Examining the Bidirectional Nature of Loneliness and Anxiety Among Older Adults in Daily Life

Objectives Loneliness in later life increases the risk for adverse health outcomes; however, less is known about how loneliness is maintained. Anxiety may play an important role in maintaining loneliness, but little is known about how this connection plays out over time in daily life. This study thus focused on the within-person associations between momentary loneliness and anxiety among older adults. Methods Participants were 317 diverse older adults (40% Black; 13% Hispanic, mean age = 77.45 years, 67% women) systematically recruited from the Bronx, NY, who completed ecological momentary assessments 5 times daily for 14 consecutive days. Multilevel models tested bidirectional contemporaneous, momentary cross-lagged (t - 1), day-level cross-lagged (average day to end of day), and day-to-day cross-lagged associations between loneliness and anxiety. Separate sensitivity analyses controlled for concurrent overall mood valence or depressed state. Gender and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) status were tested as moderators at all timescales. Results Significant bidirectional associations between loneliness and anxiety were found at the contemporaneous and momentary cross-lagged (t - 1) timescales. Higher average daily loneliness predicted higher end-of-day anxiety, but not vice versa. Loneliness and anxiety were not significantly associated from day to day. Sensitivity analyses revealed some associations varied depending on inclusion of either concurrent mood valence or depressed state. Neither gender nor MCI status moderated associations at any timescale. Discussion Findings shed light on the complex temporal ordering of loneliness and anxiety in daily life and extend contemporary theoretical notions of loneliness, including the possibility of interventions that target key moments in daily life.

Automated summary

This study examined the within-person associations between momentary loneliness and anxiety among older adults and found significant bidirectional associations at the contemporaneous and momentary cross-lagged timescales. However, loneliness and anxiety were not significantly associated from day to day. The findings shed light on the complex temporal ordering of loneliness and anxiety in daily life and suggest the potential for interventions targeting key moments.