Loneliness in the general population: prevalence, determinants and relations to mental health

BMC Psychiatry

Research Article

Thomas Münzel¹  Eva M. Klein²  Jörg Wiltink²  Iris Reiner²  Elmar Brähler²  Ana N. Tibubos²  Manfred E. Beutel²  Matthias Michal²  Karl J. Lackner³  Claus Jünger⁴  Philipp S. Wild⁵ 

[1] Center for Cardiology, Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany;German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Rhine Main, Mainz, Germany;Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Zahlbacher Str. 8, D-55131, Mainz, Germany;Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany;Preventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, Center for Cardiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany;Preventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, Center for Cardiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany;Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany;German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Rhine Main, Mainz, Germany;

关键词: Loneliness;    Depression;    Anxiety;    Suicidal ideation;    Partnership;    Prevalence;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12888-017-1262-x

 received in 2016-11-12, accepted in 2017-03-09,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundWhile loneliness has been regarded as a risk to mental and physical health, there is a lack of current community data covering a broad age range. This study used a large and representative German adult sample to investigate loneliness.MethodsBaseline data of the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) collected between April 2007 and April 2012 (N = 15,010; 35–74 years), were analyzed. Recruitment for the community-based, prospective, observational cohort study was performed in equal strata for gender, residence and age decades. Measures were provided by self-report and interview. Loneliness was used as a predictor for distress (depression, generalized anxiety, and suicidal ideation) in logistic regression analyses adjusting for sociodemographic variables and mental distress.ResultsA total of 10.5% of participants reported some degree of loneliness (4.9% slight, 3.9% moderate and 1.7% severely distressed by loneliness). Loneliness declined across age groups. Loneliness was stronger in women, in participants without a partner, and in those living alone and without children. Controlling for demographic variables and other sources of distress loneliness was associated with depression (OR = 1.91), generalized anxiety (OR = 1.21) and suicidal ideation (OR = 1.35). Lonely participants also smoked more and visited physicians more frequently.ConclusionsThe findings support the view that loneliness poses a significant health problem for a sizeable part of the population with increased risks in terms of distress (depression, anxiety), suicidal ideation, health behavior and health care utilization.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017