Pre-widowhood social support is linked to loneliness patterns: a growth mixture model using the health and retirement study

Abstract

Objectives

The first aim of the study is to compare loneliness levels between widowed and non-widowed older adults. The second aim is to identify distinct loneliness patterns among widowed individuals and explore the impact of pre-spousal loss social support on loneliness during and after bereavement.

Method

Data from the Health and Retirement Study were utilized to compare loneliness levels between widowed (n = 137) and non-widowed (n = 2361) older adults (M_age = 69.01). T-tests and latent growth curve models were conducted to compare loneliness levels between the two groups. Growth mixture models were computed to identify distinct loneliness patterns among the widowed individuals. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine how pre-widowhood social support was associated with the obtained classes.

Results

The results revealed that widowed individuals reported significantly higher levels of loneliness at T2. Among widowed individuals, three distinct loneliness patterns were identified: Increased Loneliness (IL) group (n = 32); Low and Stable Loneliness (LSL) group (n = 88); and Decreased Loneliness (DL) group (n = 17). The IL and DL group were less likely to receive social support from spouse, children, and friends compared to the LSL group.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence of the protective effect of pre-widowhood social support on the psychological well-being of older adults after spousal loss.

Keywords:

• Pre-widowhood
• social support
• spousal loss
• emotional well-being

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Gina Lee was supported by a training grant (T32AG000129) awarded to the Center for Demography of Health and Aging (P30 AG17266) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison by the National Institute on Aging.