The Significance of Social Connections and Health in Relation to Loneliness Experienced by Older Adults Living at Home: A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim

Due to ageing, physical changes can affect one's ability to actively engage with others, resulting in limitations in social connections comparable to loneliness. Hence, there is a need for research on how older adults avoid experiencing loneliness and thus promote health through social connections. The aim of this study was to describe the significance of social connections and health in relation to loneliness experienced by older adults living at home.

Methods

Older adults aged 65 years and older (n = 16) purposively selected from a longitudinal population‐based multicentre study participated in semi‐structured interviews. The interviews were conducted in January 2024, transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive content analysis.

Findings

The findings illustrated one main category, Preventing loneliness, and three associated generic categories: The silver lining of connecting with oneself, Being surrounded by meaningful connections and Striving to maintain an active and healthy life.

Conclusion

Preventing loneliness may be one important aspect of healthy ageing. However, for some older adults, time alone offers enrichment and well‐being, with routines playing a key role. Meaningful connections and feeling needed are crucial in preventing loneliness, especially as social networks may decline with age. An active and healthy life also prevents loneliness, though barriers like age‐related limitations must be addressed. It is, therefore, important to address loneliness in society. Furthermore, it is essential that healthcare education incorporates the impact of loneliness on older adults to promote healthy ageing.

1. Introduction

Research often focuses on loneliness in terms of a need for more recognition, a health concern and the efforts needed to approach those who find themselves lonely [1]. As well as identifying those who are more likely to feel lonely despite being surrounded by others [2]. In particular, loneliness among older adults has been recognised in previous research focusing on identifying risk factors [3] and investigating coping strategies, but also highlighting the need for research that makes loneliness visible [4]. However, not all loneliness is harmful, such as self‐chosen loneliness, which is desired loneliness when life feels stressful [5] and is associated with independence and an enriched life [6]. Understanding how older adults handle and prevent loneliness is therefore crucial for promoting healthy ageing.

Loneliness is often associated with social isolation, although it is a separate concept. Social isolation means having less contact with family and friends [7], which can make it hard to engage in community activities [8], while loneliness is a subjective, unwelcome feeling due to a lack of connections with others [7]. Previous research has shown that in older adults, time spent alone is strongly associated with feelings of loneliness [9]. Therefore, it is essential to better understand how social connections can alleviate feelings of loneliness to support health among older adults.

Increased age is one of the factors associated with increased odds of loneliness [10, 11] since it can lead to limited freedom to engage in social activities. Previous research has offered valuable insights into how older adults experience loneliness in relation to health and social connections. However, a need remains to address social connections and their complexities [12] to better understand the relationship between social connections, health and loneliness. Prior research has highlighted the benefits of ageing, which is when the time to do things increases. Also, free will has positive effects when there is a lower degree of pressure from the surroundings, which have previously been prioritised, resulting in the possibility of increasing independence and doing things that increase happiness and are perceived as important [13]. It is essential to strengthen resilience and psychosocial growth and alleviate the losses that may be associated with ageing [14] since successful ageing focuses on social connections and a positive outlook rather than physical health [15].

Social connections have been described as different types of relationships shared with others, including physical, emotional, behavioural and cognitive bonds. Social networks and functional aspects are structural aspects of relationships describing the social support given and received [16]. It is not only the presence or absence of relationships that affect the experience of loneliness [17] but also the qualitative aspects of social connections, such as the nature of the relationship [16]. However, a person can also experience loneliness despite having others around them [17, 18], which adds to the complexity of the topic.

The possibility of connecting with others [19] emphasises the need for a better understanding of the experiences of social connections. The importance of feeling connected with others has been highlighted in a prior study, stating a sense of belonging as being closely linked to being connected with others, not only through social networks but also in terms of social support and security [20]. Previous research shows that older adults exposed to ageism may withdraw from the social environment as a coping strategy and thus be emotionally affected, which is essential to highlight [21]. Further, it is important to highlight that increased experiences of ageism are also associated with a higher frequency of feelings of loneliness [22]. This strengthens the relevance of addressing older adults' experiences of social connections and health in relation to loneliness.

