Factors associated with loneliness in patients with diabetes mellitus

AIM: To (a) explore the prevalence of loneliness in patients with diabetes mellitus and (b) identify loneliness‐related factors in the group of hospitalized patients with diabetes mellitus. DESIGN: A cross‐sectional study. METHODS: The study included 248 patients with diabetes mellitus who were staying in six Polish hospitals. A questionnaire including sociodemographic and clinical data, and the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (R‐UCLA), was used for research data collection. Data were collected from March 2019 to June 2019. RESULTS: Patients with diabetes generally experience moderate loneliness, with almost one‐fifth (16%) of patients experiencing intense loneliness. The patients scored a mean 9.94 out of a possible 20 in belongings and affiliation category and 20.14 out of a possible 40 in the intimate others category. Lower education, being single and the presence of chronic complications of diabetes mellitus were risk factors for increased loneliness.