Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Age
Research Article
Acknowledgments
This article uses the results of projects carried out in the framework of Fundamental research programs of HSE University.
How to Cite
Kozyreva P.M., Smirnov A.I. 2022. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Age — Sociologicheskaja nauka i social’naja praktika. Vol. 10. No. 4. P. 46-63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19181/snsp.2022.10.4.9282
Abstract
The article is devoted to the analysis of the peculiarities of the experience of loneliness by the elderly in the context of the problems of adaptation to the conditions of modern Russian reality. Considerable attention is paid to understanding the problems of loneliness of older Russians in a situation of increasing social isolation due to response measures to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis is based on data from the from the “Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey – Higher School of Economics” (RLMS-HSE). It reveals that social isolation prevails in older people, characterized by a reduction or termination of individual contacts, while physical or complete isolation is quite rare. A significant but weak inverse correlation was found between the frequency of feelings of loneliness and the intensity of communication in old age. If employment significantly expands the possibilities of communication and at the same time reduces the severity of the experience of loneliness, then being in a family reduces the frequency of feeling loneliness while maintaining the intensity of communication with other people. Coronavirus restrictions, which have increased isolation, have had a negative impact on the social well-being of older citizens. Significantly increased the number of people experiencing depression, anxiety, depression, danger and fear. More difficult than others to adapt to a new situation are people who constantly or often experience loneliness. But although forced isolation and other pandemic restrictions have given rise to many problems that require an adequate solution, they still have not become destructive stress for the vast majority of older people. As the regime of restrictions eased and awareness of what was happening increased, the majority of older Russians were able to adapt to the new conditions to one degree or another.
Keywords:
communication, loneliness, COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation, old age, elderly people
References
1. Abulkhanova-Slavskaja K. A. (1991). Strategija zhizni. [Strategy of life]. M. : Mysl’. 299 p. (In Russ.).
2. Akutina S. P., Stoljarova E. V. (2021). Fenomen odinochestva grazhdan pozhilogo vozrasta: predmet obsuzhdenija [The phenomenon of loneliness of elderly citizens: the subject of discussion]. Sotsiodinamika. № 7. URL: https://nbpublish.com’library_read_article.php?id=34881. DOI 10.25136/2409-7144.2021.7.34881. (In Russ.).
3. Bixon T. K., Peplo L. E., Rook K. S., Goodchilds J. D. (1989). Zhizn’ starogo i odinokogo cheloveka. [The life of an old and lonely person]. Labirinty odinochestva. Ed. by N. E. Pokrovsky. M. : Progress. P. 485–511. (In Russ.).
4. Galkin K. A. (2021). Bar’ery i neravenstva dlja pozhilyh lyudej v gorodskoj srede v period pandemii COVID-19. [Barriers and inequalities for older people in urban environments during the COVID-19 pandemic]. Rossija reformiruyushchajasja: Yezhegodnik. Ed. by M. K. Gorshkov. Vyp. 19. M. : Novyj khronograf. P. 65–86. DOI 10.19181/ezheg.2021.3. (In Russ.).
5. Dobrokhleb V. G. (2020). Sovremennaja pandemija i risk rosta social’noj izoljacii pozhilyh lyudej. [The Current Pandemic and the Risk of Increasing Social Isolation of Older People]. Nauchnoye obozrenie. Serija 1. Ekonomika i pravo. № 3. P. 166–173. DOI 10.26653/2076-4650-2020-3-15 (In Russ.).
6. Diachenko I. A. (2013). Sotsial’nye uslovija prozhivanija kak faktor perezhivanija odinochestva v pozhilom vozraste. [Social Conditions of Life as a Factor Experiencing Loneliness in Old Age]. Izvestija Rossijskogo gosudarstvennogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta im. A. I. Gertsena. № 161. P. 274–278. (In Russ.).
7. Elyutina M. E., Trofimova O. A. (2017). Odinokoe prozhivanie i perezhivanie odinochestva v pozdnem vozraste. [Lonely Living Arrangements and Coping with Loneliness in Old Age]. Zhurnal issledovanij socialnoj politiki. Vol. 15, № 1. P. 37–50. DOI 10.17323/1727-0634-2017-15-1-37-50. (In Russ.).
8. Kasyanov V. V., Gafiatulina N. Kh., Samygin S. I. (2020). Osobennosti i problemy sotsial’nogo povedenija v uslovijakh rezhima samoizoljatsii rossijskogo naselenija. [Features and problems of social behavior in the conditions of self-isolation regime of the Russian population]. Gumanitarij Yuga Rossii. Vol. 9 (42), № 2. P. 51–63. DOI 10.18522/2227-8656.2020.2.3. (In Russ.).
9. Klinenberg E. (2014). Zhizn’ solo: Novaja social’naja real’nost’. [Life Solo: The New Social Reality]. M. : Al’pina non-fikshn. 279 p. (In Russ.).
10. Kozyreva P. M., Smirnov A. I. (2020). Osobennosti vozrastnoj struktury odinochestva. [Loneliness: Age Features]. Sotsiologicheskie issledovanija. № 9. P. 56–69. (In Russ.).
