Final answer:
Older adults are likely less lonely due to selective social networks and increased acceptance of solitude. Younger adults feel loneliness more acutely during periods of seeking intimate relationships. Older adults' fulfillment from various engagements and activities plays a role in their overall satisfaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The probable reason why older adults tend to report being less lonely than younger adults could be that older adults have more selective social networks and a greater acceptance of solitude. As outlined by socioemotional selectivity theory, while the number of social connections may decrease with age, the quality and emotional significance of existing relationships often increase. This reflects an adaptive shift in social priorities, favoring meaningful, emotionally satisfying connections over a larger quantity of social interactions.
In contrast, younger adults, who are navigating early adulthood, are often concerned with finding intimacy and establishing a strong sense of self, which can sometimes result in feelings of loneliness and emotional isolation, especially if they haven't developed a positive self-concept during adolescence. The process of building these intimate relationships is crucial, and the absence or difficulty in establishing them could lead to a heightened perception of loneliness.
Furthermore, older adults may also derive fulfillment from activities and roles that are not strictly tied to employment or raising a family, such as spending time on hobbies, volunteering, or engaging in community activities. While not all older adults live in community homes, reductions in loneliness are not solely the result of such living arrangements. Rather, the focus on meaningful engagement and activities, as suggested by activity theory, contributes to their satisfaction and possibly lower rates of loneliness.