Loneliness among older European adults: results from the survey of health, aging and retirement in Europe

Abstract

Purpose Previous research has suggested that individuals are mostly prone to loneliness in their later years of life due to being exposed to several risk factors typical of old age. The current study aims to examine possible demographic, health and social determinants of loneliness among older adults in Europe. Methods Data on a nationally representative sample of 5,074 Europeans aged ≥65 years were drawn from the first wave of the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE, 2004/2005). Frequency of feelings of loneliness was examined according to adverse health conditions, stressful life events and social isolation indicators. Results Female gender, older age, lower socioeconomic status, living unpartnered, being childless and having no activity involvement were significantly associated with frequent feelings of loneliness (p<0.001). The proportion of the respondents who declared to endure loneliness most of the time, compared to none of the time, was significantly higher among Southern Europeans, relative to their Northern counterparts (p<0.001). Recent departure of offspring from the parental nest was a significant predictor of loneliness in both the second (ORs=2.08; 95% CI 1.24-3.48) and the third (ORs=1.75; 95% CI 1.03-2.96) multiple regression models. Conclusion In this sample of older Europeans, several demographic characteristics, specific adverse health conditions, stressful life events and social isolation indicators were associated with feelings of loneliness. Policy initiatives for the alleviation of loneliness in older age should therefore aim at improving psychosocial and health-related difficulties faced by this population.

The More the Merrier? The Causal Effect of High Fertility on Later-Life Loneliness in Eastern Europe

“…Many studies on the impact of fertility on later-life loneliness compared parents and their childless counterparts (e.g., Hansen et al 2009;Koropeckyj-Cox 1998;Van den Broek 2017;Vozikaki et al 2018;Zhang and Hayward 2001). Scholars assessing loneliness differences among parents have tended to focus on the role of differences in the frequency of contact with children (Fokkema et al 2012;Pinquart 2003;Routasalo et al 2006), the quality of the relationship with children (Koropeckyj-Cox 2002;Long and Martin 2000) or the geographical distance to children (Van den Broek and Grundy 2017).…”

Can the internet reduce the loneliness of 50+ living alone?

“…There is no consensual definition of loneliness in the literature, although many authors (Ong et al, 2016) consider that loneliness refers to a negative experience that occurs when there is a discrepancy between desired and established social relations (Domènech-Abella et al, 2017;Lasgaard et al, 2016;Perlaman & Peplau, 1981;Vozikaki et al, 2018). Loneliness has been associated with an increased risk of mortality (Holt-Lunstad et al, 2015;Luo et al, 2012;Perissinotto et al, 2012;Shiovitz-Ezra & Ayalon, 2010) and identified as an important risk factor for health (Courtin & Knapp, 2017;Holt-Lunstad et al, 2015).…”

“…According to the literature, loneliness becomes an important (or a major) issue as individuals grow older (Dahlberg et al, 2015;Savikko et al, 2005;Vozikaki et al, 2018) and is associated with a set of other sociodemographic, economic, health, social and cultural characteristics (Aartsen & Jylhä, 2011;Dahlberg et al, 2015;Dahlberg & Mckee, 2014;Drageset et al, 2012;Dykstra, 2009;Fokkema et al, 2012;Hansen & Slagsvold, 2016;Houtjes et al, 2014;Perissinotto et al, 2012;Pinquart & Sorensen, 2001;Prieto-Flores et al, 2011;Savikko et al, 2005;Shiovitz-Ezra, 2013;Vozikaki et al, 2018;Zebhauser et al, 2015).…”

Offspring and later-life loneliness in Eastern and Western Europe

“…It appears counterintuitive that, within Europe, levels of later-life loneliness tend to be higher in regions in which levels of family contact and co-residence between older parents and their children are also higher (Vozikaki et al 2018;Yang/Victor 2011). However, in more 'family orientated' societies (Reher 1998), such as those of Southern and Eastern Europe (Daatland/Herlofson/Lima 2011), individuals who lack important family resources may have fewer alternative sources of support and social interaction.…”