Social and emotional loneliness among older people living in Nursing Homes in Spain: a cross-sectional study

Loneliness, little studied in Nursing Homes (NHs), can affect physical and mental health. We aimed to analyze the factors associated with overall, social, and emotional loneliness in 65 residents of 5 NHs from Central Catalonia (Spain), and to verify its prevalence. The sample consisted of 81.5% women with a mean age of 84±7.13 years. The cross-sectional study included older adults aged 65 or over and with preserved cognitive status. De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale was used to assess overall loneliness and its subtypes; and sociodemographic and health-related variables were collected. The chi-square (or Fisher’s) test and logistic regression were used for bivariate and multivariate analysis respectively. Prevalence of overall loneliness was 70.7% (95%CI:58.2-81.4), social loneliness 44.6% (95% CI: 33.1-56.6) and emotional loneliness 46.2% (95% CI: 34.5–58.1). Overall loneliness was associated with lower perceived quality of life (Odds Ratio-OR = 5.52, 95% CI:1.25-24.38) and NHs with state subsidized places (OR = 0.19, 95% CI: .05-.74); social loneliness with having 0-1 children (OR = .25, 95% CI: .08-.77), and emotional loneliness with depression (OR = 4.54, 95% CI: 1.28-16.08) and urinary incontinence (UI) (OR = 4.65, 95% CI: 1.23-17.52). Loneliness was present in almost 71% of residents and was associated with type of NH and poorer quality of life, the emotional with depression and UI and the social one with having less than 2 children. La soledad, poco estudiada en las residencias de ancianos, puede afectar a la salud física y mental. Nuestro objetivo es analizar los factores asociados a la soledad global, social y emocional de un total de 65 residentes de 5 residencias de la Cataluña Central (España), y comprobar su prevalencia. La muestra estuvo formada por 81.5% mujeres con una edad media de 84±7.13 años. El estudio transversal incluyó a adultos mayores de 65 años y con estado cognitivo preservado. Se utilizó la Escala de Soledad de De Jong Gierveld para evaluar la soledad general y sus subtipos; y se recogieron variables sociodemográficas y relacionadas con la salud. Se utilizó la prueba de chi-cuadrado (o de Fisher) y la regresión logística para el análisis bivariante y multivariante, respectivamente. La prevalencia de la soledad global fue del 70.7% (IC 95%: 58.2-81.4), la soledad social del 44.6% (IC 95%: 33.1-56.6) y la soledad emocional del 46.2% (IC 95%: 34.5-58.1). La soledad global se asoció con una menor calidad de vida percibida (Odds Ra