Changes in and factors related to loneliness in older men. The Zutphen Elderly Study

Tijhuis, Marja; Jong-Gierveld, J. de; Feskens, Edith J. M.; Kromhout, Daan

doi:10.1093/ageing/28.5.491

Cited by 147 publications

(149 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

127

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Predictors and consequences of loneliness may be associated with people's circumstances or with their personal characteristics (Kileen, 1998). In the process of loneliness, it may be changes in factors such as health status and social relationships that are more important than the factors themselves (Tijhuis et al, 1999).…”

Section: Correlates Of Lonelinessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…counterparts. The fact that women survive to a greater age and live without a partner for longer than men may provide a I simple demographic explanation for the reported higher incidence of loneliness among women (Tijhuis et al, 1999;Holmen et al, 2000).…”

Section: Age and Gendermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The increase in loneliness associated with increasing age may not be related to age per se, but may be associated with situational factors, including loss of a partner or failing physical health (Tijhuis et al, 1999). Thus, changes in loneliness over time may not be a simple linear function of time, but rather may be related to transitional life events, such as changes in marital status and health; age-related critical life events such as widowhood tend to engender emotional loneliness (Dugan and Kivett, 1994).…”

Section: Age and Gendermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Like the evidence concerning age differences and loneliness, evidence concerning gender differences is also contradictory (Tijhuis et al, 1999). For example, while research appears to p~int to a greater incidence of loneliness among women, a study of 1,071 older people in Florida showed that loneliness was greater among men (Mullins et al, 1996).…”

Section: Age and Gendermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, where stoicism is valued in society, people may not wish to reveal their loneliness to others and the experience may be hidden. In this same connection, a higher incidence of loneliness among women may be explained by the fact that it is culturally more acceptable for women to express their emotional difficulties than it is for men to do so (Tijhuis et al, 1999).…”

Section: Loneliness Social Network and Social Isolationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Older Irish People

Treacy¹,

Butler²,

Byrne³

et al. 2004

PsycEXTRA Dataset

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Council Is pleased that the results of this research dispel an enduring stereotype of old age by demonstrating that the majority of a representative sample of older people is not socially isolated or lonely. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate the importance of being able to adapt to transition times in older age and the necessity for economic, social and personal resources to facilitate this adaptation and to promote 'successful ageing'. Finally, the results highlight how critical it is for older people to be able to 'get out of the house' and the Council urges that the recommendations that it has made in this regard be acted on in the short-term in order to ensure that older people do not become socially excluded in their third and fourth ages.On behalf of the Council, I would like to thank the older people and service planners and providers who took part in this research. I would like to thank sincerely the Appreciation is also extended to the officers of the two health boards that granted access and to the individuals within the health boards who identified potential participants for inclusion in the study.To all the stakeholders (planners and providers) who participated in focus group interviews a special thank you is extended for their valuable contribution.We would like to thank Dr Clare Wenger, University of Wales for permission to use the Network Assessment Instrument used in this study. We are also grateful for the information and support given to the research team on the use of the instrument throughout the study.We would also like to acknowledge the help and advice given by Dr Enrico DiTommaso, University of New Brunswick. We are also grateful for Dr DiTommaso's permission to use the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults.Finally the research team wishes to thank the many administrative staff who made an essential contribution to the completion of this study. Special appreciation is extended to Tara Cryan, Tina Saul and Rosemary Gordon for their professional skill and support. References 205Appendices 211 Terms of Reference 229Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Older Irish People List of Tables Table 2.1: Cronbach's alpha (confidence intervals) and intercorrelations of the three SELSA·S subscales for the overall sample Table 2.2 Network types (Wenger, 1994) . pedple's Qwn-perspectives in addition t-o th'ose of planners and providers of services for.-":qlder pepple) that may be of assistance in preventing or alleviating loneliness and social living in either rented accommodation or with relatives, poor self-rated health and lack of transport) and life events/transition times were identified by the respondents as being related to the onset of loneliness and social isolation amorlQ older Irish people. Identifying Those at Risk of Loneliness and Social IsolationIn • Social ResourcesA meaningful social network and sociai interaction appear to be the strongest supports against loneliness and social isolation (Holmen and Furukawa, 2002). This was confirmed by this report which n...

show abstract

Section: Correlates Of Lonelinessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Age and Gendermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Age and Gendermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Age and Gendermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Loneliness Social Network and Social Isolationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Older Irish People

Treacy¹,

Butler²,

Byrne³

et al. 2004

PsycEXTRA Dataset

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Loneliness and Risk of Alzheimer Disease

Wilson¹,

Krueger²,

Arnold³

et al. 2007

Arch Gen Psychiatry

1,120

836

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Context: Social isolation in old age has been associated with risk of developing dementia, but the risk associated with perceived isolation, or loneliness, is not well understood.Objective: To test the hypothesis that loneliness is associated with increased risk of Alzheimer disease (AD).Design: Longitudinal clinicopathologic cohort study with up to 4 years of annual in-home follow-up.Participants: A total of 823 older persons free of dementia at enrollment were recruited from senior citizen facilities in and around Chicago, Ill. Loneliness was assessed with a 5-item scale at baseline (mean±SD, 2.3±0.6) and annually thereafter. At death, a uniform postmortem examination of the brain was conducted to quantify AD pathology in multiple brain regions and the presence of cerebral infarctions. Main Outcome Measures:Clinical diagnosis of AD and change in previously established composite measures of global cognition and specific cognitive functions.Results: During follow-up, 76 subjects developed clinical AD. Risk of AD was more than doubled in lonely persons (score 3.2, 90th percentile) compared with persons who were not lonely (score 1.4, 10th percentile), and controlling for indicators of social isolation did not affect the finding. Loneliness was associated with lower level of cognition at baseline and with more rapid cognitive decline during follow-up. There was no significant change in loneliness, and mean degree of loneliness during the study was robustly associated with cognitive decline and development of AD. In 90 participants who died and in whom autopsy of the brain was performed, loneliness was unrelated to summary measures of AD pathology or to cerebral infarction. Conclusion:Loneliness is associated with an increased risk of late-life dementia but not with its leading causes.

show abstract