Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T20:04:06.210Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Social Isolation and Loneliness in Old Age: Review and Model Refinement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2008

G. Clare Wenger ,
Richard Davies ,
Said Shahtahmasebi  and
Anne Scott
G. Clare Wenger
Affiliation:
Centre for Social Policy Research and Development, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG, U.K.
Richard Davies
Affiliation:
Centre for Applied Statistics, Lancaster University
Said Shahtahmasebi
Affiliation:
Northern and Yorkshire Regional Health Authority.
Anne Scott
Affiliation:
Centre for Social Policy Research and Development, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG, U.K.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

This paper reviews the empirical literature on social isolation and loneliness and identifies a wide range of published correlates. Using data from a study conducted in North Wales, which included many of the same correlated variables, a statistical modelling technique is used to refine models of isolation and loneliness by controlling for co-variance. The resulting models indicate that the critical factors for isolation are: marital status, network type and social class; and, for loneliness: network type, household composition and health.

Keywords

Isolationlonelinessmodelnetworks.
Type
Research Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , May 1996 , pp. 333 - 358
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

References

Abrams, Mark. 1974. Attitudes of the Retired Elderly, Age Concern Manifesto, 32. Age Concern England, London.Google Scholar
Abrams, Mark 1983. People in their Late Sixties: a longitudinal survey of ageing, Part I, survivors and non survivors. Age Concern Unit, London.Google Scholar
Andersson, Lars 1990. Narcissism and loneliness. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 30 (2), 81–94.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Arling, Greg 1980. The elderly widow and her family, neighbours and friends. In Fuller, M. M. and Martin, C. A. (eds.) The Older Woman. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill., 170–189.Google Scholar
Asiel, M. 1987. Does loneliness have any impact on health and health care? Paper presented at International Association of Gerontology Conference,Brighton, England.Google Scholar
Bengtson, V. and Kuypers, J. 1985. The family support cycle. In Munnichs, J., Mussen, P., Olbrich, E. and Coleman, P. (eds.) Lifespan and Change in a Gerontological Perspective, Academic Press, Orlando, Florida, 257–274.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bennett, Ruth 1980. The concept and measurement of social isolation. In Bennet, R. (ed.) Aging, Isolation and Resocialization. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, 9–26.Google Scholar
Berardo, F. 1967. Social Adaptation to Widowhood Among a Rural-urban Aged Population. Tech Bui. No. 689, Pullman, Washington: Washington Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agriculture, Washington State Univ.Google Scholar
Berg, S., Melestrom, D., Persson, G. and Svanberg, A. 1981. Loneliness in the Swedish aged. Journal of Gerontology, 36, 342–349.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berkman, L.J. and Syme, S. L. 1979. Social Networks, lost resistance and mortality: a nine-year follow-study of Alameda County residents. American Journal of Epidemiology, 109, 257–273.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blum, Alan 1964. Social structure, social class and participation in primary relationships. In Shostak, A. and Gomberg, W. (eds.) Blue Collar World. Prentice Hall, Tanglewood Cliffs, N.J., 145–207.Google Scholar
Brocklehurst, J. 1978. Ageing and health. In Hobman, D. (ed.) The Social Challenge of Ageing. London, Croom Helm, 149–171.Google Scholar
Brown, G. W. and Harris, T. 1978. Social Origins of Depression: A Study of Psychiatric Disorder in Women. Tavistock Publications, London.Google Scholar
