While the constructs of isolation and disengagement of elderly persons from society are not new, they are generally considered as independent and competing views. In this research was studied the relationship between isolation and disengagement of 365 urban elderly persons, using measures developed for survey research applications. The findings suggest isolation does occur among elderly persons but that the concomitant disengagement is voluntary rather than involuntary.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AcuffG.AllenD.Hiatus in “meaning”: disengagement for retired professors. Journal of Gerontology, 1970, 25, 126–128.
2.
ArlingG. W.Social involvement and morale: a study of elderly widows. Chicago, IL: Univer. of Illinois, 1974.
3.
AtchleyR. C.The social forces in later life. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1977.
4.
BabchukN.BoothA.Voluntary association membership: a longitudinal analysis. American Sociological Review, 1969, 34, 31–45.
5.
BachrachC. A.Childlessness and social isolation among the elderly. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1980, 42, 627–637.
6.
BennettR.Aging, isolation and resocialization. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1980.
7.
BotwinickK. W.Geropsychology. Annual Review of Psychology, 1976, 21, 239–272.
8.
BrownA. S.The elderly widowed and their patterns of social participation and disengagement. Missoula, MT: Univer. of Montana, 1973.
9.
BrownA. S.Satisfying relationships for the elderly and their patterns of disengagement. The Gerontologist, 1974, 14, 258–262.
10.
BultenaG. L.OylerR.Effects of health on disengagement and morale. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 1971, 2, 142–148.
11.
CarpF. M.Some components of disengagement. Journal of Gerontology, 1968, 23, 382–386.
12.
CathS. H.The orchestration of disengagement. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 1975, 6, 199–214.
13.
CummingE.HenryW. E.Growing old: the process of disengagement. New York: Basic Books, 1961.
14.
CutlerS. J.Transportation and changes in life satisfaction. Gerontologist, 1975, 15, 155–159.
15.
CutlerS. J.Aging and voluntary association participation. Journal of Gerontology, 1977, 32, 470–479.
16.
DeCarloT.Recreation participation patterns and successful aging. Journal of Gerontology, 1974, 29, 416–422.
17.
EdwardsJ. M.KlemmackE.Correlates of life satisfaction: a reexamination. Journal of Gerontology, 1973, 28, 497–502.
18.
GaberL. B.Activity/disengagement revisited: personality types in the aged. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1983, 143, 490–497.
19.
GanimN. M.Isolation, powerlessness and fraud: the plight of the elderly consumer. Storrs, CT: Univer. of Connecticut, 1980.
20.
GurvitzL. I.Disengagement and styles of retirement life. Tempe, AZ: Arizona State Univer., 1979.
21.
HarrisJ. E.BoddenJ. L.An activity group experience for disengaged elderly persons. Journal of Conuseling Psychology, 1978, 25, 325–330.
22.
HavighurstR. J.Personality and patterns of aging. The Gerontologist, 1968, 8, 20–23.
23.
HenthornB. S.Disengagement and reinforcement in the elderly: an explanatory survey. Norman, OK: Univer. of Oklahoma, 1975.
24.
HoppaM. E.RobertsG. D.Implications of the activity factor. The Gerontologist, 1974, 14, 331–335.
25.
KalishR. A.Of social values and the dying: a defense of disengagement. The Family Coordinator, 1972, 21, 81–94.
26.
KuypersJ. A.Internal-external locus of control and ego-functioning correlates in the elderly. The Gerontologist, 1971, 12, 168–173.
27.
LahniersC. E.Perceptions of aging parents in the context of disengagement. Genetic Psychology Monographs, 1975, 92, 299–320.
28.
LarsonR.Thirty years of research on the subjective well-being of older Americans. Journal of Gerontology, 1978, 33, 109–125.
29.
LarsonR.ZuzanekJ.MannellR.Being alone versus being with people: disengagement in the daily experience of older adults. Journal of Gerontology, 1985, 40, 375–381.
30.
LewinsohnP. M.MacPhillamyD. J.The relationship between age and engagement in pleasant activities. Journal of Gerontology, 1974, 29, 290–294.
31.
LowenthalM. F.BolerD.Voluntary vs. involuntary social withdrawal. Journal of Gerontology, 1965, 20, 363–371.
32.
