Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations Among Loneliness, Depression/Anxiety, and the Subjective and Chronological Age Difference in Older Adults

Background Loneliness and subjective age in later life have been examined extensively as separate constructs, yet surprisingly little research has explored how they are linked. Objective To examine: (1) the cross-sectional relationship between loneliness and subjective age, with depressive/anxiety symptoms as a potential mediator; and (2) the association between changes in loneliness and subjective age. Methods Data came from the 2023 (T1) and 2024 (T2) National Health and Aging Trends Study. We used descriptive statistics and path and logistic regression models. Results & Conclusions Higher scores in loneliness were associated with feeling less young or feeling older than actual age, with depressive/anxiety symptoms as a significant mediator. Increased loneliness from T1 to T2 and depressive/anxiety symptoms were associated with feeling less younger or older at T2, whereas physical health variables were not associated with changes in the subjective–chronological age difference. The findings underscore that self-perceived age reflects psychosocial well-being more than physical health.