Isolation or Independence? Investigating Older Adults’ Loneliness in Italy

Annalisa Donno , University of Padova
Maria Letizia Tanturri, University of Padova

Loneliness is a major concern in old age, with far-reaching implications for wellbeing, health, and quality of life. Ageing processes involve significant life transitions, which can provide newfound independence, but can also lead to a loss of purpose and social connections, potentially contributing to loneliness. The aim of this work is to explore the complexity of factors contributing to loneliness in old age, in Italy. Understanding these determinants is paramount for enhancing older adults’ wellbeing. A distinctive aspect of this study is that by using the most recent Italian Time Use survey data (2013-14) it simultaneously examines several dimensions of loneliness, often studied separately or underexplored due to data limitations: de facto solitude, the objective measure of being physically alone in daily life; perceived social connectedness, measuring the potential availability of social interactions and support; the role of different activities have in shaping loneliness. Logistic regression models allow to estimate the likelihood of older adults expressing the need for more social interactions and to answer the following questions: Does loneliness at old age depend on objective solitude or on individual's perception of their social relationships and support? Which activities are meaningful for loneliness? Are there any specific activities where time spent alone is more strongly correlated with loneliness? Results reveal that spending time alone is not significantly associated with loneliness: older adults prioritize the quality of social interactions over quantity. The perception of social connectedness is crucial in reducing loneliness. Surprisingly, specific activities are not significantly linked to loneliness risk.

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 Presented in Session 99. Flash session Loneliness, Pandemic and Care