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Published VersionCC BY-NC V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Loneliness in Men 60 Years and Over: The Association With Purpose in Life
American Journal of Men's Health, Vol.12(4), pp.730-739
2018
PMID: 29458295
Abstract
Loneliness as a consequence of getting older negatively impacts on the health and well-being of men as they age. Having a purpose in life may mitigate loneliness and therefore positively impact on health and well-being. Limited research into loneliness and purpose in life has been undertaken in older men. This study seeks to understand the relationship between loneliness and purpose in life in a group of older men. Using data from a cross-sectional survey of 614 men aged 60 years and over living in New Zealand, bivariate and multivariate analyses were undertaken to examine the relationship between loneliness and purpose in life using a range of demographic, health, and social connection variables. Bivariate analysis revealed that being unpartnered and having low socioeconomic status, limited social networks, low levels of participation, and mental health issues were associated with loneliness. Multivariate analysis showed that having poor mental health and lower purpose in life were indicators of loneliness. Consequently, improving mental health and purpose in life are likely to reduce loneliness in at-risk older men. As older men are a heterogeneous group from a variety of sociocultural and ethnic backgrounds, a multidimensional approach to any intervention initiatives needs to occur.
Details
- Title
- Loneliness in Men 60 Years and Over: The Association With Purpose in Life
- Authors
- Stephen Neville (Corresponding Author) - Auckland University of TechnologyJeffery Adams - Massey UniversityJed Montayre - Auckland University of TechnologyPeter Larmer - Auckland University of TechnologyNick Garrett - Auckland University of TechnologyChristine Stephens - Massey UniversityFiona Alpass - Massey University
- Publication details
- American Journal of Men's Health, Vol.12(4), pp.730-739
- Publisher
- Sage Publications, Inc.
- Date published
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.1177/1557988318758807
- ISSN
- 1557-9891; 1557-9883
- PMID
- 29458295
- Copyright note
- © The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
- Grant note
- This research was supported by grants awarded to Professors Christine Stephens and Fiona Alpass from the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC05/311), the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (MAUX0606), the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MAUX1205), and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MAUX1403).
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Nursing
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991110935702621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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