Loneliness in mid-life and older adults from ethnic minority communities in England and Wales: measure validation and prevalence estimates

Abstract

We investigated the prevalence of loneliness among 1206 adults aged 40 + from six minority communities in England and Wales: Black Caribbean, Black African, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Chinese. Replicating the approach from the previous studies, we demonstrate robust acceptability, reliability and validity for both the six-item De Jong Gierveld (DJG) and single-item loneliness scales in our six ethnic groups. The prevalence of loneliness using a single-item question (loneliness reported as often/always) ranges from 5% (Indian) to 14% (Chinese) compared with approximately 5% for the general population aged 40 + in Britain. Levels of loneliness are very much higher using the DJG scale. Using a loneliness threshold score of 5 +, the percentage ranged from 13% (Indian) to 36% (Chinese). We explored the importance of six established loneliness vulnerability factors for our sample using regression modelling. Three factors were not associated with loneliness-number of children, gender and health rating, and three factors were protective: younger age, being married and low financial strain. The addition of ethnicity did not change these relationships or enhance statistical power of our models. Being a member of the African Caribbean group was protective against loneliness but not for the other groups included in our study. We suggest that exposure to loneliness vulnerability factors rather than ethnicity per se or measurement artefact underpins differences in loneliness across ethnic groups.

Understanding Social and Emotional Loneliness among Black Older Adults: A Scoping Review

“…Among studies conducted in the UK, South Africa, and the US, the % of BOAs ranged from 8.9% ( Abedini et al., 2020 ) to 100% ( Creecy et al, 1983 ; Mannes et al, 2016 ). In six articles, BOAs’ population was less than 50% of the study sample ( Abedini et al., 2020 ; Choi et al, 2021 ; Hawkley & Kocherginsky, 2018 ; Taylor & Nguyen, 2020 ; Victor et al, 2012 , 2021 ), and was 50% or more in nine articles ( Creecy et al, 1983 ; Gonyea et al, 2018 ; Han et al., 2017 ; Mannes et al, 2016 ; Ntozini & Abdullahi, 2021 ; Phaswana-Mafuya & Peltzer, 2017 ; Savage et al, 2021 ; Taylor et al, 2018 ; Yoo-Jeong et al, 2020 ). A qualitative study conducted with immigrant Muslim older adults in Canada noted that the study population was predominantly from the Middle East/North Africa, South Asia, and East Africa ( Salma & Salami, 2020 ).…”

“…This will inform future research and practice that focuses on designing interventions that will address the specific needs of this group. This will also enhance their general differential experience of aging, health, and well-being, since loneliness is a growing concern among this population in many parts of the world, including Africa, the US, and the UK ( Ojembe & Kalu, 2018 ; Taylor, 2019 ; Victor et al, 2021 ).…”

A Longitudinal Study on Loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan

“…We found that financial literacy was negatively associated with post-pandemic and fresh loneliness, particularly among young people. Young generations with higher financial literacy were unaffected by long-lasting financial strain during the COVID-19 pandemic, which protected them from becoming lonely [ 36 , 37 ]. Hence, financial literacy, as a tool for rational decision making, prevented young men from financial strain, promoted cognitive social capital and optimism, and suppressed loneliness.…”

Purpose in Life, Loneliness, and Protective Health Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…A global single-item question on loneliness has been used among older adults in previous studies ( Jylhä, 2004 ; Sundström et al, 2020 ), and was suggested to be sufficient to gauge the prevalence of loneliness ( Luanaigh & Lawlor, 2008 ), able to capture a subjective experience of loneliness as understood by the participants and not as predefined by the researcher ( Jylhä & Saarenheimo, 2010 ). Furthermore, a single-item loneliness question showed reliability and validity comparable to a multiitem scale across six ethnic groups aged 40 and older ( Victor et al, 2021 ).…”