11. Kushtanina V. A. (2008). Vykhod na pensiyu kak moment peresmotra identichnosti. [Retirement as a moment of identity revision]. Mir Rossii. № 4. P. 152–163. (In Russ.).
12. Mateev D. A. (2012). Fenomen odinochestva i problema narushenija kommunikatsii: monografija [The phenomenon of loneliness and the problem of communication disorders: monograph]. Novosibirsk: SIB-PRINT Publishing House. 183 p. (In Russ.).
13. Pokrovsky N. E., Ivanchenko G. V. (2008). Universum odinochestva: sotsiologicheskie i psihologicheskie ocherki. [The universe of loneliness: sociological and psychological essays]. M. : Universitetskaya kniga, Logos. 408 p. (In Russ.).
14. Prokhorova M. V. (2008). Perezhivanie odinochestva v starosti v kontekste teorii kapitala. [The Experience of the Solitude in the Old Age in Context of the Theory of the Capital]. Vestnik Nizhegorodskogo universiteta im. N. I. Lobachevskogo. Serija Social’nye nauki. № 4 (12). P. 59–64. (In Russ.).
15. Puzanova Zh. V. (2009). «Odinochestvo» kak predmet empiricheskogo analiza. [«Loneliness» as a subject of empirical analysis]. Sotsiologija: metodologija, metody, matematicheskoye modelirovanie» (Sotsiologija: 4M). № 29. P. 132–154. (In Russ.).
16. Rogozin D. M. (2013). Pjat’ knig o liberal’nom tolkovanii odinochestva v starshem vozraste. [Five Books on the Liberal Interpretation of Loneliness in Older Age]. Psihologija zrelosti i starenija. № 2. P. 59–66. (In Russ.).
17. Slobodchikov I. M. (2007). Sovremennye issledovanija perezhivanija odinochestva. [Contemporary Studies of Loneliness]. Psikhologicheskaja nauka i obrazovanie. Vol. 12, № 3. P. 27–35. (In Russ.).
18. Smelser N. (1994). Sotsiologija. [Sociology]. M. : Feniks. 688 p. (In Russ.).
19. Sotsiologicheskie podkhody k izucheniyu sotsial’nogo blagopoluchija (2021). [Sociological approaches to the study of social well-being]: [monograph] / E. A. Avdeev, E. Allardt, L. A. Beljaeva [et al.]. Ed. by M. F. Chernysh, Yu. B. Epikhina.]. M. : FSTAS RAS. 431 p. (In Russ.).
20. Gibson H. B. (2000). Loneliness in later life. New-York : Palgrave Macmillan, 166 p. DOI 10.1057/9780230510203.
21. Goldstone B. (1952). The general practitioner and the general adaptation syndrome. South African Medical Journal. Vol. XXVI. P. 88–92, 106–109.
22. Ilardo J. A. (1998). As Parents Age: A Psychological and Practical Guide. Acton, Massachusetts: Vanderwyk & Burnham, 304 p.
23. Victor Ch., Scambler S., Bond J. (2008). The Social World of Older People. Understanding Loneliness and Social Isolation in Later Life. Maidenhead: Open University Press, 272 p.
2. Akutina S. P., Stoljarova E. V. (2021). Fenomen odinochestva grazhdan pozhilogo vozrasta: predmet obsuzhdenija [The phenomenon of loneliness of elderly citizens: the subject of discussion]. Sotsiodinamika. № 7. URL: https://nbpublish.com’library_read_article.php?id=34881. DOI 10.25136/2409-7144.2021.7.34881. (In Russ.).
3. Bixon T. K., Peplo L. E., Rook K. S., Goodchilds J. D. (1989). Zhizn’ starogo i odinokogo cheloveka. [The life of an old and lonely person]. Labirinty odinochestva. Ed. by N. E. Pokrovsky. M. : Progress. P. 485–511. (In Russ.).
4. Galkin K. A. (2021). Bar’ery i neravenstva dlja pozhilyh lyudej v gorodskoj srede v period pandemii COVID-19. [Barriers and inequalities for older people in urban environments during the COVID-19 pandemic]. Rossija reformiruyushchajasja: Yezhegodnik. Ed. by M. K. Gorshkov. Vyp. 19. M. : Novyj khronograf. P. 65–86. DOI 10.19181/ezheg.2021.3. (In Russ.).
5. Dobrokhleb V. G. (2020). Sovremennaja pandemija i risk rosta social’noj izoljacii pozhilyh lyudej. [The Current Pandemic and the Risk of Increasing Social Isolation of Older People]. Nauchnoye obozrenie. Serija 1. Ekonomika i pravo. № 3. P. 166–173. DOI 10.26653/2076-4650-2020-3-15 (In Russ.).
6. Diachenko I. A. (2013). Sotsial’nye uslovija prozhivanija kak faktor perezhivanija odinochestva v pozhilom vozraste. [Social Conditions of Life as a Factor Experiencing Loneliness in Old Age]. Izvestija Rossijskogo gosudarstvennogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta im. A. I. Gertsena. № 161. P. 274–278. (In Russ.).
