Potential Transformation Analysis of Loneliness of the Elderly and Its Influencing Factors

Abstract

The loneliness of the elderly is a hot issue due to the rising divorce rate, growing migration and rapid urbanization. Therefore, this paper aims to gain insights into the loneliness of the elderly and its influencing factors. To this end, he potential transformation analysis, an individual-based vertical analysis strategy, was adopted to analyze the level of loneliness of the elderly in China, examine the differences among the elderly in loneliness from the angles of gender, age, marital status, economic status, and cultural life, and assess the effects of personal, family and social factors on the loneliness of the elderly. The results show that the loneliness and mental health of the elderly need to be improved from multiple aspects: In the personal aspect, the elderly should enhance immunity by keeping a regular diet and doing a moderate amount of exercises; In the family aspect, the company of children and stability of family environment can effectively alleviate the loneliness of the elderly; In the social aspect, the government should assume social responsibility, improve medical services, promote mental health knowledge, and increase the welfare, such as to ease the elderly's loneliness. The research lays a theoretical basis for improving the quality of life of the elderly.