European and Canadian Studies of Loneliness among Seniors

Abstract

This article provides a commentary on a set of five other articles reporting European and Canadian studies of loneliness among seniors. It places those works involving Canadian, Dutch, Finnish, and Welsh samples in the larger context of research on loneliness; offers reflections on the methods and findings reported in the articles; and addresses the question, Is loneliness universal? Points of similarity in the articles are identified and possible ways of reconciling discrepant findings regarding age trends and gender differences are put forward. A discrepancy model of loneliness is used as a key framework for explaining several points, including why objective social isolation and loneliness don't always go together.

Pathways from Ageism to Loneliness

“…These social deficits manifest in terms of both quantity (i.e., limited social interactions or absence of social interactions), and more importantly, quality (i.e., lack of intimacy, reliable alliance, and attachment; De Jong Gierveld 1998;Perlman 2004). Loneliness is characterized as a painful, distressing, and unpleasant experience (Peplau and Perlman 1982) deriving from a perceived discrepancy between desired and actual social connections.…”

“…For example, people can feel lonely in the company of many others ("lonely in the crowd"), or they can be alone for long periods of time without feeling lonely. Objective isolation does not lead to loneliness when the desired level of social relations is low; being alone is voluntary, or when the social situation is attributed to external factors beyond one's control (Perlman 2004).…”

The demographics of loneliness among older people in Perth, Western Australia

“…Similarly, there is considerable agreement regarding gender differences when loneliness is measured directly, with women consistently scoring higher [4,8]. These conflicting results depending on the measure used have been explained in terms of men being more reluctant to directly admit to feelings of loneliness [24], partly because there is greater stigma attached to loneliness for men than women [6].…”

The Impact of ICT Use on Loneliness and Contact with Others among Older Adults

“…Loneliness is the subjective experience 17,30 of negative feelings about levels of social contact 38 ; otherwise stated, it is the involuntary state of social isolation, that is, the feeling of being alone. 34 Loneliness does not stem solely from objective levels of contact, but rather results from the differences between the levels of need and desire for social relationships and the availability of relationships at hand.…”

“…31 Researchers using loneliness measures typically ask respondents whether they feel lonely, whether they do not see enough people, and whether they wish for more contact. 38 Social isolation is the objective experience 30 of the absence of contact with other people; more aptly stated, it is the absence of good support. 38 Social isolation is simply the absence of meaningful social relationships or the experience of being alone.…”