A Longitudinal Examination of the Association Between Loss of Control and Loneliness Among Older Adults Diagnosed with Cancer.

The objective of this paper is to examine whether feeling a loss of control over one's life is associated with an increased risk for loneliness among those diagnosed with cancer. We draw on data from the Health and Retirement Study to identify three baseline and follow-up cohorts of cancer survivors age 50 and older. Ordinary least squared regression is used to examine predictors for future loneliness. Upon adjusting for other known predictors of loneliness, feelings of loss of control was significantly predictive of loneliness among 4-year cancer survivors. Social workers and other health care practitioners should seek to provide evidence-based interventions to reduce the risk for loneliness for cancer survivors feeling a loss of control.