Social Isolation and Well-Being in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Nguyen Nhan, Lin Zhiyong
Primary Institution: The University of Texas San Antonio
Hypothesis
How does social isolation affect subjective well-being among older adults across different race/ethnicity and gender groups?
Conclusion
Social isolation negatively impacts subjective well-being in older adults, with variations observed among different racial/ethnic and gender groups.
Supporting Evidence
- Social isolation is linked to lower life satisfaction among older adults.
- Hispanic older adults show higher subjective well-being when isolated compared to Black individuals.
- Women experience greater disadvantages in subjective well-being than men across all racial/ethnic groups.
Takeaway
Being alone can make older people feel sad, but how much it affects them can depend on their race and whether they are men or women.
Methodology
The study used longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (2008-2020) to analyze the relationship between social isolation and subjective well-being.
Participant Demographics
Older adults from various racial/ethnic backgrounds, including White, Hispanic, and Black individuals.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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