Presenter(s):

Olga Strizhitskaya, Saint-Petersburg State University, Russian Federation

Abstract

Social interaction is one of the key factors of older adults’ well-being and quality of life. At the same time, aging is known for changes in social life and social networks. Some of these changes are due to natural reasons, while other ground in psychological mechanisms. For decades aging was associated with loneliness and social exclusion, but in the recent years more evidence suggests that although social isolation and exclusion are possible, still these changes are not a one-way road and could be affected by many factors, including psychological. Close relationships, particularly with family members, and supportive social environment are usually considered as predictors of social well-being of older adults. In the present study we focused on the idea that while quality of social relationships affect their perception of social unconfidence, one’s psychological characteristics, such as dependence from others and too tight relationships could result in an opposite effect. We hypothesized that intense need for affiliation and support could affect one’s experience of social unconfidence.
Participants: we examined 100 adults aged 50 – 73 (57% females). Methods used were The Multidimensional Inventory of Loneliness Experience (Osin and Leontiev, 2013) – scale “dependence from others”, “Sociotropy—Self-Sufficiency” Questionnaire (Russian adaptation: Strizhitskaya et al., 2021) – scales attachment and social unconfidence, “Ways of coping” by Lazarus – scale “accepting responsibility”. The effects of sex and age were also controlled as covariates. Correlation analysis and pathway analysis were applied.
Results. First, to approach the mechanisms of social interaction of older adults we conducted correlation analysis for all the measures. We found no correlations for age; sex was correlated to social unconfidence and attachment; social unconfidence, attachment, dependence from others and accepting responsibility were intercorrelated. Next, we used pathway model to identify possible mechanisms of these associations. In the model sex and “dependence from others” positively predicted “attachment”, that affected “accepting responsibility”, both “accepting responsibility” and “attachments” predicted “social unconfidence” (Chi-square = 3.809; df = 5; p = 0.577; CFI = 1.000; GFI = 0.981; RMSEA = 0.000; Pclose = 0.698).
Conclusion. Our results suggest that, apart from possible external factors, social unconfidence, experienced by older adults, can be increased by specifics psychological mechanisms. Particularly, our results evidenced that those older adults who were more dependent from others, especially if they were women, demonstrated stronger need for being attached to others, for their approval and support. This need increased attempts of taking control over the situation. Thus, our study showed that attempts to take responsibility over the situation, including social situation, together with need for supportive social environment could make older adults experience more social unconfidence. Presentation is supported by SPBU travel grant: ID 134584619.

Bio(s):

Olga Strizhitskaya received her PHD in Psychology from the Saint-Petersburg State University in 2006, and a Doctor of Science in Psychology in 2018. She worked as Assistant Professor at Saint-Petersburg State University in 2010 – 2016. In 2016, she was promoted to Associate Professor, and in 2019 – to Full Professor. Her research topics mainly include the psychology of aging, lifespan developmental psychology, futurization of aging, and the psychology of loneliness.