LowenthalM. F.HavenC.Interaction and adaptation: intimacy as a critical variable. American Sociological Review, 1968, 33, 20–29.
33.
LukeE.NortonW.DenbighK.Medical and social factors associated with psychological distress in a sample of community aged. Canadian Journal of Psychology, 1981, 26, 244–250.
34.
ManciniJ. A.QuinnW.GaviganM. A.FranklinH.Social network interaction among older adults: implications for life satisfaction. Human Relations, 1980, 33, 543–554.
35.
MartinW. E.Activity and disengagement: life satisfaction of in-movers into a retirement community. The Gerontologist, 1973, 13, 224–227.
36.
MedleyM. L.Satisfaction with life among persons sixty-five years and older. Journal of Gerontology, 1976, 31. 448–455.
37.
MorrisJ.SherwoodS.A retesting and modification of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale. Journal of Gerontology, 1975, 30, 77–84.
38.
NeugartenB. L.Personality and aging. In BirrenJ. E. (Ed.), Handbook of the psychology of aging. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1977.
39.
NeugartenD.HavighurstR. J.Disengagement considered in a cross-national context. In HavighurstR. J. (Ed.), Adjustment to retirement: a cross-national study. Netherlands: Van Gorkum, 1969.
40.
NeugartenD.HavighurstR. J.TobinS.The measurement of life satisfaction. Journal of Gerontology, 1961, 16, 134–143.
41.
NugentF. M.The disengagement theory of aging and retirement applied to clergymen. Washington, DC: The Catholic Univer. of America, 1976.
42.
PalmoreE.KivethV.Change in life satisfaction: a longitudinal study of persons aged 46–70. Journal of Gerontology, 1977, 32, 311–316.
43.
PalmoreE. B.The effects of aging on activities and attitudes. Gerontologist, 1968, 8, 259–263.
44.
PerettiP. O.WilsonC.Voluntary and involuntary retirement of aged males and their effect on emotional satisfaction, usefulness, self-image, emotional stability, and interpersonal relationships. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 1975, 6, 131–138.
45.
PoorkajH.Social-psychological factors and “successful aging”. Sociology and Social Research, 1972, 56, 289–300.
46.
Rathbone-McCuanE.HashimiJ.Isolated elders. Rockville, MA: Aspen Systems Corporation, 1982.
47.
RayR. O.An analysis of factors affecting life satisfaction and activity levels of senior citizens at selected locations in Maryland. Baltimore, MD: Univer. of Maryland, 1975.
48.
RevensonT. A.JohnsonJ. L.Social and demographic correlates of loneliness in late life. American Journal of Community Psychology, 1984, 12, 71–85.
49.
RomanP.TaitzP.Organizational structure and disengagement: the emeritus professor. The Gerontologist, 1967, 7, 147–152.
50.
RoweA. R.Scientists in retirement. Journal of Gerontology, 1973, 28, 345–350.
51.
ScheidtR. J.A taxonomy of well-being for small-town elderly: a case for rural diversity. The Gerontologist, 1984, 24, 84–90.
52.
SchonfieldA. E. D.HansenE.Age and locus of control. Paper presented at the meeting of the Canadian Association of Gerontology, Montreal, 1977.
53.
TallmerM.KutnerB.Disengagement and the stresses of aging. Journal of Gerontology, 1969, 24, 70–75.
54.
ThomaeH.Personality and adjustment to aging. In BirrenJ. E.SloaneR. B. (Eds.), Handbook of mental health and aging. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1980.
55.
TissueT. L.Disengagement potential: replication and use as an explanatory variable. Journal of Gerontology, 1971, 26, 76–80.
56.
ToselandR.SykesJ.Senior citizens center participation and other correlates of life satisfaction. The Gerontologist, 1977, 17, 235–241.
57.
US Department of Commerce. Statistical abstracts of the United States: 1985. (105 ed.) Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office: 1985.
58.
ValasL. D.The effects of involuntary disengagement on the morale of elderly persons. Boulder, CO: Univer. of Colorado, 1979.
59.
WeinsteinB. E.VentryI. M.Hearing impairment and social isolation in the elderly. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 1982, 25, 593–599.
60.
WolkS.KurtzJ.Positive adjustment and involvement during and expectancy for internal control. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1975, 43, 173–178.