Correlates of Loneliness and Social Isolation among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Comprehensive Assessment from a National United States Sample

Abstract

This study examined the correlates of loneliness and social isolation among older adults in the United States (U.S.) during the COVID-19 outbreak. We analyzed data from the 2020 National Health and Aging Trends Study, a nationally representative sample of 3257 U.S. older adults aged 65 years and older. We analyzed and identified the sociodemographic, health, social support, and community correlates of loneliness, higher loneliness during versus before the COVID-19 outbreak, and social isolation using weighted multiple logistic regression models. About 35.2% of U.S. older adults reported loneliness during the COVID-19 outbreak, 21.9% reported higher loneliness compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak, and 32.8% were socially isolated during the outbreak. Correlates for increased odds of loneliness included female gender, higher education, physical activity, depression, anxiety, functional limitations, and virtual communication access (only for higher loneliness during COVID-19 outbreak). Correlates for increased odds of social isolation included higher age, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, higher number of household children, and metropolitan residence. Our findings provide insights into evidence-based approaches to address social disconnection among U.S. older adults. The wide range of sociodemographic, health, social support, and community correlates identified in this study warrants multifaceted interventions that traverse individual, community, and societal levels to address the loneliness and social isolation epidemic.

Keywords

• aging
• coronavirus
• COVID-19
• disconnection
• intervention
• loneliness