Bury, M. and Holme, A. 1990. Quality of life and social support in the very old. Journal of Aging Studies, 4, 4, 345–357.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carey, R. G. 1977. The widowed: a year later. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 24, 125–131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Challis, D.J. 1982. The measurement of outcome in social care of the elderly. Journal of Social Policy, 10, 179–208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chappell, Neena L. and Badger, Mark 1989. Social isolation and well-being. The Journal of Gerontology, 44 (5), 169–176.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Christ, L. M. and Muller, M. T. 1991. Social desirability in surveys of the elderly: a secondary analysis of loneliness measures in Dutch research projects. Paper presented at II European Congress of Gerontology, Madrid11–14 September.Google Scholar
Dean, A. and Lin, N. 1977. The stress-buffering role of social support. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 165, 6, 403–417.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Department of Health (DoH) 1989. Caring for People: Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond. Government White Paper HMSO, London.Google Scholar
Department of Health (DoH) 1990 a. Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond: Policy Guidance. HMSO, London.Google Scholar
Department of Health (DoH) 1990 b. Caring for People: Policy Guidelines. HMSO, London.Google Scholar
Dibner, A. S. 1981. Is there a psychology of the rural aged? In Childs, A. and Melton, G. (eds.) Rural Psychology. Plennar Press, Boston.Google Scholar
Elias, Norbert 1986. The Loneliness of the Dying. Blackwell, Oxford.Google Scholar
Francis, B., Green, M. and Payne, C. 1993. Glim 4 Manual. Clarendon Press, Oxford.Google Scholar
Fitzgerald, Frances 1986. Sun City. In Cities on a Hill: a journey through contemporary American cultures. Simon and Schuster, Inc., New York (reprinted Picador Books, 1987). 203–245.Google Scholar
Freeman, Hugh 1988. Psychosocial effects of social isolation in the elderly. Danish Medical Bulletin: Journal of the Health Sciences, Gerontology: Special Supplement Services, 6, 13–23.Google Scholar
Golberg, E. M. 1979. Helping the Aged. Allen and Unwin, London.Google Scholar
Gottlieb, B. H. and Schroter, Candice 1978. Collaboration and resources exchanged between professional and natural support systems. Professional Psychologist, 9, 4, 614–622.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grant, G. 1981. Monitoring Social Services Delivery in Rural Areas: Intake Cases in Two Contrasting Teams. Working Paper No. 14, Centre for Social Policy Research and Development, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd.Google Scholar
Grant, V.J. 1988. Return to the Community: A Way Back for Isolated and Depressed Elderly People. Paper presented to International Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences, Zagreb.Google Scholar
SirGriffiths, Roy 1988. Community Care: Agenda for Action. A report to the Secretary of State for Social Services. HMSO, London.Google Scholar
Hadley, Roger and Webb, Adrian 1974. Loneliness, Social Isolation and Old People: Some Implications for Social Policy. Age Concern, London.Google Scholar
Hadley, Roger, Webb, Adrian and Farrell, Christine 1975. Across the Generations. George Allen & Unwin, London.Google Scholar
Halmos, Paul 1952. Solitude and Privacy: A Study of Social Isolation, Its Causes and Therapy. London.Google Scholar
Harris, L. and Associates 1974. The Myth and Reality of Aging in America. National Council of Aging, Washington D.C.Google Scholar
Harris, L. and Associates 1981. Aging in the Eighties: America in Transition. National Council on Aging, Washington D.C.Google Scholar
Havinghurst, Robert 1978. Ageing in western society. In Hobman, David (ed.) The Social Challenge of Ageing. Croom Helm, London.Google Scholar
Hazan, Haim 1980. The Limbo People: A Study of the Constitution of the Time Universe among the Aged. Routledge and Kegan Paul, London.Google Scholar
Hovaguimian, T., Grab, B. and Stuckelberger, A. 1988. Psychosocial problems and the health of the elderly with special reference to social isolation. Danish Medical Bulletin: Journal of the Health Sciences Gerontology: special supplement series, 6, 2–7.Google Scholar
Hunt, Audrey 1978. The Elderly at Home: A Study of People Aged Sixty-five and Over Living in the Community in England in 1976. Social Survey Division, OPCS. HMSO, London.Google Scholar
