Some individuals are at greater risk than others for feelings of loneliness because of development issues -- for example, shychildren who are excluded or rejected by other children, he said.
Married and widowed twice (only two of his 10 children outlived him), Walton was just shy of his 60th birthday when his book appeared, and he lived on for three more decades.
Swinton said parents often shy away from discussing taboo subjects, such as the fear that their children will turn out to be violent or that bad things will happen to their family.