Loneliness and aging

Autores

  • Ana Maria Ribeiro dos Santos Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI)
  • Maria do Céu Mendes Pinto Marques Universidade de Évora

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26694/reufpi.v13i1.6077

Palavras-chave:

Aged, Aging, Loneliness

Resumo

Scientific evidence on loneliness shows that this feeling can act as a decisive negative factor in maintaining health. In this sense, an editorial on the subject stated that the damage to health is clear and associated loneliness with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, infectious diseases, impaired cognitive function, depression and anxiety. The editorial also highlighted that this is an issue that requires society's attention and, as a result, a committee was created to study loneliness and social isolation.(1)

Due to the evidence of the harm it can cause or worsen, loneliness has become one of the major health concerns in the 21st century. As a result, initiatives have been developed and the governments of the United Kingdom and Japan created Ministries of Loneliness in 2018 and 2021, respectively.(2) Also, a health authority in the United States showed the consequences of insufficient connection for physical health and highlighted a 29% higher risk of heart disease, a 32% higher occurrence of stroke and a 50% higher chance of developing dementia in older people. In addition, it estimated that the lack of social connection increases the risk of premature death by more than 60%.(3)

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Biografia do Autor

Ana Maria Ribeiro dos Santos, Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI)

Nurse. Associate Professor IV of the Nursing Department of the Federal University of Piauí. PhD in Sciences from the Ribeirão Preto School of Nursing/USP. Post-PhD at the São João de Deus School of Nursing, University of Évora, Portugal. CNPq scholarship holder - Brazil.

E-mail:ana.mrsantos@gmail.com

Maria do Céu Mendes Pinto Marques, Universidade de Évora

Nurse. PhD in Psychology, Department of Nursing, Comprehensive Health Research Center, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal.

E-mail: mcmarques@uevora.pt

Referências

The Lancet. Loneliness as a health issue. The Lancet. 2023 Jul; 402(10396):79. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01411-3.

Feng X, Astell-Burt T. Lonelygenic environments: a call for research on multilevel determinants of loneliness. Lancet Planet Health. 2022 Dec; 6(12):e933-e934. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00306-0

Murthy Vivek H. Letter from the Surgeon General. Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. U.S Department of Health and Human Services. 2023. p. 4-5. Available from: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf. Accessed on: 28 jul 2024.

Azeredo ZAS, Afonso MAN. Loneliness from the perspective of the elderly. Rev. bras. geriatr. gerontol. 2016 Mar-Apr; 19(02):313-324. doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-98232016019.150085.

Bezerra PA, Nunes JW, Moura LB de A. Aging and social isolation: an integrative review. Acta paul enferm. 2021;34:eAPE02661. doi: https://doi.org/10.37689/acta-ape/2021AR02661

Surkalim D L, Luo M, Eres R, Gebel K, van Buskirk J, Bauman A et al. The prevalence of loneliness across 113 countries: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2022 Fev; 376:e067068. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2021-067068.

Lima ELQ, Pinheiro GCC, Freire IFQ, Sousa MÊS, Sousa MNA et al. Solidão na pessoa idosa: fatores de risco, impactos e intervenções. Revista Científica E-Locução. 2024; 1(25):108-131. doi: https://doi.org/10.57209/e-locucao.v1i25.588.

Sandy Júnior PA, Borim FAS, Neri AL. Loneliness and its association with sciodemographic and health indicators in Brazilian adults and older adults: ELSI-Brazil. Cadernos de Saúde Pública. 2023 Jul; 39(7):e00213222. doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311XPT213222

Publicado

2024-09-13

Como Citar

1.
Santos AMR dos, Marques M do CMP. Loneliness and aging. Rev Enferm UFPI [Internet]. 13º de setembro de 2024 [citado 15º de outubro de 2024];13(1). Disponível em: https://periodicos.ufpi.br/index.php/reufpi/article/view/6077

Edição

Seção

Editorial

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