Correlates of loneliness among middle-aged and older forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals living in Bangladesh

Loneliness is a serious social and public health concern, with a profound detrimental impact on physical health, mental health, life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. While refugees, i.e. forcibly displaced nationals, are particularly vulnerable to social and psychological problems, no study has investigated loneliness among them. The current study investigates the prevalence and correlates of loneliness among middle-aged and older (aged ≥50 years) Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) living in the world’s largest refugee camp ‘Kutupalong refugee camp’ in Bangladesh. Data for 535 FDMN, collected in 2020, was analyzed. Loneliness was assessed by the Three-Item Loneliness Scale (range: 0–12). Multiple linear regression model and binary logistic regression model were fit. Loneliness (score: 9–12) was prevalent among 16.6% of the FDMN. Increased age, being a woman, living alone (versus living with someone), having good (versus poor) self-rated health, having disability (defined by six indicators─ difficulty with vision, hearing, mobility, remembering, activities of daily living, and communication), and having moderate acute malnutrition (versus normal nutritional status) were positively associated with loneliness among FDMN. There is an urgent need to develop relevant and feasible interventions that address loneliness among FDMN, starting with the sub-groups identified to be at a higher risk of loneliness.