The relationship between loneliness, death anxiety, and social networks in community-dwelling older adults
Psychology, Health and Medicine, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Publication Date: 2025
- Doi Number: 10.1080/13548506.2025.2575408
- Journal Name: Psychology, Health and Medicine
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, CINAHL, Educational research abstracts (ERA), MEDLINE, Psycinfo
- Keywords: Death anxiety, loneliness, older adults, social networks
- Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between loneliness, death anxiety, and social networks in community-dwelling older adults. A descriptive correlational study was conducted with 250 participants aged ≥65 years (mean age: 70.04 ± 5.65) between January and March 2024. Data were collected using the Loneliness Scale for Older Adults, Death Anxiety Scale, and Lubben Social Network Scale. A positive and moderate relationship was found between loneliness and death anxiety (r = 0.406, p <.001), and a negative and moderate relationship was found between loneliness and social network (r = -0.410, p <.001). While there was no significant relationship between death anxiety and social network scores, a negative and low-level relationship was found between the social network of friends and the sub-dimension scores of thinking about death and witnessing (p <.05). These results highlight that understanding loneliness, death anxiety, and social networks in older adults is important for improving their quality of life and emotional well-being. Strengthening older adults’ social ties and developing educational and intervention programs may help reduce loneliness and alleviate death anxiety.