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PubMed1988

A study of loneliness among a national sample of Swedish elderly.

This study examined: 1) the loneliness experienced by a representative sample of persons from Sweden in 1986, and 2) the relative impact of age, gender, household size, subjective health assessments, and two indicators of income adequacy on loneliness. The results are based on the responses to a telephone survey, conducted by SIFO, of a weighted subsample of 212 persons aged 65+. The overall sample consisted of 1005 person 16 years of age and older. In general, only a minority (27%) of the Swedish elderly indicated loneliness was at least a somewhat serious problem. Cross-tabular, and discriminant function analysis showed that loneliness was associated with being older, being alone, and poor self-reported health. These findings are compared to those of other Swedish and American studies. Additionally, implications with regard to Swedish policy are suggested.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Loneliness: counseling adolescents.

This paper discusses the related concepts of loneliness and the guidance counseling of adolescents. Part One argues that the fear of loneliness and the accompanying need to avoid it constitutes a universal motivational principle in all human beings, and that it is especially acute during adolescence. Part Two shows how loneliness may serve the counselor as a basis for understanding and interpreting much of adolescent behavior. Part Three proposes some therapeutic principles and procedures designed to alleviate the sense of loneliness and isolation so prevalent among contemporary adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Coping with loneliness: evaluation of a group course for elderly widows].

The present study was designed to evaluate a group course of 11 sessions, aimed at reducing loneliness in elderly widows. Twenty widows participated (mean age: 67 yrs), who were all reasonably or very satisfied with the experience of participation as well as with the format and leadership of the course. At the beginning of the course, loneliness was a problem for each participant, and questionnaire scores for depression, well-being and social contacts (i.e. loneliness) were unfavourable. At the end of the course, one third of the participants indicated on an evaluation form that feelings of loneliness had become less intense. The corresponding questionnaire scores, however, did not improve significantly. However, rather large positive changes were found for depressive symptoms and for positive social support, which were maintained at a 3-month follow-up measurement. The participants with higher depression scores were also the ones who showed the largest gain, although their scores remained in the pathological range. It is concluded that the latter participants suffer from more serious psychological problems than is desirable in view of the aims of the course. Adaptation of the aims and contents of the course should be considered, so that individual pathology can be more adequately addressed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1999

Living arrangements of older adults in the Netherlands and Italy: coresidence values and behaviour and their consequences for loneliness.

Value studies indicate that the process of individualization in Europe started in Sweden and Norway, and continued via France and the Netherlands; the southern European countries lag behind, and are still characterized by more traditional family orientations. Starting from this point of view, this paper investigates the effects of differences between the Netherlands and Italy in the field of living arrangements of older adults with and without partners. The consequences of living alone and of coresidence with adult children have been further investigated, using loneliness as the dependent variable. The size and support functions of the network of social relationships, socio-economic resources, health, sex and age are also taken into account. Data come from face-to-face surveys among a random sample of older adults (55- to 89-year-old women and men) in the Netherlands (n=4,494) and in Italy (n=1,570), using the same research design and questionnaire. The data show country-specific differences in household types of older adults: the proportion living alone is much higher among older people without partners in the Netherlands; the proportion coresiding with their adult children is higher in Italy than in the Netherlands. Controlled for age, health, sex, size and support of the network, and for differences in socio-economic resources, household composition is still the most important determinant of loneliness. Living without a partner in the same household as one's adult children yields country-specific correlations that correspond with differences in value orientations: less loneliness in Italy, more loneliness in the Netherlands.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Popularity, friendship quantity, and friendship quality: interactive influences on children's loneliness and depression.

A mediational model positing that the effects of popularity on children's loneliness and depression are passed through indexes of friendship experiences was tested using structural equation modeling. Children (193 3rd through 6th graders) completed a battery of sociometric and self-report questionnaires from which measures of popularity, multiple friendship dimensions (i.e., quantity and quality of best and good friendships), and loneliness and depression were derived. Confirmation of a slightly modified model supported the mediational hypothesis. Although popularity exerted no direct impact on the adjustment indexes, it strongly influenced friendship, which, in turn, affected depression through its strong association with loneliness. It appears that popularity is important for setting the stage for relationship development, but that it is dyadic friendship experiences that most directly influence feelings of loneliness and depression.

