Within-Person Dynamics of Objective and Subjective Social Isolation in Midlife and Later Life.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Luo, Mengsha; Li, Lydia W.
- Source
- Journal of Aging & Health. Mar2023, Vol. 35 Issue 3/4, p182-190. 9p.
- Subject
- *SOCIAL networks
*SOCIAL isolation
*SEX distribution
*RISK assessment
*LONELINESS
*RESEARCH funding
*MIDDLE age
- Language
- ISSN
- 0898-2643
Objectives: To investigate the within-person dynamics of objective and subjective social isolation among U.S. middle-aged and older adults and to explore gender differences in this relationship. Methods: Four waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, 2006–2018, N = 5437) and the multiple group random intercept cross-lagged panel model were used. Results: Within-person deviation in expected subjective isolation predicted deviation in expected objective isolation years later. No corresponding cross-lagged effect of objective isolation on subjective isolation was found. Gender differences were detected: the within-person cross-lagged positive effect of subjective isolation on objective isolation was significant for men but not for women. Discussion: This study provides evidence for a unidirectional relationship between subjective and objective isolation at the within-person level: higher than expected increase in subjective isolation predicts higher than expected increase in subsequent objective isolation. This within-person process is more salient in men than in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]