Social anxiety and loneliness among older adults: a moderated mediation model
Abstract Background Few studies have clarified the mechanisms linking social anxiety and loneliness in older populations. The study aimed to explore how social network mediate the relationship between social anxiety and loneliness in older adults, with perceived social support playing a moderating r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17795-5 |
| _version_ | 1797272952227495936 |
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| author | Shuting Sun Yawen Wang Lilu Wang Jinjin Lu Huihui Li Jiahui Zhu Suzhen Qian Lianlian Zhu Hongbo Xu |
| author_facet | Shuting Sun Yawen Wang Lilu Wang Jinjin Lu Huihui Li Jiahui Zhu Suzhen Qian Lianlian Zhu Hongbo Xu |
| author_sort | Shuting Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Few studies have clarified the mechanisms linking social anxiety and loneliness in older populations. The study aimed to explore how social network mediate the relationship between social anxiety and loneliness in older adults, with perceived social support playing a moderating role. Methods A total of 454 older patients completed the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale, Lubben Social Network Scale-6, Chinese version of the Short Loneliness Scale and Perceived Social Support Scale. Bootstrap and simple slope methods were used to test the moderated mediation model. Results Social anxiety had a significant positive predictive effect on loneliness and social network partially mediated this relationship. The relationship between social anxiety and social network, as well as the relationship between social network and loneliness, was moderated by perceived social support. Specifically, perceived social support buffered the effects of social anxiety on social network, but the buffering effect diminished with increasing levels of social anxiety. On the social network and loneliness pathway, the social network of older persons with higher perceived social support has a stronger prediction of loneliness. Conclusions The study found that social anxiety can contribute to loneliness by narrowing older adults’ social network. High perceived social support can buffer this process, but do not overstate its protective effects. Thus, interventions to reduce social anxiety and improve social network and social support may help prevent and alleviate loneliness in older adults. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:36:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3e52c2ac20fe499facff4e4207e9a985 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:36:42Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-3e52c2ac20fe499facff4e4207e9a9852024-03-05T20:36:20ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-02-0124111110.1186/s12889-024-17795-5Social anxiety and loneliness among older adults: a moderated mediation modelShuting Sun0Yawen Wang1Lilu Wang2Jinjin Lu3Huihui Li4Jiahui Zhu5Suzhen Qian6Lianlian Zhu7Hongbo Xu8School of Nursing, Wenzhou Medical University, University TownSchool of Nursing, Wenzhou Medical University, University TownSchool of Nursing, Wenzhou Medical University, University TownSchool of Nursing, Wenzhou Medical University, University TownSchool of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical UniversitySchool of Nursing, Wenzhou Medical University, University TownSchool of Nursing, Wenzhou Medical University, University TownSchool of Nursing, Wenzhou Medical University, University TownSchool of Nursing, Wenzhou Medical University, University TownAbstract Background Few studies have clarified the mechanisms linking social anxiety and loneliness in older populations. The study aimed to explore how social network mediate the relationship between social anxiety and loneliness in older adults, with perceived social support playing a moderating role. Methods A total of 454 older patients completed the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale, Lubben Social Network Scale-6, Chinese version of the Short Loneliness Scale and Perceived Social Support Scale. Bootstrap and simple slope methods were used to test the moderated mediation model. Results Social anxiety had a significant positive predictive effect on loneliness and social network partially mediated this relationship. The relationship between social anxiety and social network, as well as the relationship between social network and loneliness, was moderated by perceived social support. Specifically, perceived social support buffered the effects of social anxiety on social network, but the buffering effect diminished with increasing levels of social anxiety. On the social network and loneliness pathway, the social network of older persons with higher perceived social support has a stronger prediction of loneliness. Conclusions The study found that social anxiety can contribute to loneliness by narrowing older adults’ social network. High perceived social support can buffer this process, but do not overstate its protective effects. Thus, interventions to reduce social anxiety and improve social network and social support may help prevent and alleviate loneliness in older adults.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17795-5Social anxietySocial networkPerceived social supportLonelinessOlder adults |
| spellingShingle | Shuting Sun Yawen Wang Lilu Wang Jinjin Lu Huihui Li Jiahui Zhu Suzhen Qian Lianlian Zhu Hongbo Xu Social anxiety and loneliness among older adults: a moderated mediation model BMC Public Health Social anxiety Social network Perceived social support Loneliness Older adults |
| title | Social anxiety and loneliness among older adults: a moderated mediation model |
| title_full | Social anxiety and loneliness among older adults: a moderated mediation model |
| title_fullStr | Social anxiety and loneliness among older adults: a moderated mediation model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social anxiety and loneliness among older adults: a moderated mediation model |
| title_short | Social anxiety and loneliness among older adults: a moderated mediation model |
| title_sort | social anxiety and loneliness among older adults a moderated mediation model |
| topic | Social anxiety Social network Perceived social support Loneliness Older adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17795-5 |
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