Self-Efficacy Beliefs as Predictors of Loneliness and Psychological Distress in Older Adults

Abstract

Sociodemographic variables, social support, and physical health have been used previously in a few predictor models of loneliness and psychological distress in late life. The present study, however, was designed to test the hypothesis that self-efficacy beliefs of elderly persons are significantly stronger predictors of loneliness and psychological distress than are demographics, social support, and physical health variables used in earlier predictor models. A sample of 141 women and 101 men, aged 65 to 86, reporting awide range of health status from "poor" to "excellent" was drawn from the region of Southern Alberta. Standard self-report measures were used to assess perceived self-efficacy in eight different domains. Findings from a series of hierarchical regression analyses that were conducted separately for men, women, and the combined sample supported the hypothesis concerning the superiority of the self-efficacy variables as predictors of loneliness and psychological distress. Gender-specific variations revealed that women's stronger self-efficacy domains in the interpersonal, social, and emotional realms, and men's stronger self-efficacy beliefs in the instrumental, financial, and physical realms predicted less loneliness and psychological distress. Spiritual self-efficacy emerged as being the most potent predictor, accounting for the largest percentage of explained variance in loneliness and psychological distress in the women's and combined sample. Implications of the findings are discussed for geriatric practitioners and clinicians.

A Longitudinal Analysis of Loneliness Among Older People in Great Britain

“…Direct comparisons across studies are problematic as studies measure a range of risk factors, do not always use comparable measures of common concepts, and do not present their data in similar ways (e.g., using measures of factors at baseline and at follow-up; or changes between baseline and followup). Our multivariate analysis broadly confirms previous research indicating that changes in social resources are associated with changes in loneliness (see Aartsen & Jyhla, 2011;Dykstra et al, 2005;Fry & Debats, 2002). In terms of the links with household status and living alone, our results seem at first sight to be counterintuitive.…”

Predictors of Loneliness in U.S. Adults Over Age Sixty-Five

“…Three recent studies have reported that loneliness is independently predictive of depression (Alpass & Neville, 2003;Cacioppo et al, 2006;Cohen-Mansfield & Parpura-Gill, 2007). Negative social correlates of loneliness have included lower economic status (Hector-Taylor & Adams, 1996), less education (Hector-Taylor & Adams, 1996), non-married status (Andersson & Stevens, 1993;Barbour, 1993), widowhood (Berg et al, 1981), living alone (Yeh & Lo, 2004), low number of social contacts (Larson, Zuzanek, & Mannell, 1985), low number of friends (Mullins & Elston, 1996), lack of religious affiliation (Fry & Debats, 2002;Rokach, 2000), and domestic violence (Lauder, Sharkey, & Mummery, 2004). Healthcare utilization, which could be considered a marker of general health, has been reported to be increased in relation to loneliness but the current information is conflicting A study of 373 Swedish 60 year-olds reported that loneliness was associated with an almost two-fold increase in clinic visits (Ellaway, Wood, & Macintyre, 1999).…”

“…Physical predictors have included declining physical health (Dykstra, Van Tilburg, & De Jong Gierveld, 2005;Savikko, Routasalo, Tilvis, Strandbert, & Pitkala, 2005;Victor et al, 2005) and decline in functional status (Cohen-Mansfield & Parpura-Gill, 2007;Kim, 1999;Pinquart, 2003). Declining mental health (Victor et al, 2005), poor self-efficacy (Fry & Debats, 2002), low satisfaction with support (Kim, 1999), not belonging to a group (Hector-Taylor & Adams, 1996), and diminished ethnic attachment (Kim 1999) have been reported as psychological variables that may be explanatory of loneliness. Kim (1999) reported that non-married status was not predictive in her sample of Korean women.…”

Social isolation and loneliness among older people: issues and future challenges in community and residential settings

“…25,43,47 Despite being less researched, available evidence suggests that psychological or personality-related factors such as self-efficacy and self-esteem may also play a role, particularly with respect to loneliness. 17,[48][49][50] Research on factors that seem to protect older people from becoming lonely or isolated is limited, although it could be assumed, perhaps, that they include the "converse" of the factors described above. Regarding loneliness, it seems that the presence of a confidant is significant.…”