Always alone? Network transitions among detached older Europeans and their effects

Howard Litwin, Michal Levinsky*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study investigated the changes that occurred within the interpersonal environments of a sample of socially isolated older Europeans after four years. Based upon data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), the inquiry looked at 834 older people who were socially detached at baseline, at follow-up or at both time-points. The analysis traced changes in relation to the social network types that they acquired or left. The findings indicate that respondents more frequently moved from no-network status at baseline to close family-based social network types at follow-up than to other network types. In comparison, the loss of a network at follow-up was seen to originate from close networks and from other network types alike. Multivariate analysis revealed that those who moved from socially detached status to close-family networks had fewer depressive symptoms compared to those who moved to other network types. However, the move from a close-family network to the no-network status was about as depressing as was being chronically isolated. The effects of network transitions were more varied in relation to the life satisfaction outcome. In sum, the findings suggest that a transition out of social isolation in late life is possible and it may be beneficial as well.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2299-2313
Number of pages15
JournalAgeing and Society
Volume41
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 9 Oct 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press.

Keywords

  • longitudinal changes
  • social isolation
  • social networks
  • Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)

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