Loneliness, insecurity, and ageism experienced by older people

Loneliness is a common experience among older adults, and it has well-known negative implications for health and well-being. A sense of insecurity is intertwined with loneliness, and it is associated with poor health. Insecurity may compromise the willingness and capability of older adults to age in place. Ageism is deep-rooted in society, and negative stereotypes of older adults may be internalized, resulting in poor health and well-being. All these experiences of loneliness, insecurity, and ageism are shaped by interaction with society: the prevailing ideals, attitudes, practices, and expectations. During the past decades, there have been large-scale changes in society defined by an overall shift towards a more individualistic lifestyle. Advances in transportation and technology have created new possibilities for socializing. However, due to the way digitalization has infiltrated every corner of society, the existing digital divide has most likely deepened further. The COVID-19 pandemic presented another challenge, as distancing measures led to the prolonged isolation of older people, which was hypothesized to increase loneliness among them. The aim of this study was to explore the changes in the prevalence of loneliness among home-dwelling older people during the last three decades, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the impact of communication technology use on loneliness was explored. In addition, the prevalences of a global sense of insecurity and perceived poor societal treatment of older people were examined, as well as how these experiences are associated with various demographic factors, health, and well-being. This study formed a part of the Helsinki Aging Study, a repeated cross-sectional study exploring the health and well-being of home-dwelling older people in Helsinki. The data had been collected through postal questionnaires sent to a random sample of older home dwellers in 1989, 1999, 2009, and 2019. The questionnaire consistently inquired about various demographic factors, health, functioning and well-being, as well as social relationships, loneliness, insecurity, and active engagement. The latest questionnaire (2019) included items on the perceived treatment of older people and the use of communication technology. Study I utilized questionnaire data from all four cohorts, from 1989 to 2019 (N = 6329, mean age 82 years). Study II utilized questionnaire data from a subsample of the 2019 cohort and follow-up interviews conducted by telephone in 2021 (N = 898, mean age 83 years). Studies III (N = 1519, mean age 83 years), IV (N = 1653, mean age 84 years), and V (N = 1712, mean age 84 years) utilized questionnaire data from the 2019 cohort. Loneliness was assessed with a direct single-item measure, ‘Do you suffer from loneliness?’ and respondents were categorized as lonely (sometimes/often or always) or not lonely (rarely or never). The sense of insecurity was also assessed with a direct single-item measure, ‘Do you find your life to be secure or insecure at this moment?’ and respondents were categorized as secure (very and moderately secure) and insecure (very and moderately insecure). The views of respondents regarding the societal treatment of older people were inquired with the question ‘How in your opinion are older people treated in Finland?’ (well/moderately/poorly). The prevalence of loneliness decreased among home-dwelling older adults from 34% in 1989 to 30% in 2019. Despite the decreasing trend in loneliness in both men and women, the prevalence of loneliness was higher in women than in men across all cohorts. From 1989 towards the later cohorts, the proportion of widowed respondents decreased, the educational level increased, and there were improvements in health and functioning, as well as psychological well-being (PWB) (I). In 2019, 65% of respondents regularly used a computer and 39% had a smartphone, and the use of communication technology was associated with lower odds of loneliness (V). During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a slight increase in loneliness among a subsample of respondents, from 26% in 2019 to 30% in 2021 (II). Seven percent of respondents reported feeling insecure in their lives. A sense of insecurity was strongly associated with loneliness. Those living alone and perceiving poor societal treatment of older people were more likely to feel insecure. Having good self-rated health (SRH), having (living) children, and meeting friends at least weekly were inversely associated with insecurity (III). Of the participants, 21% perceived the societal treatment of older adults as poor. The perception that older people are poorly treated at the societal level was associated with female sex, younger age, poorer income, lower SRH, and lower PWB. Being a family caregiver was also associated with this perception, as was being able to walk outside unassisted. Those using a computer, a smartphone, or the Internet were more likely to report poor treatment (IV). There has been a decreasing trend in the prevalence of loneliness during the last three decades, which may partly be explained by favorable trends, for instance, in health, functioning, education, and widowhood. Nevertheless, as the population is aging, the increasing absolute number of older lonely individuals raises concern. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of loneliness among older adults increased. A sense of insecurity and loneliness are interrelated, and insecurity is also associated with poor health and weak social networks. One-fifth of older adults perceive the societal treatment of older people as poor, and those at risk of perceiving societal ageism are economically disadvantaged or have poor health. On the other hand, those actively engaged in society perhaps more readily observe societal injustice.

Grantor dc:publisher

Helsingin yliopisto

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Knuutila, Mia

• lääketiede

Statement dc:rights

• Julkaisu on tekijänoikeussäännösten alainen. Teosta voi lukea ja tulostaa henkilökohtaista käyttöä varten. Käyttö kaupallisiin tarkoituksiin on kielletty.
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• Publikationen är skyddad av upphovsrätten. Den får läsas och skrivas ut för personligt bruk. Användning i kommersiellt syfte är förbjuden.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10138/631171

OAI record oai:identifier

https://helda.helsinki.fi/server/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Ahelda.helsinki.fi%3A10138%2F631171