Furthermore, impaired health among older adults contributes to limitations in social life [23] and, in turn, affects the experience of loneliness [24]. Hence, further knowledge is needed on how older adults avoid experiencing loneliness and thus promote health [25], since a perceived decrease in satisfaction with connections with others may lead to loneliness [17]. Highlighting the perspective of older adults on social connections and health in relation to loneliness provides valuable insights into their experiences. This is important for gaining a deeper understanding of the factors contributing to loneliness within this population. By capturing their experiences, interventions can be developed with individualised solutions to alleviate loneliness among older adults. Furthermore, amplifying the voices of older adults and incorporating their perspectives into research increases its relevance and ensures that findings align with their lived experiences.

2. Aim

This study aims to describe the significance of social connections and health in relation to loneliness experienced by older adults living at home.

3. Methods

3.1. Design

This study was designed as a descriptive qualitative study.

3.2. Context

This study was conducted in a southern municipality in Sweden with approximately 66,000 inhabitants and involved participants aged 65 years and older in urban and rural areas. Potential participants were selected from the Swedish National Study on Ageing and Care—Blekinge (SNAC‐B). The aim of SNAC‐B is to increase knowledge about how lifestyle and environment affect ageing by focusing on future care needs [26].

3.3. Participants

Participants who had answered ‘yes, often’ or ‘yes, sometimes’ to the question ‘Do you ever feel lonely?’ and stated that they lived in their own homes were purposively selected for this study. The data manager randomly selected potential participants by sorting individual identification numbers in SNAC‐B and approaching every third participant. Thereafter, the data manager contacted the potential participants by telephone to provide them with information about the study and to ask if they were interested in participating. Participants who were interested in the study were provided with written information. The first author (RN, PhD student, female) contacted each potential participant by telephone to arrange a time and location for the interview, according to the participants' preferences. Eleven interviews were initially conducted, and an additional five interviews were carried out to enhance information power [27], resulting in a total of 16 interviews. Of all the potential participants approached by the data manager, eight declined participation, stating that the topic was not of interest or that there was a lack of energy.

3.4. Data Collection

Semi‐structured individual interviews were conducted using an interview guide [28] developed specifically for this study. A description of loneliness was provided, highlighted as either a positive or a negative experience, and the interview began with a general narrative question to create a relaxed environment (‘Tell me what a typical day looks like’). The interview guide was inspired by previous research on the subject [29, 30] and consisted of three themes—social connections, loneliness and health. The interview started with the participants being asked to share what their relationships with friends and family meant to them. This was followed by a focus on loneliness, where participants were asked to share their experiences of loneliness. Finally, the health topic was approached, with participants asked to describe what health meant to them. The interview was supported by pre‐formulated follow‐up questions (‘Can you tell me more?’, ‘Can you explain?’ and ‘Can you give examples?’).

The locations of the interviews chosen by the participants included the participants' own homes (n = 7), the university (n = 4) and over the telephone (n = 5), and the interviews were conducted in January 2024. The interviews lasted 14–52 min (MD = 22 min). The first author, with previous experience as an interviewer, conducted all the interviews. The co‐authors are experienced researchers within both qualitative methodology and the specific subject. One pilot interview was conducted beforehand with a participant from the sample to test the interview guide. This interview proved that the guide worked well. Further, the pilot interview provided valuable information to the study findings and, therefore, was included in the final analysis. Demographic questions were asked concerning gender, age and civil status. At the end of each interview, the participants were asked if they wanted to add anything. Information power will ultimately determine whether the sample provided sufficient depth to generate new knowledge, as reflected in the findings [27], and when a recurrent pattern appeared in the interviews, no further interviews were deemed necessary. The interviews were conducted in Swedish, digitally recorded on a Dictaphone and transcribed verbatim by the first author, which was a critical stage in preparing for the analysis [28].

3.5. Data Analysis

The transcribed interviews were analysed according to Elo and Kyngäs (2008) inductive content analysis, which consists of preparation, organisation, and reporting. In the preparation phase, the transcribed interviews were read several times, and the meaning units were selected for analysis. The organisation phase involved open coding, in which notes and headings were noted before the transcribed interviews were reread so that all text aspects were identified. Then, similar subcategories were grouped under higher‐order generic categories. By collapsing similar subcategories, the number was reduced. A main category was created through abstraction to formulate a general description of the research topic (Table 1).

TABLE 1.

Examples of the analysis process from meaning units to subcategories, generic categories and main category.

