Do associations between sense of purpose, social support, and loneliness differ across the adult lifespan?

Abstract

Past research has suggested that the path to purpose involves connections with people along the way. In support, sense of purpose appears higher amongst those adults with more positive social relationships and interactions. However, research has yet to consider whether associations between sense of purpose and social relationship variables differ across adulthood. The present study examined this claim using a sample of Swiss adults, who completed measures for sense of purpose, loneliness, received support, and provided support. A large, nationally representative sample of 2,312 Swiss adults (52.34 years old; SD = 17.35) completed these measures, as part of a larger survey. Local structural equation modeling was employed to estimate the means and associations of these constructs across adulthood. Sense of purpose was negatively associated with loneliness, but positively associated overall with both support variables. No evidence was found for age moderation for the association between sense of purpose and loneliness. However, moderation was evidenced insofar that sense of purpose was less associated with both support variables with age. Sense of purpose again appears related to more positive social well-being and relationships, and consistently linked to lower loneliness. The age moderation effects for purpose-support associations are discussed with respect to theories of adult development. Public Significance StatementThe present study helps advance our understanding of how closely social support and loneliness are tied to feeling purposeful and goal-directed across the adult years. Given the importance of sense of purpose for healthy aging, this work provides further insight into when social roles and interactions are more central to a sense of direction in life.

Which predicts longevity better: Satisfaction with life or purpose in life?

“…Furthermore, there are research showing that factors making life meaningful change as people age. While the relation between loneliness and purpose in life remained stable in their study, Hill et al (2023) found that age moderated the association between sense of purpose and social support, with support being less important for older adults' purpose in life. Hicks et al (2012), in turn, demonstrated that those who expect to have less lifetime left draw more meaning from the present.…”

Do Purpose in Life and Social Support Mediate the Association between Religiousness/Spirituality and Mortality? Evidence from the MIDUS National Sample

“…However, purpose in life or other social factors (e.g., marital status, contact with children or other family members) did not emerge as significant mediators [ 6 ]. Purpose in life declines sharply in older ages, perhaps due to role changes (e.g., retirement) [ 45 , 46 ], and correlations between purpose in life and social support and loneliness are weaker among older adults relative to emerging and midlife adults [ 47 ]. Taken together, it may be that purpose in life is most relevant as a mediator of R/S and mortality links in midlife (i.e., the MIDUS sample) as compared to older ages (i.e., the HRS sample).…”