Life stories from lonely older adults

The Role of Precipitating Events and Coping Strategies Throughout the Lifecourse

Dados Bibliográficos

ID7146341
AutoresLise Switsers (0000-0001-7025-7934, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, autor correspondente), Hannelore Stegen (0000-0001-7954-645X, Vrije Universiteit Brussel), E Dierckx (0000-0002-2839-4027, Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Leen Heylen (0000-0002-7971-1205, Thomas More Kempen), Dury (0000-0003-0743-0364, Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Liesbeth De Donder (0000-0003-4999-5902, Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
Ano2025
Volume45
Fascículo4
Páginas686-709
Data de publicação2025-04-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAgeing and Society (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0144-686X • E-ISSN: 1469-1779
EditoraCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0144686x23000715
OpenAlexW4388725192
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas74

Previous research has highlighted the importance of past life experiences in the theoretical and conceptual understanding of loneliness. However, adding a lifecourse perspective to loneliness research remains underexplored. To comprehend the complexity of loneliness in old age, it is crucial to pay attention to the lifecourse perspective. This study addresses an important lifecourse perspective on loneliness through an in-depth, narrative approach. Building on the cognitive discrepancy theory, this study examines how precipitating events and coping strategies throughout the lifecourse may influence current feelings of loneliness in older adults. We qualitatively examined the experienced lifecourse of 20 lonely older adults living in Belgium by applying a modified version of the McAdams life-story interview scheme. Next, we conducted eight member-check interviews. A first finding provided insight into the importance of precipitating events during the lifecourse for current loneliness. The results pointed not only to the lifelong impact of events during childhood and adulthood, which may lead to vulnerability to loneliness later in life: unrealised life events ( e.g. not being able to have children) as well as events with no impact earlier in life nevertheless turned out to be relevant in the emergence of loneliness later in life. Second, the narratives revealed that several older adults who experienced loneliness earlier and later in life continued to use the same coping strategies throughout the lifecourse, whereas by contrast some older adults adapted their coping strategies based on previous experiences and improved their loneliness-coping skills. It also appeared that changes in people's resources, such as the presence of physical limitations, may make it more difficult to cope with loneliness in later life. The discussion makes a plea for lifelong prevention of and attention to loneliness

Cognition · Coping (psychology) · Developmental psychology · Feeling · Loneliness · Narrative · Older people · Perspective (graphical) · Aging and Gerontology Research · Clinical Psychology · Health disparities and outcomes · Health, psychology, and well-being · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology