Table 1 Comparison of Loneliness Scores among Rural Elderly with Different Characteristics (Mean ± SD)
Variables | N(%) | Loneliness score | F/t | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sex: | ||||
 Male | 818 (49.3) | 42.81 ± 9.54 | −1.531 | 0.126 |
 Female | 840 (50.7) | 43.52 ± 9.37 |  |  |
Age: | ||||
 60 ~ 69 | 840 (50.7) | 42.24 ± 9.47 | 10.781 | 0.000 |
 70 ~ 79 | 566 (34.1) | 43.64 ± 9.50 |  |  |
 80 + years older | 252 (15.2) | 45.21 ± 8.94 |  |  |
Marital status: | ||||
 Couple | 1158 (69.8) | 42.65 ± 9.40 | −3.431 | 0.001 |
 Othersa | 500 (30.2) | 44.38 ± 9.49 |  |  |
Occupation: | ||||
 Manual labour | 1045 (63.0) | 41.37 ± 9.34 | −10.588 | 0.000 |
 Mental labour | 613 (37.0) | 46.24 ± 8.86 |  |  |
Degree of education: | ||||
 Primary school or below | 1145 (69.1) | 42.06 ± 9.48 | 26.500 | 0.000 |
 Junior school | 266 (16.0) | 45.82 ± 9.13 |  |  |
 High school and above | 247 (14.9) | 45.47 ± 8.72 |  |  |
Economic sources: | ||||
 Farming income | 628 (37.9) | 40.44 ± 9.63 | −9.244 | 0.000 |
 Support from children and others | 1030 (62.1) | 44.83 ± 8.96 |  |  |
Economic income (yuan): | ||||
  < 1000 | 516 (31.1) | 42.66 ± 9.54 | 4.852 | 0.002 |
 1000 ~ 3000 | 401 (24.2) | 42.71 ± 9.00 |  |  |
 3000 ~ 5000 | 415 (25.0) | 42.86 ± 9.42 |  |  |
  ≥ 5000 | 326 (19.7) | 44.95 ± 9.75 |  |  |
Smoking: | ||||
 Yes | 512 (30.9) | 41.92 ± 9.88 | −3.515 | 0.000 |
 No | 1146 (69.1) | 43.73 ± 9.21 |  |  |
Drinking: | ||||
 Yes | 765 (46.1) | 42.14 ± 9.45 | −4.134 | 0.000 |
 No | 893 (53.9) | 44.05 ± 9.38 |  |  |
Relationship with family members: | ||||
 Good | 1570 (94.7) | 43.06 ± 9.42 | −2.007 | 0.045 |
 Bad | 88(5.3) | 45.14 ± 9.89 |  |  |
Empty nester: | ||||
 Yes | 501 (30.2) | 45.77 ± 8.91 | 56.299 | 0.000 |
 No | 1157 (69.8) | 42.04 ± 9.47 |  |  |
Number of children: | ||||
 0 | 36(2.2) | 44.64 ± 7.45 | 17.162 | 0.000 |
 1 | 251 (15.1) | 46.76 ± 9.08 |  |  |
 2 | 453 (27.3) | 43.34 ± 9.58 |  |  |
 3+ | 918 (55.4) | 42.05 ± 9.32 |  |  |
BMI: | ||||
 Lean | 146(8.8) | 42.95 ± 9.57 | 1.980 | 0.138 |
 Normal | 776 (46.8) | 42.73 ± 9.63 |  |  |
 Overweight+ | 736 (44.4) | 43.68 ± 9.22 |  |  |
NCDs: | ||||
 Yes | 668 (32.8) | 44.80 ± 8.93 | 33.769 | 0.000 |
 No | 990 (67.2) | 42.07 ± 9.65 |  |  |