Loneliness affects Black older adults (BOAs) in different and debilitating ways. BOAs aged 65 years and above make up 7.3% of the Black population and 15.9% of the total population of those aged 65 years and above in Canada. Also, the population of BOAs in Canada has doubled within the last two decades, highlighting the need to understand the unique experience of aging of this population, including their experiences of loneliness and social participation. Contrarily, there exist notable gaps within the loneliness literature on the experience of loneliness and social participation among BOAs living in Canada. This doctoral dissertation addresses these knowledge gaps by providing insight into the factors influencing social and emotional loneliness and lack of social participation among BOAs and proffers ways to address the issues, expressly informing future research, services, and programs targeting this group. This dissertation is comprised of four papers. Paper 1 is a scoping review of 27 articles that reveal the dearth of empirical evidence on the experience of loneliness or subjective social isolation and the contributing factors among BOAs in Canada. The data used for the remaining three papers were collected through 25 narrative interviewing conducted with 13 BOAs living in Hamilton and Windsor, Ontario. Findings from this paper shows that in addition to unavailability of social provisions (relational gains), loneliness among BOAs is exacerbated by socio-economic factors, health-related factors and behaviours, and technology, media device possession and usage. The results also indicate that there is need for inclusion of BOAs in loneliness research in Canada. Following Paper 1, Paper 2 investigates the unique experience of loneliness among BOAs living in Canada and the suitability of the social provision framework in identifying and understanding the experience of loneliness among this group. Findings from this paper demonstrates the significance of social connection, reliable relationships and relational gains in reducing and increasing experience of loneliness among BOAs. Paper 3 analyzes the constellation of factors that contribute to loneliness among BOAs and how they cope with their experience of loneliness. The results from this paper highlight the complex overlapping factors that contribute to the experience of loneliness among BOAs including time, sense of place and belonging, weak socio-personal interaction, and level of exclusions. Paper 4 and final paper uncovers the micro and macro level factors that hinder BOAs from participating in social programs and services and suggests ways to improve their social participation. Specifically, findings from this paper uncovers the need for programs and services that are culturally diverse and sensitive to the unmet needs of racialized and minoritized groups. Collectively, the four papers contribute to knowledge on the experience of loneliness among BOAs and contributory factors and highlight the need for more inclusive research and practice on addressing loneliness among this group. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This research aims to understand how loneliness affects Black older adults (BOAs) living in Canada and how to reduce their loneliness. This is a group that is not usually included in the loneliness literature. The dissertation is organized into six chapters comprising of the introduction, four papers and the conclusion. Paper One analyzes 27 articles describing the factors that contribute to loneliness among Black older adults globally. The 27 papers reveal while loneliness is devastating for BOAs, studies that have examined the experience of loneliness among BOAs in Canada is very scanty. Paper Two, Three and Four all report results from narrative interviews conducted with 13 Black older adults living in Windsor and Hamilton, Ontario. Paper Two explores the unique experience of loneliness among BOAs. Paper Three analyzes the influence of time, place and interaction as factors that contribute to the experience of loneliness among Black older adults and their coping strategies. The final paper explores the significant factors that hinder BOAs from participating in social programs and services and ways to improve their participation. Generally, the results of these papers provide important insights into the ways to address loneliness and the lack of social participation among BOAs. The results show that programs and services targeting loneliness in Ontario need to be made more culturally sensitive and representational of minoritized groups. Lastly, it highlights the need for the inclusion of BOAs in loneliness research among older adults in Canada.

There are negative correlations between prosocial behaviors and loneliness and negative correlations between thinking about prosocial behaviors and loneliness. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of thinking about engaging in charitable behaviors on immediate feelings of social and emotional loneliness, as measured by the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale (SELSA). To compare influences of thinking about charitable behaviors and not thinking about charitable behaviors, an experimental design was used. The theoretical framework was a mediational model in which thinking about engaging in a specific charitable behavior leads to perceived ability to participate in positive social interaction, which leads to increased sense of belongingness, which leads to decreased loneliness. This was based on the spreading activation theory and Peplau and Perlman’s social psychological theory of loneliness. A sample of 171 adults age 18 or older living in the United States completed an online questionnaire consisting of 1 of 3 randomly assigned writing prompt conditions: charitable thoughts writing prompt, control writing prompt, and no writing prompt. Data were analyzed through planned contrasts within a one-way ANOVA. Planned contrasts revealed no significant difference in social or emotional loneliness scores between participants in the experimental group and participants in either control group. Thinking about engaging in charitable behaviors does not lead to immediate reduction in loneliness, opening new questions for researchers to investigate what does lead to immediate reduction in loneliness. Nonsignificant findings help health professionals make informed decisions about how to help clients. They need scientific evidence to distinguish between what does and does not work.

