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

Author

Listed:
  • Francesca C. Ezeokonkwo

    (School of Nursing, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA)

  • Kathleen L. Sekula

    (School of Nursing, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA)

  • Jeffrey E. Stokes

    (Department of Gerontology, McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02125, USA)

  • Laurie A. Theeke

    (School of Nursing, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20006, USA)

  • Rick Zoucha

    (School of Nursing, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA)

  • Meredith Troutman-Jordan

    (School of Nursing, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA)

  • Dinesh Sharma

    (Department of Mathematics and Statistics, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesca C. Ezeokonkwo & Kathleen L. Sekula & Jeffrey E. Stokes & Laurie A. Theeke & Rick Zoucha & Meredith Troutman-Jordan & Dinesh Sharma, 2023. "Relationships between Interpersonal Goals and Loneliness in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-11, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:1914-:d:1042084
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Astrid Kemperman & Pauline van den Berg & Minou Weijs-Perrée & Kevin Uijtdewillegen, 2019. "Loneliness of Older Adults: Social Network and the Living Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Gerst-Emerson, K. & Jayawardhana, J., 2015. "Loneliness as a public health issue: The impact of loneliness on health care utilization among older adults," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(5), pages 1013-1019.
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