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Objective: To characterize the types of loneliness in older adults attending senior citizen groups in the municipality of Medellin (Colombia) and its association with sociodemographic variables. Methods: Cross sectional study performed in people 55 years old and over who attend senior citizen groups in the municipality of Medellin for a total of 1,169 respondents in 2011. The "ESTE" loneliness scale, validated for Colombia, was used as the data collection instrument. Results: Greater family loneliness and adaptation crisis were found in men, and greater marital loneliness in women. People without partners expressed more loneliness; as socioeconomic status and academic level increased, the levels of various types of loneliness decreased; adults living alone had a greater level of loneliness. Conclusions: The variables of age, marital status, education level, socioeconomic status, and number of people with whom they live are associated with loneliness in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to explore how the adult faces and / or would face the feeling of loneliness. Methods: cross sectional study. An open question was performed to 180 adults to identify possible ways to address loneliness, if it's the occurring or if it occurs at some point in life. Results: five categories were obtained about the way they faced or would face loneliness: search company (36%), distraction (21.9%), acceptance (14.6%), God (10.1%) and other (17.4%). Conclusions: facing loneliness by adults is more focused on active forms, visualizing the need to connect external and internal resources in daily life to promote the individual potential, and therefore they are more likely to face their feelings of loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]