Toward a better understanding of loneliness in community-dwelling older adults

The Journal of Psychology
Judith M Smith

Abstract

The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study was to explore the meaning of loneliness in community-dwelling older adults and to understand their daily practices in coping with loneliness. The sample consisted of 8 women and 4 men. Interviews were conducted with the 12 participants utilizing several tools, including 3 separate interview guides and the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Version 3 (Russell, 1996). A critical finding was that many participants experienced loneliness as a result of disrupted meaningful engagement, due to age-related changes, as well as other losses, including death of spouse, retirement, and giving up the car. Two paradigm cases and themes representing the loneliness and coping experience emerged. Participant coping practices with loneliness included reaching out to others, helping those in need, and seeking companionship with pets. Many older adults are at risk for loneliness because of declining health and other age-related losses that prevent them from remaining engaged in meaningful relationships. Health care professionals can screen for loneliness to identify those at risk and can intervene to help older adults maintain connections. Recommendations for those caring for lonely older adults includ...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1978·Journal of Personality Assessment·D RussellM L Ferguson
Jan 1, 1992·Journal of Advanced Nursing·K HolménB Winblad
Feb 1, 1990·Research in Nursing & Health·N E Mahon, A Yarcheski
Jan 1, 1987·Journal of Personality Assessment·R D Hays, M R DiMatteo
May 1, 1987·Journal of Gerontological Nursing·M C Ryan, J Patterson
Dec 1, 1983·Psychological Reports·B A Austin
Jun 1, 1983·The American Journal of Psychiatry·R KatzmanH Schimmel
Aug 1, 1995·Research in Nursing & Health·M Sandelowski
Jun 1, 1993·Research in Nursing & Health·B L Rodgers, K V Cowles
Feb 1, 1996·Journal of Personality Assessment·D W Russell
Nov 1, 1996·Journal of Advanced Nursing·J M Donaldson, R Watson
Apr 3, 1999·The Journal of Psychology·A Rokach
Nov 11, 1999·Journal of Aging and Health·B W PenninxJ T van Eijk
Jun 20, 2001·Archives of Psychiatric Nursing·G J McInnis, J H White
Sep 19, 2001·Health & Social Care in the Community·Cheryl McCamish-SvenssonOve Dehlin
Oct 18, 2002·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·B S FeesL W Poon
Apr 17, 2003·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·Sidney T BogardusPaul G Shekelle
Feb 7, 2004·Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics·Karin Holmén, Hidetochi Furukawa
May 18, 2004·Journal of Cross-cultural Gerontology·Sjaak Van Der Geest
Jul 29, 2004·Journal of the American Dietetic Association·Elizabeth A Gollub, Dian O Weddle
Sep 1, 2004·Canadian Journal on Aging = La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement·G Clare Wenger, Vanessa Burholt
Sep 1, 2004·Canadian Journal on Aging = La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement·Betty HavensTyler Jivan
Jan 1, 1993·Journal of Personality Assessment·T S Hartshorne
Jan 1, 1992·Journal of Personality Assessment·H Oshagan, R L Allen
Jul 11, 2006·Nursing Older People·Fiona Murphy
Sep 7, 2006·International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·Stéphane LebretIsabelle Jalenques
Nov 9, 2007·The Gerontologist·Anne E DickersonLeonard Trujillo
Aug 30, 2008·Aging & Mental Health·Simone Pettigrew, Michele Roberts
Feb 4, 2009·International Journal of Nursing Practice·Tracy McConnell-HenryKaren Francis
May 20, 2009·Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association·Louise C HawkleyJohn T Cacioppo
Aug 8, 2009·Psychosomatic Medicine·Rebecca C Thurston, Laura D Kubzansky
Sep 1, 2009·Journal of Gerontological Nursing·Domingo Palacios-CeñaCristina Alonso-Blanco
Sep 22, 2009·Archives of Psychiatric Nursing·Laurie A Theeke

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 11, 2014·International Psychogeriatrics·Ilse M J van BeljouwHarm W J van Marwijk
Nov 17, 2015·Journal of Advanced Nursing·Elin TaubeJimmie Kristensson
Oct 17, 2012·Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services·Elsie E Gulick, Cheryl A Krause-Parello
Nov 19, 2015·European Journal of Public Health·E van SteenbergenJ E Strijk
Aug 28, 2014·Perspectives in Psychiatric Care·Yu-Ping ChangChester H Fox
Dec 14, 2017·Qualitative Health Research·Gabriele KitzmüllerTerese Bondas
Jun 20, 2018·Journal of Gerontological Social Work·Blessing Ugochi Ojembe, Michael Ebe Kalu
Dec 7, 2019·Journal of Gerontological Social Work·Kjerstin LarssonAgneta Schröder
Feb 25, 2020·Aging & Mental Health·K KharichaK Walters
Feb 25, 2020·Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences·Camilla KoskinenLinda Nyholm
Jun 22, 2017·Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research·Roschelle Heuberger
Aug 12, 2020·Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences·Eva Lysell, Axel Wolf
Oct 5, 2017·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Dawn C CarrYochai Z Shavit
Feb 18, 2020·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Mona MoieniNaomi I Eisenberger
Dec 12, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Ricardo Pagan
Apr 13, 2021·Omega·Monique C Thompson PsyD, Angela B Kim PhD
May 26, 2021·International Journal of Audiology·Anthea Bott, Gabrielle Saunders
Jul 1, 2017·The American Journal of Occupational Therapy : Official Publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association·Claire M MulryMark Ravinsky

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.