Loneliness and isolation: Are they associated with the wish for an earlier end of life?
4
Issued Date
2025-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
14441586
eISSN
14470594
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105013457478
Journal Title
Geriatrics and Gerontology International
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Geriatrics and Gerontology International (2025)
Suggested Citation
Hajek A., Zwar L., Gyasi R.M., Yon D.K., Pengpid S., Peltzer K., König H.H. Loneliness and isolation: Are they associated with the wish for an earlier end of life?. Geriatrics and Gerontology International (2025). doi:10.1111/ggi.70148 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/111751
Title
Loneliness and isolation: Are they associated with the wish for an earlier end of life?
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
Mahidol University
University of the Free State
Brock University
KyungHee University College of Medicine
Southern Cross University
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)
College of Medical and Health Science
African Population and Health Research Center
Mahidol University
University of the Free State
Brock University
KyungHee University College of Medicine
Southern Cross University
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)
College of Medical and Health Science
African Population and Health Research Center
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Aim: To examine the association of loneliness and social isolation with the desired age at death among middle-aged and older adults in Germany. Methods: Data were taken from the German Aging Survey (wave 8: nationally representative sample of community-dwelling individuals aged ≥43 years; n = 3826). The mean age equaled 69.3 years (SD 11.3 years, 43–99 years). Loneliness and social isolation were both quantified using psychometrically sound and widely used tools. Several sociodemographic, lifestyle-related and health-related covariates were included in linear regression analysis (with robust standard errors). Results: The mean desired age at death was 90.1 years (SD 8.0 years). Regressions showed that there was a robust association of loneliness (β = −1.47, P < 0.001) and social isolation (β = −1.49, P < 0.001) with lower desired age at death among the total sample, even after adjusting for a wide array of covariates. In the fully-adjusted model, such associations were also present among both men and women (with significant sex differences for the association between loneliness and the outcome; i.e., more pronounced association between loneliness and the desired age at death among men). Conclusions: Loneliness (among men in particular) and social isolation were both associated with a lower desired age at death. This stresses the importance of tackling loneliness and social isolation in later life. It is of note that this is the very first study examining the association of loneliness and social isolation with the desired age at death. Thus, it can serve as a basis for future studies. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; ••: ••–••.