An exploration of the interpersonal experiences of loneliness by older people in a residential care facility It is estimated that there were about 3, 8 million older people in South Africa in 2010 (Statistics South Africa, 2010). Many older people have to be cared for in residential care facilities due to their weakening health, the migration of children and grandchildren, or due to limited financial resources. This has led to the attempt in this research study to explore the interpersonal experiences of loneliness by older people living in a residential care facility. Loneliness is an unpleasant experience associated with inadequate interpersonal contact. It is widely accepted that loneliness is closely associated with ageing as a consequence of multiple losses – loss of abilities, loss of and changes in personal relationships, loss of relationships with familiar environments and changed contact with friends and relatives resulting in reduced relationships. Changes in the relationship with the environment are regarded as a particular loss by older people, especially if they have to rely on institutionalized care and loose contact with familiar social networks and the free association with other people. Lonely people are isolated people. For the purpose of this study, loneliness is regarded as a relational phenomenon, and the theory of complex responsive processes of relating will be used as the theoretical framework for this study. In an attempt to understand the interpersonal experiences associated with loneliness, a qualitative and exploratory research method was used. The research was conducted in a residential care facility in Johannesburg, South Africa. The group of older people, who was purposively selected for the study, consisted of 10 older persons: 7 female and 3 male and with ages ranging between 62 and 82 years of age. The data was collected by means of various qualitative techniques, including the Mmogo-methodTM and visual drawings. The collected data was analysed by using thematic analysis, visual analysis and key-words-in-context, and crystallization was used to increase the trustworthiness of the findings. Ethical approval for the research project was obtained from the North-West University. Two themes emerged from the findings, being: 1) Relationships are experienced in terms of the interactions in relationships as well as in terms of preferred interpersonal styles; and 2) The relationships experienced in the context of the residential care facility are described as being unsafe and lacking in care, while the environment is described as non-stimulating. Some of the findings are confirmed by existing literature. However, the unique contribution of the study is the finding that the environment in which the relationships are embedded is perceived to be dangerous, and that it is perceived to be a risk to become visible to each other in order to establish meaningful interpersonal relationships. Several suggestions regarding future interventions are made and some limitations of the study are mentioned. The contribution of the study is that loneliness are expressed and described in terms of interpersonal relationships embedded in the broader environment. Thus, the potential of older people to form meaningful interpersonal relationships are limited in the broader environment if the environment is experienced as unsafe and lacking in care. / Thesis (MSc (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

