Characteristics of Coping with Loneliness and the Influence of Living Arrangements Among Older Adults: Findings from a Comparative Qualitative Study.

Abstract

Loneliness among older adults is a well-known public health issue that became significantly apparent in the post-Covid-19 era. Our qualitative study examined and compared the perspectives of thirty-one older adults toward the factors that intensified or reduced loneliness. Five themes emerged from the analysis: emotional vs. social loneliness; the impact of health conditions on loneliness; the effect of socioeconomic status on loneliness; the role of family links; and the role of social networks . Findings show that effectively reducing loneliness requires a better understanding of how social networks differ based on sociodemographic elements and dominant cultural values. .