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Immigration and loneliness in later life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 August 2013

ZHENG WU  and
MARGARET PENNING
ZHENG WU
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, Canada.
MARGARET PENNING*
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, Canada.
*
Address for correspondence: Margaret Penning, Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, PO Box 3050 STN CSC, Victoria BC V8W 3P5, Canada.
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Abstract

Although the loneliness of both older adults and immigrants is frequently asserted, knowledge regarding the implications of immigration for loneliness in later life is limited. In particular, little attention has been directed to the impact of factors that might differentiate individuals within the immigrant population. Using data from the 2007 General Social Survey (GSS-21) conducted by Statistics Canada, this study examined the effects of immigrant status as well as immigrant generation, length of residence in Canada and race/ethnicity on loneliness among adults aged 60 and over (N=10,553). Regression analyses (ordinary least squares) estimating both the general and age-specific effects of immigrant experience on loneliness, indicated that immigrants report higher levels of loneliness than native-born Canadians, that race/ethnicity influenced loneliness particularly among immigrants and that generational status as well as length of residence also had an impact, but one that differed across age groups. Immigration-related variables appeared less consequential for loneliness in the oldest-old (aged 80+) than in younger elderly age groups. These findings attest to the significance of immigrant status for an understanding of loneliness in later life but suggest a need to acknowledge the diversity of immigrant experiences associated with lifecourse and other factors.

Keywords

ageingCanadaimmigrationlifecourselonelinessstress process
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 35 , Issue 1 , January 2015 , pp. 64 - 95
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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