Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40604459›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2025

Loneliness and its associated factors in older Australians residing in retirement living communities: a cross-sectional study.

Georgina Johnstone, Angela Joe, Marissa Dickins, Judy A Lowthian

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

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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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

4 authors.

Georgina JohnstoneBolton Clarke Research Institute, Level 1, 347 Burwood Highway, Forest Hill, Victoria, 3131, Australia. gjohnstone@boltonclarke.com.au.
Angela JoeBolton Clarke Research Institute, Level 1, 347 Burwood Highway, Forest Hill, Victoria, 3131, Australia.
Marissa DickinsBolton Clarke Research Institute, Level 1, 347 Burwood Highway, Forest Hill, Victoria, 3131, Australia.
Judy A LowthianBolton Clarke Research Institute, Level 1, 347 Burwood Highway, Forest Hill, Victoria, 3131, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIncreasing in popularity, retirement living communities have the prospect for increased social connection to counteract loneliness, a major public health concern. This study investigated prevalence and factors associated with loneliness for older Australians in retirement communities.

methodsA cross-sectional health and wellbeing survey, including the UCLA-3 Loneliness scale, was completed by 1,178 individuals aged ≥ 65 from retirement villages throughout Queensland and New South Wales, Australia in September 2021. Multivariable logistic regression modelling was utilised to determine modifiable resident characteristics associated with loneliness.

resultsAlmost one-fifth (n = 229, 19.4%) were classified as lonely (UCLA-3 score = 6-9). Factors associated with loneliness were mood (often feeling sad or depressed) (OR = 6.13, p < 0.001), living alone (OR = 2.86, p < 0.001), not having someone to count on for help (sometimes having someone: OR = 2.85, p < 0.001; never having someone: OR = 4.74, p < 0.001), pain interfering with usual activities (OR = 2.18, p = 0.001), being admitted to hospital in the past year (1-2 times: OR = 1.59, p = 0.04, ≥ 3 times: OR = 2.3, p = 0.04), falls in past year (OR = 1.75, p = 0.01), memory problems (OR = 1.59, p = 0.03). Time residing in the village protected against loneliness, with individuals living there for one year or longer having half the odds of feeling lonely (OR = 0.49, p = 0.01) than those living there less than a year.

conclusionsFindings suggest that both psychological and physical factors are associated with experiencing loneliness, in addition to increased susceptibility upon village entry. Identification of these factors permits co-design and implementation of targeted initiatives to support residents' social wellbeing. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

Independent LivingLonelinessRetirementAgedAged, 80 and overAustralasian PeopleAustraliaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleNew South WalesQueenslandIndependent livingLonelinessPositive ageingRetirement communityRetirement village

Identifiers

PMID40604459
PMCPMC12220463

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.