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. 2016 Jun;52(6):943-59.
doi: 10.1037/dev0000117. Epub 2016 May 5.

Age differences in loneliness from late adolescence to oldest old age

Maike Luhmann  1 , Louise C Hawkley  2
Affiliations

Age differences in loneliness from late adolescence to oldest old age

Maike Luhmann et al. Dev Psychol. 2016 Jun.

Abstract

Contrary to common stereotypes, loneliness is not restricted to old age but can occur at any life stage. In this study, we used data from a large, nationally representative German study (N = 16,132) to describe and explain age differences in loneliness from late adolescence to oldest old age. The age distribution of loneliness followed a complex nonlinear trajectory, with elevated loneliness levels among young adults and among the oldest old. The late-life increase in loneliness could be explained by lower income levels, higher prevalence of functional limitations, and higher proportion of singles in this age group. Consistent with an age-normative perspective, the association of income, relationship status, household size, and work status with loneliness differed between different age groups. In contrast, indicators of the quantity of social relationships (social engagement, number of friends, contact frequency) were universally associated with loneliness regardless of age. Overall, these findings show that sources of loneliness in older adults are well understood. Future research should focus on understanding the specific sources of loneliness in middle-aged adults. (PsycINFO Database Record

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Distribution of observed and adjusted loneliness from adolescence to old age. The confidence bands reflect the 95% confidence interval of the LOESS line.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Age distribution of adjusted loneliness scores adjusting for all covariates (dashed lines) and adjusting for all but a (set of) specific covariate(s) (solid lines). The confidence bands reflect 95% confidence intervals of the LOESS lines.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Age distribution of adjusted loneliness scores adjusting for all covariates (dashed lines) and adjusting for all but a (set of) specific covariate(s) (solid lines). The confidence bands reflect 95% confidence intervals of the LOESS lines.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Average loneliness levels by age group and work status, adjusted for all other covariates listed in Table 2. The error bars reflect 95% confidence intervals.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Average loneliness levels by age group and household (HH) size, adjusted for all other covariates listed in Table 2. The error bars reflect 95% confidence intervals.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Average loneliness levels by age group and relationship status, adjusted for all other covariates listed in Table 2. The error bars reflect 95% confidence intervals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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