Loneliness and social support of older people living alone in a county of Shanghai, China

A survey of 521 older individuals living alone in Shanghai found a moderate level of loneliness and low overall social support.

• Living alone is associated with increased loneliness, particularly in the context of China's cultural emphasis on collectivism.
• Participants reported that children are the primary source of both objective and subjective social support.
• 53.9% of participants sought help when in trouble, while 84.1% rarely or never engaged in social activities.
• Loneliness levels were negatively correlated with overall social support and its three dimensions.
• Variations in loneliness and social support were observed across different sociodemographic groups.
• There is a need for enhanced social support initiatives to reduce loneliness among older adults living alone.

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