Centre for Policy on Ageing



A review of loneliness — concepts and definitions, determinants and consequences
Author(s)	Jenny de Jong Gierveld
Journal title	Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, vol 8, no 1, February 1998
Pages	pp 73-80
Keywords	Loneliness ; Social characteristics [elderly] ; Literature reviews.
Annotation	The social integration and participation of older adults in society are seen as indicators of productive ageing, and the alleviation of loneliness forms part of policies aimed at achieving the goal of successful ageing. This paper concerns the manner in which individuals perceive, experience and evaluate the lack of communication with other people. The core elements of this concept are an unwelcome feeling of lack or loss of companionship, the negative, unpleasant aspects of missing certain relationships, as well as missing a certain level of quality in one's relationships. The author reviews the literature as follows: conceptualisation and definitions of loneliness; social network size and the network's functioning; other determinants of loneliness (personal characteristics, gender, household composition, health, and socio-cultural constraints); and the consequences of loneliness. The review ends optimistically, as loneliness is a treatable, rather than an irreversible, condition of life. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-981119228 A
Classmark	DV: F: 64A
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.