Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
201,642 studies31 sourcesUpdated 14 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Public Health

The relationship between objective and subjective social isolation and well-being: a national cross-sectional survey in Wales

  • Carys Dale1
  • Sara Wood1
  • Catherine A. Sharp1
  • Karen Hughes1,2
  1. 1Policy and International Health Directorate, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health & Well-Being, Public Health Wales
  2. 2School of Health Sciences, Bangor University
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Introduction: Social isolation is increasingly recognised as a public health issue with wide ranging impacts on health and well-being. However, research examining links with health and well-being often focuses on subjective or objective forms of isolation without considering combined associations.

Methods: Data were collected through a national public health panel survey in Wales, UK ( n = 2,042 residents aged 16 + years). Data included measures of subjective and objective social isolation, four well-being outcomes (low life satisfaction, low feeling that life is worthwhile, low happiness and high anxiety) and participant socio-demographics, including disability status.

Results: 4.9% of participants were objectively socially isolated, 20.8% were subjectively socially isolated, and 7.3% were both (combined objective and subjective). Combined objective and subjective isolation related to increased likelihood of poorer outcomes in all four well-being outcomes, followed by subjective social isolation and then objective social isolation, in comparison to no social isolation. Levels of combined objective and subjective social isolation were highest in those aged 50–69, and those with a disability.

Discussion: The relationship between combined objective and subjective isolation and poor well-being is stronger than for either form of social isolation alone, highlighting that individuals who experience both forms of isolation should be considered most in need of support.

Related

  1. Associations of Objective Functional and Subjective Health Literacy with Reproductive Health Knowledge and Preconception Preparedness Among Pregnant Women in Hungary
    Ilona Karácsony, Tímea Völgyiné Bujdosó, Réka Vajda +3
    Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland)Peer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  2. Relationship between subjective socioeconomic status and depression in Chinese rural adolescents: positive youth development as a moderator
    Gaoran Chen, Zheng Zhou, Wenqi Chen +1
    BMC Public HealthPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Psychiatry & mental healthCrossref
  3. Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Sleep Quality in Spanish Adults: Divergent Associations Between Subjective and Objective Measures
    Rosario Alonso-Domínguez, Jesús González-Sánchez, César Jiménez-Vaquero +4
    NutrientsPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textEpidemiology & public healthCrossrefEurope PMC
  4. Comparative analysis of subjective and objective visual quality after LASEK, FS-LASIK, and TransPRK.
    Wei Zhao, Rong Shi, Lijuan Sun +3
    Lasers in medical sciencePeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull textMedical imaging & radiologyEurope PMC
  5. How adverse childhood experiences affect the association between chronic condition progression and subjective or objective cognitive function among rural older adults?
    Jingjing Luo, Yichi Zhang, Chengchao Zhou
    European Journal of PsychotraumatologyPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0Full textPsychiatry & mental healthPMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{dale2026relationship,
  title = {{The relationship between objective and subjective social isolation and well-being: a national cross-sectional survey in Wales}},
  author = {Carys Dale and Sara Wood and Catherine A. Sharp and Karen Hughes},
  journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1918382},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1918382/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - The relationship between objective and subjective social isolation and well-being: a national cross-sectional survey in Wales
AU  - Carys Dale
AU  - Sara Wood
AU  - Catherine A. Sharp
AU  - Karen Hughes
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/13
JO  - Frontiers in Public Health
DO  - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1918382
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1918382/full
AB  - Introduction: Social isolation is increasingly recognised as a public health issue with wide ranging impacts on health and well-being. However, research examining links with health and well-being often focuses on subjective or objective forms of isolation without considering combined associations.  Methods: Data were collected through a national public health panel survey in Wales, UK ( n = 2,042 residents aged 16 + years). Data included measures of subjective and objective social isolation, four well-being outcomes (low life satisfaction, low feeling that life is worthwhile, low happiness and high anxiety) and participant socio-demographics, including disability status.  Results: 4.9% of participants were objectively socially isolated, 20.8% were subjectively socially isolated, and 7.3% were both (combined objective and subjective). Combined objective and subjective isolation related to increased likelihood of poorer outcomes in all four well-being outcomes, followed by subjective social isolation and then objective social isolation, in comparison to no social isolation. Levels of combined objective and subjective social isolation were highest in those aged 50–69, and those with a disability.  Discussion: The relationship between combined objective and subjective isolation and poor well-being is stronger than for either form of social isolation alone, highlighting that individuals who experience both forms of isolation should be considered most in need of support.
SN  - 2296-2565
ER  -