Perceived autonomy, family cohesion, and loneliness among community-dwelling older adults in China: a cross-sectional study

Background

Loneliness is a significant public health concern among older adults and is associated with various adverse physical and psychological outcomes. Self-determination theory suggests that autonomy satisfaction may coexist with more voluntary engagement and emotional connectedness in family relationships. Few studies have examined the association between autonomy, family cohesion, and loneliness among Chinese community-dwelling older adults.