Abstract
Regional studies globally has a strong focus on understanding the causes of variation in the economic performance and well-being of regions and this emphasis acknowledges that the strength of the local or regional economy plays a determinant role in shaping quality of life. Regional research has been less active in considering spatial variation in other factors that are critical to individual and societal well-being. For example, the regional studies community has been absent from the debate on the social determinants of health and how these influences vary spatially. This paper considers the results of a cross-sectional survey of Australians aged 65 years and over that focused on social connections and well-being. It examines regional variations in the incidence of social isolation within the older population. It finds that while the incidence of self-reported social isolation amongst older persons is broadly consistent with earlier studies, it demonstrates a spatial patterning that is unexpected. The paper considers community-building activities in addressing the impacts of social isolation, including the role of urban design, and suggests that there is a need to supplement the national overview presented there through more detailed studies focused on individual localities.
Highlights
This paper considers the results of a cross-sectional survey of Australians aged 65 years and over that focused on social connections and well-being
This paper set out to understand the broad-scale regional distribution of social isolation amongst Australia’s older cohorts. It found that just under 20% of the respondents to our survey were socially isolated and this figure was consistent with earlier estimates of the level of social isolation amongst older Australians
The paper found that the problem of social isolation was most acute in the nation’s largest cities and in the sparsely settled regions of non-metropolitan South Australia and Western Australia
Summary
Andrew Beer, Debbie Faulkner, Julia Law, Gill Lewin, Anthea Tinker, Laurie Buys, Rebecca Bentley, Amber Watt, Sue McKechnie & Susan Chessman To cite this article: Andrew Beer, Debbie Faulkner, Julia Law, Gill Lewin, Anthea Tinker, Laurie Buys, Rebecca Bentley, Amber Watt, Sue McKechnie & Susan Chessman (2016) Regional variation in social isolation amongst older Australians, Regional Studies, Regional Science, 3:1, 170-184, DOI: 10.1080/21681376.2016.1144481 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/21681376.2016.1144481
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