Age Differences in Loneliness from Late Adolescence to Oldest Old Age

Autor/inn/en	Luhmann, Maike; Hawkley, Louise C.
Titel	Age Differences in Loneliness from Late Adolescence to Oldest Old Age
Quelle	In: Developmental Psychology, 52 (2016) 6, S.943-959 (17 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0012-1649
DOI	10.1037/dev0000117
Schlagwörter	Age Differences; Psychological Patterns; Adolescents; Adults; Older Adults; Income; Employment; Family Size; Interpersonal Relationship; Foreign Countries; Social Isolation; Marital Status; Physical Health; Physical Disabilities; Measures (Individuals); Predictor Variables; Regression (Statistics); Germany; UCLA Loneliness Scale + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Age; Difference; Age difference; Altersunterschied; Adolescent; Adolescence; Adoleszenz; Jugend; Jugendalter; Jugendlicher; Älterer Erwachsener; Einkommen; Dienstverhältnis; Familiengröße; Interpersonal relation; Interpersonal relations; Interpersonelle Beziehung; Zwischenmenschliche Beziehung; Ausland; Soziale Isolation; Familienstand; Gesundheitszustand; Physical handicap; Körperbehinderung; Messdaten; Prädiktor; Regression; Regressionsanalyse; Deutschland
Abstract	Contrary to common stereotypes, loneliness is not restricted to old age but can occur at any life stage. In this study, we used data from a large, nationally representative German study (N = 16,132) to describe and explain age differences in loneliness from late adolescence to oldest old age. The age distribution of loneliness followed a complex nonlinear trajectory, with elevated loneliness levels among young adults and among the oldest old. The late-life increase in loneliness could be explained by lower income levels, higher prevalence of functional limitations, and higher proportion of singles in this age group. Consistent with an age-normative perspective, the association of income, relationship status, household size, and work status with loneliness differed between different age groups. In contrast, indicators of the quantity of social relationships (social engagement, number of friends, contact frequency) were universally associated with loneliness regardless of age. Overall, these findings show that sources of loneliness in older adults are well understood. Future research should focus on understanding the specific sources of loneliness in middle-aged adults. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01