Abstract
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Background
Social isolation is associated with reduced health-related quality of life, increased morbidity, and mortality. Social isolation can be a concern for older Canadians, especially those with conditions that interfere with making and maintaining social connections.
Data and Methods
The 2008/2009 Canadian Community Health Survey–Healthy Aging (CCHS-HA) collected data from a population-based sample of Canadians aged 45 or older living in private households. Frequencies, cross-tabulations and logistic regression were used to examine the prevalence of hearing difficulties and social isolation, and associations between them when controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, other functional limitations (for example, vision, mobility, and cognition), incontinence, and fear of falling.
Results
Social isolation was more common among 45- to 59-year-olds than among people aged 60 or older. Women were more likely than men to be socially isolated (16% versus 12%), but they were less likely to report hearing difficulties (5% versus 7%). Hearing difficulties were more prevalent at older ages: 25% of men and 18% of women at age 75 or older. When sociodemographic factors (age, education, living arrangements, regular driver, workforce participation), incontinence, fear of falling, and functional limitations were taken into account, the odds of being socially isolated increased with the severity of the hearing impairment among women but not among men (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.09)
Interpretation
Hearing difficulties are associated with age, and therefore, a growing public health concern as Canada’s population ages. For women, hearing difficulties were found to be associated with social isolation.
Keywords
Aging, elderly, exclusion, hearing loss, loneliness, social alienation, social connectedness
Findings
The people who tend to thrive as they age are those who remain socially engaged. They have a network of family and friends that allows them to participate in social life and achieve a sense of belonging and purpose. Alternatively, people may be “socially isolated,” lacking social contact, support, and a sense of belonging. “Social isolation” does not pertain to those who have voluntarily disconnected; rather, socially isolated people have an unmet need for meaningful social interactions, which is often identified as loneliness. Those who are socially isolated are more likely to experience a poor quality of life, morbidity, and mortality. Social isolation among the elderly is a particular concern, as it is estimated that more than 30% of Canadian seniors are at high risk. [Full Text]
Authors
Author: Pamela L. Ramage-Morin (Pamela.Ramage-Morin@canada.ca) is with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6.
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What is already known on this subject?
- Previous research has found associations between hearing status and social isolation, although not specific to the Canadian population.
- In 2012/2013, 19% of the adult population had hearing loss in the frequencies associated with normal speech, and 35% in the high-frequency range associated with age-related loss.
- At ages 70 to 79, 65% had speech-frequency loss, and almost everyone (94%) had high-frequency loss.
- The number of Canadians with hearing loss is expected to increase as the population ages.
What does this study add?
- According to an analysis of a large, population-based sample representative of Canadians 45 or older, 7% (8% of men and 5% of women) had hearing difficulties that limited their ability to understand normal conversations.
- An estimated 12% of men and 16% of women were socially isolated―they reported some feelings of loneliness and felt a weak or somewhat weak sense of community belonging.
- People aged 45 to 59 were more likely than those aged 60 or older to be socially isolated.
- Hearing difficulties were associated with social isolation among women, but not among men, even when accounting for sociodemographic characteristics, other functional limitations, incontinence, and fear of falling.
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