The Moderated Moderating Effect of Sense of Control and Leisure Satisfaction on the Relationship Between Middle-Aged Loneliness and Aging Anxiety
AUTHOR : 강윤서, 양수진
INFORMATION : page. 53~66 / 2025 Vol.32 No.4
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of loneliness on aging anxiety among middle-aged adults in South Korea and to investigate whether sense of control and leisure satisfaction function as protective factors in this relationship. A total of 503 Korean adults aged 40 to 64 participated in an online survey. Using SPSS 25.0 and PROCESS macro v4.2, data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and a moderated moderation model (Model 3). The findings revealed that loneliness had a significant positive association with aging anxiety, whereas both sense of control and leisure satisfaction showed significant negative associations. A significant three-way interaction showed that leisure satisfaction moderated this moderating effect. Specifically, when leisure satisfaction was low, high sense of control attenuated the impact of loneliness on aging anxiety. In contrast, when leisure satisfaction was high, the negative influence of loneliness was consistently reduced regardless of the level of sense of control. These results suggest that psychological resources such as sense of control and leisure satisfaction can buffer the emotional effects of loneliness in midlife. The study provides empirical evidence that enhancing individuals’ perceived control and promoting satisfying leisure experiences are essential to reducing aging anxiety and supporting successful aging.