M. Pinquart, WAYS OF COPING WITH SOCIAL DEFICITS IN OL D-AGE, Zeitschrift fur Entwicklungspsychologie und padagogische Psychologie, 28(1), 1996, pp. 54-66
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.