Transitions between social isolation and loneliness patterns and their associations with health among Chinese older adults

This study aims to examine transitions of social isolation (SI) and loneliness patterns among older adults and explore their impact on health outcomes. Longitudinal data from a large, nationally representative sample of individuals aged 60 and above were analyzed. Transitions between SI and loneliness patterns and their association with health status were investigated using Latent Transition Analysis and linear regression with 10,000 bootstraps, respectively. Four distinct groups of SI and loneliness patterns were identified at both time points, each with varying measurement solutions, along with 16 types of transitions between them. Older adults tended to experience more isolation in their younger years, transitioning to increased levels of loneliness as they aged. Transitioning from states of lower loneliness or SI to states marked by loneliness or isolation was associated with adverse health outcomes. The results indicated the dynamics of SI and loneliness transitions and their significant associations with health in later life. Implementing targeted interventions to address these transitions in SI and loneliness patterns has the potential to enhance health outcomes among this population.