Loneliness and well-being after partner loss: A large cross-sectional study

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to provide insight into how civil status was related to experienced loneliness and reported subjective well-being. Thereby, we drew upon Weiss’ (1973) distinction between emotional and social loneliness and made specific notions about possible gender differences. The study was based on data of the LISS panel (CentERdata), where a representative sample of participants (N = 4573; age 21 to 93) filled out an online questionnaire. Results indicate that the presence of an intimate attachment figure is associated with higher levels of subjective well-being and lower levels of emotional loneliness, compared to when an intimate attachment figure is lost. In that case, widowhood was accompanied by stronger feelings of only emotional loneliness, while divorcement was accompanied by stronger feelings of both emotional and social loneliness. Although contrary to our expectations, we found that the divorced reported the lowest levels of subjective well-being, while no differences in the strength of the emotional experience of losing an intimate attachment figure through death or divorce was found. Regarding gender differences, we found that especially men seem to find emotional fulfilment in the presence of an intimate attachment figure, while more socially lonely when this attachment figure is lost. At last we found emotional loneliness to a greater extent related to subjective well-being. Thereby, the current study demonstrated the importance of making a differentiation in type of loneliness and type of partner loss.