Longitudinal Associations of Loneliness with Mental and Physical Health in Ageing Adults in South Africa
Issued Date
2025-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
14623730
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105008969353
Journal Title
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion
Volume
27
Issue
5
Start Page
625
End Page
635
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion Vol.27 No.5 (2025) , 625-635
Suggested Citation
Peltzer K. Longitudinal Associations of Loneliness with Mental and Physical Health in Ageing Adults in South Africa. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion Vol.27 No.5 (2025) , 625-635. 635. doi:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.063801 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/111031
Title
Longitudinal Associations of Loneliness with Mental and Physical Health in Ageing Adults in South Africa
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Author's Affiliation
Corresponding Author(s)
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Abstract
Objectives: Few studies have investigated longitudinal associations of loneliness with health outcomes in Africa. This study aimed to assess the longitudinal associations between loneliness and mental and physical health among aging adults in South Africa. Methods: Data from the 7-year longitudinal Health and Ageing in Africa (HAALSI) study conducted in South Africa were used in the analysis (analytic sample: n = 3707, aged 40 years and older). Loneliness was measured with one question. Longitudinal relationships between loneliness and each health outcome were estimated using Generalized Estimating Equations analysis (GEE), hazard ratios (HRs) (95% CI) were used to determine the relationship between loneliness and 7-year mortality in the entire sample, and correlations between incident health outcomes and loneliness were evaluated using logistic regressions. Results: The prevalence of loneliness was 12.1% in 2015, 16.9% in 2019, and 16.3% in 2022. Multivariable analysis showed that loneliness was positively associated with the prevalence and/or incidence of four poor mental health indicators (e.g., poor sleep quality, AOR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.30–1.80), four physical ill-health indicators (e.g., incident kidney disease, AOR = 2.50, 95% CI: 1.41–4.42), mortality (Hazard Ratio= 1.20, 95% CI = 1.04–1.39), and three poor behavioral health indicators (e.g., current tobacco use, AOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.04–1.42). Conclusion: Thestudydiscoveredthatseveraloutcomesrelatedtomental, physical, and behavioral health were associated with loneliness. Enhancing the detection and management of loneliness could lower mental and physical illness in aging adults in South Africa.