The Phenomenon of Loneliness in Old Age

Abstract

Background. The issue of solitude is fragmentary in gerontological investigations, and is generally interpreted as loneliness: a negative experience of lack of relationships with other people. Ageing people have many variants of loneliness, often connected with their own prejudices or satisfaction with their social contacts. In loneliness, opportunities and rights to the sovereignty of one’s life space can be preserved. Objective. To study loneliness as a fact of life, a multi-dimensional phenomenon, including the feeling of loneliness itself, lack of communication, and ability to be alone. We suppose that senior adults with different levels of psychological well-being are specific in this acceptance of loneliness and ability to find resources in this situation. Design. The participants comprised 129 residents of Kamchatka Region aged 60–82. In the first stage, using C. Ryff ’s “Psychological Well-Being Scale” with midvalues cluster analysis, the respondents were divided into groups with different levels of psychological well-being. In the second stage, the data of the “Differential Questionnaire on Experiencing Loneliness” and “Subjective Perception of One’s Own Life” questionnaire were used for correlation analysis of interrelations between psychological well-being and the “positive loneliness” subscale, revealing the participants’ ability to find resources in loneliness. Results. The research shows that experiencing loneliness in the gerontological cohort is non-homogeneous; it is interconnected with personal attitudes towards positive loneliness, with psychological well-being. It changes the activities of the elderly and the extent of experiencing loneliness. Conclusion. There is cultural mitigation of loneliness in gerontological cohorts and also in their shift from a negative mindset towards an existential one.