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The demographics of loneliness among older people in Perth, Western Australia
Author(s) -
Steed Lyndall,
Boldy Duncan,
Grenade Linda,
Iredell Helena
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2007.00221.x
Subject(s) - loneliness , feeling , demographics , socioeconomic status , gerontology , mental health , social isolation , demography , older people , medicine , psychology , environmental health , psychiatry , population , social psychology , sociology
Objectives: To determine the prevalence and demographic correlates of loneliness in a sample of older people in Perth, Western Australia.Methods: People aged 65 years and over living in private dwellings were recruited randomly, stratified by socioeconomic area, sex and 5‐year age groups to 85 years. A total of 353 people with mean age of 77.5 years responded to a mailed questionnaire comprising demographic questions and three measures of loneliness.Results: Severe loneliness was reported by 7.0% of the sample and feeling lonely sometimes by 31.5%. Higher levels of loneliness were reported by single participants, those who lived alone and those with worse self‐rated health. The protective value against loneliness of social networks appears to be, in order of importance: friends, relatives, neighbours and children.Conclusions: Although loneliness is not universally reported by older Perth residents, its prevalence is still considerable and worthy of attention from mental health practitioners and policy‐makers.