Association of ambient temperature with social isolation among the community-dwelling Chinese older adults: A cross-sectional study in Hong Kong
Background: The adverse health impacts of ambient temperature have been well-documented, encompassing not only the mortality and morbidity burden but also mood and mental health disorders. However, the relationship between temperature and social isolation remains unexplored. The objective of the cur...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402500101X |
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| author | Eliza Lai-Yi Wong Hong Qiu Kin-Fai Ho Annie Wai-Ling Cheung Hera Leung Frank Youhua Chen Eng-Kiong Yeoh |
| author_facet | Eliza Lai-Yi Wong Hong Qiu Kin-Fai Ho Annie Wai-Ling Cheung Hera Leung Frank Youhua Chen Eng-Kiong Yeoh |
| author_sort | Eliza Lai-Yi Wong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The adverse health impacts of ambient temperature have been well-documented, encompassing not only the mortality and morbidity burden but also mood and mental health disorders. However, the relationship between temperature and social isolation remains unexplored. The objective of the current study was to investigate the potential associations between ambient temperature and social isolation among the aging population. Methods: We took advantage of a cross-sectional survey conducted between January 2017 and November 2018 from a community service program special for older adults aged ≥60 who lived in a central community of Hong Kong. The personal social isolation was assessed by the validated Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6), with a score ranging from 0 to 30 and score of less than 12 indicating social isolation. The environmental exposures, including ambient temperature, sunshine hours, rainfalls, and air pollution, were obtained from the nearby monitoring stations. The association of ambient temperature with LSNS-6 score or social isolation was examined by the generalized linear models while adjusting the potential confounding from other environmental exposures and personal sociodemographic factors. Results: Among the 1616 participants, the distribution of LSNS-6 score was approximately normal and the mean score was a bit higher on cool days than on hot days (13.0 vs. 12.2). Compared with cool temperatures (14.4–19.5oC), the independent effect estimates of hot ambient temperatures (24.5–28.7oC) was associated with a 2.38 (95%CI: 1.63–3.13) decrease in LSNS-6 score. Meanwhile, we observed statistically significant associations of sunshine exposure, gender, health status, marital status, living alone, religion, and housing type with LSNS-6 score or social isolation. Conclusions: Our study revealed a clear association between ambient cool temperatures and reduced social isolation, as well as association between hot temperatures and social isolation among older Chinese adults residing in the urban community of Hong Kong. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3e3b81e8165a45e1a88da3ab295d47d0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj-art-3e3b81e8165a45e1a88da3ab295d47d02025-01-17T04:51:57ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01111e41721Association of ambient temperature with social isolation among the community-dwelling Chinese older adults: A cross-sectional study in Hong KongEliza Lai-Yi Wong0Hong Qiu1Kin-Fai Ho2Annie Wai-Ling Cheung3Hera Leung4Frank Youhua Chen5Eng-Kiong Yeoh6Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Corresponding author. Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR, China.Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaJC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaCentre for Health Systems and Policy Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Management Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Management Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaCentre for Health Systems and Policy Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaBackground: The adverse health impacts of ambient temperature have been well-documented, encompassing not only the mortality and morbidity burden but also mood and mental health disorders. However, the relationship between temperature and social isolation remains unexplored. The objective of the current study was to investigate the potential associations between ambient temperature and social isolation among the aging population. Methods: We took advantage of a cross-sectional survey conducted between January 2017 and November 2018 from a community service program special for older adults aged ≥60 who lived in a central community of Hong Kong. The personal social isolation was assessed by the validated Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6), with a score ranging from 0 to 30 and score of less than 12 indicating social isolation. The environmental exposures, including ambient temperature, sunshine hours, rainfalls, and air pollution, were obtained from the nearby monitoring stations. The association of ambient temperature with LSNS-6 score or social isolation was examined by the generalized linear models while adjusting the potential confounding from other environmental exposures and personal sociodemographic factors. Results: Among the 1616 participants, the distribution of LSNS-6 score was approximately normal and the mean score was a bit higher on cool days than on hot days (13.0 vs. 12.2). Compared with cool temperatures (14.4–19.5oC), the independent effect estimates of hot ambient temperatures (24.5–28.7oC) was associated with a 2.38 (95%CI: 1.63–3.13) decrease in LSNS-6 score. Meanwhile, we observed statistically significant associations of sunshine exposure, gender, health status, marital status, living alone, religion, and housing type with LSNS-6 score or social isolation. Conclusions: Our study revealed a clear association between ambient cool temperatures and reduced social isolation, as well as association between hot temperatures and social isolation among older Chinese adults residing in the urban community of Hong Kong.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402500101XAmbient temperatureCross-sectional studyEnvironmental exposuresOld adultsSocial isolation |
| spellingShingle | Eliza Lai-Yi Wong Hong Qiu Kin-Fai Ho Annie Wai-Ling Cheung Hera Leung Frank Youhua Chen Eng-Kiong Yeoh Association of ambient temperature with social isolation among the community-dwelling Chinese older adults: A cross-sectional study in Hong Kong Heliyon Ambient temperature Cross-sectional study Environmental exposures Old adults Social isolation |
| title | Association of ambient temperature with social isolation among the community-dwelling Chinese older adults: A cross-sectional study in Hong Kong |
| title_full | Association of ambient temperature with social isolation among the community-dwelling Chinese older adults: A cross-sectional study in Hong Kong |
| title_fullStr | Association of ambient temperature with social isolation among the community-dwelling Chinese older adults: A cross-sectional study in Hong Kong |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association of ambient temperature with social isolation among the community-dwelling Chinese older adults: A cross-sectional study in Hong Kong |
| title_short | Association of ambient temperature with social isolation among the community-dwelling Chinese older adults: A cross-sectional study in Hong Kong |
| title_sort | association of ambient temperature with social isolation among the community dwelling chinese older adults a cross sectional study in hong kong |
| topic | Ambient temperature Cross-sectional study Environmental exposures Old adults Social isolation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402500101X |
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