2026-10-12T00:25:45Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34072267 2026-10-05T17:34:21Z category_7 category_13 category_14 category_24 category_64 category_135 portal_5 item_type_3 month_year_10_2026

<p>Study population characteristics (N =  107).</p> Mahdi Sepidarkish (7317755) Afsaneh Bakhtiari (6863753) Zeinab Baheshmat (25316956) Shabnam Omidvar (4798149) Medicine Genetics Molecular Biology Evolutionary Biology Cancer Computational Biology negative health outcomes especially among middle demonstrate meaningful direct middle generation may key dyadic relationships family communication networks broader family factors broad family connectedness including general cohesion children &# 8217 older generation showed enhance marital relationships marital intimacy within direct predictor associated family relationship factors xlink "> loneliness family relationships older generation family cohesion marital intimacy xlink "> adult children marital closeness marital bonds study suggests study explores sibling relationship relationship qualities often linked law interaction intergenerational solidarity intergenerational bonds grandchild relationship findings revealed elderly participants aged couples 067 ). 019 ). <div> <p>Background and Objective</p><p>Loneliness is a widespread challenge among older adults, often linked to negative health outcomes. This study explores how family communications among individual members representing three generations is associated with loneliness in elderly participants, aiming to clarify which family relationships are most impactful.</p> <p>Methods</p><p>Using partial least squares structural equation modeling, we examined the effects of marital intimacy in both the older generation (G1) and their adult children (G2), as well as broader family factors such as intergenerational solidarity, family cohesion, sibling relationship, in-law interaction, children’s support for parents and grandparent-grandchild relationship, on loneliness in elderly family members.</p> <p>Results</p><p>The findings revealed that marital intimacy within the G2 was the only direct predictor associated with reduced loneliness among older adults (β = −0.314, p = 0.019). The marital closeness of the older generation showed only a weak association (β = −0.194, p = 0.067). Other family relationship factors, including general cohesion and intergenerational bonds, did not demonstrate meaningful direct or indirect effects. Importantly, the quality of G1 marital relationships showed indirect associations with loneliness by strengthening the marital bonds of G2, highlighting a pattern of relationship qualities being passed between generations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p><p>This study suggests that it is not broad family connectedness but rather the quality of key dyadic relationships, especially among middle-aged couples, that matters most for elderly loneliness. Efforts to enhance marital relationships in the middle generation may be associated with lower loneliness for their aging parents.</p></div> 2026-10-05T17:34:16Z Dataset Dataset 10.1371/journal.pone.0358707.t001 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/_p_Study_population_characteristics_N_107_p_/34072267 CC BY 4.0