Narratives of long-term loneliness: case study of two older men

Abstract

This chapter examines long-term loneliness from the perspective of two older men. The data is derived from a longitudinal qualitative study and analysed using a narrative approach. The findings show that later life loneliness can be a long-lasting experience intertwined in past life events and experiences. In the examined case studies, loneliness was narrated through two key life experiences: loss of mother in childhood and sexual abuse. Both experiences had an impact on the older men’s social relations throughout the life course. The findings highlight the importance of acknowledging the role of past life experiences in later life loneliness. Approaches recognising individual life courses of older people are needed for the theoretical and conceptual understanding of loneliness, as well as the development of intervention strategies.