TY - JOUR
T1 - Loneliness and Functional Decline in Aging A Systematic Review
AU - Pollak, Chava
AU - Verghese, Joe
AU - Blumen, Helena
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© SLACK Incorporated.
PY - 2023/7
Y1 - 2023/7
N2 - Loneliness is prevalent in adults aged ≥65 years in the United States and is associated with functional decline. The purpose of the current review was to synthesize evidence on the relationship between loneliness and functional decline using Roy’s Adaptation Model as a theoretical framework. A comprehensive review of PubMed, Medline, and Embase databases was performed. Inclusion criteria were samples including adults primarily aged >60 years, peer-reviewed, published in the English language, and included a measure for loneliness and function. A total of 47 studies were analyzed. Most studies examined correlates, risk factors, and predictors of loneliness, rather than the relationship between loneliness and function. Evidence suggests there is bidirectionality in the relationship between loneliness and functional decline. Loneliness is associated with functional decline in aging via multiple possible pathways. Further studies are needed to determine causality and biological mechanisms underlying the relationship.
AB - Loneliness is prevalent in adults aged ≥65 years in the United States and is associated with functional decline. The purpose of the current review was to synthesize evidence on the relationship between loneliness and functional decline using Roy’s Adaptation Model as a theoretical framework. A comprehensive review of PubMed, Medline, and Embase databases was performed. Inclusion criteria were samples including adults primarily aged >60 years, peer-reviewed, published in the English language, and included a measure for loneliness and function. A total of 47 studies were analyzed. Most studies examined correlates, risk factors, and predictors of loneliness, rather than the relationship between loneliness and function. Evidence suggests there is bidirectionality in the relationship between loneliness and functional decline. Loneliness is associated with functional decline in aging via multiple possible pathways. Further studies are needed to determine causality and biological mechanisms underlying the relationship.
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U2 - 10.3928/19404921-20230503-02
DO - 10.3928/19404921-20230503-02
M3 - Article
C2 - 37159388
AN - SCOPUS:85166385737
SN - 1940-4921
VL - 16
SP - 202
EP - 212
JO - Research in gerontological nursing
JF - Research in gerontological nursing
IS - 4
ER -