Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, Social Participation, and Loneliness Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in China

Jul 13, 2023Journal of aging and physical activity

How Sitting Time, Exercise, and Social Activities Relate to Loneliness in Older Adults Living in China

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Abstract

A cross-sectional study of 629 older adults in Hefei, Anhui province, found that greater sedentary behavior is significantly associated with higher levels of loneliness.

Sedentary behavior is linked to increased loneliness, with a positive correlation observed.
Physical exercise appears to be associated with lower levels of loneliness.
Social participation is significantly correlated with reduced feelings of loneliness.
Demographic factors such as age, income, religion, marital status, and chronic illness were controlled for in the analysis.
Findings suggest that strategies to reduce loneliness in older adults may need to address sedentary lifestyles and enhance social engagement.

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This study examined the relationship between loneliness, sedentary behavior, physical exercise, and social participation in Chinese older adults, and provided ideas to formulate preventive strategies that can help reduce loneliness. Data on demographics, health behavior, social participation, and loneliness were collected from a cross-sectional study of 629 older adults in Hefei, Anhui province, from June to August 2020. After adjusting for age, income, religion, marital status, and chronic illness demographic variables, sedentary behavior (β = 0.111, SE = 0.671, p = .001), physical exercise (β = -0.229, SE = 0.358, p < .001), and social participation (β = -0.329, SE = 0.086, p < .001) were found to be significantly correlated with loneliness in older adults. These findings suggest that a higher level of loneliness may be linked to greater sedentary behavior, less social engagement, and decreased physical exercise among older men and women.

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