Socioeconomic and demographic conditions and health behavior related to loneliness in elderly in Campinas: a population-based study

• Grant number: 19/19580-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Epidemiology
• Principal Investigator: Margareth Guimarães Lima
• Grantee: Taynara Cristina Silva Ribeiro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Loneliness is the subjective perception of social isolation and has earned a special prominence over recent decades for being associated to an increased morbimortality by cancer, cardiovascular diseases and other disorders. The mechanisms through which loneliness affects health are not totally clear, but prejudicial health behavior, bad sleep quality and neuroendocrine and physiological alterations are named as potential mediators. Elderly people seem to be more vulnerable to loneliness due to a diminished number of social relationships, an increased time spent alone, physical aging and reduced resilience. Some international studies sought to determine the prevalence of loneliness in some communities and related social and demographic factors. In Brazil, just a few studies have been developed about the matter, and none of them correspond to a population-based study. The aim of this present work is to estimate the prevalence of loneliness in elderly people in Campinas, the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated, and its relation to health behavior. Data will be analyzed from a sample of 60 year-old or over non-institutionalized people living in Campinas, who have been interviewed in the 3ª Campinas Health Survey (ISACAMP 2014/2015).