Loneliness, depression, and sociability in old age in India

This article discusses the impact of loneliness, depression, and sociability on the mental health of elderly people in India. It explores the reasons behind loneliness and ways to improve it. The article also reviews the current studies on this topic and provides coping mechanism strategies to resolve and understand the relationship between these factors.

Running Head: LDS in old age in India 0
Loneliness, depression, and sociability in old age in India

LDS in old age in India 1
Introduction
The current scenario as regards to older people clearly indicates that the numbers have
increased over the past few periods globally. Many individuals experience depression and
loneliness in elderly age, due to the absence of close family bonding, which influences the
incapability to take part in societal activities. Loneliness can be stated as the biggest enemy of
elderly people, which is strongly related to poor health. With growing age, individuals are
unable to develop a bond with others. It is believed that older people are more focused on
religious beliefs and convictions as it provides a sort of social support. In addition to that
support, love, and care from family is also necessary. Their more frequent love and affection
can decrease the feeling of loneliness in older people (Acharya & Northcott, 2007).
Aging can be determined as a gradual decline of psychological function with age and
continues throughout the lifetime. It signifies the closing period when people strike back on
the lives of the achievement done in past and begins to complete his life-course. It has been
stated that a positive relationship of someone’s religious conviction, self-efficacy, social
relationship, socio-economic status, perceived health, and managing skills, among others,
with the capability to achieve more successfully (Angold, Erkanli, Silberg, Eaves & Costello,
2002).
In India depression is also a leading condition among elderly people, with an impact
on quality of life. It has been described that symptoms of depression increases with age as an
indicator of psychological health and identified as substantial pointers of longevity and
functional health. Depression has a causal relation to several physical, psychological, and
social issues. These issues frequently develop in older people, which enhance the possibility
of depression, as it is not a normal concern of the problem. As older people have better-
coping capabilities to deal with the depression in comparison of younger generations. They
do not have that stamina to decrease the level of depression, which affects their lives largely.
The beginning of depression occurs in an earlier stage in which there is the possibility of
occurring in respect to personality, genetic, and life experience issues that have contributed to
the depression. In the case when depression occurs in later life then there is the possibility of
dealing with some physical problems. An older age people having good physical fitness have
a comparatively low risk of depression to those have high-risk of depression whose physical
health is not so promising (Arean, Perri, Nezu, Schein, Christopher & Joseph, 1993). Physical

LDS in old age in India 2
health and fitness is a major factor of depression in old-age people. There are several causes
of depression, which involves the social impacts of living with a disability and sickness; the
impacts of chronic illness, the impacts of medications, which cause depression. It affects
directly on the internal activities and the social restraints that some sickness came across
older age people’s lifestyle leads to loneliness and isolation. It substantially raises the risk of
death in older age people, majorly by unnatural causes and cardiovascular disease (Bergdahl,
Allard, Lundman & Gustafson, 2007).
Loneliness is a negative sense of feeling associated with the individual own
experience of social relations. It is based on the two determinants, which are described as an
external factor, which is lacking in the social association and the primary cause of loneliness;
and the second one is an internal factor, such as psychological and personality factors. It may
tend to critical health issues, which in turn lead to depression and a significant cause of
suicide and suicidal attempts. It is concerned to dissatisfaction with social and family
relationships, poor psychological adjustment, and work-related issues (Bhat & Dhruvarajan,
2001).
Loneliness is also because of Hypertension, which is divided into two parts i.e.
primary hypertension in which the problem is unable to discover, as it is deep-rooted and
secondary hypertension in which kidney disease is the most common cause of hypertension
(Boyd & Ellison, 2007).
Sociability plays a vital part in safeguarding the individual from the experience of
emotional sickness and in improving health. It helps in reducing depressive symptoms levels,
which are stated as lower socioeconomic status, increasing age, reducing the quality of social
relations, and minority racial or ethnic status. Indians are very much concerned about losing
relationships, which are very much important to them. Indians people are involved with an
optimistic attitude, which is to be less influenced by everyday problems and a higher extent
of independence and control. As, for older people, time spent with family is equally
important with a visit to someone of their age. It is pointing the fact that networks and
associations’ plays a major role in reducing the stress and tension and build harmony among
all relationship. This will create a long-term bonding and reduces the level of depression. It
concentrates to reduce the risk of deaths by survey and review by all researchers. It stresses
the need for control over the social connection as a means of removing loneliness (Campbell,
Cumming & Hughes, 2006). Thus, it needs to be controlled as loneliness and depression play

LDS in old age in India 3
a major part transforming to severe disease and even death. In the following, an effort has
been made to discuss further the topics as Review of Literature, which states the research
objectives and summary of the factors affecting depression, loneliness in older age people.
After that, Research Methodology, which states the sample size, sampling method covered in
the research. In the end, the discussion has been made to study the mechanism of dealing and
coping with the issues in older people and support the point with the authors’ statement
(Debasish, Prakash, Jaspreet & Suresh, 2004).
Review of Literature
Introduction
This chapter studies the connection between loneliness, depression, and sociability in
elderly people in India and influences the mental health issues to have on their lives. It
indicates the rate of loneliness, depression, sociability in elderly people in India living in
residential aged care facilities (RACFs). It examines gender differences in regards to
sociability, depression, and loneliness among older people in India (Dill & Anderson, 1999).
This chapter attempts to review the current studies on this topic. It attempts to study some of
the empirical literature and relevant understanding of the topic. In the following, an effort has
been made to discuss the meaning & concept, elaborate reasons of loneliness, depression, and
sociability in elderly people, and provide ways to improve in India
Meaning and Concept of the Loneliness, depression, and sociability in older people
According to Green (1992), loneliness is stated as the negative feeling related to
social relations. It is lack of substantial relationship with people or incapability to have close
connections. It is the unwelcome feeling of loss or absence of companionship. It affects the
physical and mental health of older people that leads to slower recovery from stroke and
enhances the frequency of the emergency hospitalization, which contributes to anxiety and
depression.
According to Kennedy (1996), depression is positively correlated with physical
disorders. Numerous reviews have stated that depressive symptoms increase with older age It
can be diagnosed based on several symptoms, for example, the decline in interest and
pleasure, exhaustion, depressed mood, fatigue and loss of energy, sleeplessness, lowered self-
esteem, insomnia, or hypersomnia, and loss of attention capacity and suicidal thoughts.

