WAYS OF COPING WITH SOCIAL DEFICITS IN OL D-AGE

Authors
Citation
M. Pinquart, WAYS OF COPING WITH SOCIAL DEFICITS IN OL D-AGE, Zeitschrift fur Entwicklungspsychologie und padagogische Psychologie, 28(1), 1996, pp. 54-66
Citations number
21
Categorie Soggetti
Psychology, Educational
ISSN journal
00498637
Volume
28
Issue
1
Year of publication
1996
Pages
54 - 66
Database
ISI
SICI code
0049-8637(1996)28:1<54:WOCWSD>2.0.ZU;2-R
Abstract
Contrary to the stereotype, that old age is associated with loneliness , a meta-analysis showed no relation between age and loneliness. Selec tive processing of self-referent information is assumed to reduce the influence of social deficits on loneliness. 100 community-dwelling eld erly persons (61-86 years) were interviewed about coping with social l osses (control, downward social and temporal comparison, change of asp irations, denial) and the perceived effects. Social deficits were conn ected with less downward comparisons, less control, low aspirations, a nd increasing denial. Control predicted decreasing loneliness, whereas defending was connected with high loneliness. Perceived protective ba rriers against loneliness are examined.