Residual loneliness in the Netherlands after the COVID-19 pandemic: An application of the single interrupted time series design with pre-, peri- and post-pandemic observations.

Objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries implemented policies to physically separate citizens. As a consequence, an increased prevalence of loneliness was observed. This article examined whether the prevalence of loneliness in the Netherlands has returned to pre-pandemic levels after the restrictive policy was ended.

Identification of a "Blue Zone" in the Netherlands: A Genetic, Personal, Sociocultural, and Environmental Profile.

Background And Objectives: "Blue Zones" (BZs) are regions with exceptionally high numbers of longevous inhabitants. Several factors have been suggested to promote longevity in BZs, but the evidence generally does not meet scientific quality criteria. We aimed to characterize a municipality as a "relative BZ," satisfying 3 criteria: compared to other municipalities, more exceptionally longevous inhabitants, a higher life expectancy, and a more stable population.

Age and Gender Identity in the Relationship Between Minority Stress and Loneliness: A Global Sample of Sexual and Gender Minority Adults.

Loneliness is prevalent among sexual minority adults and is associated with minority stress. Yet there is limited understanding of how loneliness and minority stress vary across key demographic variables. This cross-sectional study explored age and gender differences in a minority stress model linking sexual orientation marginalization to social and emotional loneliness via proximal stress (internalized homonegativity, concealment, and stigma preoccupation) and via social anxiety and inhibition.

Gender Differences in Social Embeddedness Determinants of Loneliness Among Moroccan and Turkish Older Migrants.

Objectives: Moroccan and Turkish migrants residing in Northwestern Europe have high loneliness levels. This study examines gender differences in loneliness within this migrant population. The migrants have gender-segregated social roles at home and in public, which might lead to gender differences in what aspects of social relationships can explain variation in loneliness.

Health trajectories across the work exit transition in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s: the role of working conditions and policy.

Purpose: We examined health trajectories of Dutch older workers across their exit from the workforce in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, testing the hypothesis that pre-post-exit health trajectories of workers with favourable and unfavourable working conditions increasingly diverged over time due to policy measures to extend working life.

Methods: The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam includes baseline samples in 1992/1993, 2002/2003 and 2012/2013 with two 3-year follow-up waves each. Selected respondents were aged 55 years and over who exited from a paid job within the first or second 3-year interval, up to and including the statutory retirement age (N = 522).

[An appropriate approach to loneliness: A translation of empirical data into practice].

We describe three subgroups of older lonely people (Persona), and design different approaches to loneliness that directly address their specific needs and circumstances: the combination approach. The use of Persona is a middle ground between 'one approach appropriate for all' and 'each person's own approach'. A Persona is described using various risk factors for loneliness.

Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam COVID-19 exposure index: a cross-sectional analysis of the impact of the pandemic on daily functioning of older adults.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop an index to measure older adults' exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic and to study its association with various domains of functioning.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), a cohort study in the Netherlands.

[Loneliness in the Netherlands: an underestimated problem].

In the Netherlands, many older people are moderately lonely, and about one in eleven is severely lonely. This prevalence is low compared to that in countries in Eastern and Southern Europe. Nevertheless, it is important to also pay attention to loneliness in the Netherlands because the health and well-being of an individual and the cohesion in our society will benefit from tackling loneliness.

Social position of older immigrants in the Netherlands: where do immigrants perceive themselves on the societal ladder?

Older Turkish and Moroccan immigrants are often ascribed a low social position based on their relatively unfavourable educational level, occupational status and income. Yet immigrants emigrated to improve their social position and came from contexts where determinants of social position might be based on different socio-cultural circumstances than those used in the country of settlement. In order to understand immigrants' own perception of their social position, we interviewed 23 60-68 year old immigrants from Turkish and Moroccan origin in the Netherlands.

Exploring Health Trends Prior to State Pension Age for The Netherlands up to 2040.

Background: In many Western countries, the state pension age is being raised to stimulate the extension of working lives. It is not yet well understood whether the health of older adults supports this increase. In this study, future health of Dutch adults aged 60 to 68 (i.

Minority Stress and Loneliness in a Global Sample of Sexual Minority Adults: The Roles of Social Anxiety, Social Inhibition, and Community Involvement.

Research suggests that loneliness among sexual minority adults is associated with marginalization, but it is unclear which processes may underlie this relationship. This cross-sectional study examined five possibilities: stigma preoccupation, internalized homonegativity, sexual orientation concealment, social anxiety, and social inhibition. The study also examined the possible protective role of LGBTQ community involvement.

Why do spouses provide personal care? A study among care-receiving Dutch community-dwelling older adults.