LDS in old age in India 4
According to Hanson & Carpenter (1994), Sociability is defined as the loss of a
significant relationship can tend to the feeling of depression and emptiness. Those without
relationship frequently become ignore, depressed, and isolated. Poor relationship inclines to
maintain and develop negative perceptions of self, finds that it is less satisfying, and often
leads to the motivation of change.
Loneliness, depression, and Sociability are critical mental health problems among
elderly people in India. Although, separate situations, which are interrelated and share similar
symptoms. Loneliness is a negative feeling when there is a diverse relationship among people
expectations and social association. Older people might experience loneliness even if other
people enclose them. There are no specific criteria for identifying loneliness in older age
people, as each may perceive loneliness in a different way. Indicators such as weight gain &
loss, disturbed sleep, reduced interest in social activities, and reduced satisfaction from the
social association, often indicate it.
According to Singh & Mishra (2009), depression is a mental disorder that can present
with anxiety and loneliness. In later life, it can range to mild depression to major depression.
The review of Poser (1995), aimed at that older individual tends to make relationship
largely along the same age group. Thus, with growing age, it is predictable that they lose their
friendship and they find it hard to build new friends and belong to the new network. Building
new friendship can give happiness and an immense pleasure as they share their problems,
family issues, and emotions, which lessen the burden and generate peace. The vast number of
old age people is enhancing all over India. As they grow older, they faced many changes that
encounter the wisdom of self-capacity to live happily. Depression and loneliness are reflected
as the key problem directing to decreased quality of life among old age people. They can also
be given an opportunity for making new friends, spending more time in companionship with
God, discovering new interests, and developing new ways of service. The elderly people can
be happy and sad, which is depending upon the grace and faith of the person. As a result, the
study was coordinated with the objective of reviewing the relationship and the understanding
in a group of old age in India. It has been described as a chronic phenomenon, which has
been identified as a strong correlation of depressive indicators by many studies. However,
this varies across the lifetime, the connection among loneliness and depressive symptoms,
which seems to be constant across ethnicity and age. In contrast, it is reviewed to decrease the
level and focuses on maintaining the relationship. It is also been found that loneliness is

LDS in old age in India 5
connected to depression, lower quality of life, and enhanced vulnerability to both mental and
physical problems of the older individual in India. Weiss has stated that loneliness is a
determination to get rid of one’s pain by incorporating a connection in depression.
According to Heikkinen and Kauppinen (2004), loneliness has been recognized as a
potential risk issue for depressive symptoms in longitudinal and cross-cultural studies of
older adults. It is related to a constellation of psychological and demographic risk factors
such as low mental support, perceived stress, and aggression. The mutually synergistic
connection of loneliness and the depressive symptoms are responsible for increasing
negatively in lonely and depressed people and suggest that interventions could reduce well-
being and emotional suffering.
According to Folkman and Lazarus (1980), Sociability in old age people in India is
the individual’s continuously changing cognitive and psychological efforts to maintain the
specific intrinsic and extrinsic demands that are evaluated as more than the individual
resources. The way the difficulties are faced directly impacts levels of health and
psychological well-being. Considerable variation is seen among the sociability strategies,
which are used by the lonely and the choices of strategies are affected by the cultural
background, people’ age, life experience, and the availability of methods of alleviating
loneliness. Previous studies have shown that common strategies include sad passivity,
enhanced activity denial, and distancing, active solitude, acceptance, and maintain social
contact. Past research aimed at cross-sectional study concerning the potential causal
relationship among loneliness and depressive symptoms or their uniqueness. It is limited
regarding the relationship between loneliness and sociability in older people. Thus, the
current study was designed with the aims of studying loneliness, depression, sociability in old
age in India and coping mechanism strategies to resolve and understand the relationship
between these factors.
Reasons of loneliness in old age in India
Loneliness has many different causes, which affects everyone differently in India.
Sometimes older people feel lonely because of the financial crises and poor family
environment. However, sometimes they experience a feeling that comes from within and does
not disappear, regardless of their social support. The factors that contribute to loneliness in
old age involves poor health, living alone in a residential home, increasing age, low level of
income, widowhood, low level of education, and infrequent contact with family & friends. In

