Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2025
06:52
Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
9.9K
Older adults' mentioned practices for coping with loneliness
Sara Marsillas1, Eric Schoenmakers2
1Matia Gerontological Institute, Madrid, Spain.
European Journal of Ageing
|September 2, 2022
Summary
Older adults facing loneliness often prefer active, individual coping strategies over social ones. However, loneliness and personal resources explain only a small part of these coping differences.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Loneliness in older adults is a growing concern with limited understanding of coping mechanisms.
- Research is needed to explore how older adults manage loneliness and the factors influencing their choices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine coping practices older adults consider for loneliness.
- To investigate the relationship between coping practices, loneliness, and personal resources in older adults.
Main Methods:
- A representative sample of 894 adults aged 55+ in Gipuzkoa, Spain, participated in structured telephone interviews.
- Data analyzed to identify preferred coping strategies and their correlation with loneliness and personal resources.
Main Results:
- Both lonely and non-lonely older adults prefer active, individual coping strategies over social, passive ones.
- Emotional loneliness correlated with more individual and active coping practices.
- Social coping was less preferred by those with better self-rated health and more by those with vision loss, higher education, and better quality of life.
Conclusions:
- Older adults' coping strategy choices are influenced by loneliness and resources, but these factors explain only a small proportion of the variance.
- Further research is essential to deepen the understanding of loneliness coping processes in older populations.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Coping Strategies: Problem Focused
123
Coping strategies are methods people use to manage, tolerate, or reduce the effects of stressors. These strategies involve both behavioral and psychological actions to handle stressful situations. One common approach is problem-focused coping, which aims to change or eliminate the source of stress rather than merely addressing its consequences. This method involves taking direct action to resolve the issue causing stress.
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
123
01:20Coping Strategies: Emotion Focused
134
Emotion-focused coping refers to a set of strategies aimed at managing the emotional impact of stressors, rather than directly addressing their causes. This approach involves altering one's emotional response to stressful situations to reduce their psychological effects. For example, individuals might talk with a friend or engage in activities like journaling to express their feelings. Such actions can help achieve emotional clarity or release, providing the psychological stability needed...
134
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
224
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
224
01:27Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adulthood
251
Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development outlines a series of stages through which individuals progress across the lifespan. Each stage involves a psychosocial conflict that significantly influences personal growth and well-being. Three key stages — intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and integrity versus despair — highlight the developmental challenges faced in adulthood.
Intimacy Versus Isolation in Early Adulthood
Individuals in early...
Intimacy Versus Isolation in Early Adulthood
Individuals in early...
251
01:27Horney's Sociocultural Approach
637
Karen Horney's psychoanalytic theories emphasize the potential for self-realization and the importance of addressing social and cultural, rather than biological, factors in personality development. She challenged traditional Freudian views, particularly Freud's concept of "penis envy," which she argued stemmed from cultural influences rather than inherent biological differences. Horney believed that any sense of inferiority in women was a result of societal conditioning, such as...
637
01:28Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques V
58
A social support system is a structured network of personal relationships that provides assistance to individuals facing various challenges, offering a buffer against psychological and physical stressors. This network may consist of family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, or other community members who provide resources and companionship. Social support can take many forms, including advice, emotional comfort, practical help, and companionship. Research indicates that these networks can...
58