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Cited by 1Aging and Gerontology ResearchHealth disparities and outcomesAging, Health, and Disability

Loneliness and Expanding Social Ties in Later Life: Motivation, Perceived Success, and Implications for Emotional Health

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Rook, Karen S, Oleskiewicz, Danielle, Brown, Colette J, August, Kristin J, Smith, Anna M, Sorkin, Dara H·2024·The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
DOI 10.1093/geronb/gbae136PMC PMC11439993
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Abstract

Objectives: Social networks undergo changes in later life, reflecting proactive decreases as well as increases in size, but relatively little is known about the factors that motivate older adults to expand their social ties. Loneliness might be expected to motivate older adults to expand their social ties. Paradoxically, however, studies of younger age groups have linked loneliness to a self-protective reluctance to initiate social contact. The current study investigated whether loneliness fosters or inhibits older adults’ efforts to expand their social ties and whether successful efforts are related to gains in emotional health. Methods: Loneliness, motivation to expand social ties, and emotional health were assessed in a subset of older participants (N = 375) from the Later Life Study of Social Exchanges. Results: Greater loneliness was associated with less interest, less investment of effort, and less success in making new ties and rekindling dormant ties. Nonetheless, lonelier older adults who expanded their social ties, particularly by rekindling dormant ties, exhibited some gains in emotional health over a 1-year period. Discussion: Greater attention to the role of loneliness in older adults’ motivations for making new ties or rekindling dormant ties will broaden our understanding of social network changes in later life.

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  • Experiencing loneliness may precede or exacerbate social isolation, forming a self-reinforcing cycle of escalating social isolation and loneliness over time.

    “As such, experiencing loneliness may precede or exacerbate social isolation, forming a selfreinforcing cycle of escalating social isolation and loneliness over time.”

    From Investigating the interplay of loneliness and social isolation across adolescence: Findings from a nationally representative longitudinal study (2026) · cites this paper as Rook et al., 2024

    The Discussion reports that lonelier older adults showed less interest, made fewer efforts, and reported less success in expanding social ties. Limitations and Future Directions proposes that unsuccessful efforts might increase loneliness, but calls this a potential cycle needing further research. The paper does not establish escalating social isolation and loneliness over time. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Rook, K. S., Oleskiewicz, D., Brown, C. J., August, K. J., Smith, A. M., & Sorkin, D. H.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Irvine (US)
  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
  • University of Iowa (US)
Corresponding author
Rook, Karen S
ORCID
Venue
The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2024-08-05
Volume
79
Issue
10
ISSN
  • 1079-5014 (ISSN-L)
  • 1758-5368
DOI
10.1093/geronb/gbae136
PMC
PMC11439993
OpenAlex
W4401343019
Cited by
1
References
5
Citations by year
2026: 1
FWCI
0.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights (vor)
Locations
  • The Journals of Gerontology Series B (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Aging (R01AG14130)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
Keywords
loneliness, social ties, older adults, social network change, motivation, emotional well-being, social exchange
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Loneliness, Male, Mental Health, Motivation, Social Support, Social Networking

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