Per the biopsychosocial model, pain, especially chronic low back pain, which often presents with nonspecific pain, requires a comprehensive approach involving social factors. However, the association of social factors, including social isolation and loneliness, with this condition remains unclear. This study examined the cross-sectional association of social isolation and loneliness with chronic low back pain among older adults.
We recruited functionally independent older adults through a mail survey in 2019 from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES). Chronic low back pain was defined as low back pain lasting more than three months. Social isolation was identified based on face-to-face and non-face-to-face interactions (“not isolated,” “isolated tendency,” and “isolated”). Loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale (“not lonely,” “lonely tendency,” and “lonely”).
Consequently, 21,463 participants were analyzed (mean age: 74.4 years; 51.5% females); 12.6% reported chronic low back pain. Multivariable Poisson regression analysis revealed that loneliness was significantly associated with the likelihood of chronic low back pain; compared with “not lonely”, the prevalence ratio (PR) was 1.14 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.25) for “lonely tendency” and 1.40 (1.27-1.54) for “lonely.” Social isolation was not associated; compared with “not isolated,” the PR (95% CI) was 0.96 (0.88-1.05) for “isolated tendency” and 0.99 (0.89-1.10) for “isolated.” A positive multiplicative interaction between social isolation and loneliness for chronic low back pain was found.
Lonelier individuals were more likely to experience chronic low back pain, and those with loneliness and social isolation were synergistically more likely for this condition.