LDS in old age in India 6
addition, poor financial position, loss of hearing, status, and poor vision increased the
probability of loneliness. The major common subjective reason for loneliness was found to be
a severe disease, the death of a family member, and close a friend (Ernst & Cacioppo, 1999).
In India, studies have also reported that some symptoms for social loneliness also
involve living in a rural area and lose connection with friends. As in old age, people
significantly need a group whom they can talk and share their emotions. Some substantial
indicators of emotional loneliness are people living in an area where gender being high in
male, having a lower revenue, no access of conveyance, lack of social contact and interaction
with relatives and children’s (Fees, Martin & Poon, 1999).
In a study, it is found that individuals who are divorced experienced the highest level
of loneliness, in comparison to individuals who are widowed. Elderly people with poor health
and suffering from severe diseases such as cancer, paralysis, or a brain tumor are tended to
indicate a high sense of loneliness. It is associated with low socioeconomic background,
deterioration of physical health, minority ethical group, especially for older immigrants.
Elderly people just need love and care and they are rejected or abandoned by their own
family, which leads to loneliness and turns to depression. Due to the rejection of a social
anxiety and fear of rejection & humiliation tends individual to be lonely and causes isolation
(Ferguson & Goodwin, 2010).
Reasons for depression in old age in India
Depression has many different causes, which affects everyone contrarily in India. It is
the fact that older people have no prior history, and there are diverse pathological
mechanisms associated with those who have experienced depression previous in life.
Depression in older age is associated with age-related factors such as poor physical health,
structural changes, co-morbid disease, and cognitive impairment in the brain. Older people
who have experienced depression are more probably to have a family history of mental
sickness. Social and psychological risk aspects for depression in elderly people are related to
those that increase vulnerability to depression. They are prone to stressful life events, change
in social status, neurotic and ruminative and neurotic personality traits, loss and grief, and
reduced participation in physical activities may all enhance the risk of depression.
Remembrance over the loss of a partner and reduced physical/social activities seem to be
particularly strong risk factors in elderly people. Sleep disturbance and Insomnia are
particularly recognized as a major cause of depression, but among older people, insomnia

LDS in old age in India 7
seems to be a strong risk factor. As the occurrence of insomnia rises with age and stresses the
significance of managing insomnia when connected with depression. Lack of a supportive
social connection indulges the elderly people to stay alone, which is very difficult for them.
The prevailing rates of depression in older people with heart disease have been estimated at
approximately 20-25%. It was found that among 109 persons (30.3%), 77 women (35.12%)
and 32 men (22.53%) were found to have depressive symptoms. It has been suggested that
women have more depressive symptoms (Fiske, Wetherell & Gatz, 2009).
Many physical health disorders can cause depression through a range of biological
mechanism. Several physical disorders in older age can give effect to permanent disabilities,
which can limit an individual’s flexibility. Therefore, it is important that any elderly person
who becomes depressed have a full medical evaluation (Hinton & Levkoff, 1999).
Reasons for Sociability in old age in India
Sociability is the human tendency to seek out social relationship, companionship, and
friendship. Such connections lead to sentimental and cognitive reassurance drive out
loneliness in the lives of elderly people. With the loss of relatives, spouse, and close friends,
elderly people who are fortunate to share, bond and emotional problems with others in similar
condition should be supportive towards each other. They should realize that despite staying
alone sharing pain and emotions, helps to decrease the impact of painful situations.
Sociability plays a significant role in safeguarding the individual from the psychological
stress and loneliness, which turns into depression. The poor relationship tends to develop
negative perceptions towards self, others, and life (Holwerda et al., 2012). Sociability leads to
improve loneliness and depression, which is increasing with age and leads to suicidal
thoughts and even death.
According to Posner (1995), older people should focus on maintaining the need for a
control over the social connection as a method of reducing loneliness and challenge the
feeling to live happily. It allows the opportunity for initiating a new friendship and building
the new association. It is to be studied that sociability should be maintained in a group of
elderly people as depression is developing due to inactively participating in the community
activities.
It is to be studied that age is not always associated with the level of depression, as the
older people may have better-coping capabilities to deal with depression. Sociability is more
related to lessen the health-related issues and reduces the severity of diseases, which can

LDS in old age in India 8
cause death. It is a critical risk factor, which is to be managed and prevented in old age
(Holzemer et al., 1999).
Coping with loneliness in old age in India
For older people, overcoming loneliness in India is about improving the level of social
interaction that they have with older age people. They have to make contact with the world
around as some individual feel lonely, which is not about how many friends they have, but
about feeling separated from the rest of the world. Building social contact with the group can
be a useful primary step in helping to feel less lonely. The next step can be meeting with new
people and make new friends, which is a one way to build new links with individuals who
commonly shared values, interests, and experiences. In older age, make the most out of social
contact, which can lessen the level of loneliness. For example, they can pick their
grandchildren from school, or have a friendly neighbor or support the family members in
their work, which can make feel less lonely (Dubey, Bhasin, Gupta & Sharma, 2011).
Peer support group can also help in feeling less lonely as individuals suffering from
mental and social health problem can share their feeling and understandings with individuals
who have gone through similar things. Time of spending alone can be rewarded as do the
work that gives the enjoyment or which have more interests. Older people can concentrate on
engaging themselves in work. They are lonely, so they can take this as a positive thing by
scheduling their entire day. For example, they can go for a morning walk, meditation and
yoga can be done, spent their time reading books etc. They can also spend time watching TV
and by listening to old songs. Therefore, loneliness is not a big threat until it should be
controlled as it leads to depression. It can be overcome by doing various activities and events,
which helps to reduce loneliness (Dyck, 1993).
Coping with depression in old age in India
There is a variety of treatments available to treat elderly people when they are
suffering from depression in India. Cerebrovascular disease can be associated with depression
in older age to control the risk factor can also prevent depression. Depression can be reduced
by stopping of cigarette smoking and consuming alcohol, high blood pressure, lipid levels
and reduction of cholesterol. Physical exercise can be initiated to stay away from anxiety;
stress, as well as weight, can be controlled by taking proper diet in green vegetable and
grains. For more severe depression, antidepressant medication can help in reducing. As it
may take an extended time to work in older people, so trials of at least six to eight weeks are

