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The Impact of Sheltering in Place During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adults’ Social and Mental Well-Being

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  • Anne C Krendl
  • Brea L Perry
  • Derek M Isaacowitz

Abstract

ObjectivesWe examined whether social isolation due to the COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders was associated with greater loneliness and depression for older adults, and, if so, whether declines in social engagement or relationship strength moderated that relationship.MethodsBetween April 21 and May 21, 2020, 93 older adults in the United States who had completed measures characterizing their personal social networks, subjective loneliness, and depression 6–9 months prior to the pandemic completed the same measures via phone interview, as well as questions about the impact of the pandemic on their social relationships.ResultsOlder adults reported higher depression and greater loneliness following the onset of the pandemic. Loneliness positively predicted depression. Perceived relationship strength, but not social engagement, moderated this relationship such that loneliness only predicted depression for individuals who became closer to their networks during the pandemic. For those who felt less close, depression was higher irrespective of loneliness.DiscussionThe COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected older adults’ mental health and social well-being in the short term. Potential long-term impacts are considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne C Krendl & Brea L Perry & Derek M Isaacowitz, 2021. "The Impact of Sheltering in Place During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adults’ Social and Mental Well-Being," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(2), pages 53-58.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:76:y:2021:i:2:p:e53-e58.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbaa110
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    Cited by:

    1. Jong Hyun Jung & Kyung Won Choi & Harris Hyun-soo Kim, 2022. "Examining the Complex (Curvilinear and Contingent) Associations between Social Distancing Compliance and Subjective Health during a Global Health Crisis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Hui Liu & Molly Copeland & Gerald Nowak & William J. Chopik & Jeewon Oh, 2023. "Marital Status Differences in Loneliness Among Older Americans During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(5), pages 1-25, October.
    3. Elimelech, Ortal Cohen & Ferrante, Simona & Josman, Naomi & Meyer, Sonya & Lunardini, Francesca & Gómez-Raja, Jonathan & Galán, Carmen & Cáceres, Pilar & Sciama, Piera & Gros, Marianne & Vurro, Clodia, 2022. "Technology use characteristics among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-cultural survey," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    4. Kong, Nancy & Lam, Jack, 2024. "Physical isolation and loneliness: Evidence from COVID lock-downs in Australia," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 598-623.
    5. Stefania Pascut & Susanna Feruglio & Cristiano Crescentini & Alessio Matiz, 2022. "Predictive Factors of Anxiety, Depression, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling and Institutionalized Elderly during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-18, September.
    6. Carmen M. Tyler & Grace B. McKee & Elisabet Alzueta & Paul B. Perrin & Kristine Kingsley & Fiona C. Baker & Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla, 2021. "A Study of Older Adults’ Mental Health across 33 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-15, May.
    7. Maria R. Dekker & Noud Frielink & Alexander H. C. Hendriks & Petri J. C. M. Embregts, 2022. "The General Public’s Perceptions of How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Impacted the Elderly and Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-13, March.
    8. Amy E. Albright & Ruifeng Cui & Rebecca S. Allen, 2022. "Pet Ownership and Mental and Physical Health in Older White and Black Males and Females," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-8, May.
    9. Pegah Derakhshan & William C. Miller & Jaimie Borisoff & Elham Esfandiari & Sue Forwell & Tal Jarus & Somayyeh Mohammadi & Isabelle Rash & Brodie Sakakibara & Julia Schmidt & Gordon Tao & Noah Tregobo, 2022. "Describing the Function, Disability, and Health of Adults and Older Adults during the Early Coronavirus Restrictions in 2019: An Online Survey," Disabilities, MDPI, vol. 2(4), pages 1-13, September.
    10. Thomas Hansen & Thomas Sevenius Nilsen & Marit Knapstad & Vegard Skirbekk & Jens Skogen & Øystein Vedaa & Ragnhild Bang Nes, 2022. "Covid-fatigued? A longitudinal study of Norwegian older adults’ psychosocial well-being before and during early and later stages of the COVID-19 pandemic," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 463-473, September.
    11. María Antonia Parra-Rizo & Gema Sanchís-Soler, 2021. "Physical Activity and the Improvement of Autonomy, Functional Ability, Subjective Health, and Social Relationships in Women over the Age of 60," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-10, June.
    12. Rosa Angela Fabio & Rossella Suriano, 2021. "The Influence of Media Exposure on Anxiety and Working Memory during Lockdown Period in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-11, September.
    13. Deborah J. Bowen & Kelly E. Rentscher & Amy Wu & Gwen Darien & Helen Ghirmai Haile & Jeanne Mandelblatt & Marion Kavanaugh-Lynch, 2021. "Learning from and Leveraging Multi-Level Changes in Responses to the COVID 19 Pandemic to Facilitate Breast Cancer Prevention Efforts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-12, June.

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