An exploration of the interpersonal experiences of loneliness by older people in a residential care facility It is estimated that there were about 3, 8 million older people in South Africa in 2010 (Statistics South Africa, 2010). Many older people have to be cared for in residential care facilities due to their weakening health, the migration of children and grandchildren, or due to limited financial resources. This has led to the attempt in this research study to explore the interpersonal experiences of loneliness by older people living in a residential care facility. Loneliness is an unpleasant experience associated with inadequate interpersonal contact. It is widely accepted that loneliness is closely associated with ageing as a consequence of multiple losses – loss of abilities, loss of and changes in personal relationships, loss of relationships with familiar environments and changed contact with friends and relatives resulting in reduced relationships. Changes in the relationship with the environment are regarded as a particular loss by older people, especially if they have to rely on institutionalized care and loose contact with familiar social networks and the free association with other people. Lonely people are isolated people. For the purpose of this study, loneliness is regarded as a relational phenomenon, and the theory of complex responsive processes of relating will be used as the theoretical framework for this study. In an attempt to understand the interpersonal experiences associated with loneliness, a qualitative and exploratory research method was used. The research was conducted in a residential care facility in Johannesburg, South Africa. The group of older people, who was purposively selected for the study, consisted of 10 older persons: 7 female and 3 male and with ages ranging between 62 and 82 years of age. The data was collected by means of various qualitative techniques, including the Mmogo-methodTM and visual drawings. The collected data was analysed by using thematic analysis, visual analysis and key-words-in-context, and crystallization was used to increase the trustworthiness of the findings. Ethical approval for the research project was obtained from the North-West University. Two themes emerged from the findings, being: 1) Relationships are experienced in terms of the interactions in relationships as well as in terms of preferred interpersonal styles; and 2) The relationships experienced in the context of the residential care facility are described as being unsafe and lacking in care, while the environment is described as non-stimulating. Some of the findings are confirmed by existing literature. However, the unique contribution of the study is the finding that the environment in which the relationships are embedded is perceived to be dangerous, and that it is perceived to be a risk to become visible to each other in order to establish meaningful interpersonal relationships. Several suggestions regarding future interventions are made and some limitations of the study are mentioned. The contribution of the study is that loneliness are expressed and described in terms of interpersonal relationships embedded in the broader environment. Thus, the potential of older people to form meaningful interpersonal relationships are limited in the broader environment if the environment is experienced as unsafe and lacking in care. / Thesis (MSc (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

This masters's thesis focuses on coping strategies elderly people use to cope with their loneliness. The thesis uses twenty semi-structured interviews with the elderly living in nursery home and community-dwelling elderly, which are then compared. Theoretically the thesis is based on Robert Weiss's typology of social and emotional loneliness and the current knowledge of the relationship between health and loneliness and coping strategies. The major results are that experiencing loneliness does not differ between the two selected groups, which contradicts the conclusions of previous research and that health was an important aspect in both groups. Further the thesis concludes that no relationship was found between the number of coping strategies the elderly use and their loneliness. Loneliness of the elderly in relation to the concept of coping strategies, in addition with comparassion of the elderly living in nursery home and community-dwelling elderly, is not greatly discussed topic in the Czech Republic. Thus, the master's thesis constibutes to the discussion within the Czech context on the coping strategies the elderly people use to cope with their loneliness and the differences or similarities between the two selected groups.

La presente investigación de tipo descriptivo-correlacional tiene el objetivo de determinar la relación entre ajuste diádico y soledad en parejas adultas limeñas. La muestra está compuesta por 195 participantes en una relación de pareja heterosexual, seleccionados a través de una técnica no probabilística de muestreo intencional y de participación voluntaria. Los instrumentos aplicados son la Escala de Ajuste Diádico de Spanier (1976) y la Escala de Soledad De Jong-Gierveld (1985), para luego establecer la relación existente entre ambas variables. El análisis y procesamiento de los datos aplicó técnicas de estadística descriptiva e inferencial. Las correlaciones más significativas, en sentido negativo, se hallaron entre cohesión y las dimensiones de soledad, y expresión de afecto y las dimensiones de soledad. En ambas escalas no se hallaron diferencias significativas con relación al sexo y al estado civil. La soledad sería un factor que influye en el nivel de ajuste diádico de la pareja. / The present descriptive-correlational research aims to determine the relationship between dyadic adjustment and loneliness in Lima adult couples. The sample was made up of 195 participants in a heterosexual couple relationship, selected by a non-probabilistic technique of intentional sampling and voluntary participation. The instruments used for this research were the Spanier Dyadic Adjustment Scale (1976) and the De Jong-Gierveld Solitude Scale (1985), both investigations helped to establish the relationship between both variables. The analysis and processing of the data applied descriptive and inferential statistics techniques. The most significant correlations, in a negative sense, were found between cohesion and the dimensions of loneliness, and expression of affection and the dimensions of loneliness. In both scales, no significant differences were found in relation to sex and marital status. Loneliness would be a factor that influences the level of dyadic adjustment of the couple. / Tesis

