Correlation matrix.

Utilizing a large, representative sample of Americans (N = 4,812), the present manuscript explores individuals’ age in relation to social well-being (i.e., connection, companionship, friendship support, and number of friends) and social ill-being (i.e., loneliness, disconnection). Participants ranged between the ages of 18–95, with a mean age of 43.7. Regression results demonstrate that although social ill-being is higher for emerging adults, social well-being is high for both younger and older adults. Cluster analysis identified four clusters of social ill-being and well-being. Participants in the cluster with high well-being and moderate ill-being were more likely to be young, educated females who had gone through many life changes in the past year. Participants in the cluster with high well-being and lowest ill-being were more likely to be older adults, facing fewer life changes. The present manuscript suggests that loneliness among young adults is not bereft of connection, companionship, and friendship, but instead is characteristic of rapid life changes and a lack of relational permanence and routine.

本研究采用具有代表性的美国大型样本（N=4812），探讨个体年龄与社会幸福感（social well-being，即社交联结、陪伴、友谊支持及好友数量）及社会不幸福感（social ill-being，即孤独感、社交疏离）之间的关联。本次研究的参与者年龄跨度为18至95岁，平均年龄为43.7岁。回归分析结果表明，尽管刚成年群体（emerging adults）的社会不幸福感水平更高，但年轻群体与老年群体的社会幸福感均维持在较高水准。聚类分析（cluster analysis）识别出四类社会幸福感与不幸福感的集群类型。处于高幸福感、中等程度不幸福感集群中的参与者，更有可能是年轻且受教育程度较高的女性，且在过去一年中经历了较多的人生变故。而处于高幸福感、最低程度不幸福感集群中的参与者，则更有可能是老年群体，且面临的人生变故较少。本研究指出，年轻群体所感受到的孤独感并非源于缺乏社交联结、陪伴与友谊，而是源于快速的人生变化以及人际关系缺乏稳定性与日常性。