The Existence and Emotional Closeness of Relationships with Children, Friends, and Spouses

Mullins, Larry C.; Mushel, Mary

doi:10.1177/0164027592144002

Cited by 42 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Older people who maintained contacts with friends and were satisfied with these relationships expressed lower feelings of loneliness (Mullins, Smith, Colquitt, & Mushel, 1996). A positive relationship was found between having friends and life satisfaction and morale among elderly people (Mancini, 1980; Mullins & Mushel, 1992; Strain & Chappell, 1982). Creecy and Wright (1979) found that a greater frequency of activity with friends was positively related to morale among European American but not among African American elderly persons.…”

Section: Social Support Network and Lonelinessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Support Networks and Loneliness Among Elderly Jews in Russia and Ukraine

Iecovich

Barasch

Mirsky

et al. 2004

J of Marriage and Family

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The collapse of the Soviet Union had devastating consequences for the lives of its population, especially for older adults, many of whom became impoverished and were left with no social support. Using data from a survey of 2,579 elderly Jews in two of the largest countries of the former Soviet Union, Russia and Ukraine, we examine variables that affect their feeling of loneliness. Unmarried and childless elderly persons reported the highest feelings of loneliness. Married elderly persons who maintained frequent contact with their children felt least lonely. Moreover, married and unmarried elderly persons who did not maintain frequent contact with relatives or friends were lonelier than those who maintained such contact. The characteristics of social networks were significantly correlated with loneliness. The findings also showed that Jews in Ukraine had fewer social networks and felt lonelier compared to Jews in Russia.

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Section: Social Support Network and Lonelinessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Support Networks and Loneliness Among Elderly Jews in Russia and Ukraine

Iecovich

Barasch

Mirsky

et al. 2004

J of Marriage and Family

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“…Research has shown that friends, especially close friends, exert a positive influence on the emotional well-being of older persons (Crohan & Antonucci, 1989;Mullins & Mushel, 1992). Besides serving as confidants, they provide numerous forms of social and emotional support, which are valued and appreciated, many times because the support is nonobligatory.…”

Section: Age and Gendermentioning

confidence: 99%

An Examination of the Effects of Self-Rated and Objective Indicators of Health Condition and Economic Condition on the Loneliness of Older Persons

et al. 1996

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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.

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“…Dykstra et al indicated that with age the chance that someone will outlive their partner and lose age‐matched friends increases . Another study found that changes in the social network of older adults predict loneliness . Furthermore, loneliness increases among older adults when aging; above 55 years of age, older persons tend to be lonelier than younger persons .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%