Does Living Alone Affect Self-Perceptions of Aging? Findings From Two Waves of the Health and Retirement Study

The current study examined if living alone is associated with self-perceptions of aging (SPA). The study used two-wave longitudinal data, sampled from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), and collected in 2014 and 2018. In total, 6506 older adults aged 60–99 years at baseline were followed up with a 4-year lag. Results indicated that there was no significant change in SPA at follow-up regardless of changes in living arrangements. However, at follow-up, there was a significant cross-sectional difference in SPA between older adults who remained in partnership and those who transitioned to living alone due to widowhood or separation/divorce over a 4-year period. Findings suggest that SPA is relatively stable over time and is barely affected by living alone.