Loneliness, Social Isolation and Sleep Pattern of Elderly: A Systematic Review

Introduction. Loneliness encompasses a range of emotions stemming from unmet personal and interpersonal needs, often arising from social isolation, a prevalent issue among older individuals. Existing research findings remain inconclusive regarding the precise alliance of loneliness, social isolation, and sleep patterns among the elderly. Present review aimed to review the interconnection between loneliness, social isolation, and sleep. Methods. This study was conducted following the PRISMA ۲۰۲۰ guidelines. The literature search encompassed databases such as PubMed, Wiley Online Library, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest. The initial keywords employed for this study encompassed terms such as loneliness, social isolation, sleep, and elderly or older adults. These keywords were expanded and refined utilizing Medical Subject Headings provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Findings. A systematic search conducted online revealed ۱۳,۴۱۸ publications. Out of these, ۸۸ articles didn't meet the criteria during the full-text screening phase, leaving only ۱۳ articles eligible for in-depth analysis. The gathered literature results indicate a strong interconnection between loneliness and social isolation. Conclusion. Feelings of loneliness and social isolation are associated with reduced sleep quality among the elderly. Programs designed to improve sleep in older adults should include methods to address loneliness as part of their approach.

کلیدواژه ها:

Loneliness ، social isolation ، sleep ، elderly