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Illuminating the Psychological Experience of Elderly Loneliness from a Societal Perspective: A Qualitative Study of Alienation between Older People and Society

Author

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  • Anna Wong

    (CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Anson K. C. Chau

    (CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Yang Fang

    (CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Jean Woo

    (CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
    Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

Abstract

Loneliness is a common experience among older people that is associated with health risks and negative well-being. As a psychological phenomenon, it has typically been defined in Western research literature as the discrepancy between desired and actual interpersonal relations. In our qualitative study in Hong Kong, we offer insight into ageing and loneliness in an urban environment of the non-Western world and propose to reconceptualise loneliness by exploring older people’s experience of alienation at the societal level as an important but often neglected dimension of their loneliness. Thirty-seven community-dwelling, Chinese adults aged 65 and above were interviewed in focus groups and their accounts analysed and interpreted using a phenomenological approach. Findings revealed that focus group participants perceived insufficient care for older people, a growing distance between themselves and society, and their disintegrating identity in society to be primary sources of societal alienation. In response, older people adopted a more passive lifestyle, attributed marginalisation and inequality to old age, and developed negative feelings including unease towards ageing, vulnerability and helplessness, and anger. The emergence of these key components and underlying themes of societal alienation illuminated neglected facets of the psychological phenomenon of loneliness and highlighted new implications for policy, practice, and research from a societal perspective to address older people’s loneliness in urban settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Wong & Anson K. C. Chau & Yang Fang & Jean Woo, 2017. "Illuminating the Psychological Experience of Elderly Loneliness from a Societal Perspective: A Qualitative Study of Alienation between Older People and Society," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:7:p:824-:d:105531
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gerstorf, Denis & Hoppmann, Christiane A. & Löckenhoff, Corinna E. & Infurna, Frank J. & Schupp, Jürgen & Wagner, Gert G., 2016. "Terminal Decline in Well-Being: The Role of Social Orientation," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 31(2), pages 149-165.
    2. Angelique Chan & Prassanna Raman & Stefan Ma & Rahul Malhotra, 2015. "Loneliness and all-cause mortality in community-dwelling elderly Singaporeans," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 32(49), pages 1361-1382.
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    Cited by:

    1. Louise Mansfield & Christina Victor & Catherine Meads & Norma Daykin & Alan Tomlinson & Jack Lane & Karen Gray & Alex Golding, 2021. "A Conceptual Review of Loneliness in Adults: Qualitative Evidence Synthesis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Kazuki Seko & Michiyo Hirano, 2021. "Predictors and Importance of Social Aspects in Ikigai among Older Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-11, August.
    3. Liang En Wee & Tammy Yun Ying Tsang & Huso Yi & Sue Anne Toh & Geok Ling Lee & Jaime Yee & Shannon Lee & Kellynn Oen & Gerald Choon Huat Koh, 2019. "Loneliness amongst Low-Socioeconomic Status Elderly Singaporeans and its Association with Perceptions of the Neighbourhood Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-9, March.
    4. Amy H. I. Lee & He-Yau Kang, 2019. "A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Model for Evaluating Senior Daycare Center Locations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-21, December.
    5. Iria Dobarrio-Sanz & Crístofer Ruiz-González & Cayetano Fernández-Sola & Pablo Roman & José Granero-Molina & Jose Manuel Hernández-Padilla, 2021. "Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions of Loneliness amongst Older Adults: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-14, November.
    6. Jean Woo, 2017. "How Can We Achieve Healthy Aging?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-2, December.

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