Early life adversities and discrimination, social activity, and loneliness among older adults in Europe: A moderated mediation analysis

Abstract

Objective The present study explores how and when lifetime discriminatory experience moderates the mediation effect of early life adversities and social activity on loneliness among older European adults over eight years.

Method The study analyzed 13,699 respondents aged 50 years and over who were interviewed in 2009 and re-interviewed in 2017 in the European Survey of Health, Ageing, Retirement. Conditional process analysis using the PROCESS model 15 was applied to examine the moderated mediation effect of lifetime discriminatory experience in 2009 (W) on early life adversities in 2009 (X) and social activity at 2017 (M) to loneliness in 2017 (Y).

Results Our moderated mediation models found that early life adversities (X) are associated with loneliness (Y) (Coeff X→Y=-0.0501, p<.001), but social activity (M) reduces its effect on loneliness (Y) (Coeff X→M→Y=-1.6391, p<.001). However, lifetime discriminatory experience (W) hampers social activity (Coeff M*W→Y = 0.0955, p<.05) and increases loneliness (Coeff X*M→Y = 0.6069, p<.05).

Conclusion Older adults experiencing early life adversities may not necessarily develop later life loneliness. However, lifetime discriminatory experience due to political beliefs, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation/background etc. may reverse the positive effect of social engagement on the relationship between early life adversities and loneliness. Early interventions should address discrimination and social inequalities and increase social participation across the life course to prevent the development of later-life loneliness among older adults.