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Cited by 572Health disparities and outcomesAging, Health, and DisabilityAging, Elder Care, and Social Issues

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 40 of the 41 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The prevalence of, and risk factors for, loneliness in later life: a survey of older people in Great Britain

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VICTOR, CHRISTINA R., SCAMBLER, SASHA J., BOWLING, ANN, BOND, JOHN·2005·Ageing and Society
DOI 10.1017/s0144686x04003332
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Abstract

This study examines the prevalence of loneliness amongst older people in Great Britain, and makes comparisons with the findings of studies undertaken during the last five decades. In addition, the risk factors for loneliness are examined using a conceptual model of vulnerability and protective factors derived from a model of depression. Loneliness was measured using a self-rating scale, and measures of socio-demographic status and health/social resources were included. Interviews were undertaken with 999 people aged 65 or more years living in their own homes, and the sample was broadly representative of the population in 2001. Among them the prevalence of ‘severe loneliness’ was seven per cent, indicating little change over five decades. Six independent vulnerability factors for loneliness were identified: marital status, increases in loneliness over the previous decade, increases in time alone over the previous decade; elevated mental morbidity; poor current health; and poorer health in old age than expected. Advanced age and possession of post-basic education were independently protective of loneliness. From this evidence we propose that there are three loneliness pathways in later life: continuation of a long-established attribute, late-onset loneliness, and decreasing loneliness. Confirmation of the different trajectories suggests that policies and interventions should reflect the variability of loneliness in later life, for undifferentiated responses may be neither appropriate nor effective.

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  1. Boersma, N., Feskens, E. J. M., Van den Bos, G. A. M. and Kromhout, D. 1997. Characteristics of non-responders and impact of non-response on prevalence estimates of dementia. International Journal of Epidemiology, 26, 1055-62.
  2. Bowling, A. 1995. The most important things in life. International Journal of Health Sciences, 6, 4, 160-75.
  3. De Jong Gierveld, J. 1998. A review of loneliness : concepts and definitions, causes and consequences. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 8, 73-80.
  4. Jones, D., Victor, C. R. and Vetter, N. J. 1982. The problems of loneliness in the com- munity. Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 35, 136-9.
  5. Townsend, P. 1957. The Family Life of Old People. Routledge and Kegan Paul, London.
  6. Townsend, P. 1968. Isolation and loneliness. In Shanas, E., Townsend, P., Wedderburn, D., Friis, H., Milhoj, P. and Stehouwer, J. (eds), Old People in Three Industrial Societies. Routledge and Kegan Paul, London, 258-87.
  7. Walker, A. and Hennesey, C. (eds), Quality of Life in Old Age. Open University Press, Maidenhead, Berkshire, 107-26.
  8. Walker, A. and Maltby, T. 1997. Ageing Europe. Open University Press, Buckingham.
  9. Wenger, G. C. 1983. Loneliness: a problem of measurement. In Jerrome, D. (ed.), Ageing in Modern Society. Croom Helm, Beckenham, Kent, 145-67.

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Metadata

Authors
VICTOR, C. R., SCAMBLER, S. J., BOWLING, A., & BOND, J.
Affiliations
  • University of Reading (GB)
  • University of Roehampton (GB)
  • University College London (GB)
  • Newcastle University (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Ageing and Society
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2005-04-22
Volume
25
Issue
6
Pages
357-375
ISSN
  • 0144-686X (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-1779
DOI
10.1017/s0144686x04003332
OpenAlex
W2123271605
Cited by
572
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 53 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 43 · 2018: 34 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 22
FWCI
11.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified)
Locations
  • Ageing and Society (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Repository (Kingston University London) (submittedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
Funders
Economic and Social Research Council
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
  • Social Sciences › Life-span and Life-course Studies › Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues
Keywords
loneliness, older adults, prevalence, risk factors, marital status, time alone, psychiatric morbidity, elderly health, educational attainment, loneliness trajectories, social isolation

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