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Understanding loneliness in late life
Oliver Huxhold1, Katherine L Fiori2
1German Centre of Gerontology, Manfred-von-Richthofen-Str 2, D-12101, Berlin, Germany.
Current Opinion in Psychology
|March 1, 2024
Summary
Loneliness in older adults stems from social relationships not meeting expectations. Adaptations like focusing on close confidants may paradoxically hinder overcoming loneliness.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Social Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Loneliness in late adulthood is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding the causes of loneliness in older adults is crucial for intervention.
- Existing research often overlooks the dynamic interplay of individual and contextual factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conceptualize the etiology of loneliness in late life.
- To explore how social relationships and expectations interact to influence loneliness.
- To examine the role of different social layers in mitigating or exacerbating loneliness.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual framework development.
- Analysis of dynamic interactions between individual and contextual processes.
- Examination of social expectations across three layers: confidants, networks, and community.
Main Results:
- Loneliness emerges when social relationships fail to meet established social expectations.
- Older adults may compensate for network losses by focusing on close confidants.
- These adaptive strategies might impede the resolution of loneliness.
Conclusions:
- The development of loneliness in late life is a complex process involving individual and environmental factors.
- Social expectations and the structure of social relationships are key determinants of loneliness.
- While focusing on close confidants can be adaptive, it may present long-term challenges for overcoming loneliness in older adults.
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