Social Isolation and Loneliness in Asian American Older Adults: A Scoping Review.

Background and objectives: Immigrant older adults are a particularly disadvantaged population due to structural factors including immigration and citizenship status, language and literacy barriers, and underrepresentation in health research, that increase the burden of social isolation and loneliness. This scoping review synthesizes the existing literature on social isolation and loneliness among Asian American older adults in the United States.

Research design and methods: This study searched PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycInfo for relevant literature and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. 29 articles were included.

Results: We summarize 4 topics that emerged on social isolation and loneliness: instruments, prevalence, associated factors, and perceptions. Most articles focused on older Chinese and Korean American adults from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago Study and Study of Older Korean Americans, and there was a concentration of studies based in the Midwest and Northeast. One intervention was found.

Discussion and implications: This review highlights significant gaps in understanding experiences of social isolation and loneliness among older Asian American adults, emphasizing the need for more inclusive research and culturally responsive interventions to promote healthy aging in this growing population.