Meaning unit	Subcategory	Generic category	Main category
I don't have a problem being alone by myself. I can find that very nice, sometimes	Enjoying one's own company	The silver lining of connecting with oneself	Preventing loneliness
If you didn't have them, you would have been very lonely, so I am very happy and grateful that you have friends and acquaintances	The importance of others	Being surrounded by meaningful connections
I don't train to become a world champion in any sport, I mostly train to be able to stand up straight	The significance of maintaining mobility	Striving to maintain an active and healthy life

In the reporting phase, the findings were presented in the text, and the subcategories became part of the text of the generic categories [31]. The first and last authors performed the analysis together, and the analysis was discussed to create mutual understanding. All authors read the transcribed interviews and validated the analysis and the findings to ensure that nothing had been overlooked or misinterpreted. Comparison was made until there was an agreement on the interpretation of the text. Quotations are presented to support the presentation of the study's findings and Microsoft Excel was used to sort the data.

3.6. Ethical Considerations

The study was approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority, Umeå (Dnr. 2023‐03853‐01), and conducted in accordance with the ethical guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki [32]. The participants received oral and written information about the study, including the voluntary nature of their participation and the possibility of withdrawing at any time without providing a reason. Before the interviews, informed consent was obtained from all participants. The anonymity of the participants was ensured in the collected data through the application of a coding system. The code list was stored separately from the transcribed interview data to prevent the identification of any participant. All data materials were stored on a secure university server to uphold confidentiality.

4. Findings

The findings are based on a total of 16 interviews conducted with nine women and seven men (Table 2). The analysis resulted in three generic categories: The silver lining of connecting with oneself, Being surrounded by meaningful connections and Striving to maintain an active and healthy life. These, in turn, resulted in the main category: Preventing loneliness (Figure 1).

TABLE 2.

Demographic data of the participants.

Participants n = 16
Age, mean (SD), range	77.8 (6.8) 68–89
Male/Female, n	7/9
Cohabitation, n	2
Married and living with a partner, n	9
Widow/Widower and living alone, n	4
Divorced and living alone, n	1
‘Do you ever feel lonely?’
Yes, often	3
Yes, sometimes	13

FIGURE 1.

Overview of the main category and the generic categories.

4.1. Preventing Loneliness

Preventing loneliness described the generic categories with the silver lining of connecting with oneself as an ability to handle being alone and to embrace the possibility of engaging in activities with oneself, highlighting a way to prevent loneliness. Being surrounded by meaningful connections, that is past, present and future connections—as a way to prevent loneliness. Lastly, striving to maintain an active and healthy life, such as engaging in activities, associations and exercising to prevent loneliness.

4.2. The Silver Lining of Connecting With Oneself

Connecting with oneself when alone was described as a form of a silver lining and as a pleasant loneliness. The participants expressed this loneliness as self‐chosen, positive and something to strive for in everyday life. They underlined the feeling of being comfortable in one's own company, which was related to a positive outlook on life, and they could go into themselves without longing for others. Constantly having people around was expressed as an obstacle to getting time alone. The participants described connecting with oneself and finding meaning in life as crucial. They further stated that it was a way of appreciating life and feeling grateful and described feeling satisfied and fulfilled when they connected with themselves, as one woman expressed:

I can sit here alone in the evenings, and I just think it is pleasant. I do not crave companionship or anybody. (Interview no. 14, female)

Loneliness was seen as an opportunity to be at peace, solve problems and explore topics in depth. The participants also expressed time spent in loneliness as a way to provide help to others. This could involve offering assistance with shopping or running pharmacy errands and was expressed as a source of satisfaction by the participants. Further, they expressed deriving a sense of pleasure from staying in their own home as a way to be comfortable with their loneliness. The participants described time spent in loneliness as an opportunity to focus and enjoy themselves, which was possible if their health problems were not significant. One woman expressed solitary moments as an opportunity to pursue what she enjoyed and indulge completely:

To just get this feeling of the variety of nature and the connection with nature, and it was just the first day when I was hiking that I got quite high up in the mountains, … and then I thought, My God this is heaven. It was so wonderful: the nature around me in harmony, and I felt in harmony with nature, with everything, with the universe. And that's the feeling I seek when I have my solitary moments. (Interview no. 13, female)

