Understanding the psychosocial mechanisms between media exposure and loneliness in aging China: evidence from empty-nesters

Loneliness among empty-nesters has become an increasingly pressing issue in the context of population aging, particularly in China. While media exposure has been proposed as a potential alleviator for loneliness, the psychosocial mechanisms through which it influences this experience remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on a nationally representative sample of 1,837 Chinese empty-nesters, this study employs structural equation modeling to examine the mediating roles of family communication, identity bubble reinforcement, and perceived social support in the relationship between media exposure and loneliness. The findings reveal a nuanced dynamic: although media exposure exhibits a negative total effect on loneliness, its direct effect is unexpectedly positive, suggesting that media exposure in the absence of meaningful social interaction may exacerbate feelings of isolation. Crucially, family communication emerges as a significant mediator, both independently and sequentially through perceived social support, indicating that media-facilitated familial interactions can enhance emotional connection and reduce loneliness. In contrast, identity bubble reinforcement does not significantly mediate this relationship, highlighting the limited compensatory value of weak-tie, peer-based digital communities for this demographic. These results underscore the importance of relational context in evaluating the psychosocial impacts of media exposure among older adults, and suggest that family-centered digital engagement may be a culturally resonant and psychologically effective strategy for alleviating loneliness in later life. However, the cross-sectional design limits causal inferences and the assessment of temporal dynamics, warranting future research using longitudinal or experimental methods to clarify the directionality and underlying mechanisms of these effects.