LDS in old age in India 9
mandatory. Since older people are more sensitive to prescriptions, doctors may prescribe
lower doses at first. Electroconvulsive treatment is a suitable treatment in melancholic and
psychotic depression when older people have lost hope to react to medications, or when it is
very severe (Dykstra, 1995).
In the non-melancholic depression, psychotherapies are available, which therapists
take into consideration poor eyesight, poor hearing, and physical discomfort. Other
treatments are possible which can be music therapy, social activities, and exercises.
Depression should be prevented as in elderly people over 65 years, sometimes it is hard to
identify, as the symptoms are generally related to the issues of aging. It should understand
factors, which contribute to lowered mood states, and then clinical depression must be treated
independently to problems of aging. Older age does not decrease the success of treatment.
Improvements and recovery are possible with the correct medication and management
strategies. As with treating a depression, the most effective medication should focus on
stressful life events, which help in reducing it. It should be cured and controlled as it causes
suicidal thoughts and even death (Hughes, Waite, Hawkley & Cacioppo, 2004).
Coping with sociability in old age in India
Sociability is the factor, which helps the older people to promote and maintain social
integration and lowers the risk of social isolation. To make them sociable, transportation is a
primary cause of isolation. As in India, many older people do not drive; this is a big
constraint for social involvement. Therefore, providing special transportations to older and
disabled people will help in building social connections, integration, and a sense of
interdependence. They should boost elderly people to remain active in their interests,
hobbies, and social gathering, and providing possible opportunities to volunteer, which can
help in maintaining a sense of purpose and keep them from becoming lonely and isolated.
They should frequently attend religious service and worship the god, who helps in getting
relieved from all problems and it is a place where all issues, mental illness, diseases can be
cured effectively and efficiently (Huppert, 2009).
The studies have proven that act of nurturing can also relieve feelings of social
isolation. They should encourage positive body image as in older people who are overweight
may be embarrassed or self-conscious and less expected to engage in the social network.
Compliments and positive comments can boost their morale and self-esteem. Therefore,
encourage them to stay positive and sensitive in efforts to lose weight. Older people suffering

LDS in old age in India 10
from untreated hearing problems may avoid social gathering due to difficulty in
communicating and embarrassment. They can be encouraged to treat their hearing problems
as it can help in maintaining social interactions. Older people can be inspired to take full
advantage of innovative technologies and electronic gadgets by which they can easily
communicate with their friends and take part in the social gathering. It should help in
involving with others and actively participate in social lives (Jamuna, 2003).
Conclusion
It explored the evidence of interrelated symptoms of loneliness, depression, and
sociability in old people in India and the problem associated with it. It indicates the several
risk factors affecting such as health-related problems and current approaches for treatment
involving both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Therefore it has
been suggested that loneliness can be reduced by maintaining social involvement, depression
can be decreased by taking proper medication and treatment, and encourage older people to
be socially engaged and connect with people. As an ageing, people are facing these issues,
which need to be controlled, make them participate in various activities (Jhingan, Sagar &
Pandey, 2001).
Research Methodology
Introduction
It entails the research methodology, which explains the research objectives, and an
appropriate methodology to accomplish those objectives. The methodology is a significant
part of the research as it is the framework for conducting a study. The study was done to
compare the occurrence of depression and loneliness and coping mechanism among elderly
people in India. The convenient sampling method was utilized to gather the data and explore
the risk dimensions. This chapter covers the research design, research approach, research
strategy, data collection, and sampling. It should state the correlation between depression,
loneliness, and sociability in old age in India (Kessler et al., 2010).
Research design
In a research task, it generates the awareness and understanding of the researcher
about the matter. At the similar phase, the selections of the suitable research design the
researcher to recognize the means and methods of collecting information, studying and use of
the research design. The main goal of the research was to study depression, loneliness, and

LDS in old age in India 11
sociability in old age in India. For psychological well-being, measures, back depression
inventory were taken to check the distinction between t-test and Karl-Pearson method ‘r’
method. The descriptive and exploratory research design was adopted to provide insights into
and comprehension of analyzing the problem as sometimes it is difficult to analyze the
symptoms over 65 years. For conducting this research design, loneliness was assessed to
specify how often, each of the accounts was descriptive of them and it is measured according
to that. It is been prevalent that 33.33% of loneliness among elderly people in India. It helped
the researcher to make a valid conclusion associated with the intervention associated with
older people loneliness, depression, and sociability in India. On the other hand, the design of
this research is not associated to solve the issue because there is no necessity to utilize
organized methodology, such as hypothesis building, proving, and valuation of results
depends on generalization. It is stated that loneliness, depression, and sociability in old age in
India is been associated in managing and mitigating the risk factors occurred in this stage
(Kim, LaRose & Peng, 2009).
Research Method
This was a qualitative research and cross-sectional study carried out after requisite
approval by the Committee. The depressed group included patients diagnosed as having
depression as per criteria with age of 60 years or more and not having any other uncontrolled
medical, surgical illness. The scales used were Loneliness scale, Geriatric depression scale,
and brief coping scale. These research methods involve; descriptive, exploratory, and causal
research method. It includes a descriptive research method, which states the initial research to
achieve the research problem with the help of advanced hypothesis. The descriptive research
supports researchers to get detailed information about the research problem by characterizing
the phenomenon. On the contrary, causal research more concentrates upon the cause and
effect relationship among variables (Koenig, 1993).
For this research study, the researcher selects descriptive research methods. It is due
to utilizing the method, the researcher assisted to gather detailed information associated with
the loneliness, depression, and sociability in old age in India. The utilization of descriptive
method supports in maintains the level of depression and understanding the old age problems
and issues. These methods also helped the researcher in combining the observation and views
of elderly people, in order to meet the objectives, achieve them by decrease the gap and
engage themselves in various social activities. It states the mindset that lonely people remain
alone, as it builds only anxiety, irritation, and resulted in depression, which needs to be

