孤独与孤立：老年人数据已回落至疫情前水平，但仍处于高位

而部分老年人——特别是那些面临重大身体健康或心理健康问题的老年人——其孤独感和社交隔离的比例仍远高于其他人群。

这些新发现基于对“健康老龄化全国民意调查”（ Homepage rgb(0,38,75) Long-Term Care: Are Older Adults Ready? The majority of people age 50 and older do not think they will need long-term care, and many have not taken steps to plan for their future long-term care needs   POLL EXTRA: Poll shows wide variation in older adults’ preparations to age in place Less than half of people over 65 have made changes to their home or moved to a more age-friendly home; poll finds differences based on health, disability and home ownership Webinar: Long-term Care: What Do Michigan’s Older Adults Need to Know? In a recent webinar, experts discussed the poll's findings on long-term care planning and efforts to improve access to services and supports in Michigan. Data Available Data files from the National Poll on Healthy Aging are now available for download through the University of Michigan National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging. Additional data will be archived on an ongoing basis. Related Publications A collection of academic articles that have been written by expert faculty from reports and data produced by the National Poll on Healthy Aging. Contact Us U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation 800 Plymouth Road, North Campus Research Complex (NCRC) Building 16 Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Directed by Sponsored by )六年数据的综述，由密歇根大学医疗政策与创新研究所团队发表在《美国医学会杂志》（JAMA）。

自2018年开始（最近一次于今年早些时候），该民调询问了全国范围内的老年人过去一年中感到缺乏陪伴（孤独的主观感受）以及与他人隔绝（社交隔离的体验）的频率。该民调由AARP和密歇根大学学术医学中心密歇根医学院支持。

最新数据显示，2024年有33%的老年人表示过去一年中有时或经常感到孤独，这与2018年的比率（34%）基本持平。期间年份（如疫情期间），高达42%的老年人经历过此程度的孤独感。

同样，2024年有29%的老年人表示有时或经常感到孤立，略高于2018年的27%。在COVID-19大流行初期，56%的老年人报告有此程度的孤立感，但此后比率逐年下降。

“表面看，这似乎是好消息——我们回到了COVID-19爆发前的水平。但那个基线本身就不理想，且对某些老年人群尤其不利，他们持续保持着极高的孤独感和社交隔离率，”该研究主要作者、密歇根大学医学院内科教授Preeti Malani（医学博士、理学硕士）表示。“当前最大的不同点在于，我们更深刻地认识到孤独感和隔离对健康的影响——尤其是随年龄增长的影响。”Malani担任该民调的高级顾问，并于2017至2022年期间担任负责人。

2024年孤独感比例最高的老年人群为：

• 自称心理健康状况较差或很差者：75%（2018年为74%）
• 自称身体健康状况较差或很差者：53%（高于2018年的50%）
• 无工作或领取残疾收入者（不含退休人员）：52%（高于2018年的38%）

2024年社交隔离比例最高的群体为：

• 自称心理健康状况较差或很差者：77%（较2018年79%略有下降）
• 自称身体健康状况较差或很差者：52%（高于2018年的43%）
• 无工作或领取残疾收入者（不含退休人员）：50%（高于2018年的36%）

2024年这些群体的孤独感和隔离率，是自称身心健康状况优秀、良好或一般者，以及在职或退休者的两倍甚至更高。

“这些趋势很明确：临床医生应将孤独感和隔离视为患者（尤其是有严重身心疾病者）生活中的关键因素，”民调主任Jeffrey Kullgren（医学博士、公共卫生硕士、理学硕士）强调。他是密歇根大学内科副教授，也是退伍军人事务部安娜堡医疗保健系统的初级保健临床医生。

