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Objectives. We validate a translated version of the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS) for use among older migrants from Turkish and Moroccan descent and validate the original Dutch version of the same scale for Surinamese migrants in the Netherlands. Method. The data were derived from a population-based cross-sectional study among community-dwelling individuals aged 55 and older. In addition to translating the DJGLS for these ethnic groups, several statistical analyses were performed to assess the scale’s reliability and validity. Results. The DJGLS proved to be internally consistent and to have adequate convergent validity among all ethnic groups. Latent structure analysis confirmed the two latent factors (emotional and social subscales) in all groups, but also showed that fit was not optimal in most groups. Known groups validity was observed using functional limitations and subjective health as grouping variables. Conclusions. The results provide sufficient support for use of the translated version of the 11-item DJGLS among Turkish and Moroccan older migrants and use of the Dutch version for Surinamese older migrants as a reliable and valid measure of loneliness. Fit of latent structural models varied between good and poor. Further research is needed to investigate ethnic differences in levels and determinants of loneliness.

We examine the extent to which coping options endorsed by older adults help alleviate loneliness, and experiences with loneliness influence the coping options. Two ways of coping are distinguished: problem-focused, i.e., improving one’s relationships, and emotion-focused, i.e., lowering one’s expectations about relationships. Loneliness is assessed using three observations over 6 years among 1,033 61- to 99-year-old respondents in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. Combining the first two observations yielded four loneliness types: not lonely at T0 and T1, recently lonely, persistently lonely, and recovered from loneliness. Between the second and third observations, respondents were asked to evaluate which coping options lonely peers described in various vignettes had. From this, individual coping scores were calculated. The option to improve relationships did not affect the likelihood of one’s own loneliness, and the option to lower expectations even increased it. Compared to non-lonely respondents, recently lonely ones endorsed both ways of coping equally frequently, persistently lonely ones endorsed improving relationships less frequently and lowering expectations more frequently and recovered respondents endorsed improving relationships equally frequently and lowering expectations more frequently. We conclude that considering various ways of coping does not help alleviate loneliness and that persistently lonely and recovered respondents are at risk of a circular process with loneliness experiences resulting in considering lowering expectations more frequently, which results in a greater likelihood of loneliness, thus contributing to sustaining or re-establishing loneliness.

Awareness of risk factors for loneliness is a prerequisite for preventive action. Many risk factors for loneliness have been identified. This paper focuses on two: poor health and widowhood. Preventive action by developing a satisfying social network requires time and effort and thus seems appropriate for people unexposed to risk factors, i.e. third agers and non-lonely persons. The third age is the period in old age after retirement, before people's social relationships deteriorate. This paper addresses three questions: Are older adults aware of poor health and widowhood as risk factors for loneliness? Are there differences in awareness between third and fourth agers? Are there differences in awareness between lonely and non-lonely older adults? After being introduced to four vignette persons, 920 respondents from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were asked whether they expected these persons to be lonely. Older adults, especially third agers, expected peers exposed to the risk factors to be lonely more often than peers who were unexposed. The results indicate that awareness of loneliness-provoking factors is high among third agers, which is a first step towards taking actions to avoid loneliness. Compared to lonely older adults, non-lonely ones expected peers to be lonely less often, suggesting the latter's lower awareness of the risk factors. The results provide evidence for policy makers and practitioners that combating loneliness might require early action. Keywords: loneliness; awareness; risk factors; third age; preventive action, Awareness of risk factors for loneliness is a prerequisite for preventive action. Many risk factors for loneliness have been identified. This paper focuses on two: poor health and widowhood. Preventive action by developing a satisfying social network requires time and effort and thus seems appropriate for people unexposed to risk factors, i.e. third agers and non-lonely persons. The third age is the period in old age after retirement, before people's social relationships deteriorate. This paper addresses three questions: Are older adults aware of poor health and widowhood as risk factors for loneliness? Are there differences in awareness between third and fourth agers? Are there differences in awareness between lonely and non-lonely older adults? After being introduced to four vignette persons, 920 respondents from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were asked whether they expected these persons to be lonely. Older adults, especially third agers, expected peers exposed to the risk factors to be lonely more often than peers who were unexposed. The results indicate that awareness of loneliness-provoking factors is high among third agers, which is a first step towards taking actions to avoid loneliness. Compared to lonely older adults, non-lonely ones expected peers to be lonely less often, suggesting the latter's lower awareness of the risk factors. The results provide evidence for policy makers and practitioners that combating loneliness might require early action. Keywords: loneliness; awareness; risk factors; third age; preventive action

Een op de drie Nederlanders voelt zich eenzaam. Eenzaamheid krijgt veel aandacht in de media en bestrijding ervan is een speerpunt in landelijk en lokaal overheidsbeleid. De nadruk ligt vaak te eenzijdig op eenzaamheid onder ouderen. En hoe kan eenzaamheid het beste worden aangepakt? Of moeten we er mee leren leven?, Een op de drie Nederlanders voelt zich eenzaam. Eenzaamheid krijgt veel aandacht in de media en bestrijding ervan is een speerpunt in landelijk en lokaal overheidsbeleid. De nadruk ligt vaak te eenzijdig op eenzaamheid onder ouderen. En hoe kan eenzaamheid het beste worden aangepakt? Of moeten we er mee leren leven?

