Loneliness in Older Adults Living with HIV

We conducted a cross-sectional study among HIV-positive adults age ≥ 50 in San Francisco to evaluate the frequency of loneliness, characteristics of those who reported loneliness, and the association of loneliness with functional impairment and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Participants (N...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AIDS and behavior 2018-05, Vol.22 (5), p.1475-1484
Main Authors: Greene, Meredith, Hessol, Nancy A., Perissinotto, Carla, Zepf, Roland, Hutton Parrott, Amanda, Foreman, Cameron, Whirry, Robert, Gandhi, Monica, John, Malcolm
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Activities of Daily Living
Adults
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Aging - psychology
AIDS
Alcohol use
Alcohols
Assessments
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression - epidemiology
Depression - psychology
Female
Geriatric Assessment
Health problems
Health Psychology
HIV
HIV Infections - epidemiology
HIV Infections - psychology
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Impairment
Income
Infectious Diseases
Loneliness
Loneliness - psychology
Low income groups
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Mental depression
Mental disorders
Mental Health
Mental health services
Middle Aged
Older people
Original Paper
People with disabilities
Public Health
Quality of life
Quality of Life - psychology
San Francisco - epidemiology
Social Support
Symptoms
Tobacco
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Description
Summary:We conducted a cross-sectional study among HIV-positive adults age ≥ 50 in San Francisco to evaluate the frequency of loneliness, characteristics of those who reported loneliness, and the association of loneliness with functional impairment and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Participants (N = 356) were predominately male (85%); 57% were white; median age was 56. 58% reported any loneliness symptoms with 24% reporting mild, 22% moderate and 12% severe loneliness. Lonely participants were more likely to report depression, alcohol and tobacco use, and have fewer relationships. In unadjusted models, loneliness was associated with functional impairment and poor HRQoL. In adjusted models, low income and depression remained associated with poor HRQoL, while low income, higher VACS index and depression were associated with functional impairment. A comprehensive care approach, incorporating mental health and psychosocial assessments with more traditional clinical assessments, will be needed to improve health outcomes for the aging HIV-positive population.
ISSN:1090-7165
1573-3254
DOI:10.1007/s10461-017-1985-1