The participants often described their time spent in loneliness as limited, but it provided the opportunity to engage in what they appreciated and gave meaning to their lives. Time was expressed as an opportunity rather than a difficulty, which gave them the chance to spend time alone. Engaging in daily and weekly routines could be a way for the participants to embrace loneliness as a silver lining of self‐chosen loneliness in everyday life, which was characterised by doing things by themselves as a way to provide security and comfort. The participants expressed the importance of establishing simple routines, such as cleaning, scheduling exercises, reading, dining out, or listening to music. Spending time in nature and learning new things were also ways to connect with oneself. One participant described the feeling of loneliness when his wife was away at a concert, which gave him appreciated time spent in loneliness:

So then… I was, then I got a whole day to myself… It was nice. (Interview no. 16, male)

Having routines whereby moments of self‐chosen loneliness were possible provided stimulation and a sense of purpose. Ultimately, it was essential to establish various weekly routines to provide stimulation and a sense of purpose in life.

4.3. Being Surrounded by Meaningful Connections

Being surrounded by meaningful connections included doing things together, connecting and sharing one's thoughts. When surrounded by meaningful connections, the experience of loneliness was not described as prominent. These connections were expressed in the context of close family, friends, neighbours and acquaintances, as one participant described:

You have contacts that have erased loneliness. There has never been loneliness in my mind, and hardly any now actually. (Interview no. 1, male).

One participant said it was easier to have deeper, more intimate conversations with a professional than with relatives, with whom they expressed the need to show a brave face. The participants expressed that their connections with others played a crucial role in providing confirmation and understanding. The opportunity to vent their thoughts was expressed as significant for their well‐being and to prevent loneliness. They also described how connections with others provided meaningful experiences of feeling needed. However, there was a sense of their own responsibility to take the initiative to keep the connections alive.

On the other hand, being surrounded by meaningful connections describes the absence of relationships when losses occurred, resulting in feelings of loneliness and how these losses could be handled. The participants expressed how their connections throughout life affected this experience, since the meaning of loneliness could shift. For example, during childhood, loneliness could be associated with having no one to listen or connect with. Going through a divorce could create loneliness but also contribute to a fear of loneliness. Loneliness could also arise when a loved one's illness caused them to have a personality change, thereby affecting the relationship. The participants also expressed loneliness in connection to bereavement, such as losing a loved one and having a lack of support, which was directly related to the loss of meaningful connections, thereby affecting the possibility of preventing loneliness. In the past, connections with others were often expressed in relation to professional life as a way to prevent loneliness, as others were constantly present. However, the relationship pattern changed after retirement, making it harder to prevent loneliness. Those who lived with partners explained the importance of having someone to care about. However, loneliness was also described even when someone was in a close relationship with another person. This feeling could arise when there was an uneven distribution of responsibilities, making it seem like both parties were living separate lives. In such situations, the absence of meaningful connections could lead to loneliness, as expressed by one woman:

I have taken the family… the upbringing of the children and all this. Carried it on me, then I have felt very alone in carrying it. (Interview no. 12, female)

The participants expressed difficulties in forming new meaningful connections as their social networks decreased through deaths, divorces and relocations, which resulted in the challenge of learning how to cope with the absence of others. There were emotional challenges in dealing with loss, as described by one woman:

You have no idea how awful it is. She is dead, he is dead, they are dead, they do not exist and I find that part terribly sad, but that is life. I understand it, but emotionally, I have a hard time with it. (Interview no. 8, female)

One way to cope with losses could be experienced as a form of socialising in the mind by thinking about those who no longer existed. The participants described views of relationships in the future as involving a fear of possible illness, being placed in residential care and losing meaningful connections.

4.4. Striving to Maintain an Active and Healthy Life

Striving to maintain an active and healthy life was necessary to prevent loneliness. The participants expressed a desire or endeavour to remain as active as before. One woman described the importance of being active as follows:

You have to be as active as you were when you were young. I think that is important. (Interview no. 6, female)

Activities were described as being associated with mobility and health, in which participation was essential, and the participants wanted to maintain control of their bodies. In addition to active participation in associations, it also involved cultural activities. The participants expressed activities as being associated with activities outside the home, and the community was perceived to have a significant role in engaging in and offering activities. There was a request from the participants that the community offer assistance in getting to activities. The participants described how loneliness was prevented when they continued to pursue an active life. One man expressed how challenging it could be to avoid loneliness when he had to spend time in his own home, where activities were lacking:

