Three questions about social loneliness in elders of Granada, Spain

Abstract

As the life expectancy has increased, the number of elderly people who are alone and feel loneliness has became larger as well. In this study the levels of social loneliness perceived are analysed by gender, age, social participation and pets. The data were collected during 2010 in a sample comprised of 755 people of  65 years old and above from Granada, Spain. The scale Este II of Social Loneliness was used and sociodemografical dates was collected. The results obtained indicate that an increasing age and being a woman score higher in social loneliness, while social participation and having pets can be protect from it.