Prevalence Rates of Loneliness and Its Impact on Lifestyle in the Healthy Population of Madrid, Spain

Daniel Cuesta-Lozano, Leticia Carmen Simón-López, Rubén Mirón-González, Montserrat García-Sastre, Daniel Bonito-Samino and Ángel L. Asenjo-Esteve
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Daniel Cuesta-Lozano: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
Leticia Carmen Simón-López: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
Rubén Mirón-González: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
Montserrat García-Sastre: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
Daniel Bonito-Samino: UAH Community Care and Social Determinants of Health Research Group, University of Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
Ángel L. Asenjo-Esteve: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-12

Abstract: Background: The Spanish population presents higher levels of loneliness than citizens of countries in Northern Europe. Numerous studies have linked loneliness to increased morbidity and mortality, but very few studies have associated loneliness with healthy lifestyles. The objectives of this research are to identify the feeling of unwanted loneliness in various age and gender groups in the city of Alcalá de Henares (Madrid, Spain), to determine lifestyle habits in the areas of diet and physical exercise, and to examine the association between lifestyle habits and perceived loneliness. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational and analytical study on the perception of loneliness among men (59.06%) and women (60.06%) in a sample ( n = 611) of the general population (N = 198,945), by means of random assignment of a health survey, was conducted. The data were collected using an ad hoc questionnaire. The data were stratified and analyzed with the IBM SSPS ® v.25 software package. Results: The frequency of loneliness is stratified by sex and age, and healthy lifestyle habits in terms of diet and physical exercise are analyzed. Conclusions: People with perceived loneliness do not have worse lifestyle habits. However, women living with other people have a higher perception of loneliness than those living alone. Specifically, the perception of loneliness in young adult women could suggest a low level of moderate physical exercise.

Keywords: adult; exercise; lifestyle; loneliness; nutrition; observational study; young adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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