SOCIODEMOGRAPHICS, FUNCTIONAL ABILITY, CHRONIC CONDITIONS, AND LONELINESS IN OLDER US ADULTS IN THE 2020 WAVE OF HRS

Q: What data and population were used in this analysis?

The study used SPSS with the RAND longitudinal data file from HRS Wave 15, including 4,520 community-dwelling adults aged 50 and older in the US during 2020.

Q: Which chronic conditions showed high prevalence?

Arthritis (63.3%), hypertension (62.7%), diabetes (26.9%), heart disease (24.4%), and cancer (17%) were reported with high prevalence.

Q: What factors were significantly correlated with loneliness?

Loneliness had significant correlations (p < .001) with depression (CES-D scores), fine and gross motor impairment, and BMI.

Sep 29, 2026

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Loneliness drives poor health outcomes, making it a priority for community-dwelling older adults. This analysis examines how loneliness relates to determinants of health, functional ability, and chronic conditions among US adults aged 50+ during 2020. Using SPSS on Rand longitudinal data from Wave 15 (4,520 cases), it reports demographic and health profiles, prevalence of arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, and levels of ADL and mobility limitations. Loneliness correlates significantly with CES-D depression scores, motor impairment, and BMI, suggesting community-based wellness and prevention may reduce chronic conditions and support functional ability to lower loneliness risk.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Study setting and population

Measures and analytic approach

Key findings on prevalence and impairment

Loneliness correlations and implications

800 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2715 SOCIODEMOGRAPHICS, FUNCTIONAL ABILITY, CHRONIC CONDITIONS, AND LONELINESS IN OLDER US ADULTS IN THE 2020 WAVE OF HRS Laurie Theeke1, Lashawn Hutto1, and LaTonya Smith2, 1. The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 2. The George Washington University, Westfield, New Jersey, United States Loneliness is a known determinant of poor health outcomesand a priority for community-dwelling older adults. This analysis describes relationships among loneliness, determinants of health, functional ability, and chronic illnesses for community-dwelling adults 50 and older in the US during 2020. SPSS was used for analysis on the Rand longitudinal data file with 4,520 cases (60.1% female) selected from Wave 15 who complete data on the UCLA-11 The mean age was 69.23 (SD 10.06), with 71.1% reported as Caucasian and 19.2% reported as Black. Majority (86.1%) were reported as not Hispanic and married (57.1%) and 82.6% had completed high school or higher. The average annual household income was less than $20,000 and 34.2% reported ongoing financial strain with 19.5% reported housing problems. Participants averaged 8.66 (SD 12.74) doctor visits since 2018 and over 2 days per month with family helpers. The median was 2 chronic conditions (range 0-8), with high prevalence for arthritis (63.3%), hypertension (62.7%), diabetes (26 .9%), heart disease (24 .4%), and cancer (17%) . Functional impairment for basic ADLs was low except for 33.3% reporting difficulty getting up from a chair but 27.7% reported trouble walking several blocks and 14.2% reported difficulty walking one block. Though 52.2 % reported smoking in their lifetime, only 9.4% reported current smoking. Significant correlations of loneliness (p < .001) included depression (CES-D scores), fine and gross motor impairment, and BMI. Wellness and prevention interventions that are community-based would have potential to diminish chronic conditions and emphasize functional ability which could diminish likelihood of loneliness.

FAQs

What data and population were used in this analysis?

The study used SPSS with the RAND longitudinal data file from HRS Wave 15, including 4,520 community-dwelling adults aged 50 and older in the US during 2020.

Which chronic conditions showed high prevalence?

Arthritis (63.3%), hypertension (62.7%), diabetes (26.9%), heart disease (24.4%), and cancer (17%) were reported with high prevalence.

What factors were significantly correlated with loneliness?

Loneliness had significant correlations (p < .001) with depression (CES-D scores), fine and gross motor impairment, and BMI.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Ezra