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dc.contributor.authorKirkevold, Marit
dc.contributor.authorMoyle, Wendy
dc.contributor.authorWilkinson, Charlotte
dc.contributor.authorMeyer, Julienne
dc.contributor.authorHauge, Solveig
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-03T12:41:49Z
dc.date.available2017-05-03T12:41:49Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.date.modified2014-01-07T04:33:42Z
dc.identifier.issn0309-2402
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.06018.x
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10072/55269
dc.description.abstractAim. The aim of this study is to explore older people's approaches to living a life characterized by losses and 'aloneness' and how this relates to loneliness. Background. Loneliness is closely related to social status and health condition. Older people are vulnerable to experiences of loneliness due to losses, which follow the ageing process. Method. A qualitative interpretative design was used. Older people, aged 65 and above, living at home, in retirement villages, or in long-term care settings in Australia, Norway, and UK participated. Seventy-eight persons were included. Data were collected through open-ended interviews during autumn of 2006 and spring of 2007. The interviews were audio taped, transcribed, and analysed applying a hermeneutic, interpretative process. Findings. Analyses revealed great differences in the way participants handled their life situation. Interviewees describing themselves as 'not lonely' viewed losses as normal, and they participated in meaningful activities, connected to other people and thrived in their own company. Those describing themselves as 'lonely' on the other hand, strove to create meaning in their lives, were overwhelmed by losses, had problems finding meaningful activities and difficulty keeping up social relations. Conclusion. Loneliness was associated with overwhelming losses, inactivity, meaninglessness, and social isolation. The contrasting findings between 'not lonely' and 'lonely' older people have implications for nursing in that nurses must seek to identify those who need help in managing their loneliness and give guidance and support. More research is needed to develop interventions that are effective in reducing loneliness.
dc.description.peerreviewedYes
dc.description.publicationstatusYes
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherWiley-Blackwell Publishing
dc.publisher.placeUnited Kingdom
dc.relation.ispartofstudentpublicationN
dc.relation.ispartofpagefrom394
dc.relation.ispartofpageto403
dc.relation.ispartofissue2
dc.relation.ispartofjournalJournal of Advanced Nursing
dc.relation.ispartofvolume69
dc.rights.retentionY
dc.subject.fieldofresearchNursing
dc.subject.fieldofresearchAged care nursing
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode4205
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode420502
dc.titleFacing the challenge of adapting to a life ‘alone’ in old age: the influence of losses
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.descriptionC1 - Articles
dc.type.codeC - Journal Articles
gro.date.issued2013
gro.hasfulltextNo Full Text
gro.griffith.authorMoyle, Wendy


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