RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Geographic Characteristics of Loneliness in Primary Care
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 158
OP 160
DO 10.1370/afm.2364
VO 17
IS 2
A1 Sebastian Tong
A1 Rebecca A. Mullen
A1 Camille J. Hochheimer
A1 Roy T. Sabo
A1 Winston R. Liaw
A1 Donald E. Nease, Jr
A1 Alex H. Krist
A1 John J. Frey III
YR 2019
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/17/2/158.abstract
AB Loneliness is associated with poor health outcomes, and there is growing attention on loneliness as a social determinant of health. Our study sought to determine the associations between community factors and loneliness. The Three-Item Loneliness Scale and zip codes of residence were collected in primary care practices in Colorado and Virginia. Living in zip codes with higher unemployment, poor access to health care, lower income, higher proportions of blacks, and poor transportation was associated with higher mean loneliness scores. Future studies that examine interventions addressing loneliness may be more effective if they consider social context and community characteristics.