“我们应考虑对患者进行筛查，并为其对接社区资源——无论是老年中心、退伍军人团体、志愿服务机会，还是地区老龄机构或其他社区组织提供的服务，”他补充道。

其他关键发现：

总体而言，50至64岁人群在各调查年份中比65至80岁人群更易感到孤独或孤立，且2024年该年龄段的比率尚未回落至疫情前水平。

同样，家庭收入低于60,000美元者及独居者的孤独感或孤立感发生率高于高收入者或与他人同住者，该发现在多数年份一致。但2024年独居者的比率低于与他人同住者。

关于老年人孤独感与隔离的更多信息：

这项新研究基于美国卫生总医师Vivek Murthy（医学博士、工商管理硕士）团队收集的证据，其团队于2023年5月发布了官方咨询报告。

AARP基金会发起了名为“Connect2Affect”的倡议，提供资源帮助老年人对抗自身及他人的社交隔离与孤独感： ## Social Isolation Is More Than Feeling Lonely **How connected are you?** Social isolation has reached epidemic proportions and has a negative impact on our emotional and physical health. Are you or a loved one at risk for social isolation? Take this assessment to find out if you are at risk. TAKE THE ASSESSMENT ## 8 Ways to Build Social Connections Build your confidence and strengthen your social skills with these 8 tips. View Tips ## Need Help? Find Support Services in Your Area. Search our Local Assistance Directory for free or reduced cost services that may combat or prevent social isolation. You’ll also find services like medical care, food, job training and more. To help us better serve you, please answer a few questions. Since 2021, Barclays US Consumer Bank has been a proud supporter of Connect2Affect through its cause marketing program, Essential Connections Powered by Barclays. With a focus on social interactions, Essential Connections Powered by Barclays supports AARP Foundation efforts to equip older adults with the resources they need to increase their social connections and financial wellbeing. ## Learn More We all have a role to play in addressing this complex public health issue I am…

Malani及其同事于2024年5月在《JAMA》发表了关于社交隔离的《患者指南》；可免费获取（https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2819153），供临床医生与患者分享。

关于民调：

新发表在《JAMA》上的数据源于2018至2024年六次“健康老龄化全国民意调查”（NPHA），多数调查询问老年人在过去一年中感到缺乏陪伴或与他人隔绝的频率。2020年6月的调查要求参与者回顾过去三个月的情况。该民调非纵向追踪——每次调查样本独立。样本量介于2,033至2,563之间，且自2022年起执行调查的机构发生过变更。NPHA方法学详情参见： Homepage rgb(0,38,75) Long-Term Care: Are Older Adults Ready? The majority of people age 50 and older do not think they will need long-term care, and many have not taken steps to plan for their future long-term care needs   POLL EXTRA: Poll shows wide variation in older adults’ preparations to age in place Less than half of people over 65 have made changes to their home or moved to a more age-friendly home; poll finds differences based on health, disability and home ownership Webinar: Long-term Care: What Do Michigan’s Older Adults Need to Know? In a recent webinar, experts discussed the poll's findings on long-term care planning and efforts to improve access to services and supports in Michigan. Data Available Data files from the National Poll on Healthy Aging are now available for download through the University of Michigan National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging. Additional data will be archived on an ongoing basis. Related Publications A collection of academic articles that have been written by expert faculty from reports and data produced by the National Poll on Healthy Aging. Contact Us U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation 800 Plymouth Road, North Campus Research Complex (NCRC) Building 16 Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Directed by Sponsored by survey-methods

此处查阅NPHA关于老年人孤独感与隔离的报告： Homepage rgb(0,38,75) Long-Term Care: Are Older Adults Ready? The majority of people age 50 and older do not think they will need long-term care, and many have not taken steps to plan for their future long-term care needs   POLL EXTRA: Poll shows wide variation in older adults’ preparations to age in place Less than half of people over 65 have made changes to their home or moved to a more age-friendly home; poll finds differences based on health, disability and home ownership Webinar: Long-term Care: What Do Michigan’s Older Adults Need to Know? In a recent webinar, experts discussed the poll's findings on long-term care planning and efforts to improve access to services and supports in Michigan. Data Available Data files from the National Poll on Healthy Aging are now available for download through the University of Michigan National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging. Additional data will be archived on an ongoing basis. Related Publications A collection of academic articles that have been written by expert faculty from reports and data produced by the National Poll on Healthy Aging. Contact Us U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation 800 Plymouth Road, North Campus Research Complex (NCRC) Building 16 Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Directed by Sponsored by national-reports

除Malani和Kullgren外，这篇新发表在《JAMA》上的研究通讯作者还包括民调团队成员Erica Solway（哲学博士、社会工作硕士、公共卫生硕士）、Matthias Kirch（理学硕士）、Dianne Singer（公共卫生硕士）以及J. Scott Roberts（哲学博士）。Malani是《JAMA》副主编，但未参与该文章的评审过程。