Relational Dimensions of Aging Anxiety and Social Isolation Among Older Adults In Low-Income Senior Housing: A Preliminary Analysis

Background and Purpose Social isolation is a public health concern in later life. Older adults living alone in low-income senior housing may be particularly vulnerable, as financial and social constraints limit opportunities for engagement. While prior research has emphasized demographic and health-related correlates, less attention has given to psychological processes underlying social disconnection. Aging anxiety, defined as apprehension about aging-related changes and losses, may influence how individuals perceive and engage in social relationships. Traditional approaches emphasize self-direct concerns about decline, whereas Relational Ageism Theory situates aging anxiety within social contexts. From this perspective, aging anxiety includes not only personal concerns but also perceptions of connection with one’s age group and sensitivity to how age shapes social interactions. Individuals with higher levels of aging anxiety may anticipate rejection or diminished social value, contributing to reduced social engagement and increased vulnerability to social isolation. This study explores how different dimensions of aging anxiety are associated with social isolation among older adults in low-income senior housing.

Methods Data were drawn from a parent intervention study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 among older adults residing in low-income senior housing. The analytic sample included 38 participants aged 55 or older, living alone. Aging anxiety was assessed using the Relational Aging Anxiety Scale, comprising three subdimensions: personal internalized aging anxiety, collective affinity, and relational aging anxiety. Social isolation was measured with the Lubben Social Network Scale-6. Bivariate correlations were first estimated, followed by separate multivariate linear regression models for each subdimension adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education. Given the modest sample size and intercorrelation among subdimensions, models were specified separately. A sensitivity analysis indicated that the study was powered to detect correlations of approximately r ≥ .44 at α = .05 and 80% power.

Results Participants had a mean age of 68.5 years (SD = 7.92). Bivariate correlations indicated that personal/internalized aging anxiety (r = .39, p < .05), collective affinity (r = .61, p < .01), and relational aging anxiety (r = .52, p = .01) were significantly associated with social isolation. In multivariate models, collective affinity (b = 1.27, p < .001) and the relational dimension of aging anxiety (b = .88, p < .01) were significantly associated with social isolation, while personal/internalized aging anxiety showed a marginal association (b = .74, p = .057).

Conclusions and Implications Findings suggest that relational and collective dimensions of aging anxiety are associated with greater social isolation among older adults living in low-income senior housing. These results highlight the importance of understanding aging anxiety as a socially embedded process that extends beyond individual concerns to include perceptions of social belonging and acceptance. Given the small sample size, the study was primarily powered to detect moderate to large effects, and findings should be interpreted as preliminary. Furthermore, because data were collected during pandemic, findings should be interpreted with caution. Future research with larger samples is needed to further examine how different dimensions of aging anxiety contribute to social disconnection in later life.