Relationships between Interpersonal Goals and Loneliness in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

DOI

10.3390/ijerph20031914

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2-1-2023

Publication Title

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Volume

20

Issue

3

ISSN

16617827

Keywords

compassionate and self-image goals, interpersonal goals, loneliness, older adults

Abstract

Loneliness is linked to many physiological and psychological issues and disproportionately affects older adults. Interpersonal goals (compassion and self-image) are essential to interpersonal relationships; however, how they relate to loneliness in older adults is unknown. We investigated the impact of interpersonal goals on loneliness using the Ecosystem–Egosystem Theory of Social Motivation. This study, adopting a descriptive cross-sectional correlational design, used data from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study. Participants (n = 3212) included people aged >65 years (mean age: 75; female: 60.1%). We performed exploratory factor analysis with principal axis factoring and varimax rotation to examine the suitability of compassionate and self-image goals as separate factors. The complex samples general linear model was used to assess the relationship between loneliness and interpersonal goals. Interpersonal goals were significantly negatively associated with loneliness. Respondents with higher compassion and self-image goals reported lower loneliness levels. Our results contribute to understanding how interpersonal goals relate to loneliness in older adults. These initial findings warrant further investigation.

Open Access

Gold

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