Mediating role of social media network on the relationship between ageing perception and loneliness

The present study was attempted to explore the positive role of social media network in explaining the relationship between ageing perception and loneliness of the elderly population. Hundred elderly people (52 male and 48 female) age range between 60-78 years (mean= 66.50, SD= 5.13) were assessed on self-report measure of ageing perception questionnaire, Social media use integration scale, and UCLA loneliness scale. The analysis revealed that the status of social media networking was positively correlated with various dimensions of ageing perception (except control negative) and negatively correlated with loneliness. The findings of stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that social media networking emerged as the best predictor of loneliness followed by consequences negative and consequences positive (dimensions of ageing perception). To examine the mediating role of social media networks in ageing perception-loneliness relationship a mediation analysis was carried out. The results explained the mediation role of social media network on the relationship between ageing perception and loneliness decreased when social media network is introduced as a mediator. The results have been discussed in the light of available researches.