Testing reciprocal relationships between loneliness and self-control among middle-aged and older adults: A random intercept cross-lagged panel model using daily diary data
S. R. Noh
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AbstractLoneliness is one of the most critical causes of ill-being among the elderly (Chen & Feeley, 2014). Empirical evidence has revealed that loneliness in later adulthood causes various physical and mental problems such as depression, cardiovascular health (Courtin & Knapp, 2017), suicidal ideation (Beutel et al., 2017), and dementia (Holwerda et al., 2014). The importance of feeling connected in later adulthood is best summarized by the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development (Waldinger, 2016), who said that “Loneliness kills. It’s as powerful as smoking or alcoholism.” Among several factors that may account for loneliness, one critical factor that has been understudied and may help better understand the development of loneliness is the potential role of self-control (Stavrova et al., 2021). Low self-control has been associated with poor prosocial behaviors, leading to social isolation (Dou et al., 2019). In addition, the experience of loneliness can weaken self-regulation functioning (Baumeister et al., 2005). The present study examined 1) the relationship between loneliness and self-control among middle-aged and older adults and 2) whether and how the daily fluctuations in self-control skills and loneliness within an individual affect each other.Keywords: loneliness, self-control, diary data, middle-aged and older adults
S. R. Noh (2022). Testing reciprocal relationships between loneliness and self-control among middle-aged and older adults: A random intercept cross-lagged panel model using daily diary data. Gerontechnology, 21(s),1-1
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2022.21.s.670.pp3