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AIDS and Behavior
Published in: AIDS and Behavior 5/2018

01-05-2018 | Original Paper

Loneliness in Older Adults Living with HIV

Authors: Meredith Greene, Nancy A. Hessol, Carla Perissinotto, Roland Zepf, Amanda Hutton Parrott, Cameron Foreman, Robert Whirry, Monica Gandhi, Malcolm John

Published in: AIDS and Behavior | Issue 5/2018

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Abstract

We conducted a cross-sectional study among HIV-positive adults age ≥ 50 in San Francisco to evaluate the frequency of loneliness, characteristics of those who reported loneliness, and the association of loneliness with functional impairment and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Participants (N = 356) were predominately male (85%); 57% were white; median age was 56. 58% reported any loneliness symptoms with 24% reporting mild, 22% moderate and 12% severe loneliness. Lonely participants were more likely to report depression, alcohol and tobacco use, and have fewer relationships. In unadjusted models, loneliness was associated with functional impairment and poor HRQoL. In adjusted models, low income and depression remained associated with poor HRQoL, while low income, higher VACS index and depression were associated with functional impairment. A comprehensive care approach, incorporating mental health and psychosocial assessments with more traditional clinical assessments, will be needed to improve health outcomes for the aging HIV-positive population.
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Metadata
Title
Loneliness in Older Adults Living with HIV
Authors
Meredith Greene
Nancy A. Hessol
Carla Perissinotto
Roland Zepf
Amanda Hutton Parrott
Cameron Foreman
Robert Whirry
Monica Gandhi
Malcolm John
Publication date
01-05-2018
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
AIDS and Behavior / Issue 5/2018
Print ISSN: 1090-7165
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3254
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-017-1985-1

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