Loneliness and self-reported health among older persons in New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to identify the rate, degree and impact of loneliness in a sample of 332 older community-dwelling New Zealanders.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was used to collect self-reported data on loneliness, physical and mental health, age, sex and marital status. Eight per cent of the sample was found to be severely lonely, 44% moderately lonely and 48% not lonely. Participants were assigned to three groups by level of loneliness and compared on age, sex, marital status and health.


RESULTS
The groups were found to differ on physical (F [2,329] = 5.3, P = 0.006) and mental health (F [2,329] = 13.7, P < 0.001) but not on age, sex or marital status.


CONCLUSIONS
Those who were in the severely and moderately lonely groups scored lower on both health measures than those in the not lonely group.
School of Health and Social Services, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. s.j.lagrow@massey.ac.nz
Steven
S
La Grow
Stephen
S
Neville
Fiona
F
Alpass
Vivien
V
Rodgers
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008603:Mental Health; D009520:New Zealand; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors