Experiences of Loneliness Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies
Purpose Loneliness is a fundamentally subjective experience that is common at various life stages. Studies have qualitatively explored loneliness, but a comprehensive overview is lacking. This research therefore provides a fine-grained review of studies on loneliness experiences across the lifespan....
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2223868 |
| _version_ | 1797401383215824896 |
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| author | Phoebe E. McKenna-Plumley Rhiannon N. Turner Keming Yang Jenny M. Groarke |
| author_facet | Phoebe E. McKenna-Plumley Rhiannon N. Turner Keming Yang Jenny M. Groarke |
| author_sort | Phoebe E. McKenna-Plumley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose Loneliness is a fundamentally subjective experience that is common at various life stages. Studies have qualitatively explored loneliness, but a comprehensive overview is lacking. This research therefore provides a fine-grained review of studies on loneliness experiences across the lifespan. Methods A systematic review and thematic synthesis were performed on studies that qualitatively investigated experiences of loneliness in people of any age from non-clinical populations. Sensitivity analysis assessed the impact of lower-quality studies and specific age groups on the findings. Results Twenty-nine studies of 1,321 participants aged between 7 and 103 were included. Fifteen descriptive themes and three overarching analytical themes were developed: (1) Loneliness is both psychological and contextual, (2) Loneliness centres on feelings of meaningful connection and painful disconnection, and (3) Loneliness can exist in a general, pervasive sense or can relate to specific other people or relationship types. Some features were particularly pertinent to children, younger adults, and older adults, respectively. Conclusions Loneliness involves a primarily aversive psychological experience of perceived disconnection which is linked to physical, personal, and socio-political contexts and can be pervasive or relate to specific relationships or relationship types. An awareness of context, life stage, and personal experiences is essential to understand loneliness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:09:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dacde3c628de4598afd146dc24ca9448 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-2623 1748-2631 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:09:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj.art-dacde3c628de4598afd146dc24ca94482023-12-07T15:12:03ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312023-12-0118110.1080/17482631.2023.22238682223868Experiences of Loneliness Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative StudiesPhoebe E. McKenna-Plumley0Rhiannon N. Turner1Keming Yang2Jenny M. Groarke3Queen’s University BelfastQueen’s University BelfastDurham UniversityQueen’s University BelfastPurpose Loneliness is a fundamentally subjective experience that is common at various life stages. Studies have qualitatively explored loneliness, but a comprehensive overview is lacking. This research therefore provides a fine-grained review of studies on loneliness experiences across the lifespan. Methods A systematic review and thematic synthesis were performed on studies that qualitatively investigated experiences of loneliness in people of any age from non-clinical populations. Sensitivity analysis assessed the impact of lower-quality studies and specific age groups on the findings. Results Twenty-nine studies of 1,321 participants aged between 7 and 103 were included. Fifteen descriptive themes and three overarching analytical themes were developed: (1) Loneliness is both psychological and contextual, (2) Loneliness centres on feelings of meaningful connection and painful disconnection, and (3) Loneliness can exist in a general, pervasive sense or can relate to specific other people or relationship types. Some features were particularly pertinent to children, younger adults, and older adults, respectively. Conclusions Loneliness involves a primarily aversive psychological experience of perceived disconnection which is linked to physical, personal, and socio-political contexts and can be pervasive or relate to specific relationships or relationship types. An awareness of context, life stage, and personal experiences is essential to understand loneliness.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2223868lonelinessqualitative researchsystematic reviewlife course perspectiveemotionsthematic synthesis |
| spellingShingle | Phoebe E. McKenna-Plumley Rhiannon N. Turner Keming Yang Jenny M. Groarke Experiences of Loneliness Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being loneliness qualitative research systematic review life course perspective emotions thematic synthesis |
| title | Experiences of Loneliness Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies |
| title_full | Experiences of Loneliness Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies |
| title_fullStr | Experiences of Loneliness Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experiences of Loneliness Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies |
| title_short | Experiences of Loneliness Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies |
| title_sort | experiences of loneliness across the lifespan a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies |
| topic | loneliness qualitative research systematic review life course perspective emotions thematic synthesis |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2223868 |
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