Longitudinal associations between social connections and subjective wellbeing in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics of study population.

Variables	Baseline sample (N = 7724)
Age – mean (SD)	66.4 (9.7)
Men (%)	44.8
Limiting long-standing illness (%)	34.6
Social isolation categories (%)
Low	30.1
Intermediate	36.8
High	33.1
Loneliness categories (%)
Low	53.3
High	46.7
Enjoyment of life – mean (SD)	10.0 (1.8)
Life satisfaction – mean (SD)	21.2 (6.1)

Figure 1. Changes in scores for hedonic well-being (a) and evaluative well-being (b) over time.^a

Note: ^aUnadjusted values.

Table 2. Social isolation as a predictor of changes in well-being.^a

	Enjoyment of life	Life satisfaction
	B (95% CI)	B (95% CI)
Social isolation
Low	Reference	Reference
Medium	−.14 (−.23 to −.05)	−.73 (−1.04 to −.43)
High	−.56 (−.67 to −.48)	−2.08(−2.39 to −1.77)
Social isolation × time
Low	Reference	Reference
Medium	−.03 (−.14 to .07)	.03 (−.31 to .37)
High	.14 (.03–.25)	.46 (.11–.91)
Social isolation × time
Low	Reference	Reference
Medium	.01 (−.03 to .04)	−.002 (−.11 to .11)
High	−.05 (−.08 to −.01)	−.12 (−.24 to −.01)

^a Analyses were adjusted for time, time², age, wave × age, gender, limiting long-standing illness, quintile of wealth and loneliness category.

Figure 2. Scores on hedonic well-being (a) and evaluative well-being (b) over time by levels of social isolation.^b

Note: ^bModels were adjusted for time, time², age, gender, limiting long-standing illness, quintile of wealth and loneliness category.

Table 3. Loneliness as a predictor of changes in well-being.^a

	Enjoyment of life	Life satisfaction
	B (95% CI)	B (95% CI)
Loneliness
Never lonely	Reference	Reference
Sometimes/always lonely	−.97 (−1.04 to −.89)	−4.12 (−4.37 to −3.86)
Loneliness × time
Never lonely	Reference	Reference
Sometimes/always lonely	.08 (−.02 to .17)	.89 (.60–1.17)
Loneliness × time
Never lonely	Reference	Reference
Sometimes/always lonely	−.01 (−.04 to .02)	−.17 (−.26 to −.07)

^a Analyses were adjusted for time, time², age, gender, limiting long-standing illness, quintile of wealth and isolation category.

Figure 3. Scores on hedonic well-being (a) and evaluative well-being (b) over time by levels of loneliness.^c

Note: ^cModels were adjusted for time, time², age, gender, limiting long-standing illness, quintile of wealth and isolation category.