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Loneliness and alcohol abuse: A review of evidences of an interplay

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  • Åkerlind, Ingemar
  • Hörnquist, Jan Olof

Abstract

This report contains a review of the literature about the interplay between loneliness and the abuse of alcohol. A theoretical discussion based on clinical observations can be dated back to the 1950's. Systematic empirical studies, however, appear sparsely and have mainly been performed during the last decade. Thus, knowledge is still incomplete, but the review indicates that loneliness may be significant at all stages in the course of alcoholism: as a contributing and maintaining tactor in the growth of abuse and as an encumbrance in attempts to give it up. Concordant reports demonstrate that alcoholics do feel more lonely than members of most other groups do. In advanced abusers, lonelines is obviously connected with a number of negative characteristics and, together with several of those, directly linked to a poor prognosis. There are, however, no obvious relations to the external social situation (i.e. network) or amount of drinking. Instead, the feeling of loneliness appears to be more connected with a general negative perception about oneself and one's relations to other people and also with a general dissatisfaction with most things in life. The lonely abuser seems likewise resigned and unable to bring himself to change his/her situation. There are also associations with a broad array of psychopathology. In comparison to people with other health problems, the supportive value of the social network of alcoholics appears to be more wavering.

Suggested Citation

  • Åkerlind, Ingemar & Hörnquist, Jan Olof, 1992. "Loneliness and alcohol abuse: A review of evidences of an interplay," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 405-414, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:34:y:1992:i:4:p:405-414
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    Cited by:

    1. Mami Wakabayashi & Yoshifumi Sugiyama & Midori Takada & Aya Kinjo & Hiroyasu Iso & Takahiro Tabuchi, 2022. "Loneliness and Increased Hazardous Alcohol Use: Data from a Nationwide Internet Survey with 1-Year Follow-Up," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Aymery Constant & Marlène Sanz & Romain Moirand, 2022. "Predictors of Short-Term Alcohol Drinking in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorders during the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Prospective Study in Three Addiction Outpatient Centers in France," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-9, February.
    3. ŞAHİN, Mustafa, 2012. "The relationship between the cyberbullying/cybervictmization and loneliness among adolescents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 834-837.
    4. Lepinteur, Anthony & Rebechi, Alessio & Clark, Andrew E. & D'Ambrosio, Conchita & Rohde, Nicholas & Vögele, Claus, 2024. "Loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Five European Countries," IZA Discussion Papers 17223, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Elodie Gentina & L. J. Shrum & Tina M. Lowrey, 2018. "Coping with Loneliness Through Materialism: Strategies Matter for Adolescent Development of Unethical Behaviors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(1), pages 103-122, September.
    6. Jiaan Zhang & Liyun Wu, 2015. "Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Consumption among Chinese Older Adults: Do Living Arrangements Matter?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-26, February.
    7. Laura Alejandra Rico-Uribe & Francisco Félix Caballero & Beatriz Olaya & Beata Tobiasz-Adamczyk & Seppo Koskinen & Matilde Leonardi & Josep Maria Haro & Somnath Chatterji & José Luis Ayuso-Mateos & Ma, 2016. "Loneliness, Social Networks, and Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Countries," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(1), pages 1-18, January.
    8. Pablo Ruisoto & Silvia L. Vaca & José J. López-Goñi & Raúl Cacho & Iván Fernández-Suárez, 2017. "Gender Differences in Problematic Alcohol Consumption in University Professors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-11, September.
    9. Ricardo Pagan, 2020. "Gender and Age Differences in Loneliness: Evidence for People without and with Disabilities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-16, December.
    10. Ami Rokach & Tricia Orzeck, 2003. "Coping with Loneliness and Drug Use in Young Adults," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 61(3), pages 259-283, March.

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