Hyman, M. D. 1972. Social isolation and performance in rehabilitation. Journal of Chronic Disease, 25, 85–97.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jerrome, Dorothy 1982. Encounters with Death. Paper presented at the Annual Conference,British Society of Gerontology,Brighton.Google Scholar
Jerrome, Dorothy 1991. Loneliness: possibilities for intervention. Journal of Aging Studies, 5 (2), 195–208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jerrome, Dorothy 1992. Good Company: An Anthropological Study of Old People in Groups. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Jones, D. A., Victor, C. R. and Vetter, N.J. 1985. The problem of loneliness in the elderly in the community: characteristics of those who are lonely and the factors related to loneliness. Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 35, 136–139.Google ScholarPubMed
Kivett, Vira R. 1979. Discriminators of loneliness among the rural elderly: implications for intervention. The Gerontologist, 19 (1), 108–115.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Knipscheer, Kees C. P. M. 1988. Social support and isolation as health related variables. Danish Medical Bulletin: Journal of the Health Sciences Gerontology: Special Supplement Series 6, 23–26.Google Scholar
Koedoot, N. and Hommel, A. 1993. Case management and incentives for the elderly: findings from the Rotterdam experiment. In Coolen, J. A. I. (ed.) Changing Care for the Elderly in the Netherlands: Experience and Research Findings from Policy Experiments. Van Gorcum, Assen/Maastricht, 71–89.Google Scholar
Larsen, R., Zuzanek, J. and Mannell, R. 1985. Being alone versus being with people: disengagement in the daily experience of older adults. Journal of Gerontology, 40, 375–381.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lowenthal, M. F. 1964. Social isolation and mental illness in old age. American Sociological Review, 29, 54–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lowenthal, M. and Robinson, B. 1976. Social networks and isolation. In Binstock, R. and Shanas, E. (eds.). Handbook of Ageing and the Social Sciences. Van Nostrand Rheinhold, N.Y.Google Scholar
Lynch, J.J. 1977. The Broken Heart: The Medical Consequences of Loneliness in America. Basic Books, New York.Google Scholar
Mulligan, M. A. and Bennet, R. 1977/1978. Assessment of mental health and social problems during multiple friendly visits: the development and evaluation of a friendly visiting programme for the isolated elderly. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 8 (1), 43ff.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mullins, L. C., Johnston, D. P. and Anderson, L. 1988. Social and emotional isolation among the elderly: a conceptual view of loneliness. Danish Medical Bulletin: Journal of the Health Sciences, Gerontology: Special Supplement Series, 6, 26–29.Google Scholar
Mullins, L. C. and Mushel, M. 1992. The existence and emotional closeness of relationships with children, friends and spouses: the effect on loneliness among older persons. Research on Aging, 14 (4), 448–470.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murphy, E. 1982. Social Origins of depression in old age, British Journal of Psychiatry, 141, 135–142.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murphy, E. 1983. The prognosis of depression in old age. British Journal of Psychiatry, 142, 111–119.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murphy, E. 1987. Excess Mortality in Late-life Depression. Paper presented International Association of Gerontology Conference,Brighton, England.Google Scholar
Palmore, E. 1976. Total chance of institutionalization among the aged, Gerontologist, 16c, 504–507.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peters, G. R. and Kaiser, M. A. 1985. The role of friends and neighbours in providing social support. In Sauer, William J. and Coward, Raymond T. (eds.) Social Support Networks and the Care of the Elderly. Springer, New York.Google Scholar
Power, Brian 1980. Old and Alone in Ireland. St. Vincent de Paul, Dublin.Google Scholar
Qureshi, H. and Walker, A. 1989. The Caring Relationship, Elderly People and their Families. Macmillan, Basingstoke.Google Scholar
