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Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
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Relationships between Interpersonal Goals and Loneliness in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
Francesca C Ezeokonkwo1, Kathleen L Sekula2, Jeffrey E Stokes3
1School of Nursing, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|February 11, 2023
Summary
Older adults with stronger compassion and self-image goals experience less loneliness. These interpersonal goals are linked to reduced feelings of isolation in seniors, suggesting a potential area for intervention.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Social Psychology
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Loneliness significantly impacts older adults' physiological and psychological well-being.
- Interpersonal goals, specifically compassion and self-image, are crucial for relationships but their link to loneliness in seniors is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between interpersonal goals (compassion and self-image) and loneliness in older adults.
- To explore this relationship through the lens of the Ecosystem-Egosystem Theory of Social Motivation.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, cross-sectional correlational design was employed using data from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study (N=3212, age >65).
- Exploratory factor analysis and complex samples general linear models were used to analyze the data.
Main Results:
- Interpersonal goals, including compassion and self-image, were found to be significantly negatively associated with loneliness.
- Older adults reporting higher levels of compassion and self-image goals exhibited lower levels of loneliness.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that cultivating compassion and self-image goals may be a protective factor against loneliness in older adults.
- Further research is warranted to explore the implications of these interpersonal goals for interventions aimed at reducing loneliness in the elderly population.
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