Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-11T08:39:52.977Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Social Isolation and Loneliness: Differences between Older Rural and Urban Manitobans*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Betty Havens ,
Madelyn Hall ,
Gina Sylvestre  and
Tyler Jivan
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to identify predictors of social isolation and loneliness for very old rural and urban adults. With data from the 1996 Aging in Manitoba Study (N = 1,868; age range 72–104), separate multiple regression models were constructed for rural and urban sub-samples, using the life space index (LSI) to measure social isolation as one outcome, and a loneliness index created by the authors from a combination of items to measure loneliness as a second outcome. Different factors were found to predict the outcomes for the two sub-samples. The models with isolation as the outcome produced five predictors for the rural sub-sample and three for the urban sub-sample. Only living alone was the same for both groups. The models with loneliness as the outcome produced five predictors for the rural sub-sample and two for the urban sub-sample, again with only one factor in common – four or more chronic illnesses. We conclude that health and social factors are important predictors of social isolation and loneliness, and sensitivity to these factors may improve the experience of older adults.

Résumé

Dans ce mémoire, on a cherché à identifier les prédicteurs de l'isolement social et de la solitude chez les personnes duquatrième âge résidant en milieu rural et urbain. À partir de données tirées de l'étude de 1996 intitulée Aging in Manitoba(N = 1868, plage d'âge 72 à 104 ans), on a établi des modèles de régression multiple portant sur des sous-échantillonsde sujets résidant en milieu rural et urbain et utilisé l'échelle d'interaction sociale (life space index) pour mesurerl'isolement social, d'une part, et une échelle de solitude (loneliness index) créée par les auteures à partir de plusieursitems pour mesurer la solitude, d'autre part. On a découvert que différents facteurs permettaient de prédire les résultatsdes deux sous-échantillons. On a tiré cinq prédicteurs des modèles associés à l'isolement pour le sous-échantillonde sujets résidant en milieu rural et trois prédicteurs pour le sous-échantillon des citadins. Seul le facteur « vivre seul » donnait le même résultat dans les deux groupes. Quant aux modèles liés à la solitude, on a obtenu cinq prédicteurspour le sous-échantillon de sujets résidant en milieu rural et deux prédicteurs pour le sous-échantillon des citadins, lesdeux groupes ayant à nouveau un seul facteur en commun, au moins quatre maladies chroniques. Les auteures ontconclu que les facteurs « santé » et « contacts sociaux » sont d'importants prédicteurs de l'isolement social et de la solitude,et qu'on pourrait améliorer la situation des personnes âgées en prêtant une plus grande attention à ces facteurs.

Keywords

agingisolationlonelinessruralurbanoldest oldvieillissementisolementsolitudemilieu ruralmilieu urbainpersonnes du quatrième âge
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 23 , Special Issue/Numéro special 2: Social Isolation and Loneliness/Isolement social et solitude , Summer/Été 2004 , pp. 129 - 140
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

*

Financial Support was provided through SSHRC Grant # 828–1999–1000, with related research supported by Health Canada (NHRDP, PWHCE, DAS, CIHR, MRC), Manitoba Health, and Veterans Affairs Canada. Administrative support from the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba and collaboration from Dr. R. Tate, H. Dyck, and Y. Hosain are gratefully acknowledged. Our greatest appreciation is reserved for the 8,946 older Aging in Manitoba Study participants, who have made all of our research possible.

