Relationship of Loneliness and Social Isolation With Self-Care Ability Among Older Adults

The current study aimed to assess the relationship of loneliness and social isolation with self-care ability (SCA) among older adults. Participants were 170 older adults randomly recruited from seven urban health care centers in Gonbad Kavus, Iran. Data were collected using a personal characteristics questionnaire, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Lubben Social Network Scale, and Self-Care Ability Questionnaire for the Elderly. Findings showed that 72.9% of participants reported mild loneliness and 2.4% reported severe loneliness. Mean scores of participants' loneliness, social isolation, and SCA were 29.91 (SD = 11.22), 18.57 (SD = 4.97), and 146.39 (SD = 7.62), respectively. Mean SCA score had a significant inverse relationship with mean loneliness score (beta = -0.368; p < 0.0001) and a significant direct relationship with mean social isolation score (beta = 0.726; p < 0.0001). Current findings can be used to develop interventions for reducing loneliness and social isolation and improving SCA among older adults.