Cookies?
Library Header Image
LSE Research Online LSE Library Services

Social isolation, loneliness and health in old age: a scoping review

Courtin, Emilie and Knapp, Martin ORCID: 0000-0003-1427-0215 (2017) Social isolation, loneliness and health in old age: a scoping review. Health and Social Care in the Community, 25 (3). pp. 799-812. ISSN 0966-0410

Full text not available from this repository.

Identification Number: 10.1111/hsc.12311

Abstract

The health and well-being consequences of social isolation and loneliness in old age are increasingly being recognised. The purpose of this scoping review was to take stock of the available evidence and to highlight gaps and areas for future research. We searched nine databases for empirical papers investigating the impact of social isolation and/or loneliness on a range of health outcomes in old age. Our search, conducted between July and September 2013 yielded 11,736 articles, of which 128 items from 15 countries were included in the scoping review. Papers were reviewed, with a focus on the definitions and measurements of the two concepts, associations and causal mechanisms, differences across population groups and interventions. The evidence is largely US-focused, and loneliness is more researched than social isolation. A recent trend is the investigation of the comparative effects of social isolation and loneliness. Depression and cardiovascular health are the most often researched outcomes, followed by well-being. Almost all (but two) studies found a detrimental effect of isolation or loneliness on health. However, causal links and mechanisms are difficult to demonstrate, and further investigation is warranted. We found a paucity of research focusing on at-risk sub-groups and in the area of interventions. Future research should aim to better link the evidence on the risk factors for loneliness and social isolation and the evidence on their impact on health.

Item Type: Article
Official URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(IS...
Additional Information: © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Divisions: Personal Social Services Research Unit
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Date Deposited: 22 Jan 2016 13:52
Last Modified: 26 Mar 2024 17:48
Funders: National Institute for Health Research
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/65117

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item