Loneliness

Loneliness

NB. This documentation needs updating due to the introduction of a new concept: existential loneliness (LASAJ173).

LSN/LASA filenames:
LSNa073, LSNg073, LSNi073;
LASAB073, LASAC073, LASAD073, LASAE073, LAS2B073, LASAF073, LASAG073, LASAH073, LAS3B073, LASMB073, LASAI073, LASAJ073, LASAK073;
LASAdc25, LASAel01;
LASet606, LASet706;
LASAC606 , LASAD606, LASAE606;
LASAD706, LASAE706, LASAF706, LASAG706, LASAH706, LASAI706, LASAJ706;
LASAH712, LASAI712, LASAJ712, LASAK712;
LASAJ173;
LASEs816;
LASAge73, LSNa273, LSNg273, LSNi273;
LASAB273, LASAC273, LASAD273, LASAE273, LAS2B273, LASAF273, LASAG273, LASAH273, LAS3B273, LASMB273, LASAI273, LASAJ273;
LASAB025, LASAC025, LASAD025, LASAE025, LAS2B025, LASAF025, LASAG025, LASAH025, LAS3B025, LASMB025, LASAI025, LASAJ025;
LASEs806;
LASAbd20, LASAcdw1, LASAcdw2, LASAcdw3, LASAcdw4, LASAcdw5

Contact: Theo van Tilburg

Background

The conceptualization of loneliness drew upon the cognitive approach to loneliness. In this approach, loneliness is seen as a subjective experience and is, as such, not directly related to situational factors. Loneliness, or subjective social isolation, is defined as a situation experienced by the participant as one where there is an unpleasant or inadmissible lack of (quality of) certain relationships. The importance of social perceptions and evaluations of one’s personal relationships is emphasized. Loneliness includes situations where the number of existing relationships is smaller than desirable or acceptable, as well as situations where the intimacy wished for has not been realized (De Jong Gierveld, 1998).
An 11-item unidimensional scale was developed, which (1) assessed severe feelings of loneliness as well as less intense loneliness feelings; (2) consisted of negative as well as positive items; and (3) represented a latent continuum of deprivation. In addition, the scale met the criteria of the dichotomous logistic Rasch model (De Jong Gierveld & Kamphuis, 1985).

Two components of loneliness can be distinguished. Emotional loneliness relates to the absence of an intimate relationship (partner, best friend), and social loneliness relates to the absence of a broader, engaging social network (siblings, cousins, friends, and neighbors). Emotional loneliness arises, for example, when a partner relationship dissolves through divorce or being widowed, and is characterized by intense feelings of emptiness, abandonment, and forlornness. People who have moved to a place where they are newcomers frequently report social loneliness.

In addition to the item-scale direct questions to loneliness have been included.

Measurement instruments in LASA


11-item scale De Jong Gierveld

1 There is always someone I can talk to about my day-to-day
problems
Er is altijd wel iemand in mijn omgeving bij wie ik met mijn
dagelijkse probleempjes terecht kan
2 I miss having a really close friend Ik mis een echt goede vriend of vriendin
3 I experience a general sense of emptiness Ik ervaar een leegte om me heen
4 There are plenty of people I can lean on when I have problems Er zijn genoeg mensen op wie ik in geval van narigheid kan
terugvallen
5 I miss the pleasure of the company of others Ik mis gezelligheid om me heen
6 I find my circle of friends and acquaintances too limited Ik vind mijn kring van kennissen te beperkt
7 There are many people I can trust completely Ik heb veel mensen op wie ik volledig kan vertrouwen
8 There are enough people I feel close to Er zijn voldoende mensen met wie ik me nauw verbonden voel
9 I miss having people around Ik mis mensen om me heen
10 I often feel rejected Vaak voel ik me in de steek gelaten
11 I can call on my friends whenever I need them Wanneer ik daar behoefte aan heb kan ik altijd bij mijn vrienden
terecht

Possible answers are “yes”, “more or less”, “no” (“ja”, “min-of-meer”, “nee”).

Direct questions

  • I sometimes feel lonely.
    Ik voel me soms wel eens eenzaam.
  • If we divide people in: the not lonely, the moderately lonely, the severely lonely, and the extremely lonely, what would you consider yourself to be?
    Als we de mensen zouden indelen in niet eenzaam, matig eenzaam, sterk eenzaam en zeer sterk eenzaam, waar zoudt u zich dan nu toe rekenen?
  • The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) includes an item on loneliness: “During the past week I felt lonely” (“De afgelopen week voelde ik me eenzaam”), with answering possibilities (1) “rarely or never”, (2) “sometimes”, (3) “occasionally” and (4) “mostly or always” (CESD14).


Questionnaires

LASAB073 / LASAC073 / LASAD073 / LASAE073 / LAS2B073 / LASAF073 /
LASAG073 / LASAH073 / LAS3B073 / LASMB073 / LASAI073 / LASAJ073 / LASAK073 (main interview, in Dutch);
LASAH712 / LASAI712 / LASAJ712 / LASAK712 (telephone interview with respondent, in Dutch);
LASAJ173 / LASAK173 (telephone interview with respondent, in Dutch);

Interim measurement:

LASEs816 (self-admin. questionnaire, in Dutch)

Variable information

LASAB073 / LASAC073 / LASAD073 / LASAE073 / LAS2B073 / LASAF073 /
LASAG073 / LASAH073 / LAS3B073 / LASMB073 / LASAI073 / LASAJ073 / LASAK073;
LASAB273 / LASAC273 / LASAD273 / LASAE273 / LAS2B273 / LASAF273 /
LASAG273 / LASAH273 / LAS3B273 / LASMB273 / LASAI273 / LASAJ273 / LASAK273 (scale scores)
(pdf);
LASAH712 / LASAI712 / LASAJ712 / LASAK712
(pdf);
LASAJ173
(pdf)

Interim measurement:

LASEs816
(pdf)

Note: for LASA*025, LASA*606, LASA*706 see documentation on: Depressive symptoms.

Availability of information per observation
¹

A*BCDEIM*
2B*
FGH

3B*
MB*IJK
11-item scale

MaMaMaMaMaSaMaMaMaMaMaMaMaMaMa
6-item scale

---------Tr--TrTrTr
Sometimes feel lonely

Ma-----MaMaMaMaMaMaMaMaMa
Not-moderate-severe-extreme
lonely

Ma-----MaMaMaMaMaMaMaMaMa
Last week lonely**

-
-
-
Ma
-
-
Ma
Tp†
Ma
Tr
Tp
Ma
Tr
Tp
Sa
Tr
Tp
Ma
-
-
Ma
Tr
-
Ma
Tr
-
Ma
Tr
-
Ma
-
-
Ma
-
-
Ma
Tr
-
Ma
Tr
-
Ma
Tr
-
Existential loneliness
(LASAJ173)
-------------Me-

¹ More information about the LASA data collection waves is available here.

* A=Living arrangements and social networks of older adults (LSN);
2B=baseline second cohort;
3B=baseline third cohort;
MB=migrants: baseline first cohort

** see documentation on Depressive symptoms.

in C also with Respondent

Ma=data collected in main interview;
Me=data collected in medical interview;
Sa=data collected in self-administered questionnaire;
Tr=data collected in telephone interview with respondent;
Tp=data collected in telephone interview with proxy

References

  1. Houtjes, W., Van Meijel, B., Van de Ven, P.M., Deeg, D.J.H., Van Tilburg, T.G., & Beekman, A.T.F. (2014). The impact of an unfavorable depression course on network size and loneliness in older people: A longitudinal study in the community. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
  2. Pronk, M., Deeg, D.J.H., Smits, C., Twisk, J., Van Tilburg, T.G., Festen, J.M., & Kramer, S.E. (2014). Hearing loss in older persons: Does the rate of decline affect psychosocial health? Journal of Aging and Health.
  3. Van Tilburg, T.G. (2014). Over toe- en afname van eenzaamheid onder ouderen. Gerõn, Tijdschrift over ouder worden en maatschappij, 16 (2), 46-49.
  4. Alma, M.A., Van der Mei, S.F., Feitsma, W.N., Groothoff, J.W., Van Tilburg, T.G., & Suurmeijer, T.P.B.M. (2013). Eenzaamheid en zelfmanagementvaardigheden bij visueel beperkte ouderen. Tijdschrift voor Gerontologie en Geriatrie, 44, 132-142.
  5. Alma, M.A., Van der Mei, S.F., Feitsma, W.N., Groothoff, J.W., Van Tilburg, T.G., & Suurmeijer, T.P.B.M. (2011). Loneliness and self-management abilities in the visually impaired elderly. Journal of Aging and Health, 23, 843-861.
  6. De Jong Gierveld, J., & Broese van Groenou, M.I. (2014). Quality of marriage and social loneliness in later life. In: Michalos AC (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research (pp. 5309-5312). Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer.
  7. Schoenmakers, E.C., Van Tilburg, T.G., & Fokkema, C.M. (2014). Awareness of risk factors for loneliness among third agers. Ageing & Society, 34, 1035-1051.
  8. Ellwardt, L., Aartsen, M.J., Deeg, D.J.H., & Steverink, N. (2013). Does loneliness mediate the relation between social support and cognitive functioning in later life? Social Science & Medicine, 98, 116-124.
  9. Pronk, M., Deeg, D.J.H., & Kramer, S.E. (2013). Hearing status in older persons: A significant determinant of depression and loneliness? Results from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. American Journal of Audiology, 22, 316-320.
  10. Schoenmakers, E.C. (2013). Coping with loneliness. PhD Dissertation, VU University Amsterdam.
  11. Pronk, M., Deeg, D.J.H., Smits, C., Van Tilburg, T.G., Kuik, D.J., Festen, J.M., & Kramer, S.E. (2011). Prospective effects of hearing status on loneliness and depression in older persons: Identification of subgroups. International Journal of Audiology, 50, 887-896.
  12. Guiaux, M. (2010). Social adjustment to widowhood changes in personal relationships and loneliness before and after partner loss. PhD Dissertation, VU University Amsterdam.
  13. De Jong Gierveld, J., Broese van Groenou, M.I., Hoogendoorn, A.W., & Smit, J.H. (2009). Quality of marriages in later life and emotional and social loneliness. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 64B, 4, 497-506.
  14. Korporaal, M., Broese van Groenou, M.I., & Van Tilburg, T.G. (2008). Effects of own and spousal disability on loneliness among older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 20, 306-325.
  15. De Jong Gierveld, J., & Van Tilburg, T.G. (2008). De ingekorte schaal voor algemene, emotionele en sociale eenzaamheid [A shortened scale for overall, emotional and social loneliness]. Tijdschrift voor Gerontologie en Geriatrie, 39, 4-15.
  16. Bloem, B.A., & Van Tilburg, T.G. (2006). Minder eenzaam na verhuizing? [Less lonely after moving?] Rooilijn, Tijdschrift voor wetenschap en beleid in de ruimtelijke ordening, 39, 221-226.
  17. De Jong Gierveld, J., & Van Tilburg, T.G. (2006). A 6-item scale for overall, emotional, and social loneliness: Confirmatory tests on survey data. Research on Aging, 28, 582-598.
  18. Sadler, E.A., Braam, A.W., Broese van Groenou, M.I., Deeg, D.J.H., & Van der Geest, S. (2006). Cosmic transcendence, loneliness, and exchange of emotional support with adult children: a study among older parents in The Netherlands. European Journal of Ageing, 3, 146-154.
  19. Dykstra, P.A., Van Tilburg, T.G., & De Jong Gierveld, J. (2005). Changes in older adult loneliness: Results from a seven-year longitudinal study. Research on Aging, 27, 725-747.
  20. Dykstra, P.A., & De Jong Gierveld, J. (2004). Gender and marital-history differences in emotional and social loneliness among Dutch older adults. Canadian Journal on Aging, 23, 141-155.
  21. Van Baarsen, B. (2001). How’s life? Adaption to widowhood in later life and the consequences of partner death on the experienced emotional and social loneliness. PhD Dissertation, VU University Amsterdam.
  22. Stevens, N.L., & Van Tilburg, T.G. (2000). Stimulating friendship in later life: A strategy for reducing loneliness among older women. Educational Gerontology, 26, 15-35.
  23. Penninx, B.W.J.H., Van Tilburg, T.G., Kriegsman, D.M.W., Boeke, A.J.P., Deeg, D.J.H., & Van Eijk, J.Th.M. (1999). Social network, social support, and loneliness in older persons with different chronic diseases. Journal of Aging and Health, 11, 151-168.
  24. De Jong Gierveld, J., & Van Tilburg, T.G. (1999). Manual of the Loneliness Scale. Dept. of Social Research Methodology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
  25. Van Tilburg, T.G., & De Jong Gierveld, J. (1999). Cesuurbepaling van de eenzaamheidsschaal [Cutting scores on the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale]. Tijdschrift voor Gerontologie en Geriatrie, 30, 158-163.
  26. De Jong Gierveld, J. (1998). A review of loneliness: Concept and definitions, determinants and consequences. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 8, 73-80.
  27. Lamme, S.P., Linnemann, M.A., Deeg, D.J.H., & Schuyt, T.N.M. (1998). Armoede, social participatie en eenzaamheid bij ouderen [Poverty, social participation and loneliness in older persons]. In G. Engbersen, J.C. Vrooman, & E. Snel (Eds.), Effecten van armoede: Derde jaarrapport armoede en sociale uitsluiting [Effects of poverty] (pp. 129-227). Amsterdam: University Press.
  28. De Jong Gierveld, J., & Dykstra, P.A. (1996). Eenzaamheid komt en gaat met de tijd: Effecten van veranderingen in het sociale netwerk en in gezondheid van 55-plussers op de mate van hun eenzaamheid [Loneliness comes and goes: Unraveling the impact on loneliness of changes in the network of social relationships and changes in the health of older adults]. Mens en Maatschappij, 96, 189-208.
  29. De Jong Gierveld, J., & Kamphuis, F.H. (1985). The development of a Rasch-type loneliness-scale. Applied Psychological Measurement, 9, 289-299.


Date of last update: July, 2014