Social integration, perceived discrimination, and self-esteem in mid- and later life: intersections with age and neuroticism

ABSTRACTObjectives: Social relations can influence well-being throughout the life course. Integration in one's community may serve as a source of social support whereas negative interactions such as day-to-day discrimination can be psychosocial stressors, particularly for neurotic persons. Yet social connectedness may vary in importance across the age range. Individuals trim their social networks in later life to optimize emotional well-being, but older adults may also be at heightened risk of social isolation. This study examines the impacts of social integration and perceived discrimination on self-esteem, and whether such impacts differ according to individuals’ age and/or neuroticism.Method: Random effects models analyzed 2,982 observations from 1,882 individuals who participated in at least one of the two most recent waves of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (2004–2014).Results: Self-esteem displayed a minor cubic trajectory across the age range, including declines afte...