80
R. Pagan
church, political initiatives, volunteer work, cinema and cultural events) on the levels
of loneliness reported by people without disabilities and with moderate and severe
disabilities in Germany. To carry out this study, we have used data taken from the
German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) for the years 2013 and 2017, and have run
linear regression models on loneliness by including explanatory variables measuring
the level of participation in each of the leisure activities and the individual’s disability
status, as well as interaction terms between both set of variables in order to detect any
significant effect of any leisure activity by disability status on loneliness. First, we
have found that the levels of participation in all leisure activities, with the exception of
‘attending church’, are lower for people with disabilities (especially if the individual
has a severe disability) as compared to their non-disabled counterparts. Second, being
disabled (moderate or severe) has a negative impact on loneliness. Namely, people
with disabilities are at significant risk of suffering strong levels of loneliness when
compared to people without disabilities. Third, the leisure activity ‘meeting family
and friends’ is the most important factor to combat loneliness, followed by ‘cultural
events’. We have also identified that ‘meeting family and friends’, ‘doing sports’
and ‘cultural events’ are significant contributors to reducing the levels of loneliness
reported by people with severe disability. Although we have found some differences
in terms of loneliness by gender, all of our results suggest thinking about the possible
mechanisms and actions to prevent people with disabilities from loneliness and its
sustainability in the long-term.
From a public policy perspective, we have to create environments at a local level
where all kinds of people (particularly, people with disabilities) can interact socially
and have the adequate tools and support to boost their levels of well-being and
combat loneliness. As our results have shown, the promotion and development of
volunteering within the community can reduce loneliness scores among people with
disabilities. It is also important to carry out public campaigns of information to
identify the groups of risk that are more vulnerable to feeling lonely (e.g. those
living alone, with low income levels, older people, retired, or having a disability),
and the potential actions and interventions to guarantee a ‘life course approach’ at an
individual and community level. Furthermore, it is necessary to have available and
updated data on loneliness through the use of specific surveys and datasets (especially
at a local level). The creation and use of ‘heat maps’ to measure loneliness scores
may be very useful to identify the prevalence and evolution of loneliness in a specific
region or area. Finally, the aging demographic tsunami should not been seen as a
threat but as an opportunity for the innovation and creation of new affordable products
and services that promote and support active and healthy ageing (Sacrédeus 2019).
Appendix
See Table A.1.
R. Pagan
church, political initiatives, volunteer work, cinema and cultural events) on the levels
of loneliness reported by people without disabilities and with moderate and severe
disabilities in Germany. To carry out this study, we have used data taken from the
German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) for the years 2013 and 2017, and have run
linear regression models on loneliness by including explanatory variables measuring
the level of participation in each of the leisure activities and the individual’s disability
status, as well as interaction terms between both set of variables in order to detect any
significant effect of any leisure activity by disability status on loneliness. First, we
have found that the levels of participation in all leisure activities, with the exception of
‘attending church’, are lower for people with disabilities (especially if the individual
has a severe disability) as compared to their non-disabled counterparts. Second, being
disabled (moderate or severe) has a negative impact on loneliness. Namely, people
with disabilities are at significant risk of suffering strong levels of loneliness when
compared to people without disabilities. Third, the leisure activity ‘meeting family
and friends’ is the most important factor to combat loneliness, followed by ‘cultural
events’. We have also identified that ‘meeting family and friends’, ‘doing sports’
and ‘cultural events’ are significant contributors to reducing the levels of loneliness
reported by people with severe disability. Although we have found some differences
in terms of loneliness by gender, all of our results suggest thinking about the possible
mechanisms and actions to prevent people with disabilities from loneliness and its
sustainability in the long-term.
From a public policy perspective, we have to create environments at a local level
where all kinds of people (particularly, people with disabilities) can interact socially
and have the adequate tools and support to boost their levels of well-being and
combat loneliness. As our results have shown, the promotion and development of
volunteering within the community can reduce loneliness scores among people with
disabilities. It is also important to carry out public campaigns of information to
identify the groups of risk that are more vulnerable to feeling lonely (e.g. those
living alone, with low income levels, older people, retired, or having a disability),
and the potential actions and interventions to guarantee a ‘life course approach’ at an
individual and community level. Furthermore, it is necessary to have available and
updated data on loneliness through the use of specific surveys and datasets (especially
at a local level). The creation and use of ‘heat maps’ to measure loneliness scores
may be very useful to identify the prevalence and evolution of loneliness in a specific
region or area. Finally, the aging demographic tsunami should not been seen as a
threat but as an opportunity for the innovation and creation of new affordable products
and services that promote and support active and healthy ageing (Sacrédeus 2019).
Appendix
See Table A.1.