A Study on the isolation and loneliness of the elderly: Transformation of social cognition and psychological control

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15KT0090
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 特設分野
• Research Field: Neo-Gerontology
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: SATO SHINICHI 大阪大学, 人間科学研究科, 教授 (40196241)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-07-10 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 高齢者 / 孤立・孤独 / 認知症 / 視覚障がい / がん患者 / 社会的認知 / 知恵・英知・孤高 / ポジティブ情動活性化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We define social isolation as a state of lack of social support by seeking ego isolation for freedom. And we also define psychological loneliness as the self-loss feeling caused by the exclusion of and the escape from others in spite of seeking others. On those basis, we have clarified the transformation of social cognition and the problems of social relations among the elderly who fell into isolation or loneliness. However, because there is a variety in the state of the elderly, we examined the above problems for healthy elderly people, the elderly with dementia, the visually impaired elderly, and elderly cancer patients.
On the other hand, even if it is in a crisis situation that leads to isolation or loneliness, there are the elderly who control their condition and adapt to social situation and realize a high well-being life. In this regard, we made a foundation for research on the development of wisdom and the state of preference for solitude.

Free Research Field

社会科学