Loneliness among UK Veterans: Associations with quality of life, alcohol misuse, and perceptions of partner drinking

Loneliness occurs when there is a difference between the number and the quality of the social relationships people have and the ones they want. Research shows loneliness is negatively associated with quality of life and alcohol misuse; two common issues for military Veterans. Loneliness can also be affected by partner drinking, particularly if it does not match Veterans' drinking behaviour. This study explored 1) the relationship between loneliness, quality of life, and alcohol misuse, and 2) the relationship between loneliness and perceived partner drinking among a sample of treatment-seeking UK military Veterans. In total, 163 treatment-seeking UK Veterans completed a survey via a smartphone application, DrinksRation, which included questions about their health and well-being. A large percentage of the sample reported loneliness (66%). This study found lonely treatment-seeking Veterans had poorer quality of life and higher alcohol misuse than non-lonely Veterans. Introduction: Loneliness occurs when there is a disparity between the quantity and the quality of social relationships people have and the ones they want. Research shows loneliness is negatively associated with quality of life and alcohol misuse, two common issues for military Veterans. Loneliness can also be affected by partner drinking, particularly if it does not match Veterans' drinking behaviour. This study aimed to explore 1) the association between loneliness, quality of life, and alcohol misuse, and 2) the association between perceived partner drinking and loneliness in a sample of treatment-seeking UK Veterans. Methods: A total of 163 treatment-seeking UK Veterans completed a self-report questionnaire via the DrinksRation smartphone application. Loneliness was measured using the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Linear regressions explored associations between loneliness, quality of life, and alcohol misuse. Logistic regressions explored associations between perceived partner drinking and loneliness. Results: Almost two-thirds of participants reported feeling lonely (65.6%). Unadjusted linear regressions showed lonely Veterans had lower quality-of-life scores across all domains and higher alcohol misuse scores than non-lonely Veterans. After full adjustment, loneliness was significantly associated only with the physical health, social relationships, and quality-of-life domains. Logistic regressions revealed no significant associations between perceptions of partner drinking and loneliness. Discussion: This study found lonely treatment-seeking Veterans had poorer quality of life and higher alcohol misuse than non-lonely counterparts. Innovative ways to reduce loneliness and improve social connectedness for Veterans are required, particularly for those with mental health needs and who drink heavily. Introduction : Un sentiment de solitude est eprouve lorsqu'il y a un ecart entre la quantite et la qualite des relations sociales vecues et celle souhaitees. Les recherches demontrent que la solitude est associee de facon negative a la qualite de vie et au mesusage d'alcool, deux problemes courants chez les veteran(e)s des Forces armees canadiennes (FAC). La solitude peut egalement etre influencee par la consommation d'alcool du(de la) partenaire, surtout lorsqu'elle ne correspond pas a celle du(de la) veteran(e). Cette etude visait a explorer 1) l'association entre la solitude, la qualite de vie et le mesusage d'alcool et 2) l'association entre la consommation d'alcool percue du(de la) partenaire et la solitude au sein d'un echantillon de veteran(e)s britanniques qui cherchaient a obtenir un traitement. Methodologie : Au total, 163 veteran(e)s britanniques qui cherchaient a obtenir un traitement ont rempli un questionnaire autodeclare au moyen de l'application pour telephone intelligent DrinksRation. Les chercheur(se)s ont mesure la solitude au moyen de l'echelle de solitude en trois questions de l'UCLA. A l'aide de la regression lineaire, ils(elles) ont explore les associations entre la solitude, la qualite de vie et le mesusage d'alcool. Ils(Elles) ont utilise la regression logistique pour explorer les associations entre les perceptions de la consommation d'alcool du(de la) partenaire et la solitude. Resultats : Pres des deux tiers des participant(e)s ont declare ressentir de la solitude (65,6 %). Les regressions lineaires non corrigees ont revele que les veteran(e)s qui eprouvaient de la solitude presentaient de moins bons scores de qualite de vie dans tous les domaines et des scores de mesusage d'alcool plus eleves que les veteran(e)s qui ne ressentaient pas de solitude. Apres correction complete, la solitude etait associee de maniere significative seulement aux domaines de la sante mentale, des relations sociales et de la qualite de vie. La regression logistique n'a revele aucune association significative entre les perceptions de la consommation d'alcool du(de la) partenaire et la solitude. Discussion : Cette etude a demontre que les veteran(e)s qui cherchaient a obtenir un traitement et qui ressentaient de la solitude avaient une moins bonne qualite de vie et mesusaient davantage de l'alcool que leurs homologues qui n'eprouvaient pas de solitude. Il faudra trouver des moyens novateurs pour reduire la solitude et ameliorer la connectivite sociale des veteran(e)s, particulierement chez ceux(celles) qui ont des troubles de sante mentale et qui boivent beaucoup.