@article{ref1,
title="Prevalence of loneliness in older adults: a scoping review",
journal="Health and social care in the community",
year="2023",
author="Schroyen, S. and Janssen, N. and Duffner, L. A. and Veenstra, M. and Pyrovolaki, E. and Salmon, E. and Adam, S.",
volume="2023",
number="",
pages="e7726692-e7726692",
abstract="OBJECTIVEs. To review the prevalence of loneliness (during/after COVID-19) in older people. Design. Scoping review using Medline and PsycInfo for worldwide prevalence estimates (white published literature search) and Google for prevalence data inside the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (grey literature). Setting. Worldwide prevalence estimates and a focus on the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. Participants. Papers published between 2016 and 2022 and a mean age of minimum of 65 years. Measurements. Prevalence estimates for older people. <br><br>RESULTS. The white literature search yielded 37 articles. Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, loneliness estimates were the highest in Nigeria (46%) and the lowest in Australia (5%) (mean prevalence was 25.6%). Loneliness was reported to be higher in specific populations, for example, people living in specific communities such as senior housing communities or with impairments, than in the general population, with a mean prevalence estimate of 47.8%. During COVID-19, the prevalence of loneliness was higher than that before the pandemic: we observed a mean prevalence of 39.4%, in comparison to 25.6 before COVID-19. The grey literature search showed that, compared to Belgium and the Netherlands (13.5% and 36.5%, respectively), loneliness estimates were the lowest in Germany, with a mean prevalence of 7.7%. <br><br>CONCLUSION. Large international differences in the prevalence of loneliness were observed between countries and populations studied. Several hypotheses could explain such differences, including sociocultural or historical-political characteristics. Without surprise, the pandemic and associated measures were linked to a higher level of loneliness. Furthermore, recommendations for addressing loneliness, including interventions, are discussed.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0966-0410",
doi="10.1155/2023/7726692",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/7726692"
}