Social isolation and loneliness among Chinese older adults: Examining aging attitudes as mediators and moderators

Abstract

Due to labor migration and social changes, the Chinese elderly are facing significant social isolation, along with changes in aging attitudes. However, whether social isolation affects loneliness among the Chinese elderly and whether this relationship is moderated and mediated by aging attitudes is unclear. This empirical study aimed to respond to the above questions in the Chinese context, Based on the data from the 2014 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (N = 6,645), the results showed that social isolation is a positive predictor of loneliness; aging attitudes mediate the relationship between social isolation and loneliness. Social isolation affects the loneliness of the elderly partially by weakening positive aging attitudes and strengthening negative aging attitudes; aging attitudes moderate the effect of social isolation on loneliness. For those older adults with higher positive aging attitudes, social isolation has a much smaller effect on loneliness. While for those older adults with higher negative aging attitudes, social isolation has a more substantial effect on their feelings of loneliness. Our results indicate that less social isolation is an effective way to relieve loneliness, and maintaining higher positive aging attitudes and lower negative aging attitudes, is important for the Chinese elderly to prevent loneliness when facing social isolation.

Social isolation, loneliness, and motoric cognitive risk syndrome among older adults in China: A longitudinal study

“…25,26 Research indicates that approximately one-third of Chinese older adults reported social isolation or loneliness. 25,27 As effective treatments for dementia are currently unavailable, various interventions, both in-person and online, are accessible to combat social isolation and loneliness. Therefore, investigating the relationship between social isolation, loneliness, and MCR may enable the development of effective preventive and mitigative strategies for predementia and dementia in China.…”

“…Additionally, social isolation and loneliness have become increasingly prevalent among Chinese older adults due to rapid aging, decreased fertility rates, and urbanization 25,26 . Research indicates that approximately one‐third of Chinese older adults reported social isolation or loneliness 25,27 . As effective treatments for dementia are currently unavailable, various interventions, both in‐person and online, are accessible to combat social isolation and loneliness.…”

Social Isolation/Loneliness and Tooth Loss in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Sukagawa Study

“…The disparities observed in the findings between our study and Qi’s study may also be attributed to the differential influence of social context on the experience of loneliness ( Rokach et al, 2001 ). Chinese culture, with its extensive family networks and adherence to traditional Confucian-based filial piety ( Sun et al, 2022 ), likely contributes to mitigating feelings of loneliness and poor oral health outcomes among older adults. In contrast, Japanese culture is characterized by a perception of social rigidity, which pertains to the perceived challenges of voluntarily joining or leaving social groups and establishing new social connections ( Badman et al, 2022 ).…”

Feeling Alone Together: Loneliness in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment and Their Family Caregivers with Low Mastery

“…Third, the proportion of PCI and their caregivers experiencing loneliness in this study was relatively lower than that reported in Western contexts [ 43 ]. Although levels of loneliness among older adults tend to be lower in Asian societies [ 44 , 45 ], future studies may revisit the validity of the instrument measuring loneliness in local languages. Fourth, the generalizability of our findings is constrained by its focus on a single community in a developed, small city-state before the COVID-19 pandemic.…”