Loneliness, Living Alone, and Psychological Distress Among Urban, Regional, and Rural Australian Older Adults During COVID-19: A Longitudinal Study.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether living alone, loneliness, and their interaction were associated with psychological distress in older adults, and whether these relationships varied according to place of residence.

METHODS

A sample of 15,755 adults aged ≥65 years (M = 72.21) living in urban, regional, and rural Australia was drawn from the Sax Institute's 45 and Up, COVID Insights sub-study. Participants completed the DeJong Gierveld short form for Emotional Loneliness and the Kessler 6 Psychological Distress Scale at three pandemic time points.

RESULTS

Psychological distress increased and loneliness decreased over time. Greater loneliness was experienced as the population decreased. Loneliness, but not living arrangements, was associated with psychological distress irrespective of where people lived. For older adults in urban and regional areas, loneliness and living arrangements interacted; loneliness was more strongly related to psychological distress among those living alone than those living with others.

CONCLUSIONS

Loneliness is associated with psychological distress irrespective of place of residence. Living alone exacerbates this association among older adults living in more populated areas.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Older adults living in regional and rural areas and those who live alone in more densely populated areas require special consideration for how their belongingness needs can be met.