Predictors of Loneliness among Older Adults in South-Eastern Nigeria

European Journal of Mental Health: individual, family, community and society

article

SAMUEL O. EBIMGBO¹  CHIEMEZIE S. ATAMA¹  CHINYERE E. ONALU¹  INYOMOMA A. OBASI-IGWE¹  GABRIEL U. AGHEDO¹ 

[1] Department of Social Work, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria

关键词: loneliness;    older adults;    social policy;    social workers;    southeast Nigeria;   

DOI  :  10.5708/EJMH.16.2021.1.1

学科分类：基础医学

来源: Semmelweis University * Institute of Mental Health

【 摘 要 】

Old-age loneliness is a crucial public health issue with mortality consequences as well as othernegative health conditions and lifestyles including depression, substance abuse, sedentarylifestyles, and suicide ideation. This study investigated the predictors of loneliness among olderadults in Nigeria’s southeast in order to articulate some interventions that will plummet the issue.A structured questionnaire (N = 516), in-depth interviews (N = 8), and focus group discussion(N = 16) were used to collect data from respondents aged 60 years or older. The quantitative datasets were subjected to chi-square and binary regression analysis, while a thematic analysis wasadopted for the qualitative data. The study’s findings show that some demographic factors such asthe number of children (p < .002), health status (p < .023), and social support (p < .014), amongothers, were statistically significant in predicting loneliness among older adults. The study, therefore, recommends the consideration of community-based services to enable elderly adults to bufferthe experience of loneliness. Social workers should also influence the various organs responsiblefor social policies to formulate and promote policies that address the well-being of older adults.

【 授权许可】

CC BY