PREVALENCE, RISK FACTORS AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF LONELINESS AMONG ELDERLY ASIAN: SCOPING REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v7i3.966Keywords:
loneliness, elderly, geriatric, depression, Asia, ageing populationAbstract
Loneliness has emerged as a growing public health concern among ageing populations, significantly influencing mental, physical, and social well-being. Older adults are particularly vulnerable due to rapid demographic transitions, changing family structures, and health challenges. Understanding the prevalence, risk factors, and health outcomes associated with loneliness is crucial for guiding geriatric care and policy interventions. This scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed on 5 November 2023 using ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases for studies published between 2009 and October 2023. Eligible studies included quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research conducted among elderly populations in Asian countries. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed for prevalence, risk factors, and health outcomes of loneliness. A total of nine peer-reviewed studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria from eight Asian countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, Korea, Japan, and China. Reported prevalence of loneliness ranged from 21.7% to 64.0%, with the highest in Indonesia and the lowest in Thailand. Commonly identified risk factors included female gender, widowhood, low income, poor physical health, depression, limited social activities, and reduced emotional support. Loneliness was strongly associated with adverse outcomes such as depression, cognitive decline, frailty, and reduced quality of life. Loneliness among the elderly is a prevalent issue across Asia, exerting significant effects on mental and physical health. Addressing loneliness requires multilevel interventions involving individuals, communities, and policy frameworks to promote healthy ageing.
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