Social Inequalities in Loneliness

Disentangling the Contributions of Education, Income, and Occupation

Dados Bibliográficos

ID3538227
AutoresJohannes Beller (0000-0002-3041-9895, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, autor correspondente)
Ano2024
Volume14
Fascículo3
Data de publicação2024-07-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSAGE Open (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2158-2440 • E-ISSN: 2158-2440
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/21582440241281408
OpenAlexW4402600010
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas8
Referências citadas52

Loneliness represents a serious health risk. However, studies investigating social inequalities in loneliness are rare. Thus, the current study investigates which socioeconomic groups are the most affected by loneliness. Data from the population-based German Aging Survey were used ( N = 3,784), with participants being 40+ years old. Education, income, and occupational prestige were used as socioeconomic indicators. It was found that loneliness scores were descriptively higher in groups with lower educational attainment, lower income and lower occupational prestige. In a linear regression analysis, significant socioeconomic differences in loneliness emerged only for income and occupational prestige. Thus, individuals with a low occupational position and those with low income are systematically more affected by loneliness than higher status groups. Material and occupational resources are likely to constitute major socio-structural explanatory variables for loneliness and should be further investigated as such by future studies

Demographic economics · Economic inequality · Economics · Inequality · Loneliness · Social inequality · Sociology · Employment and Welfare Studies · Health disparities and outcomes · Mathematics · Psychology · Social Psychology · Youth Education and Societal Dynamics