LDS in old age in India 12
resolved. It is to be cured so that elderly people also remain sociable with others (Korporaal,
Broese & Van Tilburg, 2008).
Research approach
In a research methodology, the prior selection of the research approach is important
with respect to validate the particular research design and methodology. Besides this,
researchers also enable to signify the data in an organized way. There are majorly two types
of research approaches i.e. inductive and deductive, which allow researchers to rationalize the
utilization of specific data collection and analysis method. In this, it is important for
researchers to have the in-depth knowledge about these methods in a research. For this
research, inductive approach is used, which is relevant with the interpretive philosophy. It
also indicates the flexibility, as there is no necessity to build a hypothesis associated with the
research problem (Krause 2012).
For this research study, inductive is used beyond deductive approach, as it allows the
researcher to attain subjective understanding on addressing the reasons and sociability
strategies to reduce depression and loneliness in old age people (Shaw & Gant, 2002).
Through this, the researcher enabled to increase the validity and reliability of research
outcomes. With the help of this approach, they also enabled to develop the specific
conclusion to discuss reasons and methods to solve the range of depression, loneliness and
enhance the sociability in old age in India. As it is appropriate, as it identifies the Social
stratification strategies, risk mitigation strategies to decide upon the fact that loneliness
should cope up until it leads to depression, which is critical to health. It manages the problem
and associated philosophy, which needs to be overcome speedily and quickly (Larson, 1990).
Research strategy
In a research study, research strategy is one of the significant parts that allow the
researcher to examine the problem by understanding the problem of loneliness and depression
in systematic ways. Through a significant research strategy, researchers collect the collect the
problem associated with it and analyze it to create a particular conclusion. In order to attain
the research purpose and objectives, researchers use diverse research strategies i.e. literature
review, experiment, survey, case study, questionnaire, interview, observation, and focused
group (Latha, Bhat & D'souza, 1996).
For this research study, the researcher uses literature review strategy. It is because, through
this, they allowed collecting a sufficient amount of information and data associated with the

LDS in old age in India 13
depression, loneliness, and sociability in old age in India. Through the literature review
strategy, the researcher allowed to gather the data in less cost and time that increased the
validity and reliability of research among the main investors (Russell, Peplau & Cutrona,
1980).
It analyses the concept of loneliness, depression, and sociability to maintain
awareness, and initiate possible strategies. Depression and loneliness in aging should be
reduced as it gives more power to severe diseases such as mental, social, psychological, and
physical health associated sicknesses. It should give rise to suicidal thoughts and even
passing away of near and dear ones, spouse and close relatives. Sociability should be there to
engage older people and keep indulge in various activities and make them stable so that they
can never feel alone and suffer from illnesses. It also relieves the stress and secures the health
of older people (Meena, Vohra & Rajput, 2002).
Data Collection Method
In a research, data collection refers to the collection of data and information in orderly
means from the diverse areas in order to accomplish the research objective. The appropriate
collection of information allows researchers to improve the understanding of the research
problem, which also helps to provide assumptions associated with the research problem.
There are particularly two types of data collection method i.e. primary and secondary. The
primary data is data, which is new and gathered for a first time by the researcher. It is
collected by interview, group discussion, case study, survey, questionnaire, and action
research, etc. (Mehta, 1997).
On the other hand, secondary data is data, which is already been gathered and can be
retrieved by researchers to meet their needs. Most of the time, secondary data can certainly
access by the researcher in order to achieve the objective. The secondary data collection
method involves resources, such as newspapers, periodicals, books, articles, governmental
reports, websites, and magazines, etc. (Mines, 1981).
For this research study on loneliness, depression, and sociability in elderly people in
India, the researcher selected secondary data collection methods. In this, the utilization of
secondary data collection method is productive to produce in-depth and theoretical
consideration about the research problem. Through this, the researcher allowed to gather from
several sources such as articles, journal, books, and websites to enhance the validity of
research outcomes. It designs the sociability impact on loneliness and depression to indicate

LDS in old age in India 14
the particular risk factor associated with it and helps the older people to interact with others
(Mohanraj & Subbaiah, 2010).
Data Analysis Method
After gathering the data and information, it is important to evaluate them, with respect
to producing reliable results associated with the research issue. In this concern, there are
several data analysis methods that are used, for example, content/thematic analysis,
conversational analysis, statistical analysis, and disclosure analysis in respect to create an
appropriate and significant analysis to collect the data (Myers, 2000).
For this research, the content analysis method is used by the researcher for evaluating their
data in an appropriate manner for collecting qualitative results (Rao, 1993).
Through this, researcher allowed to present the data in a suitable manner to improve better
understanding about the responses and findings in respect of loneliness, depression, and
sociability in elderly people in India (Roy, 2009).
It stated the point of mitigating the risk among old people and indicates the statement
concerning and addressing the factors affecting and it analyses the point that level of
depression and loneliness is increasing or reducing and the extent of their power. Researchers
analyze that loneliness can cause death as it leads to depression. By utilizing Content analysis
method, researchers vary the loneliness and measure the scale of depression. Researchers
analyze that depression is the cause of the bad illness, sleepover, and many mental problems,
which hurt the elderly people and this causes a more severe problem in them which is to be
resolved and action is to be taken to reduce it. They should enhance the use of sociability and
engage others in order to meet the desired conclusion and focus more on providing them love
and support (Nanda, 1986).
Research Limitation
The limitation is stating that loneliness is a temporary phenomenon of mental disease
or depression. There is the possibility of subjective bias and assessment of chronic disease
was based on self-reporting medications and prescriptions available with the individuals.
Cognitive function in activities of daily living was not connected with loneliness. The study
was restricted to the only adult and aged. However, other people are not affected by the
result. So, generalization should not be achieved. It reveals that loneliness and depression are
internal aspects of a people‘s character. As in this practical world, all people take and act

