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Volume 15, Issue 3 (8-2024)
Social Problems of Iran 2024, 15(3): 9-48 |
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Ahmadi S, Mokhtari M, Jamnejad S. (2024). Sociological Study of Loneliness among the Elderly in Shiraz: A Grounded Theory. Social Problems of Iran. 15(3), 9-48. doi:10.61186/jspi.15.3.9
URL: http://jspi.khu.ac.ir/article-1-3776-en.html
URL: http://jspi.khu.ac.ir/article-1-3776-en.html
1- Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran , sahmadi@yu.ac.ir
2- Associate Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran
3- PhD candidate in Social Problems of Iran, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran
2- Associate Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran
3- PhD candidate in Social Problems of Iran, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran
Abstract: (195 Views)
Loneliness as a social problem among the elderly is on the rise worldwide. Although, numerous researches have been carried out in this line, it still requires more comprehensive understanding. The main objective of this research is to study the loneliness among the elderly in Shiraz through the use of the grounded theory. The data was collected by means of an in-depth and semi-structured interview. The participants were 14 people who were chosen purposefully. The data was coded in a frame of open, axial, and selective coding, resulting in 9 categories. The shortfall of social support and the decline in social capital are the causal conditions of loneliness, lack of skill is the intervening condition, and the rapid social change and social pathologies are the context conditions of loneliness. Furthermore, using cyberspace, managing leisure time, and practicing positive thinking are strategies of the elderly in confronting the loneliness, and finally, the distress is the consequence of the loneliness for the elderly. Nine categories resulted in extracting the core category of “loneliness as a painful experience”. To sum up, loneliness is a painful experience for the elderly and the society, and it needs to be alleviated and decreased by the policy makers using the comprehensive understanding.
Type of Article: Original Research |
Subject:
Social problems
Received: 2024/09/11 | Accepted: 2024/11/5 | Published: 2024/12/2
Received: 2024/09/11 | Accepted: 2024/11/5 | Published: 2024/12/2
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