Describing reasons for loneliness among older people in Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The rural-urban migration of family members often leads to a higher probability of older people living alone, and minimizes family/social networks, which increases old age loneliness. In this study, we describe the existence of loneliness among older adults in Nigeria and its factors, aiming to inform the development of interventions for reducing old age loneliness. We adopted a descriptive phenomenological approach to the qualitative design, purposefully selecting and conducting face-to-face interviews with 12 older adults aged 58–88. We analyzed the data using a Thematic Analysis. Results of the analysis revealed three major themes: perception and existence of loneliness, factors for loneliness, and context-dependent coping strategies. We described results based on the theory of interactionist perspectives of loneliness and drew policy implications from this. Participants drew interesting associations between loneliness, decreasing family/social networks, recent family ties structures, disability-associated ageing, and lack of social programs, and suggested context-dependent coping strategies to reduce loneliness.

KEYWORDS:

• Ageing
• thematic analysis
• loneliness
• sub-Saharan Africa

Acknowledgments

We want to acknowledge Gloria Langat (PhD) and Emma Bolton for their help in proofreading the work as well as Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, as this project is a product of an MSc Scholarship awarded to both authors. This is also attributed to the collective effort of the members of the Emerging Researchers & Professionals in Ageing- African Network (ERPAAN).

Declaration of interest

We have no conflicts of interest to disclose

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.