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- Effects of Loneliness on Stress in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Sequential Dual Mediating Roles of Social Interaction Anxiety and Self-Control
- Seung Chul Lee, Wonil Choi, SoYeong Yoon, Soo Rim Noh
- STRESS. 2025;33(2):93-102. Published online June 30, 2025
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2025.33.2.93
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- 1 Citations
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Abstract
PDF - Background
The aim of this study is to identify the psychological pathways linking loneliness to stress among middle-aged and older adults, focusing on the mediating roles of social interaction anxiety and self-control.
Methods
A total of 580 adults aged 40∼71 years completed an online self-report questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to test a sequential mediation model, and covariates such as age, sex, depression, and extraversion were controlled for.
Results
Loneliness was positively associated with stress and social interaction anxiety, and negatively with self-control. Social interaction anxiety and self-control each mediated the relationship between loneliness and stress. Moreover, a significant sequential mediation pathway was observed: loneliness was associated with higher levels of social interaction anxiety, which in turn was negatively related to self-control, and lower self-control was linked to heightened stress. After controlling for covariates, only the indirect effect via social interaction anxiety remained significant. This suggests that anxiety in social contexts may serve as a robust emotional mechanism underlying the association between loneliness and perceived stress.
Conclusions
This study empirically supports the sequential mediation model in which loneliness increases social interaction anxiety, which in turn reduces self-control, ultimately elevating stress. These findings highlight the importance of considering both interpersonal and intrapersonal factors in mental health interventions for aging populations. Addressing loneliness, reducing social interaction anxiety, and strengthening self-control may be effective targets for psychological intervention and community-based programs tailored to the needs of middle-aged and older adults. -
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
- Loneliness and perceived stress in family caregivers of older adults with disabilities: the mediating role of psychological resilience
Yinghui Song, Ying Luo, Xiwen Zhang, Ying Zhou, Shudi Chen, Caiying Huang
BMC Geriatrics.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
- Loneliness and perceived stress in family caregivers of older adults with disabilities: the mediating role of psychological resilience
- The Relationships between Perceived Stress, Inadequacy, Self-control and SNS Addiction Tendency in University Students
- Yonghee Kim
- STRESS. 2021;29(3):178-186. Published online September 30, 2021
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2021.29.3.178
- 4,540 View
- 203 Download
- 1 Citations
- Self-Control, Depression and Eating Attitude according to Weight Control Behavior in College Women
- Sunkyung Cha, Geunmyun Kim, Eunmi Lee
- STRESS. 2019;27(2):152-157. Published online June 30, 2019
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2019.27.2.152
- 3,471 View
- 87 Download
- 2 Citations
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Abstract
PDF
Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the self-control, depression, and eating attitude according to weight control behaviors, and to develop intervention for education and counseling for weight control of female college students and healthy weight control behaviors.
Methods: It was cross-sectional descriptive study conducted for female college students. A total of 376 completed responses were collected and analyzed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a linear model using demographic characteristics as a control variable.
Results: This study were as follows. The self-control was higher in the cases of regular exercise and reducing of meal than fast or meal skip in the main weight control behavior. The risk of eating disorder in fast or meal skip was higher than that of reducing of meal.
Conclusions: Based on these results, it is necessary to implement customized education and counseling according to weight control behaviors for healthy weight control behavior. A program should be planned to improve self-control, reduce depression, and manage the risk of ingestion disability for the fast or meal skip group.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by- Parent–child relationships and depressive symptom among Chinese college students: the mediating role of psychological needs satisfaction and the moderating role of mindfulness
Qiufeng Gao, Sihan Lu, Ruimei Sun, Haiyan Zheng, Ziyu Ouyang
Motivation and Emotion.2022; 46(4): 522. CrossRef - Helicopter parenting and depressive level among non-clinical Chinese college students: A moderated mediation model
Junjing Wang, Ruiju Lai, An Yang, Mengdan Yang, Yuan Guo
Journal of Affective Disorders.2021; 295: 522. CrossRef
- Parent–child relationships and depressive symptom among Chinese college students: the mediating role of psychological needs satisfaction and the moderating role of mindfulness
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