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Causal conditions for loneliness: a set-theoretic analysis on an adult sample in the UK

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  • Keming Yang

    (Durham University)

Abstract

While age has been identified as a risk factor for loneliness, whether it is a necessary or sufficient condition for loneliness has never been examined. This is the first study that applies fuzzy-set QCA, a special type of set-theoretic method, to discover the necessary and sufficient causal conditions for loneliness, respectively, among adults in the UK, analysing the data collected from the UK sample of Round 6 of the European Social Survey (ESS, 2012, n = 2163). It firstly examines the configurations of five conditions: being female, old age, not living with spouse/partner, bad health, and not being frequently social with others. Gender was found neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for loneliness, and old age was close to being a necessary condition and became necessary when united with any of the other conditions; the configuration of not living with spouse/partner and not healthy and not frequently social with others is a sufficient condition. Robustness of results was tested with two different conditions (a limiting illness and a confidante), and a separate analysis on the absence of loneliness was conducted. The effect of the unbalanced distribution of cases across different values of the outcome was highlighted as a source of uncertainty, and the results on the absence of loneliness are different from those on its presence.

Suggested Citation

  • Keming Yang, 2018. "Causal conditions for loneliness: a set-theoretic analysis on an adult sample in the UK," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 52(2), pages 685-701, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:52:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s11135-017-0482-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11135-017-0482-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Luo, Ye & Hawkley, Louise C. & Waite, Linda J. & Cacioppo, John T., 2012. "Loneliness, health, and mortality in old age: A national longitudinal study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(6), pages 907-914.
    2. Ragin, Charles C., 2000. "Fuzzy-Set Social Science," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, edition 1, number 9780226702773, September.
    3. Ragin, Charles C., 2006. "Set Relations in Social Research: Evaluating Their Consistency and Coverage," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(3), pages 291-310, July.
    4. Chi‐nien Chung, 2001. "Markets, Culture and Institutions: The Emergence of Large Business Groups in Taiwan, 1950s–1970s," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(5), pages 719-745, July.
    5. Barry Cooper, 2005. "Applying Ragin's Crisp and Fuzzy Set QCA to Large Datasets: Social Class and Educational Achievement in the National Child Development Study," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 10(2), pages 1-20, July.
    6. repec:ucp:bkecon:9780226702766 is not listed on IDEAS
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