7. Elyutina M. E., Trofimova O. A. (2017). Odinokoe prozhivanie i perezhivanie odinochestva v pozdnem vozraste. [Lonely Living Arrangements and Coping with Loneliness in Old Age]. Zhurnal issledovanij socialnoj politiki. Vol. 15, № 1. P. 37–50. DOI 10.17323/1727-0634-2017-15-1-37-50. (In Russ.).
8. Kasyanov V. V., Gafiatulina N. Kh., Samygin S. I. (2020). Osobennosti i problemy sotsial’nogo povedenija v uslovijakh rezhima samoizoljatsii rossijskogo naselenija. [Features and problems of social behavior in the conditions of self-isolation regime of the Russian population]. Gumanitarij Yuga Rossii. Vol. 9 (42), № 2. P. 51–63. DOI 10.18522/2227-8656.2020.2.3. (In Russ.).
9. Klinenberg E. (2014). Zhizn’ solo: Novaja social’naja real’nost’. [Life Solo: The New Social Reality]. M. : Al’pina non-fikshn. 279 p. (In Russ.).
10. Kozyreva P. M., Smirnov A. I. (2020). Osobennosti vozrastnoj struktury odinochestva. [Loneliness: Age Features]. Sotsiologicheskie issledovanija. № 9. P. 56–69. (In Russ.).
11. Kushtanina V. A. (2008). Vykhod na pensiyu kak moment peresmotra identichnosti. [Retirement as a moment of identity revision]. Mir Rossii. № 4. P. 152–163. (In Russ.).
12. Mateev D. A. (2012). Fenomen odinochestva i problema narushenija kommunikatsii: monografija [The phenomenon of loneliness and the problem of communication disorders: monograph]. Novosibirsk: SIB-PRINT Publishing House. 183 p. (In Russ.).
13. Pokrovsky N. E., Ivanchenko G. V. (2008). Universum odinochestva: sotsiologicheskie i psihologicheskie ocherki. [The universe of loneliness: sociological and psychological essays]. M. : Universitetskaya kniga, Logos. 408 p. (In Russ.).
14. Prokhorova M. V. (2008). Perezhivanie odinochestva v starosti v kontekste teorii kapitala. [The Experience of the Solitude in the Old Age in Context of the Theory of the Capital]. Vestnik Nizhegorodskogo universiteta im. N. I. Lobachevskogo. Serija Social’nye nauki. № 4 (12). P. 59–64. (In Russ.).
15. Puzanova Zh. V. (2009). «Odinochestvo» kak predmet empiricheskogo analiza. [«Loneliness» as a subject of empirical analysis]. Sotsiologija: metodologija, metody, matematicheskoye modelirovanie» (Sotsiologija: 4M). № 29. P. 132–154. (In Russ.).
16. Rogozin D. M. (2013). Pjat’ knig o liberal’nom tolkovanii odinochestva v starshem vozraste. [Five Books on the Liberal Interpretation of Loneliness in Older Age]. Psihologija zrelosti i starenija. № 2. P. 59–66. (In Russ.).
17. Slobodchikov I. M. (2007). Sovremennye issledovanija perezhivanija odinochestva. [Contemporary Studies of Loneliness]. Psikhologicheskaja nauka i obrazovanie. Vol. 12, № 3. P. 27–35. (In Russ.).
18. Smelser N. (1994). Sotsiologija. [Sociology]. M. : Feniks. 688 p. (In Russ.).
19. Sotsiologicheskie podkhody k izucheniyu sotsial’nogo blagopoluchija (2021). [Sociological approaches to the study of social well-being]: [monograph] / E. A. Avdeev, E. Allardt, L. A. Beljaeva [et al.]. Ed. by M. F. Chernysh, Yu. B. Epikhina.]. M. : FSTAS RAS. 431 p. (In Russ.).
20. Gibson H. B. (2000). Loneliness in later life. New-York : Palgrave Macmillan, 166 p. DOI 10.1057/9780230510203.
21. Goldstone B. (1952). The general practitioner and the general adaptation syndrome. South African Medical Journal. Vol. XXVI. P. 88–92, 106–109.
22. Ilardo J. A. (1998). As Parents Age: A Psychological and Practical Guide. Acton, Massachusetts: Vanderwyk & Burnham, 304 p.
23. Victor Ch., Scambler S., Bond J. (2008). The Social World of Older People. Understanding Loneliness and Social Isolation in Later Life. Maidenhead: Open University Press, 272 p.
Article
Received: 14.07.2022
Accepted: 01.12.2022
Citation Formats
Other cite formats:
Harvard
Kozyreva, P. M. and Smirnov, A. I. (2022) ’Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Age’, Sociologicheskaja nauka i social’naja praktika, 10(4), pp. 46-63. doi: https://doi.org/10.19181/snsp.2022.10.4.9282.
Section
ADAPTATION PROCESSES IN MODERN RUSSIA
Publisher: Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FCTAS RAS)