title: Loneliness of Older Immigrant Groups in Canada: Effects of Ethnic-Cultural Background.
abstract: This study aimed to explore the loneliness of several groups of older immigrants in Canada compared to native-born older adults. Data from the Canadian General Social Survey, Cycle 22 (N older adults = 3,692) were used. The dependent variable is the 6 item De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale. Determinants of loneliness included country of birth, ethnic background (cultural context); belongingness (community context) and social networks (social context). Results showed that only some immigrant groups are significantly lonelier than older adults born in Canada. Immigrants with similar language and culture are not lonelier; while those from countries that differ in native language/culture are significantly higher on loneliness. Multivariate analyses showed the importance of cultural background, of composition of the network of relatives and friends, and of local participation and feelings of belonging to the Canadian society in explaining loneliness of older immigrants.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI), P.O. Box 11650, 2502 AR, The Hague, The Netherlands, gierveld@nidi.nl.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Jong Gierveld
authors.forename: Suzan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van der Pas
authors.forename: Norah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Keating
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D004644:Emotions; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires