Author:

BOLTON Margaret

Publisher:

Age UK Oxfordshire

Publication year:

2012

Pagination:

28p.

Place of publication:

Abingdon

The aim of this brief report is to summarise the evidence about loneliness and isolation that has been collected by the Campaign to End Loneliness. The vision of the Campaign, which is a led by a coalition of interested organisations, is for fewer people to feel lonely in older age and for more people to maintain their friendships and connections through times of life change. The hope is that the report will prompt a dialogue involving the academic community and researchers working in the voluntary, public and private sectors. Work is needed to fill the knowledge gaps and produce a better understanding of how to approach the controversies in research into loneliness. The paper begins with a chapter on understanding loneliness and looks at it in terms of isolation, transience versus persistence, prevalence and changes over time, and ethnic minority communities. The impact of loneliness on health related quality of life is looked at from a biological perspective and discussed in terms of physical and mental health, mortality, and quality of life. Later sections examine the risks and influences and ways of preventing or alleviating loneliness.

Subject terms:

loneliness, older people, quality of life, social exclusion, social networks, friendship;

Content type:

research review

Location(s):

United Kingdom

Link:

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