Are U.S. older adults getting lonelier? Age, period, and cohort differences.
Are U.S. older adults getting lonelier? Age, period, and cohort differences.
复制标题
DOI：
10.1037/pag0000365
复制
发表时间：
2019-12
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
Schumm, L Philip
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Hawkley, Louise C;Wroblewski, Kristen;Kaiser, Till;Luhmann, Maike;Schumm, L Philip
媒体对孤独“流行病”的描述是基于近几十年来独居人口比例的增加以及公民参与率和宗教信仰的下降。然而，孤独是一种主观感受，与客观社会环境并不完全相符。在这项研究中，我们研究了婴儿潮时期出生的人（1948-1965年出生的人）相对于1920-1947年出生的人是否感到孤独，以及老年人在过去十年（2005-2016年）是否变得更加孤独。我们使用来自国家社会生活，健康和老龄化项目（NSHAP）和2005-16年收集的健康和退休研究（HRS）的数据来估计与年龄，出生年份和调查时间点相关的孤独差异。总的来说，孤独感随着年龄的增长而减少，直到70年代初，之后它会增加。我们没有发现任何证据表明婴儿潮一代的孤独感更高，或者在过去十年中有所增加。然而，孤独与健康状况不佳，独自生活或没有配偶/伴侣以及亲密的家人和朋友较少有关，这些因素共同导致75岁以后孤独感的总体增加。虽然这些数据并不支持老年人变得更孤独的观点，但随着婴儿潮一代年龄增长到80多岁及以上，孤独的实际人数可能会增加。我们的研究结果表明，关注社会因素和改善健康状况可能有助于缓解这种情况。
Media portrayals of a loneliness “epidemic” are premised on an increase in the proportion of people living alone and decreases in rates of civic engagement and religious affiliation over recent decades. However, loneliness is a subjective perception that does not correspond perfectly with objective social circumstances. In this study, we examine whether perceived loneliness is greater among the Baby Boomers—individuals born 1948–1965—relative to those born 1920–1947, and whether older adults have become lonelier over the past decade (2005–2016). We use data from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) and from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) collected during 2005–16 to estimate differences in loneliness associated with age, birth year and survey timepoint. Overall, loneliness decreases with age through the early 70s, after which it increases. We find no evidence that loneliness is substantially higher among the Baby Boomers or that it has increased over the past decade. Loneliness is however associated with poor health, living alone or without a spouse/partner and having fewer close family and friends, which together account for the overall increase in loneliness after age 75. Although these data do not support the idea that older adults are becoming lonelier, the actual number of lonely individuals may increase as the Baby Boomers age into their 80s and beyond. Our results suggest that attention to social factors and improving health may help to mitigate this.