Community support, social isolation and older adults’ life satisfaction: evidence from a national survey in China

Nov 3, 2023Aging & mental health

How Community Support and Social Isolation Relate to Life Satisfaction in Older Adults in China

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Abstract

Responses from 9,874 Chinese older adults indicate that community social service is more significantly associated with life satisfaction than community built facilities.

Community social service and community built facilities are positively linked to life satisfaction in older adults.
Social disconnectedness and loneliness mediate the relationship between community support and life satisfaction.
Enhancing community social services may be particularly effective in improving life satisfaction among older adults.
Investments in targeted interventions could help reduce social disconnectedness and loneliness.

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OBJECTIVES: Despite the recognized importance of community social service and community built facility for enhancing older adults' life satisfaction, the mechanisms underlying their relationship have not been thoroughly examined. This study aims to complement the existing knowledge by investigating the mediating role of social disconnectedness and loneliness in the association between community support and life satisfaction among older adults.

METHODS: Using data from the 2018 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey, the study analyzes responses from 9,874 Chinese older adults (mean age = 71.30 years, SD = 7.30). We conducted descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation to explore the variables. This study also used Mplus 8.0 to conduct a path analysis model that evaluated both the direct and indirect effects of community social service and built facility on life satisfaction. Social disconnectedness and loneliness were included as mediating variables in this model.

RESULTS: The present study results show that both community social service and community built facility are positively associated with life satisfaction among older adults, and community social service is more imporatant for enhancing the life satisfaction. In addition, these associations are mediated by social disconnectedness and loneliness.

CONCLUSION: Our research suggests that strengthening community social service programs and improving the built environment can reduce social disconnectedness and loneliness among older adults, ultimately enhancing their life satisfaction. Specifically, policymakers can invest in targeted interventions to enhance social connectedness and reduce loneliness, with the goal of improving the overall well-being of older adults.

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