Older Adults’ Attachment Affects Life Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Loneliness

Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2014, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (6) : 1421-1425.

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PDF(4799 KB)
Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2014, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (6) : 1421-1425.

Older Adults’ Attachment Affects Life Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Loneliness

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Abstract

Based on the previous research, the society is paying more attention to problems about aging. We should focus on the quality of life and mental health of old people, which is worthy of studying. The life satisfaction is one of the most important psychological indexes which can show the quality of life. Some studies have confirmed that loneliness could predict the life satisfaction. The old people will be faced with a series of loss in the later period of life. The important intimate relationship could provide support and protection as safe guard (Antonucci, Akiyama, & Takahashi, 2004). The attachment could reduce loneliness, thus improving life satisfaction. In the study, the relationship among loneliness, the attachment and life satisfaction was the starting point. We can explore the relationship among them. On one hand, we can understand the states of loneliness and life satisfaction among old people, on the other hand we could provid theoretical support for higher life satisfaction of old people by ascertaining the relationship of the three variables. On the basis of literature analysis, this study used the method of questionnaire investigation. The present study selected 310 old people from six counties of the west of Hubei and Hunan province. The study preliminarily explored the states of attachment, loneliness and life satisfaction about old people. In our study, Emotional versus Social Loneliness Scale(ESLS), Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory(ECR) and Satisfaction with life Scale(SWLS) were adopted to investigate the relationship between older adults’ attachment and life satisfaction. In addition, The control of demography variable to statistical test, such as: Age, sex, residence, living marriage, and education. The results were as follows: 1. The correlation among all the variables were significant: firstly, both the avoidance and anxiety of attachment were positively correlated with loneliness(Zr=0.68, p<0.01; Zr=0.43, p<0.01), and were negatively correlated with life satisfaction(Zr=-0.59, p<0.01; Zr=-0.34, p<0.01), and on the other hand loneliness was negatively correlated with life satisfaction(Zr=-0.70, p<0.01) 2. The nonparametric bias-corrected percentile Bootstrap method was used to analyze the mediating role of loneliness. the avoidance of attachment could negatively predict life satisfaction(p<0.001), the anxiety dimension of attachment also could negatively predict life satisfaction(p<0.001); the avoidance of attachment could positively predict the loneliness ( p<0.001),the anxiety dimension of attachment also could positively predict the loneliness ( p<0.001). To our surprise, the effects that two dimensions of attachment and loneliness predict life satisfaction are different: the avoidance of attachment and loneliness could negatively predict life satisfaction(p<0.001); however, the anxiety dimension of attachment and loneliness could negatively predict life satisfaction( p=0.18,p>0.01). Based on the results of the model test, the conclusion was that the loneliness partially mediated the relationship between the avoidance of attachment and life satisfaction and fully mediated the relationship between the anxiety of attachment and life satisfaction. This study further reveals the importance that loneliness has influence on life satisfaction of old people by examining the mediating variable in a certain extent. In conclusion, we can significantly improve the life satisfaction of old people by reducing their loneliness .

Key words

life satisfaction / loneliness / attachment / older adults

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Older Adults’ Attachment Affects Life Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Loneliness[J]. Journal of Psychological Science. 2014, 37(6): 1421-1425
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