Exploring the Relationship between Loneliness and Subjective Well-Being in Older Couples: Longitudinal and Dyadic Perspectives

Milena Chelchowska, SGH Warsaw School of Economics

Loneliness profoundly impacts the subjective well-being (SWB) of older adults. While being in a partnership generally protects against loneliness, it remains a significant concern. Furthermore, changes in social contexts during later life underscore the importance of marital relationships for subjective well-being. As partners may differ in terms of loneliness/SWB such differences should be included in the analyses on SWB determinants. Also, the relationship between loneliness and SWB in a couple may be influenced by features/situations that are common to this couple, therefore understanding these interdependencies necessitates advanced analytical tools. Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) and Dyadic Response Surface Analysis (DRSA), this study examines the impact of loneliness on later levels and the development of subjective well-being over 4 years among older European couples. Data from the 'Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement' (SHARE) on 7,068 couples aged 65+ are analyzed. Preliminary findings reveal that there is an increase in SWB over time for both men and women. Loneliness predicts lower initial subjective well-being and steeper declines over time, affecting both partners. High interdependence of SWB among couple members is visible. Gender differences emerge, showing that women's subjective well-being is particularly influenced by their partner's emotional state.

Keywords: Families, Unions and Households, Older Adults and Intergenerational Relations, Data and Methods, Longitudinal studies

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