Loneliness, Isolation, and Well-Being among Older Adults in Arab Countries: A Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Review

Population aging is increasing across Arab countries. As a result, loneliness and social isolation among older adults have become important public health concerns due to their impact on well-being. This review aimed to examine research trends on loneliness, iso-lation, and well-being among older adults in Arab countries, synthesize evidence on their associations with well-being, and identify gaps and priorities for future research. A combined bibliometric analysis and systematic review was conducted. The findings in-dicate that research on this topic has grown substantially since 2020 but remains limited and concentrated in a small number of countries. Research on the mental health con-sequences loneliness dominates the literature. Across studies, loneliness and social iso-lation were consistently associated with poorer mental health, lower quality of life, greater psychological distress, and adverse physical and nutritional outcomes. However, the literature largely appears to conceptualize loneliness and social isolation as indi-vidual or clinical problems, with limited attention to their broader social and structural determinants. Research also remains predominantly descriptive, with comparatively little focus on interventions, prevention strategies, or solution-oriented responses. Lastly, the review provides suggestions for more holistic and policy-oriented approaches to address loneliness and isolation in later life as both an individual and social issue.