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Cited by 313Substance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesHomelessness and Social IssuesHealth disparities and outcomes

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

Åkerlind, Ingemar, Hörnquist, Jan Olof·1992·Social Science & Medicine
DOI 10.1016/0277-9536(92)90300-f
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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 factor 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, loneliness 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.

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Authors
Åkerlind, I., & Hörnquist, J. O.
Affiliations
Linköping University (SE)
Venue
Social Science & Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1992-02
Volume
34
Issue
4
Pages
405-414
ISSN
0277-9536 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/0277-9536(92)90300-f
OpenAlex
W2088128065
Cited by
313
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 5
FWCI
0.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Social Science & Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homelessness and Social Issues
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
Keywords
loneliness, alcohol abuse, alcoholism, social networks, psychopathology, self-perception, life dissatisfaction, prognosis, relapse, social support
MeSH terms
Alcoholism, Health Status, Humans, Loneliness, Personal Satisfaction, Prognosis, Self Concept, Social Support

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