title: The association between social capital and loneliness in different age groups: a population-based study in Western Finland.
abstract: Previous studies of loneliness have largely focused on establishing risk factors in specific age groups such as in later life or in young people. Researchers have paid less attention to the link between social capital and loneliness across different age groups. The aim of this study was to examine the association between social capital and experienced loneliness in different age groups in a Finnish setting.
  
  
  
  The data originates from a population-based cross-sectional survey conducted among 4618 people aged 15-80 in Western Finland in 2011. The response rate was 46.2 %. The association between social capital, measured by frequency of social contacts, participation in organisational activities, trust and sense of belonging to the neighbourhood and loneliness was tested by logistic regression analyses stratified by four age groups.
  
  
  
  Frequent loneliness (defined as experienced often or sometimes) was higher among younger people (39.5 %) compared to older people (27.3 %). Low levels of trust were linked to loneliness in all four age groups. The association between other aspects of social capital and loneliness varied across age groups.
  
  
  
  Frequent loneliness is common among the general adult population and could be seen as a public health issue. Our findings imply that low social capital, especially in terms of low trust, may be a risk factor for loneliness. However, further research is needed to assess the influence of poor health and reverse causality as explanations for the findings.
authors.affiliation: Åbo Akademi University, Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Study Programme of Social Sciences, Social Policy, PB 311, 65101, Vaasa, Finland. fredrica.nyqvist@abo.fi.
authors.forename: Fredrica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nyqvist
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, UK.
authors.forename: Christina R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Victor
authors.affiliation: Åbo Akademi University, Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Study Programme of Social Sciences, Developmental Psychology, Vaasa, Finland.
authors.forename: Anna K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Forsman
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Mima
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cattan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D066270:Social Capital; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age groups; Loneliness; Population-based survey; Social capital; Western Finland