Loneliness among ageing European populations

We study loneliness among older adults in Europe to help better understand the causes and consequences of loneliness. Loneliness is associated with poor physical and mental health and its prevalence varies across regions. The aim of this project is threefold: (i) to analyze the prevalence of loneliness among people living in a region with declining and ageing populations, (ii) to study the impact of major life events on loneliness, and (iii) to investigate the link between loneliness and health as well as health care use in ageing populations. To carry out the three parts of this research, different data sources (such as the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) or the European Social Survey) will be used. This is a joint project with the Vienna University of Economics and Business.