Home and (Not) Alone: How Older Adults' Living Arrangements Shape Their Experiences of Loneliness and Spatial Belonging

Due to changes in life course complexity, cultural norms, and welfare policies, older adults' preferences, resources, and living arrangements have become increasingly diverse. Yet, the relationship between older adults' living arrangements and how they experience loneliness remains underexplored. This article investigates the often-overlooked meaning-giving processes that underlie the association between living arrangements and loneliness in old age. To explore how living arrangements shape loneliness and belonging in later life, we conducted a grounded theory analysis of 72 interviews with older adults who did not live with a partner. Across living arrangements, three loneliness drivers were salient across living arrangements: losses, exclusion, and time. Participants used temporal reference points to construct mental representations of these drivers, evaluating their current spatial embeddedness in light of past experiences and anticipated future trajectories. The affective outcome of this comparison determined whether respondents perceived the spatial belonging of home and, in turn, experienced loneliness or belonging.