneliness among elderly aged population and to determine the factors influencing loneliness among them. Methods: A community based, quantitative, descriptive, cross sectional and explorative study was conducted among 370 elderly populations residing in ward 32 in Bengaluru city between July and August 2015. Information was collected using revised UCLA loneliness questionnaire at the doorsteps and analysis was done using SPSS. Results: The prevalence of loneliness with a score of 50 and above was 37.6%, among males and females it was observed 29.6% and 42.7% respectively. The increase in prevalence was proportional to their age group. Elderly people aged 80 years and above were more affected. The problem of loneliness increased as the family size decreases (85.7%), either of the spouse was separated or dead (46.7%), presence of disabilities affecting basic and instrumental daily activities (61% and 39%) and financial dependency (38.5%). Likewise Loneliness decreased as the number of family members aged 60 years and more increased in the family. Conclusions: The prevalence of loneliness was 37.6% among the elderly population. Females were affected more. The factors influencing loneliness are older age group, illiterates, not living with spouse, only person in the family aged 60 years and above, family size of more than five and presence of daily activity disability.


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