The Association Between Personality and Loneliness: Findings From a Community-Dwelling Chinese Aging Population

Abstract

The experience of loneliness is prevalent and detrimental. Personality may influence individual perceptions of loneliness, but the relationship has not been adequately examined among minority aging populations. In a representative sample of 3,157 Chinese older adults in Chicago, we examined the associations between two personality traits and loneliness. Independent variables were neuroticism and conscientiousness, and dependent variable was perceived loneliness. Logistic regressions were used to adjust for confounding factors. Both traits were significantly associated with loneliness. One unit increase in neuroticism was associated with a 1.15 times higher likelihood of feeling lonely (odds ratio [OR]: 1.15, 1.12-1.18), whereas a unit increase in conscientiousness was associated with 3% decrease in risk of loneliness (OR: 0.97, 0.96-0.99). Compared with a low level of neuroticism, individuals with middle and high levels were 1.51 and 3.59 times more likely to feel lonely (OR: 1.51, 1.17-1.95; OR: 3.59, 2.84-4.54). Participants with high conscientiousness had a 24% decreased risk of loneliness relative to those with a low level (OR: 0.76, 0.60-0.96). This study provides evidence supporting the close relationships between personality and loneliness among U.S. Chinese older adults. Rigorously designed longitudinal studies are needed to clarify different trajectories of loneliness over time and its associated factors.