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“Being all alone makes me sad”: loneliness in older adults with depressive symptoms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 April 2014

Ilse M. J. van Beljouw ,
Eric van Exel ,
Jenny de Jong Gierveld ,
Hannie C. Comijs ,
Marjolijn Heerings ,
Max L. Stek  and
Harm W. J. van Marwijk
Ilse M. J. van Beljouw
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center / GGZ inGeest and EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Eric van Exel*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center / GGZ inGeest and EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Jenny de Jong Gierveld
Affiliation:
Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI), P.O. Box 11650, 2502 AR, The Hague, the Netherlands
Hannie C. Comijs
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center / GGZ inGeest and EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Marjolijn Heerings
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center / GGZ inGeest and EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Max L. Stek
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center / GGZ inGeest and EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Harm W. J. van Marwijk
Affiliation:
Department of General Practice, VU University Medical Center and EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: E. van Exel, Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center/GGZ inGeest and EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Phone: +0031 20 788 45 35. Email: e.vanexel@ggzingeest.nl.
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Abstract

Background:

The consequences of co-occurring persistent loneliness and late life depression are yet unknown. The aim of this study was to get a deeper insight into the mental health consequences of loneliness in older persons with depressive symptoms and their perspectives of emotional distress by using a mixed-methods study design.

Methods:

Two hundred and forty nine community-dwelling older persons with depressive symptoms according to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (≥6) were included. A validated cut-off score on the Loneliness Scale was used to distinguish lonely elders from elders who were not lonely. Quantitative and qualitative data were used to examine differences in mental health and perspectives on emotional distress between lonely and not lonely older persons with depressive symptoms.

Results:

Loneliness was highly prevalent among older persons with depressive symptoms (87.8%). Lonely people suffered from worse mental ill-health (e.g., more severe depressive symptoms, more often a depressive disorder and a lower quality of life) compared to not lonely individuals. Depressive symptoms were regarded as a logical consequence of loneliness. Lonely people perceived little command over their situation: causes of loneliness were attributed externally to perceived deficits in their social networks and they mainly expressed the need to be listened to.

Conclusion:

Our findings underline the importance of paying considerable attention to (severe) loneliness in older adults with depressive symptoms given its high prevalence and serious mental health consequences. Future studies should look into whether addressing loneliness when discussing depressive symptoms in clinical practice may provide an opportunity to better adjust to older persons’ depression perceptions and might therefore improve care utilization.

Keywords

ageddepressionlonelinesshealth knowledgeattitudespracticequalitative research
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 26 , Issue 9 , September 2014 , pp. 1541 - 1551
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2014 

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