Table 2 Association between disability, covariates and prevalence rate ratio (95% confidence limits) of persistent and intermittent loneliness (reference group = no/low loneliness for all three waves)
Complete case analysis | Intermittent loneliness | Persistent Loneliness |
 Disability | 1.79*** (1.56–2.05) | 3.37*** (2.93–3.86) |
 Age (in years) | 0.98*** (0.98–0.99) | 0.98*** (0.98–0.98) |
 Female (ref group = male) | 1.27*** (1.16–1.39) | 1.35*** (1.16–1.39) |
 Minority ethnicity (ref group = White UK) | 1.14 (0.98–1.32 | 0.90 (0.74–1.10) |
 Not living as a couple (ref group = not) | 1.49*** (1.35–1.67) | 2.50*** (2.17–2.70) |
 Living in rented accommodation (ref group = not) | 1.35*** (1.20–1.52) | 1.42*** (1.25–1.61) |
 Not employed or full-time student (ref group = not) | 1.08 (0.95–1.22) | 1.27** (1.10–1.47) |
 Financial situation difficult/very difficult (ref group = not) | 2.09*** (1.66–2.63) | 2.92*** (2.26–3.77) |
 Urban location (ref group = rural) | 1.06 (0.95–1.17) | 1.08 (0.95–1.23) |
Multiple imputation by chained equations | Intermittent loneliness | Persistent Loneliness |
 Disability | 1.76*** (1.57–1.98) | 3.26*** (2.90–3.68) |
 Age (in years) | 0.98*** (0.98–0.99) | 0.98*** (0.98–0.98) |
 Female (ref group = male) | 1.26*** (1.17–1.36) | 1.40*** (1.28–1.51) |
 Minority ethnicity (ref group = White UK) | 1.07 (0.94–1.19) | 0.89 (0.77–1.02) |
 Not living as a couple (ref group = not) | 1.49*** (1.37–1.64) | 2.38*** (2.13–2.63) |
 Living in rented accommodation (ref group = not) | 1.29*** (1.16–1.43) | 1.36*** (1.22–1.52) |
 Not employed or full-time student (ref group = not) | 1.14* (1.02–1.27) | 1.33*** (1.18–1.49) |
 Financial situation difficult/very difficult (ref group = not) | 2.02*** (1.67–2.44) | 2.99*** (2.42–3.68) |
 Urban location (ref group = rural) | 1.04 (0.95–1.15) | 1.07 (0.96–1.20) |