References

Achenbaum, W.A., & Bengtson, V.L. (1994). Re-engaging the disengagement theory of aging: On the history and assessment of theory development in gerontology. The Gerontologist, 34, 756–763.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Antonucci, T.C., & Akiyama, H. (1987). Social networks in adult life and a preliminary examination of the convoy model. Journal of Gerontology, 42, 519–527.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berg, S., Mellstrom, D., Persson, G., & Svanborg, A. (1981). Loneliness in the Swedish aged. Journal of Gerontology, 36, 342–349.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bosworth, H., & Schaie, K. (1997). Relationship of social environment, social network, and health outcomes in the Seattle longitudinal study: Two analytical approaches. Journals of Gerontology, 52B, 197–205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowling, A., Grundy, E., & Farquhar, M. (1995). Changes in network composition among the very old living in inner London. Journal of Cross-cultural Gerontology, 10, 331–347.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Broese van Groenou, M., van Tilburg, T., & de Jong Gierveld, J. (1999). Loneliness among older adults: Geographical and neighbourhood characteristics. Mens & Maatschappij, 74, 235–249.Google Scholar
Cumming, E., Henry, W.E., & Newell, D.S. (1961). Social-structural evidence for disengagement. In Growing old: The process of disengagement (pp. 37–74). New York: Basic.Google Scholar
de Jong Gierveld, J. (1987). Developing and testing a model of loneliness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 119–128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
de Jong Gierveld, J., & Kamphuis, F. (1985). The development of a Rasch-type loneliness scale. Applied Psychological Measurement, 9, 289–299.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
de Jong Gierveld, J., Kamphuis, J.E., and Dykstra, P. (1987). Old and lonely. Comprehensive Gerontology, 1, 13–17.Google ScholarPubMed
de Jong Gierveld, J., & Raadschelders, J. (1982). Types of loneliness. In Peplau, L.A. & Perlman, D. (Eds.), Loneliness: A source book of current theory, research and therapy (pp. 105–117). New York: Wiley-Interscience.Google Scholar
de Jong Gierveld, J., & van Tilburg, T. (1995). Social relationships, integration, and loneliness. In Knipscheer, C.P.M., de Jong Gierveld, J., van Tilburg, T.G., & Dykstra, P.A. (Eds.), Living arrangements and social networks of older adults (pp. 155–172). Amsterdam: VU University Press.Google Scholar
de Jong Gierveld, J., & van Tilburg, T. (1999). Manual of the loneliness scale. Amsterdam: VU University Press.Google Scholar
Delisle, M.A. (1988). What does solitude mean to the aged? Canadian Journal on Aging, 7, 339–357.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dugan, E., & Kivett, V.R. (1994). The importance of emotional and social isolation to loneliness among very old rural adults. The Gerontologist, 34, 340–346.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Forbes, A. (1996). Loneliness. British Medical Journal, 313, 352–354.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hadley, R., & Webb, D. (1974). Loneliness, social isolation and old people: Some implications for social policy. London: Age Concern.Google Scholar
Hall, M., & Havens, B. (1999). The effects of social isolation and loneliness on the health of older women. Report prepared for the Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence. Winnipeg, MB: University of Manitoba.Google Scholar
Harris, L., & Associates (1975). The myths and realities of aging in America. Washington, DC: National Council on Aging.Google Scholar
Hassard, T. (1991). Understanding biostatistics. St. Louis: Mosby Year Book.Google Scholar
Havens, B. (1989, June). Social isolation: 12 years later. Paper presented to the 14th International Congress of Gerontology, Acapulco, Mexico.Google Scholar
Havens, B., & Hall, M. (2001). Social isolation, loneliness, and the health of older adults in Manitoba, Canada. Indian Journal of Gerontology, 15, 126–144.Google Scholar
Havens, B., & Thompson, E. (1975, June). Social relationships and degree of isolation of elderly Manitobans. Paper presented to the International Congress of Gerontology, Jerusalem, Israel.Google Scholar
Holmen, K., Ericsson, K., Andersson, L., & Winblad, B. (1992). Loneliness among elderly people living in Stockholm: A population study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 17, 43–51.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Katz, S., Ford, A.B., Moskowitz, R.W., Jackson, B.A., & Jaffe, M.W. (1963). Studies of illness in the aged: The index of ADL – A standardized measure of biological and psychosocial function. Journal of the American Medical Association, 185, 914–919.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kivett, V.R. (1978). Loneliness and the rural widow. The Family Coordinator, 389–394.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kivett, V.R. (1979). Discriminators of loneliness among the rural elderly: Implications for intervention. The Gerontologist, 19, 108–115.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Larson, R. (1978). Thirty years of research on the subjective well being of older Americans. Journal of Gerontology, 33, 109–125.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lawton, M.P., & Brody, E.M. (1969). Assessment of older people: Self-maintaining and instrumental activities of daily living. The Gerontologist, 9, 179–186.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Loomis, B. (1971). Activities of daily living in health service. Chicago: University of Illinois Department of Occupational Therapy (correspondence).Google Scholar
