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Social Isolation and Loneliness in Old Age: Review and Model Refinement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2008

G. Clare Wenger ,
Richard Davies ,
Said Shahtahmasebi  and
Anne Scott
G. Clare Wenger
Affiliation:
Centre for Social Policy Research and Development, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG, U.K.
Richard Davies
Affiliation:
Centre for Applied Statistics, Lancaster University
Said Shahtahmasebi
Affiliation:
Northern and Yorkshire Regional Health Authority.
Anne Scott
Affiliation:
Centre for Social Policy Research and Development, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG, U.K.
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Abstract

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This paper reviews the empirical literature on social isolation and loneliness and identifies a wide range of published correlates. Using data from a study conducted in North Wales, which included many of the same correlated variables, a statistical modelling technique is used to refine models of isolation and loneliness by controlling for co-variance. The resulting models indicate that the critical factors for isolation are: marital status, network type and social class; and, for loneliness: network type, household composition and health.

Keywords

Isolationlonelinessmodelnetworks.
Type
Research Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , May 1996 , pp. 333 - 358
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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