CHRONIC CONDITIONS AND LONELINESS AMONG NURSING HOME RESIDENTS - Health & Retirement Study Wave 15 - Analysis of the Health & Retirement Study Wave 15

Q: What data source and study wave were used to analyze loneliness among nursing home residents?

The study uses data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Wave 15 (2020).

Q: How common was loneliness, and what other related outcomes were reported?

Feeling lonely was prevalent at 37.7%. Depression was reported by 22.6%, and 34% rated their memory as poor.

Q: Which chronic conditions showed relationships with loneliness or psychological issues?

Loneliness correlated with depressive symptoms (r=.509, p<.001). Psychological problems were related to high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes, and lung disease was associated with more loneliness (X2=4.418, p=.036).

Sep 29, 2026

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Approximately 22–42% of nursing home residents experience loneliness linked to limited social interaction, loss of autonomy, and worsening health. The analysis uses Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Wave 15 (2020) data from 131 residents to examine how loneliness relates to chronic physical and psychological conditions, accounting for age, gender, education, income, and marital status through descriptive and bivariate statistics. Loneliness was common (37.7%) alongside depression (22.6%) and poor memory ratings (34%). Functional impairment affected ADLs, and loneliness correlated with depressive symptoms (r=.509, p<.001). Psychological problems related strongly with high blood pressure (r=.920), stroke (r=.942), and diabetes (r=.940). Lung disease showed higher loneliness (X2=4.418, p=.036).

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Study Overview

Data Source and Sample

Measures and Analysis Approach

Key Findings

920 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.3108 CHRONIC CONDITIONS AND LONELINESS AMONG NURSING HOME RESIDENTS: AN ANALYSIS OF THE HEALTH & RETIREMENT STUDY WAVE 15 LaTonya Smith1, and Laurie Theeke2, 1. The George Washington University, Westfield, New Jersey, United States, 2. The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States Approximately 22-42% of nursing home residents report loneliness due to limited social interactions, loss of autonomy, and deteriorating health. This examines the relationships among loneliness and chronic physical and psychological conditions in nursing home residents using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Wave 15 (2020). Data from 131 nursing home residents were analyzed to explore associations between loneliness and chronic conditions, while considering demographics of age, gender, education, income, and marital status. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were used. The median number of nights in the nursing home was 609. The mean age of participants was 81.7 years (SD=10.78), 69.5% female, majority reported no current income. 74.4% were high school graduates or higher, and the majority (55%) were widowed. Feeling lonely was prevalent (37.7%), 22.6% felt depressed and 34% rated their memory poor. Functional impairment was evident with 33.3% struggling with instrumental ADLs, reporting difficulty with walking (64.6%), dressing (62%), eating (33.1%), toileting (56.8%) in/out of bed (51.2%) . Loneliness correlated with depressive symptoms (r = .509, p < .001) . Psychological problems were related to high blood pressure (r = .920, p < .001), stroke (r = .942, p <.001), and diabetes (r = .940, p < .001), highlighting the interconnectedness of mental and physical health conditions. Residents with lung disease felt more loneliness than without (X2 =4.418, p=.036). The findings of this study highlight interplay between loneliness and physical and psychological conditions for those in long-term care, making it critical to address loneliness in this setting.

FAQs

What data source and study wave were used to analyze loneliness among nursing home residents?

The study uses data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Wave 15 (2020).

How common was loneliness, and what other related outcomes were reported?

Feeling lonely was prevalent at 37.7%. Depression was reported by 22.6%, and 34% rated their memory as poor.

Which chronic conditions showed relationships with loneliness or psychological issues?

Loneliness correlated with depressive symptoms (r=.509, p<.001). Psychological problems were related to high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes, and lung disease was associated with more loneliness (X2=4.418, p=.036).

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by dawugda