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Table 2 Determinants of social isolation. Results of multiple linear regression analysis (German Ageing Survey, fifth wave)

From: The association between use of online social networks sites and perceived social isolation among individuals in the second half of life: results based on a nationally representative sample in Germany

Independent variables

(1)

(2)

(3)

Total sample

Men

Women

Use of social network sites: - Several times a week (Ref.: daily)

0.05**

0.06*

0.04

(0.02)

(0.03)

(0.03)

 - Once a week

0.07*

0.12**

0.04

(0.03)

(0.04)

(0.04)

 - 1 to 3 times a month

0.05

0.10

0.02

(0.05)

(0.08)

(0.06)

 - Less often

0.10***

0.09*

0.09*

(0.03)

(0.04)

(0.04)

 - Never

0.10***

0.12***

0.07*

(0.02)

(0.03)

(0.03)

Age

−0.01***

−0.01***

− 0.01***

(0.00)

(0.00)

(0.00)

Marital status: Other (divorced, widowed, single, married, living separated from spouse) (Ref.: married and living together with spouse)

0.08***

0.11***

0.05*

(0.02)

(0.02)

(0.02)

Employment status: - Retired (Ref.: employed)

0.08***

0.10**

0.06+

(0.02)

(0.03)

(0.03)

 - Other: not employed

0.17***

0.19***

0.15***

(0.03)

(0.05)

(0.04)

Monthly net equivalent income in 1000 Euro

−0.04***

−0.04***

− 0.05***

(0.01)

(0.01)

(0.01)

Smoking status: - Yes, sometimes (Ref.: Daily)

−0.07*

− 0.02

− 0.13*

(0.03)

(0.05)

(0.05)

 - Not anymore

−0.01

−0.02

0.01

(0.02)

(0.03)

(0.03)

 - Never been smoker

−0.03

−0.04

0.00

(0.02)

(0.03)

(0.03)

Consumption of alcohol: - Several times a week (Ref.: Daily)

0.00

0.01

−0.03

(0.02)

(0.03)

(0.04)

 - Once a week

0.01

0.06*

−0.09*

(0.02)

(0.03)

(0.04)

 - 1 to 3 times a month

0.04+

0.08*

−0.03

(0.03)

(0.04)

(0.04)

 - Less often

0.06*

0.09*

0.00

(0.02)

(0.03)

(0.04)

 - Never

0.11***

0.15***

0.04

(0.03)

(0.04)

(0.05)

Physical activity: - Several times a week (Ref.: Daily)

−0.03

−0.04

−0.03

(0.02)

(0.04)

(0.03)

 - Once a week

0.00

−0.02

0.02

(0.03)

(0.04)

(0.04)

 - 1 to 3 times a month

0.03

−0.01

0.07

(0.03)

(0.04)

(0.05)

 - Less often

−0.01

−0.04

0.02

(0.03)

(0.04)

(0.04)

 - Never

0.02

0.00

0.03

(0.03)

(0.04)

(0.04)

Self-rated health (from 1 = “very good” to 5 = “very bad”)

0.10***

0.11***

0.09***

(0.01)

(0.01)

(0.01)

Number of physical illnesses (from 0 to 11)

0.05***

0.04***

0.05***

(0.00)

(0.01)

(0.01)

Constant

1.60***

1.52***

1.71***

(0.07)

(0.10)

(0.10)

Observations

7141

3549

3592

R2

0.12

0.14

0.10

  1. Comments: Beta-Coefficients are reported; robust standard errors in parentheses. *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05, + p < 0.10. Social isolation was quantified using a scale developed by Bude and Lantermann [13]