Types of Social Participation and Self-Reported Loneliness Among Older Adults: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal...

To examine the associations of loneliness with nine types of social participation: social network site visits; video calls with family/friends; in-person visits with family/friends; caregiving; religious service attendance; club meetings; outings for enjoyment; work; and volunteering.

Data came from the 2023 and 2024 National Health and Aging Trend Study (N = 7,547 in 2023 [T1], mean age = 75 [SE = 0.11], 55% female, and N = 6,543 in 2024 [T2], mean age = 76 [SE = 0.12]). We fitted linear regression models to examine the research questions.

Work and volunteering were cross-sectionally associated with lower loneliness at T1, whereas social network site visits were associated with higher loneliness. Continued volunteering over two years and newly initiated video calls with family/friends were associated with lower loneliness at T2, controlling for T1 loneliness and other covariates. The number of social participations was negatively associated with T2 loneliness. In-person visits with family/friends, going out for enjoyment, caregiving, attending religious services, and participating in club meetings were not significantly associated with loneliness.

The findings underscore the importance of formal social participation, especially volunteering, and informal social connections, especially video calls with family/friends, in alleviating loneliness.

Opportunities and support for volunteering should be provided to lonely older adults.