The subjective dimension of social isolation: A qualitative investigation of older adults' experiences in small social support networks Denise Cloutier-Fisher a, ⁎, Karen Kobayashi b , André Smith b a Department of Geography and Centre on Aging, University of Victoria, Canada b Department of Sociology and Centre on Aging, University of Victoria, Canada article info abstract Article history: Received 17 January 2011 Received in revised form 21 March 2011 Accepted 22 March 2011 In the aging literature, social isolation has been primarily defined in terms of reduced support network size and low frequency of social contacts. Having a small social support network is associated with social isolation and an increased risk of physical and emotional vulnerability. However, this conceptualization ignores the contributions of a host of other factors, including life experiences, family dynamics, and long-term patterns of socialization. This paper argues that alongside quantitative assessments of support systems, the application of a life course perspective is needed to understand small social networks as lived experience. We report on findings from 28 in-depth interviews with older adults identified as being at risk of social isolation on the basis of the self-reported size of their social networks. We discuss these participants' experiences in the context of significant life course transitions such as marriage and widowhood. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Social isolation Social networks Older adults Life course Introduction In the aging literature, social isolation is defined primarily in terms of having few social ties that one can rely on for practical and emotional support (Lubben & Gironda, 2003; Grenade & Boldy, 2008). The prevalence and distribution of social isolation has been well-characterized in older adult populations (Wenger, Davies, Shahtahmasebi, & Scott, 1996). Reports on the prevalence of loneliness among older adults, however, vary greatly, with estimates ranging from between 7 and 17% (e.g., Steed, Boldy, Grenade, & Iredell, 2007; Kobayashi, Cloutier-Fisher, & Roth, 2009) to between 35 and 49% (e.g., Holmen, Ericsson & Winblad, 2000; Victor, Scambler, Bond & Bowling, 2000). Social isolation is more common in women than men (Qureshi & Walker, 1989); among those who are widowed (Carey, 1977); and among working class older adults (Lowenthal & Robinson, 1976); and in those who are in poor health and have mobility issues (Lynch, 1977). Numerous studies link large supportive social networks to improved health outcomes in later life; whereas having a small unsupportive network increases one's risk for poor physical and mental health (Bosworth & Warner Schaie, 1997; House, Umberson, & Landis, 1988; Settersten, 1999; Seeman, 1999; Wenger et al., 1996). In addition, socially isolated individuals are at greater risk of long-term exclusion from social relations and are more likely to experience reduced access to health services (Scharf & Smith, 2004). Much less is known about the nature of the relationship between the objective condition of social isolation (as reflected by a small social network) and the manner in which it is subjectively experienced by older adults. From the literature what we do know is that loneliness is identified as one potential subjective outcome of having a small social network. Loneliness is typically conceptualized as a discrep- ancy between the desired and achieved number of social relations, levels of social interaction, and sense of connect- edness with the wider community (Wenger et al., 1996; Dahlberg, 2007). Perlman and Peplau (1981) similarly define loneliness as “the unpleasant experience that occurs when a person's network of social relations is deficient in some way, either quantitatively or qualitatively.” (p. 31). Journal of Aging Studies 25 (2011) 407–414 ⁎ Corresponding author. Tel.: + 11 2507 216289; fax: + 11 2507 216499. E-mail address: dcfisher@uvic.ca (D. Cloutier-Fisher). 0890-4065/$ – see front matter © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jaging.2011.03.012 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Aging Studies journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jaging