Effect of loneliness on active aging among old adult living alone in rural areas: life-space mobility and health promotion lifestyle as chain mediation

To explored the relationship between loneliness, life-space mobility, health promotion lifestyle, and active aging among rural old adults living alone and clarified its internal mechanism. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 720 rural older adults living alone from March to August 2024 in China.The survey measured the Loneliness Scale, Life-space Mobility Assessment, Health Promotion Lifestyle Scale and Active Aging Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression, structural equation, and bootstrapping was used to validate the mediation effects. Structural equation modeling showed a good fit. Loneliness directly predicted active aging, life-space mobility, and health promotion lifestyle. Life-space mobility and health promotion lifestyle serve as chain mediators between loneliness and active aging among rural older adults living alone (β = - 0.374, p < 0.01). Consequently, to improve active aging and reduce loneliness of rural older adults living alone, mobility of living space and healthy promotion lifestyle should be focus.