Loneliness and social isolation among older informal caregivers: A review of the evidence from longitudinal investigations

Abstract

This chapter concerns the psychosocial well-being of informal caregivers who provide personal care in later life for their spouse, other family, friends, or neighbours in frequent need of care. Specifically, in this chapter, I provide a critical review of longitudinal studies from across the world investigating the development of loneliness and social isolation in both representative and non-probabilistic samples of informal caregivers. The contributions of individual caregiver characteristics and specific strains associated with the caregiving role to feelings of loneliness and social isolation are discussed. Pertinent methodological issues are also considered and potential explanatory mechanisms underpinning the observed associations are highlighted. Finally, directions for future research are provided.