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Older adults’ mentioned practices for coping with loneliness

Author

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  • Sara Marsillas

    (Matia Gerontological Institute)

  • Eric Schoenmakers

    (Fontys University of Applied Sciences)

Abstract

In recent years, loneliness has been receiving increasing attention, yet there remains a lot to learn about how older adults cope with loneliness. In this study, the practices older adults consider for coping with loneliness and the relationship between various types of coping practices, loneliness, and personal resources are examined. Several hypotheses about the relationship between social and emotional loneliness, personal resources, and mentioning coping practices are formulated. Data was collected in Gipuzkoa (Basque Country, Spain) through structured interviews using a telephone survey among a representative sample of older adults aged 55 and over (N = 894). Results show that lonely and non-lonely respondents alike consider a few coping practices and prefer active and individual coping practices over social and passive ones for coping with loneliness. Experiencing emotional loneliness is related to mentioning more individual and active coping practices. Social coping practices were considered less often by respondents who experienced better self-rated health and more often by respondents with vision loss, a higher educational level and higher quality of life. In conclusion, while older adults differ in coping efforts they mention, these differences are only explained to a small extent by their experience of loneliness and available resources. For future research and practice development, a deeper understanding of the process of coping with loneliness is needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Marsillas & Eric Schoenmakers, 2022. "Older adults’ mentioned practices for coping with loneliness," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 753-762, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:19:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s10433-021-00658-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-021-00658-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thomas Hansen & Britt Slagsvold, 2016. "Late-Life Loneliness in 11 European Countries: Results from the Generations and Gender Survey," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 129(1), pages 445-464, October.
    2. Jose M. Tomás & Sacramento Pinazo-Hernandis & Mónica Donio-Bellegarde & Pedro M. Hontangas, 2017. "Validity of the de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale in Spanish older population: competitive structural models and item response theory," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 429-437, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chun Yang & Daniel W. L. Lai & Yi Sun & Chun-Yin Ma & Anson Kai Chun Chau, 2022. "Mobile Application Use and Loneliness among Older Adults in the Digital Age: Insights from a Survey in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-22, June.

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