Characteristics of Older Adults Experiencing High Loneliness Despite Active Social Participation: A Cross-Sectional Study

Although social activity reduces loneliness levels, this relationship is not always consistent. Some older adults experience high loneliness despite active social participation. We aimed to clarify the characteristics of these individuals by focusing on their preference for solitude and satisfaction with and performance in valuable social and solitary activities. This cross-sectional survey included 3205 individuals aged ≥65 years and assessed loneliness, participation in social activities, preference for solitude, performance of valuable social and solitary activities, and depression. Participants were categorized into 3 groups based on the relationship between loneliness and social activity participation: higher social activity with a tendency toward loneliness, lower social activity without a tendency toward loneliness, and a correlated group. A one-way analysis of variance was conducted to clarify each group's characteristics. Structural equation modeling was used to explore the structure underlying the discrepancy between loneliness and social activity. Older adults experiencing high loneliness despite active social engagement preferred solitude, had low performance of valuable social and solitary activities, and reported high depression. In the high loneliness despite social activity group, a higher preference for solitude was associated with a decreased performance of social activities valuable to the individual, leading to reduced performance of solitary activities valuable to the individual. These effects contributed to increased depression, further exacerbating the discrepancy between loneliness and social activity. Some older adults may experience little to no benefit from increasing social activities. Social activities that consider older adults' solitude values could be more effective in addressing loneliness.