Addressing loneliness in later life.
OBJECTIVE
Social and solitary pastimes with the potential to ameliorate the experience of loneliness among older individuals were investigated for the purpose of informing future interventions designed to reduce the negative consequences of social isolation.


METHODS
Nineteen individual interviews with Australians aged 65 years and older.


RESULTS
Several pastimes were described by interviewees as instrumental in determining whether the increasing social isolation they experience in older age results in feelings of emotional isolation and thus of loneliness.


CONCLUSIONS
The specific behaviours that were found to ameliorate loneliness included utilizing friends and family as an emotional resource, engaging in eating and drinking rituals as a means of maintaining social contacts, and spending time constructively by reading and gardening. Specific recommendations are provided for interventions designed to prevent and treat loneliness among older people.
Pettigrew
Simone
S
UWA Business School, University of Western Australia, Crawley WA, Australia. simone.pettigrew@uwa.edu.au
Roberts
Michele
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001290:Attitude; D001315:Australia; D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D004327:Drinking Behavior; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D051639:Gardening; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011932:Reading; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support