ASSOCIAÇÕES ENTRE A SOLIDÃO E A SAÚDE FISÍCA E PSIQUICA DA PESSOA IDOSA: Uma revisão integrativa

The aging process is characterized by various facets, being both subjective and natural, and it progresses without alteration. During this process, elderly individuals may experience social isolation or loneliness, which has been associated with significant impacts on their physical, psychological, and social health. This study aimed to examine the evidence in the scientific literature regarding the association between loneliness and its impact on the physical, cognitive, and emotional health of older adults. It is an integrative literature review conducted across the following databases: the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health (PubMed), Virtual Health Library (BVS), Psychinfo, Scielo, Pepsic, the Capes Theses Portal, and Lilacs, utilizing descriptors indexed in MeSH Terms and DeCS, specifically: "Loneliness or Social Isolation," AND "Depression and Cognitive Disorder," AND "Aging or Senescence." A total of 116 articles were retrieved, of which 13 were deemed eligible for analysis. The results highlight the impact and association of loneliness with cognitive decline, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and detrimental health behaviors. Conversely, social support emerges as a strong protective factor and coping mechanism against loneliness in older adults.