This study investigates under what conditions older spouses receive personal care from their spouse. Whether spousal care is provided is determined by individual and societal factors related to informal and formal care provision. Individual factors concern the need for care (the care recipient's health status), the spouse's ability to provide care (the spouse's health status) and the quality of the marital bond.

Social networks and type 2 diabetes: a narrative review.

It has been known for decades that social networks are causally related to disease and mortality risk. However, this field of research and its potential for implementation into diabetes care is still in its infancy. In this narrative review, we aim to address the state-of-the-art of social network research in type 2 diabetes prevention and care.

Emotional, Social, and Existential Loneliness Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Prevalence and Risk Factors Among Dutch Older Adults.

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, with its accompanying isolation measures, has led to increasing loneliness among older adults. In this study, we examine whether the increased level of loneliness observed in the Netherlands persisted into the fall of 2020, whether there were differences in emotional, social, and existential loneliness, and whether the presence of well-known risk factors for loneliness also led to further increases in loneliness during the pandemic.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, with observations of 404 community-dwelling older adults aged 74-96 years from 2019 and fall 2020.

Social networks and infectious diseases prevention behavior: A cross-sectional study in people aged 40 years and older.

Background: Social networks, i.e., our in-person and online social relations, are key to lifestyle behavior and health, via mechanisms of influence and support from our relations.

Social network size, loneliness, physical functioning and depressive symptoms among older adults: Examining reciprocal associations in four waves of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA).

Introduction: Previous research indicates that social isolation, loneliness, physical dysfunction and depressive symptoms are interrelated factors, little is known about the potential pathways among them. The aim of the study is to analyse simultaneously reciprocal relationships that could exist between the four factors to clarify potential mediation effects.

Methods: Within a large representative sample of older people in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), participants aged 75 and over were followed up over a period of 11 years (four waves).

Posttraumatic stress disorder and loneliness are associated over time: A longitudinal study on PTSD symptoms and loneliness, among older adults.

Loneliness has a pernicious effect on mental health in later life and is likely to have a bidirectional relationship with psychopathology. However, longitudinal research examining loneliness and posttraumatic stress symptoms among older adults is scarce. This study aimed to examine the longitudinal relationship between different types of loneliness (social and emotional) and posttraumatic stress symptoms.

[Towards a more focused approach to loneliness: Seven active elements in loneliness interventions].

Over the years, a wide range of loneliness interventions for older adults have been developed. The majority of these interventions are not effective in reducing loneliness. In order to gain more insight into why many interventions do not achieve the desired goal, we examine active elements that are used in interventions into reduce loneliness.

Loneliness in Later Life and Reaching Longevity: Findings From the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam.

Objectives: There is an increasing research interest in factors that characterize those who reach exceptionally old ages. Although loneliness is often associated with an increased risk for premature mortality, its relationship with reaching longevity is still unclear. We aimed to quantify the association between (social/emotional) loneliness and the likelihood of reaching the age of 90 years in men and women separately.

Consensus statement: loneliness in older adults, the 21st century social determinant of health?

Objective: The purpose of this consensus statement is to determine the state of the field of loneliness among older people, highlighting key issues for researchers, policymakers and those designing services and interventions.

Methods: In December 2018, an international meeting on loneliness was held in Belfast with leaders from across the USA and Europe. A summary of the conclusions reached at this event is presented following a consensus-building exercise conducted both during this event after each presentation as well as after the event through the drafting, reviewing and agreement of this statement by all authors for over 6 months.

Loneliness and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study Among Dutch Older Adults.

Objectives: With the spread of COVID-19, the Netherlands implemented a policy to keep citizens physically distanced. We hypothesize that consequent reduction in the frequency of social contacts, personal losses, and the experience of general threats in society reduced well-being.

Methods: Data were collected from 1,679 Dutch community-dwelling participants aged 65-102 years comprising a longitudinal online panel.

Social, Emotional, and Existential Loneliness: A Test of the Multidimensional Concept.

Background And Objectives: Since the 1980s, most researchers have agreed on the concept of social and emotional loneliness as an unacceptable and negatively experienced discrepancy between realized and desired interpersonal relationships. For other researchers, existential loneliness stems from the realization that a human being is fundamentally alone, with the accompanying emptiness, sadness, and longing. This article examines whether instruments to measure these conceptualizations indicate a multidimensional concept.

Stronger feelings of loneliness among Moroccan and Turkish older adults in the Netherlands: in search for an explanation.

The prevalence of loneliness among Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch older adults is higher than among Dutch older adults of non-migrant origin. Three explanations may account for this difference: (1) differential item functioning might result in scores that vary in intensity and in meaning across categories; (2) the position of migrants is much more vulnerable than that of non-migrants; (3) the lack of protective factors has more severe consequences for older migrants. The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam interviewed 176 persons born in Morocco and 235 born in Turkey, aged 55-66 and living in urban areas.