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Old and lonely?

J de Jong-Gierveld1, F Kamphuis, P Dykstra

  • 1Dept. of Research Methods, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Comprehensive Gerontology. Section B, Behavioural, Social, and Applied Sciences
|March 1, 1987
PubMed
Summary

Loneliness in older adults is influenced by combined factors of marital status, gender, age, and health. Evaluating the quality of personal relationships is more critical than simply describing them for understanding loneliness incidence.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Social Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Loneliness is a significant concern among the aging population.
  • Understanding factors contributing to loneliness is crucial for targeted interventions.
  • Previous research has explored various demographic and social correlates of loneliness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of loneliness in older adults based on gender, marital status, age, and health.
  • To examine the associations between loneliness and descriptive characteristics of individuals.
  • To assess the relationship between loneliness and the evaluation of personal relationships.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted interviews with 461 older adults (men and women, aged 65+).
  • Participants included individuals living in both home and institutional settings.
  • Data collected on demographic factors, health status, and relationship evaluations.

Main Results:

  • Combined effects of marital status, gender, age, and health are necessary for assessing loneliness incidence.
  • Evaluation of personal relationship quality is a stronger predictor of loneliness than descriptive characteristics.
  • Specific demographic and health combinations significantly impact loneliness levels in older adults.

Conclusions:

  • A multifaceted approach considering demographic and health interactions is essential for understanding older adult loneliness.
  • The subjective quality of social connections plays a more pivotal role in loneliness than objective relationship descriptions.
  • Findings highlight the need for interventions focusing on relationship quality to mitigate loneliness in the elderly.

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