Determinants of trends in loneliness among Dutch older people over the period 2005-2010.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to investigate the influence of socio-demographic, health, and municipal characteristics on trends in loneliness among community-dwelling elderly people.


METHODS
Data were gathered from 4,868 and 4,773 non-institutionalized elderly people aged 65 years and above in a health survey in 2005 and 2010, respectively. Crude and adjusted multilevel models were analyzed to study the independent associations of study year and socio-demographic, health, and municipal characteristics with loneliness.


RESULTS
Overall and across municipalities, loneliness estimates did not significantly differ between 2005 and 2010. However, among the sub-group with activity limitations, loneliness was higher in 2010 compared with 2005.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates a constant trend in loneliness in the total population and across sub-groups with the exception of participants with one or more activity limitations, where loneliness increased. Individual socio-demographic and health characteristics were explanatory factors for variation in loneliness over time, whereas municipal characteristics were not.
GGD Noord- en Oost-Gelderland (Community Health Service), Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.
Rianne
R
Honigh-de Vlaming
Annemien
A
Haveman-Nies
Inge
I
Bos-Oude Groeniger
Lisette
L
de Groot
Pieter
P
van 't Veer
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002947:Cities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
activity limitations; elderly people; loneliness; public health; trends