Objectives: A limited amount of information is available on how older adults cope with loneliness. Two ways of coping are distinguished here, i.e., active coping by improving relationships and regulative coping by lowering expectations about relationships. We explore how often older adults suggest these options to their lonely peers in various situations and to what extent individual resources influence their suggestions. Method: After introducing them to four vignettes of lonely individuals, discriminating with regard to age, partner status, and health, 1187 respondents aged 62–100 from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were asked whether this loneliness can be alleviated by using various ways of coping. Results: In general, both ways of coping were often suggested. However, regression analyses revealed that active coping was suggested less often to people who are older, in poor health, or lonely and by older adults who were employed in midlife and have high self-esteem. Regulative coping was suggested more often to people who are older and by older adults with a low educational level and with low mastery. Conclusions: Coping with loneliness by actively removing the stressor is less often seen as an option for and by the people who could benefit most from it. This underlines the difficulty of combating loneliness. keywords: coping; loneliness; older adults; individual resources, Objectives: A limited amount of information is available on how older adults cope with loneliness. Two ways of coping are distinguished here, i.e., active coping by improving relationships and regulative coping by lowering expectations about relationships. We explore how often older adults suggest these options to their lonely peers in various situations and to what extent individual resources influence their suggestions. Method: After introducing them to four vignettes of lonely individuals, discriminating with regard to age, partner status, and health, 1187 respondents aged 62–100 from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were asked whether this loneliness can be alleviated by using various ways of coping. Results: In general, both ways of coping were often suggested. However, regression analyses revealed that active coping was suggested less often to people who are older, in poor health, or lonely and by older adults who were employed in midlife and have high self-esteem. Regulative coping was suggested more often to people who are older and by older adults with a low educational level and with low mastery. Conclusions: Coping with loneliness by actively removing the stressor is less often seen as an option for and by the people who could benefit most from it. This underlines the difficulty of combating loneliness. keywords: coping; loneliness; older adults; individual resources

In dit onderzoek is van zeven activiteiten van vijf organisaties nagegaan (1) of ze er in slagen een eenzame groep mensen te bereiken en (2) in hoeverre de deelnemers aan de activiteiten vinden dat de activiteit een positieve bijdrage levert aan hun leven, onder andere in het verminderen van eenzaamheid. Per activiteit is een profiel gemaakt van de bereikte groep mensen op basis van leeftijd, geslacht, nationaliteit, burgerlijke staat, opleidingsniveau, gezondheid, functionele beperkingen en het aantal sociale contacten. Samenhangend met de aard van de activiteiten zijn er grote verschillen tussen de profielen van de ondervraagden, maar alle activiteiten slagen er in een groep mensen te bereiken waarvan een behoorlijk deel eenzaam is: minimaal 58% van de ondervraagden. Zowel emotionele eenzaamheid als sociale eenzaamheid komt vaak voor onder de deelnemers aan de onderzochte activiteiten. Uit ander onderzoek is bekend dat eenzaamheid vaak gepaard gaat met negatieve kenmerken zoals verlegenheid, angsten, minder sociale vaardigheden, minder optimisme, minder eigenwaarde en het gevoel minder sociale steun te hebben (Cacioppo et al., 2006; Peplau et al., 1982). Deze kenmerken maken dat eenzame mensen minder capabel zijn in het zoeken van hulp. Bovendien rust er een sociaal stigma op eenzaamheid (Lau & Gruen, 1992) waardoor mensen hun eenzaamheid niet altijd toegeven. Vanwege de negatieve kenmerken en het stigma zijn eenzame mensen niet gemakkelijk te bereiken. Het is een verdienste van de vijf organisaties dat ze er in slagen zoveel eenzame mensen aan zich te binden middels de zeven activiteiten die wij onderzochten. De ondervraagden zijn doorgaans tevreden over de activiteit waaraan ze deelnemen en beoordelen deze als belangrijk voor henzelf. Ondervraagden geven aan dat ze door hun deelname aan de activiteiten gelukkiger, meer begrepen, minder verdrietig, positiever, zelfverzekerder, meer gewaardeerd, gezonder en er meer bij te horen voelen. Ook geven de ondervraagd, In dit onderzoek is van zeven activiteiten van vijf organisaties nagegaan (1) of ze er in slagen een eenzame groep mensen te bereiken en (2) in hoeverre de deelnemers aan de activiteiten vinden dat de activiteit een positieve bijdrage levert aan hun leven, onder andere in het verminderen van eenzaamheid. Per activiteit is een profiel gemaakt van de bereikte groep mensen op basis van leeftijd, geslacht, nationaliteit, burgerlijke staat, opleidingsniveau, gezondheid, functionele beperkingen en het aantal sociale contacten. Samenhangend met de aard van de activiteiten zijn er grote verschillen tussen de profielen van de ondervraagden, maar alle activiteiten slagen er in een groep mensen te bereiken waarvan een behoorlijk deel eenzaam is: minimaal 58% van de ondervraagden. Zowel emotionele eenzaamheid als sociale eenzaamheid komt vaak voor onder de deelnemers aan de onderzochte activiteiten. Uit ander onderzoek is bekend dat eenzaamheid vaak gepaard gaat met negatieve kenmerken zoals verlegenheid, angsten, minder sociale vaardigheden, minder optimisme, minder eigenwaarde en het gevoel minder sociale steun te hebben (Cacioppo et al., 2006; Peplau et al., 1982). Deze kenmerken maken dat eenzame mensen minder capabel zijn in het zoeken van hulp. Bovendien rust er een sociaal stigma op eenzaamheid (Lau & Gruen, 1992) waardoor mensen hun eenzaamheid niet altijd toegeven. Vanwege de negatieve kenmerken en het stigma zijn eenzame mensen niet gemakkelijk te bereiken. Het is een verdienste van de vijf organisaties dat ze er in slagen zoveel eenzame mensen aan zich te binden middels de zeven activiteiten die wij onderzochten. De ondervraagden zijn doorgaans tevreden over de activiteit waaraan ze deelnemen en beoordelen deze als belangrijk voor henzelf. Ondervraagden geven aan dat ze door hun deelname aan de activiteiten gelukkiger, meer begrepen, minder verdrietig, positiever, zelfverzekerder, meer gewaardeerd, gezonder en er meer bij te horen voelen. Ook geven de ondervraagd

