This study sought to explore qualitatively experiences of existential loneliness (EL) in 80 older people living in retirement communities across the United Kingdom and Australia. Qualitative semi-structured interviews permitted in-depth exploration of issues such as biographical narrative, close relationships, loss, feelings of loneliness and retirement living. It was our intention to conduct a large-scale, deep-listening exercise that would provide further clues about EL in older people and the circumstances that give rise to such feelings. Data provided rich insight into older people's inner lives. Core themes identified loss of close attachments, lack of physical touch and intimacy, deterioration of health and body, and lack of an emotional language through which to express EL as central to older people's experiences. Furthermore, there was a suggestion that the move to retirement living was for many people inextricably connected to their experience of EL. Our data further support and extend the notion that EL can be thought of as a gradual sense of separation from the world and that ageing intensifies a myriad of social, emotional and physical circumstances that prompt its emergence. This sense of existential isolation need not be thought of as exclusive to those experiencing extreme frailty or who face death imminently – our data pointed to a clear and gradual emergence of EL throughout later life.

本研究旨在探索生活在英国和澳大利亚退休社区的 80 名老年人的存在孤独感 (EL) 的定性体验。定性半结构化访谈允许深入探讨诸如传记叙述、亲密关系、失落、孤独感和退休生活等问题。我们打算进行大规模的深度聆听练习，以进一步了解老年人的 EL 以及引起这种感觉的环境。数据提供了对老年人内心生活的丰富洞察。核心主题确定了亲密依恋的丧失、身体接触和亲密感的缺乏、健康和身体的恶化，以及缺乏一种情感语言来表达 EL 作为老年人体验的核心。此外，有人认为，对许多人来说，转向退休生活与他们的 EL 经历有着千丝万缕的联系。我们的数据进一步支持和扩展了 EL 可以被认为是一种与世界逐渐分离的感觉，并且老龄化加剧了促使其出现的无数社会、情感和身体环境。这种存在孤立感不必被认为是那些经历极度虚弱或即将面临死亡的人所独有的——我们的数据表明 EL 在以后的生活中明显而逐渐地出现。我们的数据进一步支持和扩展了 EL 可以被认为是一种与世界逐渐分离的感觉，并且老龄化加剧了促使其出现的无数社会、情感和身体环境。这种存在孤立感不必被认为是那些经历极度虚弱或即将面临死亡的人所独有的——我们的数据表明 EL 在以后的生活中明显而逐渐地出现。我们的数据进一步支持和扩展了 EL 可以被认为是一种与世界逐渐分离的感觉，并且老龄化加剧了促使其出现的无数社会、情感和身体环境。这种存在孤立感不必被认为是那些经历极度虚弱或即将面临死亡的人所独有的——我们的数据表明 EL 在以后的生活中明显而逐渐地出现。