Do lonely and socially isolated individuals think they die earlier? The link between loneliness, social isolation and expectations of longevity based on a nationally representative sample
Abstract Background Loneliness and social isolation both have been linked to morbidity and mortality. However, there is a lack of studies investigating whether these factors are associated with expectations of longevity. Therefore, we aimed to clarify this association. Methods Cross-sectional data were taken from a nationally representative sample of middle-aged and older individuals (analytical sample, n = 4857). Well-established scales were used to measure loneliness and social isolation. Equally to other large cohort studies, expectations of longevity were assessed using the question ‘What age do you think you will live to?’ It was adjusted for various socioeconomic and health-related factors. Results After adjusting for various socioeconomic and health-related covariates, multiple linear regressions showed that both loneliness (total sample: β = −0.97, P