LDS in old age in India 15
differently. Hence, it is an inevitably difficult task to evaluate the proportion of loneliness and
depression people’s character. The limitation can be perceived as a strength since it carries
potential bias that lack support may have lacked the motivation to involve in this study (Patel
& Prince, 2001).
It is cross-sectional in nature and the outcomes did not build a causal relationship. It is
suggested that the feeling of loneliness and depression are considered a serious problem
among elderly people (Scarr, Capando, Ferdman, Tower & Caplan, 1983). Further research
using a qualitative technique also required recognizing the risk aspects of rising depression
and loneliness, which may contribute to the enabling of the elderly people and, increase their
power of sociability in the near future. It may not reflect a representative of old age people
living in facilities; thus, the conclusions should be used with caution in a larger number of
group of people. As with all qualitative data, the amount and nature of the information the
respondents delivered is depending upon their interactions and their motivations for
participating in the study. It is possible that the significance of the construct of loneliness and
depression will have been greater in the general population (Perlman & Peplau, 1981).
Ethical Consideration
In a research study, the significance of ethics is associated with completing each task
of research is the ethical and valid manner by complying with the confidentiality of elderly
people. This aids the researchers to accept the suitable behavior, in respect to finish the
research methodology. This research also deals with ethical concerns in respect of copyright
act’s violation, plagiarism, and data fracturing in effect of secondary data collection. The
researcher mitigates the problems by giving full recognition to the researchers and authors in
respect of delivering references and in-text in each paragraph. Therefore, on the other hand,
to evade the comparison report, the evaluator has utilized particular languages to evaluate the
gathered data (Perlman & Peplau, 1984).
At the same time, the researcher has taken an appointment to collect data associated
with the research issue (Ramachandran, Menon & Arunagiri, 1982). Through this, the
researcher allowed to manage information in full detail. It has also supported to preserve the
reliability and validity of data and information efficiently. On the other hand, the researcher
also informed the provisions associated with the elderly people and loneliness, depression
and sociability should be maintained in the research (Prakash & Coplan, 2007).

LDS in old age in India 16
Conclusion
From the above points, it can be concluded that the suitable purpose of research methodology
empowered to achieve the research goal and aim in an important means. By examining,
various research approaches, philosophies, designs, strategies, and data collection method in
aspect to the effect of loneliness, depression, and sociability in elderly people. On the other
hand, through the considerable valid problem, the researcher allowed to perform this research
in sustainable and ethical ways (Prakash, Choudhary & Singh, 2004).
Discussion
The range of social awareness and the mood states influences the health and well-
being of old age people in India. Researchers have stated that negative impacts of loneliness
on health in older people. Loneliness combined with mental and physical problems, which
gives rise to a sense of depression in older people. Gender differences have also been
reported in the occurrence of health issues in older people. There are no substantial gender
differences in the people about loneliness and depressions i.e. both the male and female older
people also experience a sense of depression and loneliness at a great extent. On the aspect of
sociability, men were seemed to be more sociable as a comparison to female group. This may
happen because all the older age man belongs to the employed group, i.e. they are engaged in
government jobs before retirement and were less cautious in socializing as a comparison to
females who were not working and were living their lives at home and desire by taking part
in everyday tasks. Having both the social and intellectual resources permits elderly people to
continue to strive for a new relationship (Smith, McCullough & Poll, 2003).
The absence of substantial gender differences on loneliness deliberates the aspect that
since both the group confined older people, with both, are alive, the probability of feeling
alone was low. Moreover, Majority of the people were living with their children and
grandchildren that did not permit them to remain alone for a long period. Lack of gender
differences on depression is different from the frequently held conviction and research
information that older females are more prone to depression (Cohen, Magai, Yaffee &
Walcott-Brown, 2004). It is aligned with the point, which has been reported in literature and
findings of attributes that all the women were non-working as they attained the age of 60
years. Therefore, for them, the change into old age was less connected with a variation in
lifestyle-related with others or a rapid loss of status and power. The alteration was very slow,
which prevented any variation in mood fluctuation. There is a positive correlation among

LDS in old age in India 17
loneliness and depression in elderly people in India with respect to both the male and female.
However, there is no significant relationship, which suggests that despite being friendly, they
experienced the increasing feeling of loneliness. It has been verified that feeling alone not
only rely upon the number of connections one has with others, satisfaction also matters a lot.
An expressed disappointment with the existing relationship is a stronger indicator of
loneliness. Lack of connection between depression and sociability reflects the fact it is
multicausal, i.e. it occurs because of the host of issues, like substantial loss due to death of
family member, friend, deteriorating health, lack of financial and social support. As the
majority of the elderly people had moderate associations with their family member and
friends, and they are sociable, and they participate in daily activities (Stepanikova, Nie & He,
2010).
It is a sense of the gap between desired and actual relationship in accordance with
cognitive theory. It can be considered as an indicator of social and psychological well-being.
Several mental health-related problems can occur due to being lonely such as child abuse,
personality disorders, high-level of depression, consumption of alcohol, and severe diseases.
It is associated with mental health problems including phobia, depression, and insomnia. IT
has been studied that loneliness and depression are increasing at a fast pace in India among
elderly people. It has also been reported that prevalence of depression is greater among
elderly people as they are suffering from severe illnesses like cancer, diabetes, heart diseases,
cancer, hypertension, poor hearing, immune disorders, and mental sickness. As the proportion
of older people in India is rapidly increasing, it becomes a stimulating factor to deal with
sociability and psychological conditions. It has been stated that loneliness and depression are
different sense of feeling as due to several losses such as alcoholism, suicidal attempts, loss
of friends, spouse, near and dear ones etc., poor mental health and cognition, and burden of
loneliness causes depression among the older age group (Sum, Mathews, Pourghasem &
Hughes, 2008).
As it has been seen that it occurs more in the age group of 70-79 years, which are not
financially dependent. It is lower among the people who lived with their families. It was
perceived that the absence of non-communicable diseases raises loneliness in respect of men.
This is due to several factors affecting among men such as unable to express their emotion,
being away from the work atmosphere, and incapability to do the basic activity. Sociability is
an adaptive and healthy coping strategy among the non-depressed group and depressed group
more commonly used self-distraction coping mechanism. Previously it has been reported that

