Journal of gerontology
-
Feelings of loneliness in relation to disease, handicaps, social network and social background were studied in a representative sample of 1,007 70-year-old people living in Göteborg, Sweden. The results showed that loneliness was a problem to 24% of the women and 12% of the men. ⋯ The lonely had a negative self-assessment of health and consumed more out-patient care, social welfare help and sedatives. The higher consumption of medical service and/or social care was, however, not associated with a higher prevalence of definable somatic disease or handicaps.