An exploration of the experiences of loneliness and social isolation in older adults from a migrant background

Abstract

Chapter one of this thesis is a meta-synthesis which explored the experiences of loneliness and social isolation amongst older adults from an ethnic minority and migrant background. The method used was Thomas and Harden’s (2008) thematic synthesis and the findings of 12 qualitative studies were synthesised. Four themes were generated: loss and loneliness, causes and impact of social isolation, psychological wellbeing and distress, and connecting with others. Each of the themes were explored in depth and clinical implications and recommendations for future research were discussed. 
Chapter two of this thesis explored the experience of loneliness in older Sri Lankan women living in England. The qualitative methodology of interpretative phenomenological analysis (Smith, Flowers & Larkin, 2009) was adopted to make sense of the lived experiences of five women. Three superordinate themes were generated: stuck in a lonely life, surviving the inevitability of loneliness, and loss. Implications for the research and future areas for research were identified and discussed.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Sarah Kirby: orcid.org/0000-0003-1759-1356

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