ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN LONELINESS AND THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH OF OLDER ADULTS: An Integrative Review

The aging process is characterized by various facets, being both subjective and natural, and it progresses without alteration. During this process, elderly individuals may experience social isolation or loneliness, which has been associated with significant impacts on their physical, psychological,...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Menezes Souza Canuto, Rafael, Jorge Salles, Rodrigo, Ferreira Bastos, Marta
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:Brasil
Institución:Faculdade Patos de Minas (FPM)
Repositorio:Psicologia e Saúde em Debate
Idioma:portugués
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs2.psicodebate.dpgpsifpm.com.br:article/1266
Acceso en línea:https://psicodebate.dpgpsifpm.com.br/index.php/periodico/article/view/1266
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Loneliness
Trastorno Depresivo
Apoyo Social
Autocuidado
Soledad
Envelhecimento
Transtorno Depressivo
solidão
apoio social
Aging
Depressive Disorder
Social Support
Self Care
Descripción
Sumario:The aging process is characterized by various facets, being both subjective and natural, and it progresses without alteration. During this process, elderly individuals may experience social isolation or loneliness, which has been associated with significant impacts on their physical, psychological, and social health. This study aimed to examine the evidence in the scientific literature regarding the association between loneliness and its impact on the physical, cognitive, and emotional health of older adults. It is an integrative literature review conducted across the following databases: the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health (PubMed), Virtual Health Library (BVS), Psychinfo, Scielo, Pepsic, the Capes Theses Portal, and Lilacs, utilizing descriptors indexed in MeSH Terms and DeCS, specifically: "Loneliness or Social Isolation," AND "Depression and Cognitive Disorder," AND "Aging or Senescence." A total of 116 articles were retrieved, of which 13 were deemed eligible for analysis. The results highlight the impact and association of loneliness with cognitive decline, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and detrimental health behaviors. Conversely, social support emerges as a strong protective factor and coping mechanism against loneliness in older adults.