Rodstein, M., Savitsky, E. and Starkman, R. 1976. Initial adjustment to a long term care institution: behavioural aspects. Journal American Geriatric Society, XXIV (2), 65–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ross, H. E. and Kedward, H. B. 1976. Demographic and social correlates of psychogeriatric hospitalization. Social Psychiatry, 11 (3), 121–126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Salloway, M. 1983. Social Networks in Diseases of Aging. Paper delivered to International Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences, Quebec.Google Scholar
Seabrook, Jeremy, 1973. Loneliness. Maurice Temple Smith Ltd., London.Google Scholar
Shanas, Ethel et al. 1968. Loneliness, isolation and desolation in old age. In Shanas, E., Townsend, P. and Wedderburn, D. (eds.) Old People in Three Industrial Societies. Routledge and Kegan Paul, London, 271–276.Google Scholar
Sheldon, J. H. 1948. The Social Medicine of Old Age: Report of an Inquiry in Wolverhampton. Oxford University Press, London.Google Scholar
Sinclair, I., Parker, R., Leat, D. and Williams, J. 1990. The Kaleidoscope of Care: A Review of Research on Welfare Provision for Elderly People, HMSO, London.Google Scholar
Stevenage Development Corporation, Social Relations Department 1973. Sheltered Housing in Stevenage.Google Scholar
Thompson, M. K. 1973. Adaptations of loneliness in old age. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, 66, 887.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tornstam, Lars 1981. Daily Problems in Various Ages. Paper presented to XII International Congress of Gerontology, Hamburg, 11–17 July.Google Scholar
Tornstam, L. 1989. Faces of Loneliness. Paper presented to XIV International Congress of Gerontology, Acapulco, Mexico, 18–23 July.Google Scholar
Townsend, Peter 1965. The effects of family structure on the likelihood of admission to an institution in old age: the application of a general theory. In Shanas, E. and Streib, G. (eds.) Social Structure and the Family: Generational Relations. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.Google Scholar
Townsend, Peter 1968. Isolation, desolation and loneliness. In Shanas, E., Townsend, P. and Wedderburn, D. (eds.) Old People in Three Industrial Societies. Routledge, London, 258–287.Google Scholar
Townsend, Peter and Tunstall, S. 1973. Sociological explanations of the lonely. In Townsend, P.The Social Minority. London, 257–263.Google ScholarPubMed
Weeks, J. and Cuellar, J. 1981. The role of family members in the helping networks of older people. The Gerontologist, 31, 388–394.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wenger, G. Clare 1983. Loneliness: a problem of measurement. In Jerrome, Dorothy (ed.) Ageing in Modern Society. Croom-Helm, London, 145–167.Google Scholar
Wenger, G. Clare 1984 a. Surviving in the Community: Some Demographic and Social Factors. Working Paper No. 33, Care Networks Project. Department of Social Theory, University College of North Wales, Bangor, 22 pp.Google Scholar
Wenger, G. Clare 1984 b. The Supportive Network: Coping with Old Age. George Allen and Unwin, London.Google Scholar
Wenger, G. Clare 1989. Support networks in old age: constructing a typology. In Jefferys, M. (ed.) Growing Old in the 20th Century. Routledge, London, 166–185.Google Scholar
Wenger, G. Clare 1992 a. Help in Old Age: Adaptation to Change. Institute of Human Ageing, Liverpool University Press, Liverpool.Google Scholar
Wenger, G. Clare 1992 b. Morale in old age: a review of the literature International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 7, 699–708.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wenger, G. Clare and Scott, Anne 1994. Change and Stability in Support Network Type: findings from the Bangor Longitudinal study. Paper presented at the International Sociology congress, Bielefeld, Germany, July.Google Scholar
Whittington, H.J. 1977. Widowhood in a Seaside Resort: A Study of the Situation of Some Elderly Widows and Their Response to Bereavement. M. Litt. thesis, Department of Social Administration, University of Lancaster.Google Scholar
Wilkes, Ruth 1978. General philosophy and attitudes to ageing. Social Work Today, 9, 45, 14–16.Google Scholar
Wilkin, D., Hughes, B. and Jolly, D.J. 1985. Quality of care in institutions. In Arie, T. (ed.) Recent Advances in Psychogeriatrics. Churchill Livingstone, London.Google Scholar