Utilising data from six Australian rural regions, this mixed-methods study sought to understand both the predictors of loneliness, and how loneliness is constructed among diverse rural ageing populations. At stage one, cross sectional data was collected via a telephone survey (n=266), with measures relating to wellness, health, social capital, social ties and reciprocal support, and loneliness. This was followed by qualitative, semi structured interviews (n=60), which sought to expand on the quantitative findings. A standard multiple regression found that wellness, mental and physical health, support received and community characteristics predicted 38.5% of the variability seen in loneliness. Other variables, (age, gender, social and community participation) did not contribute to the amount of variability in loneliness scores. This presentation critically discusses these findings in the context of the qualitative data relating to loneliness, and highlights how rural older adults construct loneliness in relation to micro and macro environmental characteristics.
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