Age Differences in the Association Between Subjective Isolation and Loneliness: Evidence from a Hybrid Panel Model

BackgroundSubjective isolation and loneliness reflect cognitive and emotional dimensions of social disconnection, respectively, yet whether their association differs by age group-and whether it operates at both between-person and within-person levels-remains unclear.MethodsUsing three waves of a quota-based online panel survey conducted nationwide in Japan (25,403 observations; 15,634 individuals), we estimated hybrid random-effects models to decompose between- and within-person associations. Interaction models were estimated on a restricted panel sample (17,971 observations; 8,707 individuals), adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related covariates.ResultsSubjective isolation was strongly associated with loneliness at both the between-person and within-person levels, with both associations significantly weaker among older adults than working-age adults.DiscussionThe association between subjective isolation and loneliness varies across the adult life course, with older adults showing a weaker coupling between the two dimensions of social disconnection.