The impact of social and solitary activities on loneliness in older rural male adults: A path analysis study.

PURPOSE Loneliness is a serious concern among older rural men. This study examined how social and solitary activities are associated with each other and collectively relate to loneliness through path analysis. Two models were hypothesized: (1) solitary activities performance is associated with social activities, thereby relating to loneliness, and (2) social activity participation is associated with solitary activities, which in turn relates to loneliness.

METHODS Data were collected from 510 men aged 65 years and older residing in a rural Japanese town using self-administered questionnaires. The study measured loneliness (Japanese version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale), performance in social and solitary activities (Self-completed Occupational Performance Index), number of social activities (Vivid Social Activities Checklist), and depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale). Structural equation modeling was conducted; model fit was assessed using absolute, incremental, and parsimony indices.

FINDINGS Model 2 demonstrated acceptable fit (χ2 = 0.923, comparative fit index = 1.000, normed fit index = 1.000, root mean square error of approximation<0.001, Akaike information criterion = 38.009, Expected Cross-Validation Index = 0.074, and Hoelter = 208.044). Social activities were associated with solitary activities, which were in turn related to loneliness. Solitary activities were indirectly associated with loneliness through depression.

CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that higher performance in social activities may support healthier, more autonomous solitary engagement as a component of the social-solitary balance that shapes loneliness among older rural men. Locally grounded opportunities that enable meaningful social connection in addition to enhancing rural work rhythms and self-directed solitary routines may help reduce loneliness and support well-being in later life.