Perception of one’s social environment and loneliness: results of the nationally representative “Old age in Germany (D80+)” study
Issued Date
2024-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
09337954
eISSN
14339285
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85205348616
Journal Title
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology (2024)
Suggested Citation
Hajek A., Sutin A., Luchetti M., Peltzer K., Veronese N., Gyasi R.M., Soysal P., Stephan Y., Terracciano A., König H.H. Perception of one’s social environment and loneliness: results of the nationally representative “Old age in Germany (D80+)” study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology (2024). doi:10.1007/s00127-024-02774-3 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/101541
Title
Perception of one’s social environment and loneliness: results of the nationally representative “Old age in Germany (D80+)” study
Author's Affiliation
College of Medical and Health Science
Centre Européen de Recherche sur le Mouvement Humain
Bezmiâlem Vakıf Üniversitesi
African Population and Health Research Center
Florida State University College of Medicine
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Scuola di Medicina e Chirurgia
University of the Free State
Mahidol University
Southern Cross University
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
Centre Européen de Recherche sur le Mouvement Humain
Bezmiâlem Vakıf Üniversitesi
African Population and Health Research Center
Florida State University College of Medicine
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Scuola di Medicina e Chirurgia
University of the Free State
Mahidol University
Southern Cross University
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Objectives: To examine the association between perception of one’s social environment (in terms of residential attachment and neighborhood trust) and loneliness among the oldest old and whether these associations differ by living arrangement. Methods: We used data from the nationally representative “Old Age in Germany (D80+)” study that included individuals residing in private households and institutionalized settings. The analytic sample was 9,621 individuals (average age: 85.5 years, SD: 4.1 years; 62% female). Data collection took place from November 2020 to April 2021. Multiple linear regressions were conducted with adjustment for relevant covariates. Results: Higher residential attachment (β=-0.02, p <.05) and higher neighborhood trust (β=-0.12, p <.001) were associated with less loneliness. The latter association was moderated by living arrangement (β=-0.09, p =.04) such that the association between neighborhood trust and loneliness was stronger among individuals living in institutionalized settings compared to individuals in private households. Conclusion: Greater residential attachment and neighborhood trust, particularly among individuals living in institutionalized settings, are associated with less loneliness among the oldest old. Finding ways to improve perceived attachment and trust may assist in avoiding loneliness among older individuals.