Subjective and Social Dimensions of Religiosity and Loneliness among the Well Elderly

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between different dimensions of religiosity and loneliness among older persons with controls introduced for social contacts, satisfaction with social contacts, and depression. Data were obtained through interviews with 131 residents of a 199-unit high-rise apartment facility for low-income older persons. The results of the regression analysis showed that the social dimension of religiosity was significantly related to low levels of loneliness as hypothesized, but the subjective dimension was not, even though the direction was as hypothesized. These relationships were maintained when the social contact variables were included in the regression equations, even though in some cases these variables also had effects on loneliness. In contrast, the relationship between depression and loneliness was so strong that it obscured the religiosity-loneliness relationship. Several implications are suggested from these findings.