Child↗
PubMed2000

Self-control, anxiety, and loneliness in siblings of children with cancer.

This study deals with sibling emotional response to the stress of childhood cancer in a brother or sister. Sixty-two healthy siblings aged 9 to 18 participated in the study. The children were asked to complete self-report questionnaires on state anxiety, loneliness, and self-control. The findings showed that the stress elicited emotional responses. Anxiety was related to the child's age and duration of the sibling's cancer, and loneliness was related to the child's sex and rank in the family. The outcomes also demonstrated a link between self-control as a coping skill and anxiety and loneliness as emotional distress responses. Healthy siblings' higher self-control rates were associated with their lower anxiety and loneliness reports. These findings support Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) theory on stress, appraisal, and coping. The results also highlight the need to train and impart children with learned resourcefulness in order to increase their self-control skills and improve their coping with and adjustment to siblings' serious illness.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1982

Loneliness as a function of selected personality variables.

Hypothesized that in a multivariate statistical model, selected personality variables, depression, anxiety, neuroticism, psychoticism, misanthropy, and external locus of control, could positively predict loneliness, and self-esteem and extraversion could negatively predict loneliness scores. Two groups of Ss were studied independently. Ss in Group I were 232 Iranian college students (156 males, 76 females) who were studying in American colleges. Group II consisted of 305 Iranian students (168 males, 137 females) who were studying in Iranian universities. The obtained results, applying multiple regression analysis, confirmed the directions stated in the research hypothesis. However, some of the selected variables did not contribute significantly in the regression equations. Because of fluctuation of the regression coefficients, due to multicolinearity, the data were subjected to factor analysis. Two factors emerged with eigenvalues greater than unity. Loneliness loaded heavily on the first factor, which was identified as negative attribute of personality.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The dimensionality of the UCLA Loneliness Scale in early adolescents.

The dimensionality of the UCLA Loneliness Scale was assessed in 326 adolescents aged 12 to 14. Based on theoretical grounds, a one-factor solution was examined. The results lend limited support to the assertion that the instrument measures a single dimension of loneliness. Factor solutions ranging from three to five were unacceptable according to the methodological criteria used in this study. A two-factor solution met the methodological criteria but the results were suggestive of a method artifact. This possibility was explored using a procedure that follows the logic of construct validation. The findings suggested that the instrument has two substantive dimensions. Continued support of the bidimensionality of the instrument would have implications for theory development regarding the phenomenon of loneliness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Genetic linkage and association analysis for loneliness in Dutch twin and sibling pairs points to a region on chromosome 12q23-24.

We obtained evidence from a large study in Dutch twins (N=8,387) and siblings (N=2,295) that variation in loneliness has a genetic component. The heritability estimate for loneliness, which was assessed as an ordinal trait, was 40% and did not differ between males and females. There were 682 sibling pairs with genotypic (around 400 microsatellite markers) data. We combined phenotypic and genotypic data to carry out a genome scan to localize QTLs for loneliness. One region on chromosome 12q23.3-24.3, showed near suggestive linkage. Genetic association tests within this region revealed significant association (p-value 0.009) with one of the alleles of marker D12S79 and with one of the alleles of neighbouring marker D12S395 (p-value 0.043). We review evidence for linkage in this region for psychiatric disorders and discuss our findings within this context.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed2004

How adolescents construct their future: the effect of loneliness on future orientation.

