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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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The prevalence of, and risk factors for, loneliness in later life
— a survey of older people in Great Britain | | Author(s) | Christina R Victor, Sasha J Scambler, Ann Bowling |
| Journal title | Ageing and Society, vol 25, part 3, May 2005 |
| Pages | pp 357-376 |
| Source | http://journals.cambridge.org/ |
| Keywords | Bereavement ; Isolation ; Social surveys. |
| Annotation | Using their data from an ESRC Growing Older (GO) Programme project, the authors examine the prevalence of loneliness amongst older people in Great Britain, comparing findings with other studies undertaken in the last 50 years. In addition, the risk factors for loneliness are examined using a conceptual model of vulnerability and protective factors derived from a model of depression. Loneliness was measured using a self-rating scale, and measures of socio-demographic status and health/social resources were included. Interviews were undertaken with 999 people aged 65+ living in their own homes, and the sample was broadly representative of the population in 2001. The prevalence of "severe loneliness" was 7%, indicating little change over five decades. Six independent vulnerability factors for loneliness were identified: marital status; increases in loneliness over the previous decade; increases in time alone over the previous decade; elevated mental morbidity; poor current health; and poorer health in old age than expected. Advanced age and possession of post-basic education were independently protective of loneliness. From this evidence, three loneliness pathways in later life are proposed: continuation of a long-established attribute; late-onset loneliness; and decreasing loneliness. Confirmation of the different trajectories suggests that policies and interventions should reflect the variability of loneliness in later life, since undifferentiated responses may be neither appropriate nor effective. (KJ/RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-050519204 A |
| Classmark | DW: TP: 3F |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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