[Resource] Aging Black and Lonely: A Narrative Experience of Black Older Adults in Canada

Loneliness affects Black older adults (BOAs) in different and debilitating ways. BOAs aged 65 years and above make up 7.3% of the Black population and 15.9% of the total population of those aged 65 years and above in Canada. Also, the population of BOAs in Canada has doubled within the last two decades, highlighting the need to understand the unique experience of aging of this population, including their experiences of loneliness and social participation. Contrarily, there exist notable gaps within the loneliness literature on the experience of loneliness and social participation among BOAs living in Canada. This doctoral dissertation addresses these knowledge gaps by providing insight into the factors influencing social and emotional loneliness and lack of social participation among BOAs and proffers ways to address the issues, expressly informing future research, services, and programs targeting this group. This dissertation is comprised of four papers. Paper 1 is a scoping review of 27 articles that reveal the dearth of empirical evidence on the experience of loneliness or subjective social isolation and the contributing factors among BOAs in Canada. The data used for the remaining three papers were collected through 25 narrative interviewing conducted with 13 BOAs living in Hamilton and Windsor, Ontario. Findings from this paper shows that in addition to unavailability of social provisions (relational gains), loneliness among BOAs is exacerbated by socio-economic factors, health-related factors and behaviours, and technology, media device possession and usage. The results also indicate that there is need for inclusion of BOAs in loneliness research in Canada. Following Paper 1, Paper 2 investigates the unique experience of loneliness among BOAs living in Canada and the suitability of the social provision framework in identifying and understanding the experience of loneliness among this group. Findings from this paper demonstrates the significance of social connection, reliable relationships and relational gains in reducing and increasing experience of loneliness among BOAs. Paper 3 analyzes the constellation of factors that contribute to loneliness among BOAs and how they cope with their experience of loneliness. The results from this paper highlight the complex overlapping factors that contribute to the experience of loneliness among BOAs including time, sense of place and belonging, weak socio-personal interaction, and level of exclusions. Paper 4 and final paper uncovers the micro and macro level factors that hinder BOAs from participating in social programs and services and suggests ways to improve their social participation. Specifically, findings from this paper uncovers the need for programs and services that are culturally diverse and sensitive to the unmet needs of racialized and minoritized groups. Collectively, the four papers contribute to knowledge on the experience of loneliness among BOAs and contributory factors and highlight the need for more inclusive research and practice on addressing loneliness among this group.

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