ABSTRACT
LONELINESS is prevalent in individuals with rheumatic diseases as compared to the general population (Laidma¨e, Leppik, Tulva, & Ha¨a¨l, 2009; Rokach, LechcierKimel, & Safarov, 2006) and as compared to other chronic diseases (Penninx et al.,
1999). Loneliness is perceived social isolation; it is the distressing feeling that accompanies the perception that one’s social needs are not being met by the quantity or especially the quality of one’s social relationships (Heinrich & Gullone, 2006). Loneliness has adverse effects on patients’ well-being, functioning, and health (Hawkley & Cacioppo, 2010; Heinrich & Gullone, 2006), and it predicts increased mortality after account of age, sex, chronic diseases, alcohol use, and smoking (Penninx et al., 1997). Considering the high prevalence of rheumatic diseases (Klippel, Stone, Crofford, & White, 2008), the high occurrence of loneliness in rheumatic diseases, and the adverse effects of loneliness, it is important to get insight into risk factors of loneliness in this patient group to try to decrease loneliness.
