Social capital and subjective well-being among older adults: The mediating role of loneliness and the moderating role of optimism
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Social capital boosts older adults' well-being by reducing loneliness, especially for optimistic individuals. This study highlights pathways to improve life quality for China's aging population.
Area Of Science
- Gerontology
- Social Psychology
- Sociology
Background
- Population aging in China necessitates strategies to improve older adults' subjective well-being.
- Social capital is recognized as a resource for well-being, but its mechanisms require further investigation.
- Conservation of Resources (COR) theory provides a framework for understanding resource gains and losses.
Purpose Of The Study
- To test a moderated mediation model examining loneliness as a mediator and optimism as a moderator between social capital and subjective well-being in older Chinese adults.
- To elucidate the psychological processes linking social capital to enhanced life quality in an aging context.
- To provide theoretical and practical guidance for interventions aimed at improving well-being among the elderly.
Main Methods
- A questionnaire survey was administered to 581 older adults (aged 60+) in Guangzhou, China.
- Validated scales measured social capital (bonding and bridging), loneliness, optimism, and subjective well-being.
- Statistical analysis using SPSS was performed to test the moderated mediation framework.
Main Results
- Social capital was positively associated with subjective well-being.
- Loneliness significantly mediated the relationship between social capital and subjective well-being, explaining a substantial portion of the variance (45.1% for bonding, 50.5% for bridging).
- Optimism negatively moderated the social capital-loneliness link, indicating that higher optimism weakened the protective effect of social capital on loneliness.
Conclusions
- Loneliness is a key mechanism through which social capital influences subjective well-being in older adults.
- Optimism plays a role in how social capital buffers against loneliness.
- Findings support the application of COR theory in aging research and inform policy development for elderly care, community services, and psychological support programs.
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
Related Concept Videos
The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development outlines a series of stages through which individuals progress across the lifespan. Each stage involves a psychosocial conflict that significantly influences personal growth and well-being. Three key stages — intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and integrity versus despair — highlight the developmental challenges faced in adulthood.
Intimacy Versus Isolation in Early Adulthood
Individuals in early...
Subjective well-being (SWB) refers to an individual's self-evaluation of their overall life satisfaction, happiness, and fulfillment. This multifaceted construct is typically assessed by analyzing the balance of positive and negative emotions alongside perceptions of life satisfaction. Personality traits such as neuroticism and extraversion are strongly associated with variations in SWB, offering critical insights into the underlying mechanisms of emotional well-being.
Neuroticism and...
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
Self-esteem—an individual's overall evaluation of their worth—plays a complex role in psychological functioning and well-being. It is often associated with many positive traits, such as confidence, optimism, and perseverance. Individuals with high self-esteem typically experience better sleep, manage peer pressure more effectively, and report greater life satisfaction. Conversely, low self-esteem has been consistently linked with increased risks of depression, anxiety, and poor...
Social psychology examines how the real or imagined presence of others influences individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A key concept in this field is the role of social context in shaping behavior. The same individual may act differently depending on the social setting, due to the varying expectations and norms associated with each environment. This context-dependent behavior illustrates the influence of social roles, which prescribe appropriate conduct in specific situations.Social...