We examined the impact of various social relationships on levels of loneliness reported by 208 elderly residents of 10 senior housing apartments. Because the literature demonstrates a clear relationship between depression and loneliness, this study controlled for depression to provide a more concise look at the condition of loneliness. Those who were less satisfied with the quality of their relationships and had less contact with close friends were more lonely. Whether one had children, grandchildren, siblings, or neighbors had no significant effect on reported loneliness.

The main argument of this paper is that the subjective experience of loneliness among older people must be analyzed in relation to the overall value system of society or the subcultural values of particular segments of society. Cultural or subcultural value systems are contrasted in terms of whether they give priority to individualistic values or to collective values such as family or community bonds. These differences in value systems result in important differences in people's social contacts and socioemotional bonding experiences as well as their level of satisfaction with a given level of social relationships. It is suggested that these differences must be looked at in relation to basic human needs for social bonding as well as needs for individuation. The concept of the loneliness threshold is introduced to identify the level of social contacts that individuals desire to avoid the experience of loneliness or emotional isolation.

Based on a social support model, the authors analyzed the association between the experience of loneliness and the emotional closeness older persons have in their social relationships with their children, friends, and spouses. The effects on loneliness of age, sex, subjective health status, economic situation, need for attachment, and need for social integration were also examined and controlled. Results are based on 1,071 participants in the congregate and home-delivered meal programs of the Senior Citizens Nutrition and Activities Program in Hillsborough County, Florida. An analysis of covariance showed that the loneliness expressed by these older persons was related, not to variation in age, but to their gender, health status, and economic condition; their needs for affection and security, and desire to be part of a social network; and the existence, but not the emotional commitment, to a set of friends. Whether these persons had children or spouses or not, and if they had either, and were emotionally close or not, made no difference in their assessment of how lonely they felt. Theoretically, the results lend only partial support to the social support perspective.

Based on a deprivation model of religiosity we analyze the relationship between two dimensions of religiosity and loneliness among the elderly with the effects of involvement in various types of family and friendship relations controlled and compared with the effects of religiosity. Data were collected through interviews with 131 residents of a 199-unit apartment facility for the elderly. Results of the regression analysis showed that greater involvement in the social aspects of religion was significantly related to less loneliness more consistently than involvement in the variousfamily andfriendship relations. In contrast, the subjective dimension of religiosity was not significantly related to loneliness with the social contact variables controlled, even though the direction was as hypothesized

This essay asserts that seasonal and permanent migration may be connected, although there is no direct evidence for this relationship in the current research literature. We draw circumstantial and incomplete evidence for this proposition from findings of a recent survey of Canadian snowbirds in Florida and a parallel study of Canadian-Americans using the 1980 census public use sample migrant file. Other researchers are encouraged to settle the issue by including appropriate items in surveys of snowbirds that would determine whether or not some of the permanent migrants from the same origin serve as an unofficial reception committee for winter visitors, providing for them a socially receptive place to "nest" for the season.

Examined is the experience of loneliness as it relates to selected health conditions and selected economic conditions. The effects on loneliness of age, gender, marital status, number of sons, number of daughters, number of male friends, and number of female friends also were examined and controlled. Results are based on a sample from the Senior Citizens Nutrition and Activities Program in Hillsborough County, Florida. An analysis of covariance showed that greater loneliness was expressed by those older persons who were male, had fewer female friends, and had fewer male friends. Among the main effects, poorer self-rated health, less adequate self-rated economic condition, and being in poverty were related to greater loneliness. The interactions between the main effects variable were unrelated to loneliness. The research sheds new light on the influence on loneliness of older persons' health and economic condition, and of selected demographic and interpersonal relationship variables. This article examines the association between the expression of loneliness and objective and subjective indicators of health and economic condition of older persons. The general hypothesis to be investigated is that poorer health, and poorer economic condition, both objectively and subjectively determined, are related to a greater indication of loneliness. To examine this issue more concisely, the effects of other relevant variables are examined and AUTHORS' NOTE: We would like to thank the participants and the personnel of the Senior Citizens Nutrition and Activities Program in Hillsborough County, Florida for their cooperation and help. Special thanks are given to Gil Machin and Janet Georgas for their ongoing support.

No abstract

The purpose of this research was (a) to determine whether there is a comparative difference in the level of conscious death anxiety between young-old and the old-old nursing home residents and (b) to assess the predictive value of educational attainment, gender, subjective health, functional ability, social support, and length of stay on the conscious death anxiety of the persons in the two age groups. A discriminant analysis of 228 residents from three nursing homes revealed that among the 103 young-old subjects poor subjective health, poor functional ability, poor social support, and extended stays in the facilities were indicative of high death anxiety. Among the 125 old-old subjects, high death anxiety was associated with poor subjective health, poor functional ability, and higher educational attainment. Further, it was found that age was an important variable. A significantly greater proportion of the older residents compared to the younger residents had higher conscious death anxiety. The results may direct practitioners and planners in program development for the elderly nursing home patient.