Lopata, H.Z. (1996). Current widowhood: Myths and realities. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Lowenthal, M., & Robinson, B. (1976). Social networks and isolation. In Binstock, R. & Shanas, E. (Eds.), Handbook of aging and the social sciences (pp. 432–456). New York: Van Nostrand Rheinhold.Google Scholar
Maxwell, C.J., & Oakley, K. (1998). Editorial: Older women's health issues. Canadian Journal on Aging, 17(2), i–ix.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morgan, L.A. (1982). Social roles in later life: Some recent research trends. Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 3, 55–79.Google Scholar
Mullins, L., & Dugan, E. (1990). The influence of depression, and family and friendship relations, on residents' loneliness in congregate housing. Gerontologist, 30, 377–384.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mullins, L.C., & Elston, C.H. (1996). Social determinants of loneliness among older Americans. Genetic, Social and General Psychology Monographs, 122, 453–473.Google ScholarPubMed
Mullins, L.C., Smith, R., Colquitt, R., & Mushel, M. (1996). An examination of the effects of self-rated and objective indicators of health condition and economic condition on the loneliness of older persons. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 15, 23–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pennix, B.W., Tilburg, T., Kriegsman, D., Boeke, J., Deeg, D., & vanEuk, J. (1999). Social networks, social support, and loneliness in older persons with differenct chronic diseases. Journal of Aging and Health, 11, 151–168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perlman, D., & Peplau, L. (1981). Toward a social psychology of loneliness. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Proffitt, C., & Byrne, M. (1993). Predicting loneliness in the hospitalized elderly: What are the risk factors? Geriatric Nursing, 14, 311–314.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Qureshi, H., & Walker, A. (1985). The caring relationship, elderly people and their families. Basingstoke, U.K.: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Rook, K.S., Thuras, P.D., & Lewis, M.A. (1990). Social control, health risk taking, and psychological distress among the elderly. Psychology and Aging, 5, 327–334.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Russell, D.W., Cutrona, C.E., de la Mora, A., & Wallace, R.B. (1997). Loneliness and nursing home admission among rural older adults. Psychology and Aging, 12, 574–589.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ryan, M.C. (1996). Loneliness, social support and depression as interactive variables with cognitive status: Testing Roy's model. Nursing Science Quarterly, 9, 107–114.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ryan, M.C. (1998). The relationship between loneliness, social support, and decline in cognitive function in the hospitalized elderly. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 24, 19–27.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shanas, E., Townsend, P., Wedderburn, D., Friis, H., Milhoj, P., & Stehauwer, J. (1968). Old people in three industrial societies. New York: Atherton.Google Scholar
Sinclair, I., Parker, R., Leat, D., & Williams, J. (1990). The kaleidoscope of care: A review of research on welfare provision for elderly people. London, U.K.: HMSO.Google Scholar
Torrance, G., Furlong, W., Feeny, D., et al. (1992). Provisional health status index for the Ontario Health Survey (Project No. 44400900187). Hamilton, ON: Macmaster University.Google Scholar
Van Baarsen, B., Snijders, T.A., & Smit, J.H. (2001). Lonely but not alone: Emotional isolation and social isolation as two distinct dimensions of loneliness in older people. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 61, 119–135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van Tilburg, T. (1998). Losing and gaining in old age: Changes in personal network size and social support in a four-year longitudinal study. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 53B, S313–S323.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, D., & Beauchene, R. (1991). The relationship of loneliness, social isolation, and physical health to dietary adequacy of independently living elderly. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 91, 300–304.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weiss, R.S. (1973). Loneliness: The experience of emotional and social isolation. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.Google Scholar
Wenger, G.C. (1986). Longitudinal study of changes and adaptation in the support networks of Welsh elderly over 75. Journal of Cross-cultural Gerontology, 1, 277–304.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Woodward, J.C., & Queen, J. (1988). The solitude of loneliness. Lexington, MA: D.C. Heath.Google Scholar