Loneliness among women with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-cultural study in the Netherlands and Egypt

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explain loneliness as experienced by women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a cross-cultural context. We studied 36 Egyptian female RA patients and 140 female Dutch RA patients.. Self-report data were collected about loneliness, physical and psychological health status, social support and social network, needs for help, attitudes and feelings of guilt. Loneliness was significantly higher among Egyptian (44.2 +/- 32.3) than Dutch (12.9 +/- 18.9) female RA patients (F = 54.3, p < 0.001). In Egypt, 36% of the variance of loneliness could be explained by worse affect (anxiety and depression; beta = 0.51), fewer children (beta = 0.31), and higher negative social support for the patients (beta = 0.28) in multiple regression analysis. In the Netherlands, 35% of feeling lonely could be explained by worse affect scores (beta = 0.52), less positive social support for the patients (beta = 0.24), and a higher degree of disability (beta = 0.21). Age of the patients and disease duration only explained 4% and 3% of the loneliness of RA patients in Egypt and the Netherlands, respectively. Female Egyptian RA patients experienced more loneliness than Dutch patients. Affect is the most important and constant variable in explaining loneliness in both countries. The role of the family in perceived loneliness is greater in Egypt than the Netherlands. Low social support received by patients is important in explaining loneliness in the Netherlands but not in Egypt.

“To be lonely in your own loneliness”: The interplay between self‐perceived loneliness and rheumatoid arthritis in everyday life: A qualitative study

“…Special attention has been drawn to old and very young population groups (15), and there are several studies on loneliness in people with chronic illness in these specific age groups (13,16,17). Studies involving adult patients with RA are mainly quantitative, focusing on the prevalence of loneliness and its impact on inflammation, cardio-vascular disease, and mortality (18)(19)(20)(21). Living with RA can constrain social life (20,22,23) due to pain, fatigue and disability from the illness.…”

Loneliness among older persons in Uganda: examining social, economic and demographic risk factors

“…Loneliness is thought to be a crucial factor in the lives of older persons (Nahemow 1979) and several studies point to a link between loneliness and the quality of life (El-Mansoury et al . 2008; Hacihasanoglu, Yildirim and Karakurt 2011; Holmén and Furukawa 2002). Partly as a result of this phenomenon, interest in later-life loneliness research is gradually rising in less-developed areas.…”

Rheumatische Erkrankungen bei Migranten

“…Bei einem Vergleich niederländischer und immigrierter ägyptischer Patientinnen mit RA zeigte sich eine signifikant höhere Einsamkeit bei den Ägypterinnen (44,2 vs. 12,9 %). Dies hing meistens auch mit einem höheren Angstniveau und Depression zusammen [45].…”