Loneliness and social isolation of older adults: Why it is important to examine these social aspects together

Newall, Nancy E. G.; Menec, Verena H.

doi:10.1177/0265407517749045

Cited by 208Health disparities and outcomesAging and Gerontology ResearchAging, Elder Care, and Social Issues

Loneliness and social isolation of older adults: Why it is important to examine these social aspects together

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Newall, Nancy E. G., Menec, Verena H.·2019·Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

DOI 10.1177/0265407517749045

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Abstract

Research shows that social isolation and loneliness are important health issues for older adults. This message is increasingly being recognized by policy makers and service providers. Although the concepts of loneliness and social isolation are often discussed and compared with one another, they are largely examined separately, even if they are both included in the same study. In the present article, we argue for bringing together these two related concepts. For example, focusing only on social isolation overlooks differences between those older adults who are socially isolated and lonely versus socially isolated but not lonely. Consequently, we discuss four groups of older adults: isolated, but not lonely; lonely in a crowd; isolated and lonely; and not isolated or lonely. We argue that considering loneliness and social isolation together will aid in the understanding of the social situation of older adults and can provide new directions for research and intervention programs for older adults.

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Few studies to date have examined the combined effect of social isolation and loneliness on health and health-related outcomes.
“However, few studies to date have examined the combined effect of social isolation and loneliness on health and health-related outcomes [11].”
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 [11]

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Authors: Newall, N. E. G., & Menec, V. H.
Affiliations: Brandon University (CA)
University of Manitoba (CA)
Corresponding author: Newall, Nancy E. G.
ORCID: Newall, Nancy E. G.
Menec, Verena H.
Venue: Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2017-12-27
Volume: 36
Issue: 3
Pages: 925-939
ISSN: 0265-4075 (ISSN-L)
1460-3608
DOI: 10.1177/0265407517749045
OpenAlex: W2777840822
Cited by: 208
References: 50
Citations by year: 2026: 31 · 2025: 34 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 4
FWCI: 8.21
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: hybrid
doi.org
Licence: other-oa
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Journal of Social and Personal Relationships (publishedVersion, other-oa)
Topics: Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues
Keywords: loneliness, social isolation, older adults

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Loneliness and social isolation of older adults: Why it is important to examine these social aspects together

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