title: Longitudinal associations between social connections and subjective wellbeing in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of social relationships in determining well-being may be particularly salient in ageing populations. There is only limited longitudinal research examining the relationship between different dimensions of social relationships and change in well-being over time. The present analysis explores the association between isolation, loneliness and two measures of subjective well-being over six years using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measures of social relationships were obtained at baseline and associations with well-being over the following six years were analysed using mixed models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hedonic and evaluative well-being assessed every two years over the six-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of well-being showed a U-shaped relationship with time. At baseline, higher isolation and loneliness were associated with lower levels of hedonic and evaluative well-being. Individuals with high levels of isolation and loneliness initially showed a smaller decrease in evaluative well-being. The subsequent rise in well-being was, however, also diminished in this group. In contrast, loneliness was not associated with rate of change in hedonic well-being, while high levels of isolation were associated with a sustained decrease in hedonic well-being.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Social isolation and loneliness show different associations with changes in evaluative and hedonic well-being over time.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Epidemiology and Public Health , University College London , London , UK.
authors.forename: Aparna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shankar
authors.forename: Snorri Bjorn
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Rafnsson
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steptoe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: ELSA; loneliness; older adults; social isolation; subjective well-being