Learning Tool "Cultural expressions of loneliness and suffering". Made in the framework of the IENE7 project funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Please, visit www.iene7.eu.

1. MODULE II: CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE
Cultural expressions of
loneliness and suffering

2. Summary
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Cultural expressions of
loneliness and suffering
Summary
In this module, you will learn about the causes, health effects,
and tips to prevent loneliness.
You will also understand the cultural aspects of loneliness and
other expressions of suffering in older people.
Summary
What is loneliness ?
Main causes of loneliness
Cultural aspects of loneliness
Consequences of loneliness
Coping with loneliness
Conclusions
Authorship

4. Summary
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Cultural expressions of
loneliness and suffering
Summary
What is loneliness ?
Main causes of loneliness
Cultural aspects of loneliness
Consequences of loneliness
Coping with loneliness
Conclusions
Authorship
Watch this video animation One Day - loneliness among old people
(2’ 45”) and reflect on elderly person who feel alone.

5. In the next slide, see a beautiful animations where integrative Biologist Joao Pedro de
Magalhaes explains what aging is and how we can extend our lifespan.
What is loneliness?
What is Loneliness?
Loneliness and social isolation affect elderly people and may have
serious effects on their health.
According to Age UK, more than 2 million people in UK over the
age of 75 live alone, and more than a million older people say they
go for over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or
family member.
Loneliness can be understood as an individual’s personal,
subjective sense of lacking desired affection, closeness, and social
interaction with others.
If you want o learn more about loneliness, the importance
of time and place in understanding loneliness, loneliness in
minority populations, see the presentation “Loneliness and
old age”
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Cultural expressions of
loneliness and suffering
Summary
What is loneliness ?
Main causes of loneliness
Cultural aspects of loneliness
Consequences of loneliness
Coping with loneliness
Conclusions
Authorship

6. Main causes of loneliness
Various factors, such as disability and major life events can put older
adults at risk of experiencing social isolation or loneliness.
Main causes of loneliness
If you want to have more information about the main
causes of loneliness, signs to look out for and possible
consequences that can arise from feeling lonely , read
the article “Causes of loneliness in older people”
Retirement
Loss of
partner
Lack of
friends
Poor
physical
health
Loss of
mobility
Isolation Poverty
Lack of
relationships
Loneliness
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Cultural expressions of
loneliness and suffering
Summary
What is loneliness ?
Main causes of loneliness
Cultural aspects of loneliness
Consequences of loneliness
Coping with loneliness
Conclusions
Authorship

7. Cultural aspects of loneliness
There can be cultural differences in older loneliness. For example,
older adults in the southern and central European countries are
generally lonelier than their peers in the northern and western
European countries and loneliness causes are more economic
deprivation and poor health (Börsch-Supan et al., 2008).
Cultural Loneliness may be distinguished as loneliness across
cultures , whereby someone is lonely while being in a foreign culture
that leaves , feeling not be understood and not able to understanding
cultural meanings.
Cultural aspects of
loneliness
To learn more about different types of
loneliness, see the video presentation “6
Types of Loneliness” (1’29”)
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Cultural expressions of
loneliness and suffering
Summary
What is loneliness ?
Main causes of loneliness
Cultural aspects of loneliness
Consequences of loneliness
Coping with loneliness
Conclusions
Authorship

8. Possible consequences that can arise from
feeling lonely
Loneliness has the various effects on mental and physical health and
can be a significant independent risk factor for a number of conditions
such as poor health behaviors (e.g., smoking and alcohol consumption),
physical health problems (e.g., hypertension and motor decline), and
psychiatric conditions (e.g., depression and cognitive impairment).
Consequences of
loneliness
If you wish to learn more about loneliness
consequences for the health, watch the video
animation “Can Loneliness Kill You?” (3’25”)
.
• pessimism
• anxiety
• suicidal
thoughts
Depression
• sleep problems
• risk of
dementia
• risk to be
abused
Cognitive decline
• Bad habits:
poor diet,
smoking,
alcoholism
• Long-term
illness
Health risks
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Cultural expressions of
loneliness and suffering
Summary
What is loneliness ?
Main causes of loneliness
Cultural aspects of loneliness
Consequences of loneliness
Coping with loneliness
Conclusions
Authorship

9. Coping with loneliness
Loneliness can be overcome doing some initiatives like make friends,
take up a hobby, gardening, model trains, arts and crafts, needlepoint,
playing an instrument, reading, writing, adapt a pet, volunteering etc.
Coping with loneliness
To learn more about strategies and tips helpful for
coping with loneliness, read the article
“Coping with loneliness: Tips for seniors”
Summary
What is loneliness ?
Main causes of loneliness
Cultural aspects of loneliness
Consequences of loneliness
Coping with loneliness
Conclusions
Authorship
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Cultural expressions of
loneliness and suffering

10. Conclusions
Conclusions
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Cultural expressions of
loneliness and suffering
Summary
What is loneliness ?
Main causes of loneliness
Cultural aspects of loneliness
Consequences of loneliness
Coping with loneliness
Conclusions
Authorship
Watch the video animation “Most emotional sad story:
Elderly care” and reflect at the consequences of the attitude
of the son for the old mother.
Discuss with your colleagues about how the attitude of the
family causes the loneliness of the older people.

11. 5
Authorship
Author:
Victor Dudau
EDUNET , Romania
Created in the framework of IENE 7 project “Improving communication, intercultural and social
skills for migrants who work as caregivers of elderly people in Europe.”
Please, visit our website ww.iene7.eu or see more
presentations on the IENE7 Youtube channel.
You may also study the Learning resources about
loneliness and suffering.
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Cultural expressions of
loneliness and suffering
Summary
What is loneliness ?
Main causes of loneliness
Cultural aspects of loneliness
Consequences of loneliness
Coping with loneliness
Conclusions
Authorship