It is when you put the key in the door, and you come in, then you are alone. Then you are… then you are alone. (Interview no. 3, male)

Since activities were important, loneliness also increased when activities were interrupted, such as over holiday periods. Impaired health with physical limitations and reduced cognition was described as a barrier to engaging in activities and connecting with others, which could be challenging to accept. These limitations were described by one man as follows:

When I think about it, it is very depressing. When I am limited in what was my life before. (Interview no. 5, male)

Striving to maintain an active and healthy life in older age could be affected by others questioning the habit of continuing in the same way as before. Furthermore, health could be affected by ageing, which was described as a loss of previously self‐evident resources, leading to sadness from losing former abilities. These losses hampered the ability to perform activities and connect with others as desired, since despite a strong will, health was a barrier in the pursuit of an active life.

5. Discussion

5.1. The Silver Lining of Connecting With Oneself

The findings of this study emphasise the silver lining of connecting with oneself as an opportunity to find peace, solve problems and deepen knowledge of different topics. Therefore, despite previous research focusing on loneliness as something negative—and it is—this study clearly shows that there is also a distinct value in being alone. This was previously described by Chen and Liu (2023), who highlighted loneliness as an opportunity for calmness and relaxation, possibly due to older adults' ability to regulate emotions and develop strategies to cope with their situation [19]. Previous research has underlined one strategy for coping with loneliness: reducing the need to connect with others by choosing activities that can be favourably performed alone instead of activities that can only be performed in the company of others [17]. This can relate to the silver lining of connecting with oneself to prevent the negative experience of loneliness by turning to oneself and making that time valuable. In contrast to self‐chosen loneliness as a possibility of connecting with oneself, prior research underlines self‐chosen loneliness as a possible coping strategy for older adults who have members of their social networks who they wish to avoid [33], which implies that connecting with oneself can also be considered a method of avoiding others. However, it is important to reflect on the potential risks of self‐chosen loneliness. Since previous research shows that social isolation, in combination with perceived loneliness, indicates a higher mortality [34]. Spending time in loneliness can also be seen as an opportunity to prepare for social interactions that might occur in the future [35]. Although previous research has underlined that less frequent social connections with others are associated with increased loneliness [10], this should not preclude understanding that some people enjoy and value self‐chosen loneliness. A previous study indicated that a solitary environment can lead to loneliness, as people who spend time alone are perceived as enjoying their own company, making it challenging to initiate social contact with them [36]. This means that others may mistake the need for social connection in persons who seem to enjoy their own company.

5.2. Being Surrounded by Meaningful Connections

Another finding of this study was that being surrounded by meaningful connections is essential to prevent loneliness. This may be reinforced by prior research suggesting that the quality and expectation of social connections may be the primary concern, not the quantity of social connections [34, 37]. Furthermore, meaningful connections can be a way to prevent loneliness and other negative emotions, such as death anxiety [38]. Meanwhile, dependency on others can make a person's world seem smaller [39], highlighting the need to distinguish between being dependent on others and having meaningful connections. Previous research emphasises several factors that enhance the sense of belonging, such as meaningful engagement, opportunities to contribute and feeling valued. Old age, however, may reduce the sense of appreciation, and limit one's sense of belonging [40]. The health and well‐being of older adults are particularly vulnerable to the detrimental effects of ageism. There is a pressing need to reduce and eliminate ageism while promoting diversity, as negative attitudes persist despite older adults' significant contributions to society [41]. This is particularly relevant to the findings of this study since ageism can impact the extent to which older adults are included and participate in social contexts, as well as their ability to maintain meaningful connections.

5.3. Striving to Maintain an Active and Healthy Life

Further, the findings showed that striving to maintain an active and healthy life was a way to prevent loneliness. As acknowledged in previous research, older adults often portray themselves as active, including being active in associations, and this continues to be pursued later in life [29]. The combination of loss of physical functions and impaired health can lead to limitations in personal freedom [39], which may, for some, cause the experience of dignity loss from not being able to participate in the activities they would have participated in before [29]. Since the ageing body can be equivalent to an obstacle, one can place increasing dependence on others to maintain social connections [39]. Prior research has also underlined the importance of participating in activities with others and placed deteriorating health as a direct cause of loneliness [42]. As underlined in this study, impaired health is a challenge when pursuing activities. Therefore, to prevent loneliness, activities must be facilitated when one's health is impaired. Previous research has emphasised that the treatment for loneliness often relies on the consequences rather than the underlying loneliness, such as antidepressants for mental illness and psychosocial treatment [5]. Highlighting a need for a different approach to meet the needs of this population.

