Purpose in Life and Loneliness Among African American Women - An Application of Latent Growth Mixture Modeling

Sep 29, 2026

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Purpose in life has been proposed as a meaningful predictor of positive health outcomes, yet longitudinal evidence linking purpose in life to loneliness remains limited. This study examined how purpose in life predicted loneliness over time among African American women using data from 661 participants across four waves of the Family and Community Health Study (FACHS). Latent growth mixture modeling assessed loneliness trajectories over about 10 years and evaluated purpose in life as a predictor. Positive/negative social support, religiosity, racial discrimination, and financial strain were included. Results showed significant between-individual differences in loneliness trajectories, with higher initial purpose in life associated with lower loneliness over time.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

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FAQs

Which factors are controlled for in addition to purpose in life?

The study accounts for positive and negative social support, religiosity, racial discrimination, and financial strain.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Bulrr