Autoestima y soledad en adultos mayores

Abstract

Since self-esteem is the capacity for negative or positive subjective self evaluation of oneself, it can become a protective factor in older adults, who, due to their evolutionary process, tend to reduce their social interactions and present characteristics of loneliness. The general objective of this research was to determine the relationship between self-esteem and loneliness in older adults, to analyze the level of self-esteem and loneliness, and to compare the significant differences of each variable according to sex. The methodology used was quantitative, correlational, with a non-experimental, cross-sectional design, in which the sample was by convenience and consisted of 99 older adults from a day institute in the province of Cotopaxi, Saquisili-Ecuador, where the Rosenberg self-esteem scale and the ESTE loneliness test were applied. The results showed an inverse correlation, that is, the lower the self-esteem, the greater the feeling of loneliness; in addition, low levels of self-esteem and medium levels of loneliness were found in older adults.