Exploring the Link Between Age Segregation and Loneliness Among Older Adults

TL;DR

This study finds that older women living in age-segregated neighborhoods report less loneliness, highlighting the impact of residential age segregation on mental health.

Contribution

The study is among the first to examine how age segregation affects loneliness in older adults, with a focus on gender differences.

Findings

Higher age segregation in neighborhoods is linked to lower loneliness among older adults.

The protective effect of age segregation is observed only among older women.

Gender differences in the impact of age segregation on mental health are significant.

Abstract

Residential segregation has been associated with various mental and physical health outcomes; however, the segregation of different age groups has garnered limited attention until recently, and its impact on health remains underexplored. Specifically, there is little knowledge about how living in age-segregated communities influences feelings of loneliness in later life. Drawing on both individual and geographic data from the Health and Retirement Study (2010-2018) and the American Community Survey, this study is among the first to explore the relationship between age segregation and loneliness among older adults, with a particular focus on gender differences. Our analytic sample includes 5,282 adults aged 65 and older in 2010, all of whom resided in the same neighborhoods throughout the study period. Results from hierarchical linear modeling indicate that individuals living in neighborhoods with higher age segregation report lower levels of loneliness. Notably, this protective effect is observed only among older women. The robust link between age segregation and loneliness highlights the importance of considering age-based residential segregation as a key neighborhood factor affecting the mental health in later life. We suggest that interventions aimed at addressing mental health disparities among older adults in age-segregated community settings consider gender differences.