Validación de la escala de soledad de UCLA y perfil social en la población anciana que vive sola / Validation of the UCLA loneliness scale in an elderly population that live alone

Introducción. Este artículo explora el fenómeno social creciente del anciano que vive solo, desde 2 vertientes: la soledad objetiva de vivir solo y la subjetiva de sentirse solo. Objetivo. Validar la escala de soledad de UCLA como instrumento de medida global de la sensación de soledad y conocer el perfil social en la población anciana que vive sola. Metodología. Estudio observacional realizado durante 2 años (2012-2013) para identificar la población anciana que vive sola y estudio de casos y controles para la validación de la escala de soledad de UCLA. La muestra fue realizada en 3 consultas de 2 centros de salud, del medio urbano y rural. Se estudió la validez de constructo, la validez discriminante y el análisis de sensibilidad. Resultados. El 22,3% viven solos, el 61,7% por pérdida del cónyuge, con una edad media de 70,7 años; el 82,7% son mujeres. El 17,3% carecen de vínculos familiares y el 63,2% se sienten solos. La escala de UCLA tiene una validez de constructo con altas correlaciones entre ítems; se confirma su validez discriminante respecto a los ancianos que no viven solos con un alfa de Cronbach de 0,95, y es un instrumento sensible al cambio. Conclusiones. Uno de cada 4-5 ancianos viven solos, fundamentalmente por la pérdida del cónyuge; las mujeres triplican a los hombres. Dos de cada 3 personas experimentan la sensación de soledad. La escala de UCLA ha demostrado ser un instrumento útil y sensible para medir el sentimiento de soledad en los ancianos (AU)

Introduction. This article examines the growing social phenomenon of elderly people living alone from 2 points of view: the objective loneliness of living alone and the subjective loneliness of feeling lonely. Objective. To validate the UCLA loneliness scale as a tool for the overall measurement of loneliness and to determine the social profile in elderly people living alone. Methods. Observational study carried out over 2 years (2012-2013) to identify elderly people living alone; case-control study to validate the UCLA loneliness scale. The sample was taken from 3 surgeries belonging to 2 Primary Care health centres from urban and rural areas. We studied construct validity, discriminant validity and sensitivity analysis were analysed. Results. Of the elderly population studied 22.3% live alone, 61.7% due to loss of spouse, with a mean age of 70.7 years, and 82.7% women; 17.3% have no family ties and 63.2% feel lonely. UCLA loneliness scale has a construct validity with a high correlation between items. The discriminant validity was confirmed in relation to the elderly who do not live alone, with Cronbach alpha of 0.95, and it is sensitive to change. Conclusions. One in 4-5 elderly live alone, mainly due to the loss of spouse. There are 3 times as many women as men who live alone. Two out of 3 experience the feeling of loneliness. The UCLA loneliness scale has proved to be a useful and sensitive tool to measure loneliness in the elderly population (AU)

[Validation of the UCLA loneliness scale in an elderly population that live alone]. / Validación de la escala de soledad de UCLA y perfil social en la población anciana que vive sola.

INTRODUCTION: This article examines the growing social phenomenon of elderly people living alone from 2 points of view: the objective loneliness of living alone and the subjective loneliness of feeling lonely. OBJECTIVE: To validate the UCLA loneliness scale as a tool for the overall measurement of loneliness and to determine the social profile in elderly people living alone. METHODS: Observational study carried out over 2 years (2012-2013) to identify elderly people living alone; case-control study to validate the UCLA loneliness scale. The sample was taken from 3 surgeries belonging to 2 Primary Care health centres from urban and rural areas. We studied construct validity, discriminant validity and sensitivity analysis were analysed. RESULTS: Of the elderly population studied 22.3% live alone, 61.7% due to loss of spouse, with a mean age of 70.7 years, and 82.7% women; 17.3% have no family ties and 63.2% feel lonely. UCLA loneliness scale has a construct validity with a high correlation between items. The discriminant validity was confirmed in relation to the elderly who do not live alone, with Cronbach alpha of 0.95, and it is sensitive to change. CONCLUSIONS: One in 4-5 elderly live alone, mainly due to the loss of spouse. There are 3 times as many women as men who live alone. Two out of 3 experience the feeling of loneliness. The UCLA loneliness scale has proved to be a useful and sensitive tool to measure loneliness in the elderly population.