Loneliness and physical function impairment: Perceived health status as an effect modifier in community-dwelling older adults in Ghana

Razak M. Gyasi; Prince Peprah; Kabila Abass; Lawrencia Pokua Siaw; Yvonne Dodzi Ami Adjakloe; Emmanuel Kofi Garsonu; David R. Phillips

doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101721

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Loneliness and physical function impairment: Perceived health status as an effect modifier in community-dwelling older adults in Ghana

Journal article

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Loneliness and physical function impairment: Perceived health status as an effect modifier in community-dwelling older adults in Ghana

Razak M. Gyasi, Prince Peprah, Kabila Abass, Lawrencia Pokua Siaw, Yvonne Dodzi Ami Adjakloe, Emmanuel Kofi Garsonu and David R. Phillips

Preventive medicine reports, Vol.26, pp.1-8

04/2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101721

PMID: 35141124

Appears in Recent National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine Publications

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Abstract

Emotional dysregulation

Functional impairment

Healthy aging

Loneliness

Social relationship

Sub-Saharan Africa

Background Although loneliness and physical function impairment (PFI) are common geriatric syndromes and public health issues, little is known about how their associations vary via self-perception of health. We examine how loneliness is associated with PFI, and whether the association is modified by perceived health status. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1201 adults aged ≥ 50 years from the Aging, Health, Psychological Well-being and Health Seeking Behavior Study (AgeHeaPsyWel–HeaSeeB) in Ghana. We assessed loneliness using the three-item short-form of the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and PFI was measured with a seven-item scale on mobility-related deficiencies. Adjusted logistic regressions and moderation analysis evaluated the hypothesized associations. Results The prevalence of moderate, severe loneliness, and PFI were 37.5%, 17.7%, and 36.1%, respectively. Regressions showed that loneliness was associated with a 23% increased risk of PFI after adjusting for several potential confounders (OR = 1.23; 95%CI = 1.03–2.81). PFI sub-types revealed similar risks. The loneliness-PFI association was significantly moderated by perceived health status such that a positive health perception attenuated the effect of loneliness on PFI (OR = 0.46, 95%CI = 0.23–0.90). Conclusions Individuals who were lonely had significantly higher odds for PFI but the effect was tempered by perceived health status. Social policy and public health practices for healthy aging should address loneliness and negative health perception among older people.

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Title: Loneliness and physical function impairment: Perceived health status as an effect modifier in community-dwelling older adults in Ghana
Creators: Razak M. Gyasi - African Population and Health Research Center
Prince Peprah - University of New South Wales
Kabila Abass - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Lawrencia Pokua Siaw - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Yvonne Dodzi Ami Adjakloe - University of Cape Coast
Emmanuel Kofi Garsonu - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
David R. Phillips - Lingnan University
Publication Details: Preventive medicine reports, Vol.26, pp.1-8
Publisher: Elsevier Inc
Grant note: This work was supported by Lingnan University, Hong Kong [grant numbers: RPG 1129310] to Razak M. Gyasi.
Identifiers: 991013035760702368
Academic Unit: National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

Loneliness and physical function impairment: Perceived health status as an effect modifier in community-dwelling older adults in Ghana

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