Effects of activities of daily living, communicative ability, and spirituality on loneliness in older adults in South Korea

Effects of activities of daily living, communicative ability, and spirituality on loneliness in older adults in South Korea

This is a descriptive correlational study that aimed to determine the status of activities of daily living, communicative ability, spirituality, and loneliness and to identify factors that influence loneliness among the elderly in Korea. The study population were older adults (65 years of age or older) living in one metropolitan city in South Korea, and 146 data collected using a structured questionnaire were used to analyze the results. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis using SPSS WIN/PC 26.0 statistical program. In the results of this study, activities of daily living, communicative ability, spirituality, and loneliness were all found to be significantly correlated (p<.05). In addition, the final multiple regression analysis confirmed that loneliness in the elderly is significantly negatively affected by lower levels of spirituality (&#x1D6FD;=-.44), lower communicative ability (&#x1D6FD;=-.29), and being male (&#x1D6FD;=-.20), in this order. Therefore, strategies to increase spirituality and communicative ability should be developed to reduce loneliness among the elderly in South Korea, and supportive approaches should be strengthened to reduce loneliness among men.