Social Capital and Loneliness Among the Very Old Living at Home and in Institutional Settings: A Comparative Study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between aspects of social capital and loneliness among the very old living at home and in institutional settings. METHOD: Half of those aged 85 years, and all 90- and 95-year-olds and older in urban and rural municipalities in northern Sweden and western Finland were invited to participate in a cross-sectional population-based study in 2005-2007. A sample of 483 participants who completed the study was included in the analyses. RESULTS: Loneliness was experienced by 55% percent of those living in institutional settings often or sometimes and 45% of those living in their own homes. Loneliness was closely related to living alone, to depression, and to region (northern Sweden). DISCUSSION: Social capital and loneliness are context dependent (i.e., geographical or living environment). Among the very old, the link between social capital resources and loneliness is also highly influenced by health status.
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This study did not find a significant association between living alone and loneliness.
“this study did not find a significant association.”
From Factors associated with loneliness in a national study among persons 80 years and older in India in 2017-2018 (2025) · cites this paper as [27]
Among the oldest-old, social factors associated with loneliness include living alone, being institutionalised, having a small social network size, lower family functioning, reduced chatting with neighbours, and not using social media on the internet.
“Social factors associated with loneliness among the oldest old included living alone [4,18,27,36], institutionalised [11,27], having a small social network size [10], lower family functioning [36], reduced chatting with neighbours [36], and not using social media on the internet [30].”
From Factors associated with loneliness in a national study among persons 80 years and older in India in 2017-2018 (2025) · cites this paper as [27]
Other studies among the oldest-old did not find significant gender differences, including in Shanghai, Germany, and Sweden/Finland.
“Similarly, other studies among the oldest-old did not find significant gender differences, including in Shanghai [36], Germany [8,10,11], and Sweden/Finland [18,27].”
From Factors associated with loneliness in a national study among persons 80 years and older in India in 2017-2018 (2025) · cites this paper as [27]
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- Authors
- Nyqvist, F., Cattan, M., Andersson, L., Forsman, A. K., & Gustafson, Y.
- Affiliations
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (FI)
- Northumbria University (GB)
- Linköping University (SE)
- Umeå University (SE)
- Venue
- Journal of Aging and Health
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2013-08-29
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1013-1035
- ISSN
- 0898-2643 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-6887
- OpenAlex
- W2105306662
- Cited by
- 130
- References
- 64
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 6.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Aging and Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Northumbria Research Link (Northumbria University) (submittedVersion)
- Åbo Akademi University Research Portal (submittedVersion)
- STM:n Hallinnonalan avoin julkaisuarkisto (Julkari) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues
- Keywords
- social capital, loneliness, oldest old, institutionalized elderly, living at home, living alone, depression, regional variation, health status, urban-rural differences
- MeSH terms
- Aged, 80 and over, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Finland, Homes for the Aged, Humans, Institutionalization, Loneliness, Male, Risk Factors, Social Support, Sweden, Independent Living
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