Life satisfaction, loneliness, and routine health check-ups: Evidence from the UK Household Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Objective: While sociodemographic factors affect health check-ups, less is known about the role of psychosocial factors. Based on a nationally representative longitudinal survey in the United Kingdom (UK), this study explores the association of satisfaction with multiple dimensions and loneliness with health check-ups. Methods: We use microdata from the UK Household Longitudinal Study, representative of the UK adult population (2017-2022). A multiple linear regression model with interactions and fixed effects was used to analyze the relationship between both objective (having close friends) and subjective (feeling lonely) measures of loneliness and satisfaction in multiple dimensions (work, health, income, leisure time, and life) and five types of health check-ups: ophthalmology, blood pressure, cholesterol, X-rays, and blood tests. In addition, we analyzed the association between satisfaction and the probability of trust and openness toward friends as a mechanism to explain the relationship. Results: Having more friends, feeling loneliness more often, and being satisfied with income were associated with greater use of different health check-ups. On the contrary, being satisfied with one´s health was negatively associated health check-ups. Higher satisfaction levels were associated with greater trust and openness with friends, suggesting a potential explanatory mechanism. Conclusion: Our study underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to understanding psychosocial factors in healthcare utilization. When designing future research and policy, it is crucial to consider objective and subjective indicators of individuals´ psychosocial well-being and satisfaction across multiple dimensions.