Gender differences in loneliness, anger, depression, self-management ability and biomarkers of chronic illness in chronically ill mid-life adults in Appalachia.

AIMS: This study describes gender differences and relationships among loneliness, anger, depression, self-management ability and biomarkers of chronic illness in chronically ill mid-life adults in Appalachia.

BACKGROUND: Loneliness predicts poor health, functional decline, and mortality in adults. Though self-management ability is linked to improved health outcomes, a gap existed when examining how loneliness impacts self-management ability (SMA).

METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 90 patients from a primary care center. Instruments measured loneliness, anger, depression, and SMA. Measures were taken for BMI, blood pressure, and glucose. Descriptive and hierarchical multiple regression was used to test hypotheses.

RESULTS: Participants were majority female (68%), white (89%), married (52%), employed (66%), and impoverished (70%). They were moderately lonely (M = 41.29, SD 12.13) and men were lonelier than women (p < .01). Men and women did not differ on anger, depressive symptoms, or SMA. Anger (5.64, SD 7.32) and depressive symptoms (M = 5.89, SD 5.54) were low. Loneliness positively correlated with anger (r = 0.415, p < .01) and depression (r = 0.558, p < .01), and inversely related to subscales of SMA (p < .01) [taking initiative (TI), investment behavior (IB), variety (V), multifunctionality (MF), self-efficacy (SE), and positive frame of mind (PM)]. After controlling for age, anger, and depression, loneliness was explanatory for poorer SMA (R squared change = 0.32, F change (1, 67) = 47.67, p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: Loneliness impacts SMA and should be included in the care planning or study of chronically ill adults who struggle with self-management.