Syftet med studien var att undersöka ofrivillig ensamhet i den svenska befolkningen utifrån faktorer som tidigare har visat sig associerade med oönskad ensamhet, nämligen ålder, inkomst, civilstånd, kön, antal hushållsmedlemmar och även storleken på orten där personen bor. Upplevelsen av ensamhet före och under coronapandemin har också studerats. Totalt har 196 personer svarat på ett frågeformulär som mäter de tidigare nämnda faktorerna och ensamhet enligt UCLA-ensamhetsindex. Resultaten visar att ensamheten är störst bland den yngre populationen och bland dem med lägst inkomst. Resultaten påvisade även att storstadsbor upplever sig mindre ensamma än de som bor i mindre orter. Studien kunde inte visa att coronapandemin haft någon inverkan på ensamhetsupplevelsen. Det fanns ingen statistiskt signifikant skillnad i ensamhet utifrån kön, civilstånd eller antal medlemmar i hushållet. Slutsatsen som kan dras från studien är att inkomst, ålder och storleken på orten där individen bor har betydelse för ofrivillig ensamhet. / The purpose of the present study was to examine the involuntary loneliness in the Swedish population considering factors that previously have been shown to be associated, i.e. age, income, civil status, gender, number of household members and size of the locality where the individual lives. Even the experienced level of loneliness before and during the coronavirus pandemics has been studied. A total of 196 individuals have responded to a questionnaire aimed to measure the previously named factors as well as the loneliness index according to the UCLA Loneliness Scale. The results show that involuntary loneliness is more widespread among younger individuals and among those with lowest incomes. The results also show that people living in Sweden's largest localities feel less lonely than those living in smaller localities. The current study could not conclude that the coronavirus pandemic has had any effect on loneliness. No statistically significant differences in loneliness have been found when it comes to gender, civil status or number of members in the household. Overall, it can be concluded that income, age and the size of the locality where the individual lives are significant in the experience of involuntary loneliness.

Research has shown that university students are extra vulnerable to experiencing loneliness because of the social, structural, and behavioral changes associated with starting to study at university. Studies have also shown that different attachment profiles can have an impact on an individual's experience of loneliness. A lot of earlier research has investigated loneliness as one whole concept, so the aim of the present study was to look into both emotional and social loneliness in university students and to understand their relationship with adult attachment. One-hundred and twenty-six university students over 18 years old answered De Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS) and Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) through an online survey. A quantitative between groups design was used to explore the specific aims of the study. For the statistical analysis the participants were divided into four groups based on type and amount of loneliness. The results of the study showed that emotional loneliness was associated with insecure-ambivalent attachment and social loneliness associated with insecure-avoidant attachment. Those with high levels of emotional loneliness had significantly higher levels of insecure-ambivalent attachment compared with those with high levels of social loneliness. Individuals with low levels of both loneliness types, had significantly higher levels of secure attachment and lower levels of insecure attachment compared with the other groups, which indicates that the more securely attached an individual is the less lonely he or she is. / Forskning har visat att universitetsstudenter är extra sårbara vad gäller upplevd ensamhet på grund av de sociala, strukturella och beteendemässiga förändringarna som är associerade med att börja studera på universitet. Studier har även visat att olika typer av anknytnings profiler kan ha en påverkan på en individs upplevda ensamhet. Mycket av den tidigare forskningen har undersökt ensamhet som ett enda koncept, så syftet med denna studie var att undersöka både emotionell och social ensamhet hos universitetsstudenter och förstå deras relation till vuxenanknytning. Deltagarna bestod av 126 universitetsstudenter över 18 år som svarade på De Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS) och Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) genom en webb-baserad enkät. En kvantitativ mellangruppsdesign användes för att undersöka studiens specifika syften. För den statistiska analysen delades deltagarna in i fyra grupper baserat på typ och mängd av ensamhet. Resultatet av studien visade att emotionell ensamhet var associerat med otrygg-ambivalent anknytning och social ensamhet var associerat med otrygg-undvikande anknytning. De med höga nivåer av emotionell ensamhet hade signifikant högre nivåer av otrygg-ambivalent anknytning jämfört med de som hade höga nivåer av social ensamhet. Individer som hade låga nivåer av båda typerna av ensamhet, hade signifikant högre nivåer av trygg anknytning och lägre nivåer av otrygg anknytning jämfört med de andra grupperna, vilket tyder på att ju tryggare anknytning man har desto mindre ensam känner man sig.