Loneliness concerns the subjective evaluation of the situation individuals are involved in, characterized either by a number of relationships with friends and colleagues which is smaller than is considered desirable (social loneliness), as well as situations where the intimacy in confidant relationships one wishes for has not been realized (emotional loneliness). To identify people who are lonely direct questions are not sufficient; loneliness scales are preferred. In this article, the quality of the three-item scale for emotional loneliness and the three-item scale for social loneliness has been investigated for use in the following countries participating in the United Nations ‘‘Generations and Gender Surveys’’: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, Bulgaria, Georgia, and Japan. Sample sizes for the 7 countries varied between 8,158 and 12,828. Translations of the De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale have been tested using reliability and validity tests including a confirmatory factor analysis to test the two-dimensional structure of loneliness. Test outcomes indicated for each of the countries under investigation reliable and valid scales for emotional and social loneliness, respectively. Keywords: loneliness scale; emotional loneliness; social loneliness; partner status; health, Loneliness concerns the subjective evaluation of the situation individuals are involved in, characterized either by a number of relationships with friends and colleagues which is smaller than is considered desirable (social loneliness), as well as situations where the intimacy in confidant relationships one wishes for has not been realized (emotional loneliness). To identify people who are lonely direct questions are not sufficient; loneliness scales are preferred. In this article, the quality of the three-item scale for emotional loneliness and the three-item scale for social loneliness has been investigated for use in the following countries participating in the United Nations ‘‘Generations and Gender Surveys’’: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, Bulgaria, Georgia, and Japan. Sample sizes for the 7 countries varied between 8,158 and 12,828. Translations of the De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale have been tested using reliability and validity tests including a confirmatory factor analysis to test the two-dimensional structure of loneliness. Test outcomes indicated for each of the countries under investigation reliable and valid scales for emotional and social loneliness, respectively. Keywords: loneliness scale; emotional loneliness; social loneliness; partner status; health

Using cross-sectional data from the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study (N = 1,231), this study examines the relationship between grandchildren and their grandparents across early adulthood. Age is used as a proxy for change during the grandchild’s life course and the influence of major life course characteristics is examined. Results indicate that the majority of young adult grandchildren have contact with their grandparents, but the average frequency is low. Age differences in contact frequency suggest a decline in grandparent–grandchild contact across early adulthood. Multilevel analyses show that grandchildren’s employment status, partner, and parenthood status do not affect contact frequency with grandparents. Rather, the results point at the importance of the parental home for facilitating grandparent–grandchild contact as age-related differences are accounted for by whether grandchildren left the parental home. Furthermore, most of the variance in grandparent–grandchild contact is attributable to differences between family of the mother’s and family of the father’s side. Keywords: adult grandchildren; grandparents; contact; life course, Using cross-sectional data from the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study (N = 1,231), this study examines the relationship between grandchildren and their grandparents across early adulthood. Age is used as a proxy for change during the grandchild’s life course and the influence of major life course characteristics is examined. Results indicate that the majority of young adult grandchildren have contact with their grandparents, but the average frequency is low. Age differences in contact frequency suggest a decline in grandparent–grandchild contact across early adulthood. Multilevel analyses show that grandchildren’s employment status, partner, and parenthood status do not affect contact frequency with grandparents. Rather, the results point at the importance of the parental home for facilitating grandparent–grandchild contact as age-related differences are accounted for by whether grandchildren left the parental home. Furthermore, most of the variance in grandparent–grandchild contact is attributable to differences between family of the mother’s and family of the father’s side. Keywords: adult grandchildren; grandparents; contact; life course