Associations of loneliness and social isolation with physical and mental health among adolescents and young adults
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Standard
Associations of loneliness and social isolation with physical and mental health among adolescents and young adults. / Christiansen, J.; Qualter, P.; Friis, K.; Pedersen, S. S.; Lund, R.; Andersen, C. M.; Bekker-Jeppesen, M.; Lasgaard, M.
In: Perspectives in Public Health, Vol. 141, No. 4, 2021, p. 226-236.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations of loneliness and social isolation with physical and mental health among adolescents and young adults
AU - Christiansen, J.
AU - Qualter, P.
AU - Friis, K.
AU - Pedersen, S. S.
AU - Lund, R.
AU - Andersen, C. M.
AU - Bekker-Jeppesen, M.
AU - Lasgaard, M.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Aims: The present study investigates whether loneliness and social isolation are associated with poor physical and mental health among adolescents and young adults, and whether age and gender play a role in the associations of loneliness and social isolation with mental and physical health. Methods: This study used cross-sectional self-report data from the 2017 Danish Health and Morbidity Surveys titled 'How are you?' (N = 19,890, M = 22.6 years). Results: Logistic regression analyses showed that loneliness and social isolation were independently associated with poor physical and mental health. Loneliness was associated with increased odds of asthma, migraine, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, slipped disc/back pain, tinnitus, long-term mental illness, depressive symptomatology, anxiety symptomatology and alcohol problems. Social isolation was associated with decreased odds of having migraine, osteoarthritis and alcohol problems, and an increased risk of long-term mental illness and depressive symptomatology. Small age and gender differences were detected. Conclusions: In adolescents and young adults, loneliness and social isolation were associated with poor mental health and loneliness with poor physical health. These findings highlight the need for targeted prevention and intervention initiatives to alleviate loneliness and social isolation.
AB - Aims: The present study investigates whether loneliness and social isolation are associated with poor physical and mental health among adolescents and young adults, and whether age and gender play a role in the associations of loneliness and social isolation with mental and physical health. Methods: This study used cross-sectional self-report data from the 2017 Danish Health and Morbidity Surveys titled 'How are you?' (N = 19,890, M = 22.6 years). Results: Logistic regression analyses showed that loneliness and social isolation were independently associated with poor physical and mental health. Loneliness was associated with increased odds of asthma, migraine, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, slipped disc/back pain, tinnitus, long-term mental illness, depressive symptomatology, anxiety symptomatology and alcohol problems. Social isolation was associated with decreased odds of having migraine, osteoarthritis and alcohol problems, and an increased risk of long-term mental illness and depressive symptomatology. Small age and gender differences were detected. Conclusions: In adolescents and young adults, loneliness and social isolation were associated with poor mental health and loneliness with poor physical health. These findings highlight the need for targeted prevention and intervention initiatives to alleviate loneliness and social isolation.
KW - loneliness
KW - adolescence
KW - population
KW - somatic condition
KW - mental health
KW - RISK-FACTORS
KW - PREVALENCE
KW - TRANSITION
KW - MORTALITY
U2 - 10.1177/17579139211016077
DO - 10.1177/17579139211016077
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 34148462
VL - 141
SP - 226
EP - 236
JO - Perspectives in Public Health
JF - Perspectives in Public Health
SN - 1757-9139
IS - 4
ER -
ID: 275266857