Loneliness(es) and ageing
In Canada and Quebec, relatively little research has been done on the phenomenon of loneliness among seniors, unlike the many studies on the issue of their social isolation. However, the current state of knowledge suggests that loneliness is a significant social issue that can compromise the health and well-being of seniors to varying degrees. Based on a qualitative methodological approach and semi-directive interviews conducted with people aged 65 and over living alone, this article proposes to understand the experience of loneliness among seniors and its multiple dimensions, including coping strategies. As we will see, the experience of loneliness among the elderly is characterized by the heterogeneity of its forms (solitary loneliness, family loneliness, social and emotional loneliness, existential loneliness and abandonment). Moreover, while most of these forms of loneliness crystallize a transformation of the social ties of elderly people in the direction of their disintegration, they also often involve, to varying degrees, the relationship of elderly people to themselves, to others and/or to the world. Finally, this paper will highlight how social factors, such as age, health status, gender, marital status, social network and socio-economic conditions, affect the experience of loneliness among seniors, including how they view loneliness and the steps they take to alleviate it.