This study examined the effect of loneliness, gender, and two dimensions of prospective life domains on adolescent future orientation. Future orientation was studied in four prospective domains: social relations, marriage and family, higher education and work and career. These domains are described in terms of two dimensions: theme (relational vs. instrumental) and distance (near vs. distant future). Data collected from Israeli Jewish adolescents (11th graders) were analysed by repeated measures ANOVAs and ANCOVAs (covariate: depressive experiences) for seven future orientation variables: value, expectance, control (motivational variables), hopes, fears (cognitive representation variables), exploration, commitment (behavioural variables). As predicted, lonely adolescents scored lower than socially embedded adolescents on future orientation variables applied to the relational and near future domains and lonely boys scored lower than lonely girls. However, effects were found only on the three future orientation motivational variables and not on the cognitive representation and behavioural variables. Contrary to prediction controlling for the effect of depressive experiences did not reduce the effect of loneliness on the future orientation variables, but reduced the tendency of adolescents to score higher on all future orientation variables in the instrumental than in the relational prospective domains. The contribution of these findings to the understanding of adolescent loneliness and future orientation was discussed and directions for future research were suggested.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Friendship quality and sociometric status: between-group differences and links to loneliness in severely abused and nonabused children.

OBJECTIVE: There were two main aims: first, to illuminate the difference between abused children's general popularity with classmates and success in close friendships; second, to examine the specific interactional qualities of abused children's friendships and their links to loneliness. METHOD: Thirty-five severely abused children and 43 matched, nonabused children were compared on peer-rated sociometric status, self-reported loneliness, and observed and self-reported friendship quality. RESULTS: Abused children were not rated significantly lower sociometrically, nor did they differ significantly from control children on several measures of friendship quality, such as resolving conflicts and helping each other. However, abused children were observed to be more negative and less proactive in their interactions. They also reported their friendships as being more conflictual, and as higher on betrayal and lower on caring. Only observational friendship variables predicted loneliness. CONCLUSIONS: The results challenge the assumption that abused children's peer relationships are uniformly more maladaptive than nonabused children's, and point to the possible benefits of structured interventions for "normalizing" their friendship interactions. The pattern of difficulties exhibited by abused children (e.g., conflict) provides foci for more specific interventions. Multi-method assessments are necessary and the multi-dimensional nature of children's social adjustment is important to understand.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Intermediates' satisfaction with a loneliness intervention program aimed at older adults: linkage of program plans and users' needs.

Intermediates' satisfaction with linkage of program plans and users' needs in the Dutch loneliness intervention program in good company (IGC) was studied. IGC was aimed at prevention and diminishment of loneliness in older adults, aged 55 years and above. Moreover, the objective was to improve helping and cooperation skills of intermediates, i.e. professional workers and volunteers. Different linkage approaches were used successively in three neighbourhoods, varying from top down instrumental to bottom up democratic linkage strategies. The intermediates' satisfaction with these strategies was measured using postal questionnaires, sent about 20 months after the introduction of the program to the three neighbourhoods. Satisfaction was significantly related to the intermediates' subjective evaluation of the linkage approach. Satisfaction was highest in the neighbourhood where the intermediates were consulted most explicitly and where they had a clear voice in the design and organisation of the intervention, using democratic linkage strategies. Satisfaction was clearly associated with the program's success in meeting targets aimed at intermediates. A relationship with effective prevention of loneliness in older adults was not found. It is concluded that the use of democratic linkage strategies, like needs assessments, local action plans and two-way communication between program designers and users, is essential for successful dissemination of health promotion activities.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Loneliness and pathways to disease.

Social isolation predicts morbidity and mortality from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and a host of other causes. The mechanisms by which the social world impacts on health are poorly understood, in part because of lack of specificity in the conceptualization and operationalization of relevant aspects of social relationships and physiological processes. Perceived social isolation, commonly termed loneliness, may represent a link between the epidemiological and biological levels of analysis. Research is presented that investigates loneliness as a social factor of importance in three predisease pathways: health behaviors, excessive stress reactivity, and inadequate or inefficient physiological repair and maintenance processes. Empirical evidence of autonomic, endocrine, and immune functioning suggests that the physiological effects of loneliness unfold over a relatively long time period. For cancer patients, interventions should be aimed at providing instrumental support for the immediate demands of the disease.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed1997

Social support deficits, loneliness and life events as risk factors for depression in old age. The Gospel Oak Project VI.

