Elderly people's existential loneliness experience throughout their life in Sweden and its correlation to emotional (subjective) well-being

Abstract: Existential  loneliness  is  a  specific kind  of  loneliness,  associated  with decreased emotional  well-being.Existential loneliness differs from physical aloneness and is connected to negative feelings and  moods;  in  contrast,alonenesscan  be  experienced  as  something  positive  and  emotionallycharging.The institutionalized elderly care is an integral,part of the Swedish Welfare state. The Swedish population is getting older, factors likedemographic changesand migration flowinfluence on  the  traditional  welfare  system. Societal  culturesand  lifestyleare  underestimated  health determinants affect subjective(emotional)well-beingof the citizens. Sweden demonstrateshigh rates of single households,and a traditional societal structure encourages social isolation. A sense of belonging, the importance of the presence of attachmentfigures,and supportiverelationshipsincrease the individual’spossibility to a positive aging processwith a transition from a materialistic to a cosmic coherencedue to the Theory of Gerotranscendence. The sense of belonging increasesfeelings  of  being  attachedand the presence  of  attachment  figuresenhance  understanding  of protection and security in times of need;both of those concepts boost emotional well-being. Being attached and  belonged  keep  functioning  throughout  life  as aninstinct  of  human  beingsandno one  is  completely  free  from  being  relianton  others. Constructive social,  individual,and institutional supporthaspositive effects on the overall individual and societal health.Individuals’ life circumstancesand experiences define thekind of social, individualand institutional supportdesiredand needed.