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An investigation into the patterns of loneliness and loss in the oldest old – Newcastle 85+ Study

Bibliographic Data

ID11200341
AuthorsKatie Brittain (0000-0002-3889-7357, Newcastle Hospitals - Campus for Ageing and Vitality, corresponding author), Andrew Kingston (0000-0003-4211-7007, Newcastle Hospitals - Campus for Ageing and Vitality), Karen Davies (0000-0001-5769-7521, Newcastle Hospitals - Campus for Ageing and Vitality), JOANNA COLLERTON (Newcastle Hospitals - Campus for Ageing and Vitality), Louise Robinson (0000-0003-0209-2503, Newcastle Hospitals - Campus for Ageing and Vitality), LOUISE A ROBINSON, Thomas B L Kirkwood (0000-0002-6675-8944, Newcastle Hospitals - Campus for Ageing and Vitality), John Bond (Newcastle Hospitals - Campus for Ageing and Vitality), Carol Jagger (0000-0002-6377-9926, Newcastle Hospitals - Campus for Ageing and Vitality)
Year2017
Volume37
Issue1
Pages39-62
Publication date2017-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAgeing and Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0144-686X • E-ISSN: 1469-1779
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0144686x15001142
OpenAlexW2342116083
LanguageEN
Citations received20
References cited60

Old age is often characterised as being associated with neglect, isolation and loneliness, not least since established risks factors for loneliness include widowhood, living alone, depression and being female. Cross-sectional data have challenged the notion that loneliness is especially an old-age phenomenon but longitudinal data on loneliness is scarce. Moreover, an under-represented group in prior studies are the oldest old, those aged 85 years and more. This paper addresses these knowledge gaps using data from the Newcastle 85+ Study, a large population-based cohort aged 85 years at first interview with follow-up interviews at 18 months and three years. At baseline over half (55%) reported being always or often alone, and 41 per cent reported feeling more lonely than ten years previously, although only 2 per cent reported always feeling lonely. Women spent more time alone than men and reported more loneliness both currently and compared to the past. Length of widowhood was a key factor, with those recently widowed having twice the risk of feeling lonely and those widowed for five or more years having a lower risk of reporting increased loneliness. Overall, the findings show that loneliness is a minority experience in the oldest old but is strongly driven by length of widowhood, challenging the notion that loneliness in later life is a static experience

Depression (economics) · Feeling · Loneliness · Longitudinal study · Neglect · Population · Psychiatry · Social isolation · Sociology · Aging and Gerontology Research · Demography · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology

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Unique citing works20
Citations per year2,5
Citation span2018 - 2026 (9)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 19
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