5.4. Methodological Considerations

The findings of this study were evaluated in terms of trustworthiness, which deals with credibility, dependability, confirmability and transferability. To increase the credibility of the findings, the interviews were transcribed verbatim, and all authors were involved in reading the transcribed material and comparing the original material with the analysis. Quotes were also highlighted in the findings. The ethical approval did not include the possibility to return to the participants for feedback on the analysis and findings. However, this could have further strengthened the credibility. Furthermore, the dependability of the analysis of the findings was strengthened by describing the sample with demographic data and using an interview guide. Confirmability was reinforced since triangulation was used in the analysis to minimise bias and ensure that one researcher's preferences did not colour the findings. To increase the study's transferability, a detailed data collection and analysis process was performed, including examples of the analysis process [43]. This study selected participants based on a single item targeting loneliness. There were no perceived differences in the experience of loneliness among the participants who stated experiencing loneliness often or sometimes, as shown during the interviews. Past research has criticised the use of single items or direct questions to measure loneliness, stating that the answer can be questioned as a socially accepted answer that can be elicited [44]. Furthermore, it may be easier to define others as more lonely than oneself [29], which may also question the answer to perceived loneliness, underlining that single items do not always capture the complexity of a phenomenon in the same way that scores for multi‐item scales [45]. As emphasised in the findings of this study, loneliness is not always a negative feeling. Sometimes, it can be a positive, enriching and self‐chosen experience. Providing participants with a description of loneliness can be seen as a study limitation. It may have influenced their spontaneous reflections during the interviews, which may have affected the findings. Initially, the intention was to clarify the research topic to the participants. However, the findings of this study emphasise the more positive dimension of loneliness.

It also appears that the concept as such can be challenging to put into words. The variation in the length of the interviews was due to several aspects: the ability to verbalise and describe one's experiences, the diversity of experiences related to the topic and the extent to which the participants chose to highlight them. The variation achieved in the sample is a strength, since it reflects the phenomenon from a broader perspective. The findings can be explained by the sample's relatively healthy and active nature, which should be balanced against the older population as a heterogeneous group. The phenomenon of loneliness can be associated with stigma, which is seen as private and difficult to discuss. Several potential participants were approached but chose not to participate in the study, which can be linked to the topic's sensitivity. Other strengths are that the participants were willing to share their narratives and that the sample included multiple interviews to enrich the findings. In the process of reporting the study, the COREQ was used as a checklist [46].

6. Conclusion

Preventing loneliness can be seen as crucial for promoting healthy ageing. For some older adults, time spent alone is viewed as enriching and as an opportunity to engage in solitary activities, which is closely linked to well‐being. In this context, routines can play a vital role in fostering a positive experience of time spent alone. Additionally, meaningful connections are essential in preventing loneliness, as is the sense of feeling needed, particularly in light of the decline in social networks that often accompanies ageing. An active and healthy life also serves as an important factor in preventing loneliness, although various barriers may need to be addressed, often related to the limitations that may emerge with ageing. Offering social activities in society tailored to the needs and preferences of older adults may effectively mitigate the adverse experiences of loneliness as well as the negative consequences. Finally, it is crucial that loneliness and its physical and psychological consequences are integrated into healthcare education, as healthcare professionals require an in‐depth understanding of the impact of loneliness on older adults in order to promote healthy ageing and prevent its detrimental effects. Further research is needed to provide deeper insights into how loneliness can manifest and develop successful interventions to mitigate its consequences.

Author Contributions

All authors were involved in the design of the study. However, the first and the third authors initially had a greater involvement. The first author conducted and transcribed the interviews. All authors participated in the analysis; hence, the first and last authors took a greater responsibility. The first author drafted the manuscript, and all authors contributed with constructive revisions and gave their final approval.

Ethics Statement

This study was approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority, Umeå (Dnr. 2023‐03853‐01).

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Axén A., Christiansen L., Taube E., Kumlien C., and Borg C., “The Significance of Social Connections and Health in Relation to Loneliness Experienced by Older Adults Living at Home: A Qualitative Study,” Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences 39, no. 2 (2025): e70057, 10.1111/scs.70057.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.