LDS in old age in India 18
in India, common sociability strategies include social contact, increased activity, denial,
active participation, and distancing (Sum, Mathews, Hughes & Campbell, 2008).
It is similarly showed that poor perceived social satisfaction leads to depressive
symptoms and old age-associated losses impede the maintenance of desired association of
which depression is a common companion. In the depressed group, social loneliness seemed
to be a powerful indicator either alone or when considered together with emotional
loneliness, while in non-depressed group emotional loneliness predicted depressive
symptoms are more expressively similar (Keyes & Reitzes, 2007). The researchers are
studying the relationship between social and emotional loneliness separately with depression.
In spite of that, in the depressed, the more prediction of depression by social loneliness may
be explained by the poor socialization, poor quality and quantity of social relationship, which
are amongst the major predictors of loneliness and depression. Similarly, in non-depressed
there is more prediction by emotional loneliness, which is due to the lack of meaningful
relationship tends from the losses associated with physical disabilities in old age, leads to
inner emptiness, which is the core of emotional loneliness (van Willigen, Kedia & Chadha,
1995).
In India, older people require better psychological, mental, and physical health care to
nourish their well-being. Because of the deteriorating condition, lack of adequate care and
support by the family members, busy life schedule, lack of support, and due to urbanization,
older people are being neglected. As they become more vulnerable to mental and physical
ailments. They need to be more sociable and an effective care which involves keeping the
elderly people at home in a helpful friendly environment. In fact, it is designed to offer
emotional support and comforting care to older people. That should provide home care to old
people, which appears to be a care of choice for a significant 50% if terminally ill people.
Home care is more effective and beneficial in keeping the elderly people happy and
prosperous. As they will enjoy psychological and mental health problem, which is the main
motive to develop an understanding in the minds of the old age people to relieve oneself with
the depression and make socially responsible (Vishal, Bansal, Swati & Bimal, 2010).
Older people should be involved through various activities, offering them with
nourishing food with a touch of love, care, and concern, which will build a human approach
to make them feel happy, develop a zest of life, and builds a positive attitude. Successful
sociability in elderly people leads to happiness, good physical, mental, social, psychological

LDS in old age in India 19
health and well-being, improved satisfaction, and an enhanced quality of life. Government
strategies and policies for helping the older citizens should be strictly applied and monitored
so that the advantage will reach to them without any delay.
Variables Men Women t value
Mean SD Mean SD
Loneliness 47.43 7.54 45.75 0.73 0.47
Depression 18.74 11.36 22.6 8.50 0.39
Sociability 8.91 2.30 7.20 2.35 0.035
Table 1 (Weeks, 1994)
Results have shown these people are compared using t-test on the measure of
loneliness, depression, and sociability in old age in India. In table 1, it shows that there are no
substantial gender differences in older people about loneliness, depression, and sociability in
India. It has been found that elderly people are friendlier as compared to women.
Correlations among loneliness, depression, and sociability
Variables Loneliness Depression Sociability
Loneliness 1.00
Depression 0.528 1.00
Sociability -0.010 0.032 1.00
Table 2 (Whiting & Edwards, 1973).
It reveals a substantial positive correlation among loneliness, depression, and
sociability in elderly people, which is the scale of 0.01 levels, i.e., there is a rise in the scale
of depression and loneliness and a reduction in the level of sociability. A negative impact,
through relationship, was found between sociability and loneliness. It states that to reduce
loneliness, individuals should engage in work and enhance productivity.

LDS in old age in India 20
Table 3 Correlations among loneliness, depression, and sociability (men)
Variables (Men) Loneliness Depression Sociability
Loneliness 1.00
Depression 0.557 1.00
Sociability -0.118 0.050 1.00
Table 3 (Wilkinson & Coleman, 2010).
It shows that in the elderly men, a positive correlation was identifying among
loneliness and depression. As negatively, the correlation was found between loneliness and
sociability.
Table 4 Correlations among loneliness, depression, and sociability (women)
Variables (Women) Loneliness Depression Sociability
Loneliness 1.00
Depression 0.602 1.00
Sociability 0.165 0.265 1.00
Table 4 (Woodward & Kalyan-Masih, 1990).
As it has been stated that female elderly people are less sociable as significantly
shows a positive correlation.
Fig 1: The occurrence of depressed and non-depressed older people

