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Cited by 2,027Health disparities and outcomesAging, Health, and DisabilityAging and Gerontology Research

Social disconnectedness, perceived isolation, and health among older adults

Open access
Cornwell, Erin York, Waite, Linda J.·2009·Journal of Health and Social Behavior
DOI 10.1177/002214650905000103PMC PMC2756979
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Abstract

Previous research has identified a wide range of indicators of social isolation that pose health risks, including living alone, having a small social network, infrequent participation in social activities, and feelings of loneliness. However, multiple forms of isolation are rarely studied together, making it difficult to determine which aspects of isolation are most deleterious for health. Using population-based data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, we combine multiple indicators of social isolation into scales assessing social disconnectedness (e.g., small social network, infrequent participation in social activities) and perceived isolation (e.g., loneliness, perceived lack of social support). We examine the extent to which social disconnectedness and perceived isolation have distinct associations with physical and mental health among older adults. Results indicate that social disconnectedness and perceived isolation are independently associated with lower levels of self-rated physical health. However, the association between disconnectedness and mental health may operate through the strong relationship between perceived isolation and mental health. We conclude that health researchers need to consider social disconnectedness and perceived isolation simultaneously.

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Crossref · 10.1177/002214650905000103

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  • Rates of social isolation increase in later life.

    “Further, rates of social isolation increase in later life (Cornwell & Waite, 2009)”

    From The relationship between social media use and psychosocial outcomes in older adults: A systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as Cornwell & Waite, 2009

    In “Forms of Social Isolation among Older Adults” (page unavailable), the paper says that age-related patterns vary and that increasing age does not necessarily bring social isolation. It notes that some forms of social participation increase with age, contrary to the unqualified claim that isolation rates rise in later life. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Isolation is more common in older age.

    “which is more common in older age (Cornwell and Waite, 2009)”

    From Older Adults Perceptions of Technology and Barriers to Interacting with Tablet Computers: A Focus Group Study (2017) · cites this paper as Cornwell and Waite, 2009

    In “Forms of Social Isolation among Older Adults” (page unavailable), the paper says that increasing age does not necessarily bring social isolation. It describes varied age-related patterns, including increasing social participation with age and loneliness being greatest among middle-aged adults, rather than establishing that isolation is more common in older age. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  • Social isolation and loneliness are prevalent in older adults and are detrimental to physical and mental health.

    “Social isolation and loneliness are prevalent in older adults and are detrimental to physical and mental health.”

    From The relationship between social media use and psychosocial outcomes in older adults: A systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as Cornwell & Waite, 2009

    The Abstract and Discussion report that social disconnectedness and perceived isolation, including loneliness, are associated with worse physical and mental health among older adults. The cited passages do not establish that both are prevalent, and the paper describes associations rather than demonstrating that they cause harm. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Social isolation and loneliness are distinct concepts and are only weakly correlated with each other.

    “That the two concept are distinct is supported by several studies that show that they are only weakly correlated with each other [18–21].”

    From Examining social isolation and loneliness in combination in relation to social support and psychological distress using Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging (CLSA) data (2020) · cites this paper as [21]

  • Social isolation is associated with poor self-rated physical health in the general population of older people.

    “poor self-rated physical health [22]”

    From Interventions targeting social isolation in older people: a systematic review (2011) · cites this paper as [22]

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Authors
Cornwell, E. Y., & Waite, L. J.
Affiliations
  • Cornell University (US)
  • University of Chicago (US)
Corresponding author
Cornwell, Erin York
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Health and Social Behavior
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2009-03
Volume
50
Issue
1
Pages
31-48
ISSN
  • 0022-1465 (ISSN-L)
  • 2150-6000
DOI
10.1177/002214650905000103
PMC
PMC2756979
OpenAlex
W2139540989
Semantic Scholar
b09a0f39d727ce3be1b30fa1719605734d92461e
Cited by
2,027
References
88
Citations by year
2026: 152 · 2025: 136 · 2024: 140 · 2023: 156 · 2022: 167 · 2021: 211 · 2020: 217 · 2019: 171 · 2018: 151 · 2017: 114 · 2016: 97 · 2015: 84 · 2014: 69 · 2013: 67 · 2012: 40
FWCI
32.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Health and Social Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Aging (T32 AG000243, R01AG021487)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Keywords
disconnection, perceived isolation, social isolation, loneliness, social support, older adults, physical health, mental health, social network size, social participation (health and rehabilitation), self-rated health
MeSH terms
Aged, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Status, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Social Isolation, Social Support, United States, Logistic Models, Least-Squares Analysis

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