Exploring Recent Adverse and Positive Life Events: A Qualitative Study Among Lonely Older Adults

Abstract

This study investigates experiences of recent adverse and positive life events, and how these impact lonely older adults. Qualitative individual interviews were conducted with 53 community-dwelling, lonely older people aged 60 years and over. Analyses identified four key findings. First, the results pointed to a variety of recent life events in different domains (i.e., health, financial status, social network, living situation and meaningful use of time), which are experienced subjectively by participants. Second, life events occur at micro-biographical, meso-institutional, and macro-societal levels. Third, recent life events can signal gradual transitions or can constitute a breaking point. Fourth, while lonely older adults experience different recent adverse life events related to loss experiences, they also experience different positive recent life events, which might have the potential to increase their well-being or reduce feelings of loneliness. Finally, recent life events can have (cumulative) effects on their well-being. The conclusions highlight the need for an in-depth understanding of life events experienced in later life, given their potential role as balancing factors in the well-being of lonely older adults, as well as providing some implications for practice and policy.