BACKGROUND: A companion paper reported a very strong cross-sectional association between handicap and late-life depression. Adjusting for handicap weakened associations between sociodemographic variables and depression. It was unclear whether handicap was a confounder, or a useful summary variable, mediating the effect of a range of sociodemographic disadvantages. This paper focuses on the cross-sectional relationship between depression and demographic variables, social support, and life events. METHOD: A community survey of all residents over the age of 65 years of an electoral district in London, UK. RESULTS: There was a moderate association between SHORT-CARE pervasive depression and the number of life events experienced over the previous year. Personal illness, bereavement and theft were the most salient events. There was a stronger, graded, relationship between the number of social support deficits (SSDs) and depression. Number of SSDs also related to age, handicap, loneliness and use of homecare services. Loneliness was itself strongly associated with depression; odds ratio 12.4 (7.6-20.0). CONCLUSIONS: Problems of collinearity, and the cross-sectional design of the study limited interpretation of the exact nature of the relationship between social support, loneliness, handicap and depression. However, the clustering of these four factors can be used to define a large part of the elderly population with a poor quality of life. An important avenue for future research will be the development and implementation of population intervention strategies designed to address some or all of these problems among older people in general.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

On loneliness, narcissism, and intimacy.

The complex interplay between narcissistic vulnerability, adolescent development, and the capacity for intimate relatedness is viewed here from the perspective of two distinct but interrelated experiential modes of Being and Doing. I offer a view of loneliness that begins with a critical reappraisal of the concept of narcissistic relatedness in association with difficulties in establishing intimacy. These difficulties are due to failures in the developmentally prescribed intimacy. These difficulties are due to failures in the developmentally prescribed integration of the experiential modalities of Being and Doing during the course of late adolescence and young adulthood. The type of loneliness encountered in adult life, its particular cast and subjectively experienced nature, are determined by the specific modality around which it has become primarily organized. Clinical material is presented to illustrate the meaning of loneliness in the presence of the object, and the paradoxical inability to be both with the object and without it.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Shyness and low social support as interactive diatheses, with loneliness as mediator: testing an interpersonal-personality view of vulnerability to depressive symptoms.

Interpersonal approaches to depression are surveyed; it is suggested that interpersonal inhibition, as opposed to interpersonal excess, has been underemphasized as an antecedent of depression. It is proposed that shyness is a vulnerability factor for depressive symptoms in the absence but not in the presence of social support and that loneliness mediates the relation between shyness and depressive symptom increases. Undergraduates (N = 172) reported on their levels of shyness, social support, loneliness, positive and negative affect, and depressive symptoms, and returned 5 weeks later to complete a similar set of assessments. Results supported hypotheses. Participants who were shy and unsupported were likely to experience increases in depressive symptoms and decreases in positive affect, whereas other students were not. This effect was partially mediated by increases in loneliness and was specific to depressive symptoms and low positive affect; it did not apply to negative affect.

Depression↗
PubMed1982

Perceived dimensions of attributions for loneliness.

This study examined the applicability of Weiner's model of causal attributions to lay explanations for the causes of loneliness. Weiner posits three dimensions (Internatily, Stability, and controllability) along which causes vary and links each dimension to distinct consequences for the actor. To test the salience of these dimensions in lay perceptions of causality, 180 college students made judgments about the causes of loneliness. As predicted, both exploratory and confirmatory multidimensional scaling analyses found that dimensions of Internality and Stability were perceived by respondents. Contrary to recent theorizing, Controllability was not independent of the other two dimensions; instead, controllable causes were both internal and unstable. Confirmation of Internality and Stability as dimensions underlying attributions for loneliness supported the extension of Weiner's model to the domain of affiliative behavior.

Female↗
PubMed1985

Adolescent self-disclosure and loneliness: private self-consciousness and parental influences.

Using structural equation techniques, we tested a theoretical model designed to describe the causal relations existing among loneliness, self-disclosure to peers and parents, and specific antecedent variables. Participants were 350 high-school students who answered questions concerning themselves and their interpersonal relationships. Results generally indicated a good fit between the theoretical model and the observed relations. In addition to replicating the findings of previous studies concerning the relation between self-disclosure and loneliness, results also indicated an indirect relation between private self-consciousness and loneliness via peer self-disclosure; that is, high private self-conscious adolescents' greater willingness to self-disclose to peers resulted in their feeling less lonely. Results are discussed in terms of current theory in related fields.

Adolescent↗