The experiences and needs of Asian older adults who are socially isolated and lonely: A qualitative systematic review (original) (raw)

The Loneliness of Older Adults Associated with Various Types of Thai Families

Journal of Population and Social Studies, 2021

The structures of Thai families have changed, and therefore increased the number of factors negatively affecting older adults. The most common is loneliness, which affects older adults and is closely related to mental state. The purpose of this research was to analyze and compare the level of loneliness of older adults in different family types and study the differences between personal factors, family factors, and social factors of the older adults toward the loneliness of the older adults within a variety of family types. The population was 346 older adults aged 60 years and over. The analysis found that 76% of older adults in the study have low levels of loneliness. The older adults in different family types had a statistically significant difference level of loneliness. The older adults who lived alone had a higher level of loneliness than others. Factors related to the moderate level of loneliness among the older adults within different family types were not participating in fa...

Coping with loneliness in old age: a cross-cultural comparison

Current Psychology, 2004

The present study is an examination of the influence of cultural background on the ways in which the aged cope with loneliness. Thirty-six participants from Canada and 105 from Portugal (60-83 years old) answered an 86-item questionnaire which examined thebeneficial strategies which they used to cope with loneliness. The strategies which were examined included Acceptance and Reflection, Self-Development and Understanding, Social Support Network, Distancing and Denial, Religion and Faith, and Increased Activity. Results indicated that the elderly of the two cultures differ on three subscales. Gender differences between and within cultures were also examined.

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

International journal of environmental research and public health, 2017

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 societ...

Lonely ageing in a foreign land: Social isolation and loneliness among older Asian migrants in New Zealand

Health and Social Care in the Community, 2018

Ageing does not reduce people's need to connect with family members, friends, and acquaintances, and neither does migration. For those older migrants living in a foreign land, connectedness with others plays a particularly important role in achieving a sense of belonging and sustaining their health and well‐being. This paper explores the issues of social isolation and loneliness among older Asian migrants in New Zealand. Data were collected from in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with Chinese‐ or Korean‐speaking migrants aged between 75 and 84 years (n = 10: all females), and from three focus groups consisting of Chinese‐ and Korean‐speaking migrants (n = 10: 7 females, 3 males) and Chinese professionals (n = 5: 3 females, 2 males) between June 2016 and December 2016. The qualitative data obtained were analysed applying a thematic analysis approach using NVivo software for group analysis by a multidisciplinary research team. The findings from the study show that older Asian migrants experienced high levels of isolation and loneliness at least at some points in their migrant lives. Most participants in this study were living alone or with only their spouse, and this living arrangement was likely to provide fertile ground for isolation and loneliness to grow in the context of later‐life migration. It was also observed that their lonely ageing ironically resulted from their efforts to preserve family relationships through avoiding being a burden, while allowing them a sort of space to maintain now barely connected lives. The participants revealed multiple ways of coping with lonely and isolated experiences in their limited social network, and these individual strategies allow us to make suggestions about how best to reduce older migrants’ social isolation and loneliness in the New Zealand context and beyond.

'People haven't got that close connection': meanings of loneliness and social isolation to culturally diverse older people

Aging and Mental Health, 2019

Objectives: Social isolation and loneliness among older people are known to have negative effects on health and wellbeing. Few studies, however, have enabled older people to define these concepts in their own terms. This paper based on research in Aotearoa, New Zealand is the first to comparatively outline the meanings of loneliness and social isolation from the perspective of four ethnically diverse groups of older adults (Māori, Pacific, Asian, and NZ European). Method: We interviewed 44 older people and conducted three focus groups with 32 older people. We used thematic and narrative analyses. Results: Loneliness and social isolation were conceptualized as interconnected concepts described as a ‘look and feel’, a ‘state of mind’ and as a ‘lack of desired companionship’. Participants conveyed sophisticated understandings of the structural underpinnings of both loneliness and social isolation as multi-dimensional, complex, and situated. Conclusions: Older people describe complex and culturally- nuanced understanding and experience of social isolation and loneliness. More culturally appropriate services, greater mental-health support and more service provision on weekends and evenings are needed.

A Comparative Study of Loneliness in Older Adults Based on Place of Residence in Indonesia

Gaceta Médica de Caracas

Loneliness remains a global problem facing older people, including in Indonesia. This study aimed to compare the loneliness in institutionalized older people and those at home with their families. Methods: A comparative study was conducted to analyze loneliness in the elderly using a cross-sectional approach. The simple random sampling techniques obtained 46 respondents for institutionalized older people and family environments.

Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older People: A Closer Look at Definitions

2017

Social isolation and loneliness are related and the terms are often used interchangeably, but they are distinct concepts with different definitions, health impacts, and interventions. Our population is aging and older people are at increased risk for both social isolation and loneliness and the associated negative health consequences. Understanding the important differences between social isolation and loneliness will help us recognize them earlier in vulnerable populations, engage in more meaningful conversations with older adults about their own risks, and will inform the development and delivery of more individualized, meaningful, and cost-effective interventions. BACKGROUND Americans value their independence. Nearly 90% of adults over age 65 say they want to grow old in their own homes. Supporting older persons at home as they age will improve quality of life for many, but for those who live alone, have low incomes, poor health, or have few or strained relationships, remaining at home without family, community, or neighborhood support will increase their risk of being socially isolated, lonely, or both.

Risk Factors for Social Isolation in Older Korean Americans

Journal of aging and health, 2015

Given the importance of social ties and connectedness in the lives of older ethnic immigrants, the present study examined the prevalence of social isolation and its risk factors in older Korean Americans. Using survey data from 1,301 participants (Mage = 70.5, SD = 7.24), risk groups for marginal social ties with family and friends were identified and predictors of each type of social isolation explored. Male gender and poorer rating of health were identified as common risk factors for marginal ties to both family and friends. Findings also present specific risk factors for each type of social isolation. For example, an increased risk of having marginal ties with friends was observed among individuals with perceived financial strain, greater functional impairment, and a shorter stay in the United States. The common and specific risk factors should be incorporated in programs to reduce social isolation in older immigrant populations.