Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35597183›Full record

SynthesisArchives of gerontology and geriatrics

Health effects of loneliness and social isolation in older adults living in congregate long term care settings: A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative evidence.

Kate L Lapane, Emily Lim, Emily McPhillips, Adrita Barooah, Yiyang Yuan, Catherine E Dube

Open access · hybridAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Archives of gerontology and geriatrics. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 47 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
47citing papers in PubMed, 7 pooled it
12.2field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

47 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 84 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Kate L LapaneDivision of Epidemiology, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA. Electronic address: Kate.lapane@umassmed.edu.
Emily LimDivision of Epidemiology, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA; Department of Gerontology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA.
Emily McPhillipsDivision of Epidemiology, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
Adrita BarooahDivision of Epidemiology, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA; Department of Gerontology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA.
Yiyang YuanDivision of Epidemiology, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
Catherine E DubeDivision of Epidemiology, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School · US

Funding

Social Connectedness and Social Isolation in Nursing Home ResidentsR01AG071692 · NIA · UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER · PI Kate L Lapane · 2021 to 2026
$4.1M
NIA NIH HHS R01 AG071692
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMounting evidence of loneliness and negative health impacts has placed loneliness among the "geriatric giants" in need of intervention by the healthcare system.

objectiveTo evaluate the literature regarding the health impact of loneliness among older adults living in congregate living settings (i.e., assisted living, nursing homes). MATERIALS AND

methodsFive databases were searched for quantitative and qualitative studies from January 1990 through August 2021. Methodological quality was assessed using modified criteria specific to quantitative and qualitative studies. Dual review assured the quality of the systematic review conduct.

resultsFive qualitative, 3 mixed method, 19 cross-sectional, and 4 cohort articles were eligible. Despite different tools used to measure loneliness, loneliness appeared common among older residents in congregate living situations. In most studies, loneliness was associated with depression (regardless of scale used), albeit all but one came from cross-sectional studies. Few studies noted the association between loneliness and suicidal ideation and frailty. The three cohort studies that evaluated loneliness and mortality had mixed results. Resilience and activities appeared to mediate the association between loneliness and negative health outcomes and social support appeared to moderate associations.

conclusionsFor older adults living in congregate long term care settings, loneliness is a common phenomenon, with cross-sectional studies suggesting links to depression, suicidal ideation, and frailty. Additional longitudinal studies to understand the impact of loneliness on health outcomes in older adults living in congregate settings are needed, as are rigorous evidence-based interventions to address loneliness and mitigate its harmful effects during life's final chapter.

Indexed as

FrailtyLonelinessAgedCross-Sectional StudiesHumansLong-Term CareSocial Isolationassisted livinglonelinessnursing homessocial isolationsuicidal ideation

Identifiers

PMID35597183
PMCPMC12102736
OpenAlexW4280654551

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.