Perceived discrimination and relative deprivation as predictors for age differences in loneliness

ABSTRACT

This study examined the predictors of loneliness, with a focus on the roles that discrimination plays and how it intersects with gender and educational attainment among three subgroups of adults at different life stages (young, middle, and late adulthood). In sum, our study found that the link between discrimination and loneliness varied across age groups, making the examination of its root cause from the ecological perspective and identifying symptoms/triggers for loneliness critical in developing different targeted interventions. Findings from this study can be used to guide social work intervention efforts undertaken to prevent and reduce loneliness

KEYWORDS:

• Adulthood
• discrimination
• education
• gender
• loneliness
• relative deprivation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. The UCLA Loneliness Scale has four response categories (i.e., never, rarely, sometimes, always) (Russell, 1996).