Factors Influencing Loneliness in Elderly Living in Nursing Homes

Kim, In Sook; Kim, Mi Sook; Kang, Hee Young

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was done to examine factors influencing loneliness in the elderly living in nursing homes. METHOD: The participants for this study were 150 adults, age 60 or over who had lived for one year or longer in two nursing homes in Gwangju. The questionnaires consisted of measurements of activities of daily living (ADL), social support and loneliness. Frequencies, percentages and means were used with Pearson correlation coefficients, t-test, ANOVA, and Scheffe test to analyze the data. The analysis was done with SPSS 12.0 Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify significant factors influencing loneliness in the elderly living in nursing homes.
RESULTS
Significant correlations were found between level of ADL and loneliness (r=-0.379, p<.001), support from friends and loneliness (r=-0.472, p<.001), and support from significant others and loneliness (r=-0.449, p<.001). Loneliness was significantly influenced by support from friends, ADL, and support from significant others. This regression model explained 29% of the variances in loneliness.
CONCLUSION
The findings in this study suggest that improvement in support from friends and ADL can lead to a reduction in loneliness in the elderly living in nursing homes.