Loneliness in Older Women: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Older women report more loneliness than male peers. Loneliness is an area of concern related to the well being of older women because it is a cause of emotional distress and is linked to a variety of health problems in older individuals. Life changes, including widowhood and relocation, are associated with increased vulnerability to loneliness. Gender, social, and cultural factors influence the experience of loneliness in older women. Cognitive and interactionist theoretical approaches to loneliness have utility for nursing practice and research with older women who experience loneliness.

The comparison of quality of life among people with mild dementia in nursing home and home care—a preliminary report

“…This might be due to significant difference in marital status between older adults with dementia in the nursing home and home care. As suggested by other studies, absence of a partner creates insecurity and isolation to the other (Beal, 2006;Glaser, Tomassini, Racioppi, & Stuchbury, 2006;Thomopoulou, Thomopoulou, & Koutsouki, 2010).…”

Loneliness and social support of older people living alone in a county of Shanghai, China

“…Several theoretical perspectives such as the cognitive and interactionist theories have been developed to conceptualise and define loneliness (de Jong Gierveld , Beal ) and relate loneliness to a deficiency in social relations. In other words, loneliness can be viewed as a subjective aversive emotional state reflecting the lived experience of individuals in their social world, often involving a deficiency between actual and desired levels of social contact (Luanaigh & Lawlor , Yang & Victor ).…”

Loneliness, social support networks, mood and wellbeing in community‐dwelling elderly

“…Widowhood was the single most important predictor of loneliness, in common with other studies (Beal, 2006). The relationship of loneliness to age in older adults is unclear (O'Luanaigh and Lawlor, 2008).…”