Older adults face particular risks of exclusion from social relationships (ESR) and are especially vulnerable to its consequences. However, research so far has been limited to specific dimensions, countries, and time points. In this paper, we examine the prevalence and micro- and macro-level predictors of ESR among older adults (60+) using two waves of data obtained four years apart across 14 European countries in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). We consider four ESR indicators (household composition, social networks, social opportunities, and loneliness) and link them to micro-level (age, gender, socioeconomic factors, health, and family responsibilities) and national macro-level factors (social expenditures, unmet health needs, individualism, social trust, and institutional trust). Findings reveal a northwest to southeast gradient, with the lowest rates of ESR in the stronger welfare states of Northwest Europe. The high rates of ESR in the southeast are especially pronounced among women. Predictably, higher age and fewer personal resources (socioeconomic factors and health) increase the risk of all ESR dimensions for both genders. Macro-level factors show significant associations with ESR beyond the effect of micro-level factors, suggesting that national policies and cultural and structural characteristics may play a role in fostering sociability and connectivity and, thus, reduce the risk of ESR in later life.

Center for Research and Study of Aging The University of Haifa Haifa 31905 Israel

Department of Cognition Development and Educational Psychology University of Barcelona 171 08035 Barcelona Spain

Department of Culture and Society Linkoping University 60230 Norrkoping Sweden

Department of Mental health and Suicide Norwegian Institute of Public Health 0213 Oslo Norway

Department of Sociology Faculty of Social Studies Masaryk University Jostova 10 60200 Brno Czech Republic

Irish Centre for Social Gerontology National University of Ireland Galway H91 F677 Galway Ireland

Max Stern Yezreel Academic College Haifa 31905 Israel

NOVA Norwegian Social Research Oslo Metropolitan University 0130 Oslo Norway

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