LDS in old age in India 21
In this study, it has been deliberated that depression is a sensitive feeling and mental
sickness that can occur to any individual irrespective of youth or older person, age, gender,
and social-economic level. However, they should not lose their self-esteem as loneliness
people suffer more from depressive symptoms and are less satisfied, pessimistic, and happy.
Self-esteem results in better health, low level of depression, and overall greater success in
life. Further, it has been categorized based on the level of depressed and non-depressed
elderly people in India. In Fig. 1, it is found that 35% of elderly people have depression on
the geriatric depression scale (Yamazaki & Kayes, 2004).
Later, the two groups of depressed and non-depressed older individuals were linked
using t-test on the measure of loneliness and depression. Depression in older age creates
many issues in driving out various actions of daily living. In other words, there is an
improved dependency on others and health care framework. They also viewed that loneliness
and depression in elderly people have severe consequences, which involves distress,
increase4d health cost, enhanced suicide, and morbidity. Use of multiple medications, fear of
death, financial crises, and retirement worsen the situation. Sociability should be maintained
to decrease the level of depression and loneliness. There is more prevalence of a healthy state
of mind, lower life satisfaction and more adjustment problems, wellness and understand the
main concepts of security and support to be given to elderly people (Yee, 2006).
This is supported by the fact that sociability strategies produce less or no depressive
symptoms and distress in depressed and non-depressed elderly people. It has been reported
that people are now responding with optimism, active engagement, pessimism, and avoidance
are major coping strategies. Similarly, the higher the loneliness, the less the people sought out
emotional support as well as practical support. However, it is to be pointed out that
loneliness, depression is an important factor predicting and probably preceding depressive
symptoms in elderly people so mental health professionals need to seek for loneliness in
respect of depression. In order to intervene at an early stage, use of sociability strategies also
seems to influence loneliness as well as depression in elderly people. It has been advised that
they should move around and motivate oneself to decrease the impact of depression as there
are many problems, which cannot be cured and prevented, try and encourage to decrease the
gap between scales and ranges of depression and loneliness. It can mitigate by risk
identification strategies and implement policies for the benefit of elderly people in India.
Social loneliness expects depressive symptoms more deliberately by working on social
factors through interventions as they can implement mutual help groups, friendship

LDS in old age in India 22
programmes, daily activities, and other social intervention becomes necessary. Elderly people
should make effort by themselves as if now there are many families in India, which stay
apart, and here depression occurs. In addition, there are families, which stay together but due
to fights and conflicts between family members, elderly people feel alone and depressed.
Possible mechanisms are followed to mitigate the risk and reduce the level of loneliness,
depression, and sociability should be enhanced Zywica & Danowski, 2008).
Conclusion
It is to be concluded that the problem of loneliness was seen as 37.6% of the older people as
females are more vulnerable. The impacting factors for loneliness are older age, suffering
from several diseases, and the lonely aged person in the family, family size of more than five,
living without spouse and presence of daily activity disabilities. There was a substantial
difference in loneliness, depression and mental, social, and psychological problems arise
between adult and aged. There are negative correlations exist between depression and
loneliness in older age in India. Old age seems to be not an issue for India where
philosophies, principles, policies are supposed to prevail in the family. It creates a bond
where all should stay together, loneliness should never seem to continue for long, and
everyone should cooperate and analyze each other’s problem. Indian culture is spontaneously
supportive and respectful towards elders. Aging as a natural factor has all along involved
older people towards the attention of the civilized world. They should involve them in every
single activity, which reduces their level of loneliness and depression. They should make
provisions for the older people in humanity, which has become one of the important factors
of our contemporary welfare state. The issues of the older people differ from society to
society and have many extents in India.
Therefore, the fragmentation of the family system in India has proven the influence of
economic change, which has shaped the issues, which the aged people now face in India. The
older generation seems to be unaware of the outside surrounding and decline in ethical
consideration on one aspect and the lack of an acceptable social security framework on the
other aspect, which states that it is difficult to adjust with the family and this increases the
level of loneliness and depression. However, it can be concluded that elderly women are
more disposed to depression, as men are more sociable and have more understanding of the
relevant concept. They should make and maintained better social connections with the family
members as because they had a regular connection, share the feelings and support from the

LDS in old age in India 23
family. The existing situation of the older women felt depressive, lonelier, and had a lower
level of fulfillment with life. In this respect, the need for saving our family and the mutual
understanding among the older and the younger generations more stresses the bond. They
should solve or reduce the extent of range or at least mitigate the issues resulting from a
society so that the older people can tend a meaningful and dignified life.
Older adults may have depressive symptoms, which are injurious to health and affect the
entire family. The finding deliberated that they should build a connection between the
depression and the feeling of being sociable towards the outside world. Specifically, non-
depressed older people state of mind is related to mood to reduce depression, whereas
depressed people are inclined to talk about feelings of isolation rather than distress. Social
isolation is a cause of depression, which results in un-diagnosed illnesses, and it can be cured
only when treatment is given through home only, which is through love, care, and emotional
as well as mental support. It should provide an understanding to build a conviction in the
minds of older people to be sociable and make a positive attitude.
Loneliness as a “phrase of distress” was also discussed in this study of depression among
older people. For family members of the society, loneliness was associated with depression
and was experienced as feeling outside of the societal background. The feeling of loneliness
as a sign of depression recalls the concept in which people felt so disconnected from outside
society that they took their own lives. They feel that they should not alive, as their depression
level is increasing at a very fast pace and review of literature discusses that it can be
decreased only when they feel happy and prosperous
Despite the salience of depression and loneliness to how older people think about the feeling
of alone and has not received much attention. As many older people are detached from their
home and stay alone in the old-age home. This leads to an immediate feeling of lonely and
develops a negative perception. Therefore, this indicates that Loneliness may connect with
depression to raise mortality and neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and inflammatory diseases
should be cured. Loneliness must be increased not just in respect of social isolation, but also
as an emotional understanding in its own right deserving of further study. It has been stated
that negative perception should be reduced to understand that loneliness is just a state of
condition, which can be reduced.

LDS in old age in India 24
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