Social isolation, loneliness and positive mental health among older adults in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic

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creativework.keywords - en
COVID-19,
older adults
social isolation
living alone
positive mental health
loneliness
dc.contributor.author
Ooi, Laura L.
Liu, Li
Roberts, Karen C.
Gariépy, Geneviève
Capaldi, Colin A.
dc.date.accessioned
2023-11-06T15:36:39Z
dc.date.available
2023-11-06T15:36:39Z
dc.date.issued
2023-04
dc.description.abstract - en
INTRODUCTION: Social isolation and loneliness are associated with poorer mental health among older adults. However, less is known about how these experiences are independently associated with positive mental health (PMH) during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2020 and 2021 cycles of the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health to provide estimates of social isolation (i.e. living alone), loneliness and PMH outcomes (i.e. high self-rated mental health, high community belonging, mean life satisfaction) in the overall older adult population (i.e. 65+ years) and across sociodemographic groups. We also conducted logistic and linear regressions to separately and simultaneously examine how social isolation and loneliness are associated with PMH. RESULTS: Nearly 3 in 10 older adults reported living alone, and over a third reported feelings of loneliness due to the pandemic. When examined separately, living alone and loneliness were each associated with lower PMH. When assessed simultaneously, loneliness remained a significant independent factor associated with all three PMH outcomes (overall and across all sociodemographic groups), but living alone was only a significant factor for high community belonging in the overall population, for males and for those aged 65 to 74 years. CONCLUSION: Overall, social isolation and loneliness were associated with poorer well-being among older adults in Canada during the pandemic. Loneliness remained a significant factor related to all PMH outcomes after adjusting for social isolation, but not vice versa. The findings highlight the need to appropriately identify and support lonely older adults during (and beyond) the pandemic.
dc.identifier.citation
Ooi LL, Liu L, Roberts KC, Gariépy G, Capaldi CA. Social isolation, loneliness and positive mental health among older adults in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2023 Apr;43(4):171-181. doi: 10.24095/hpcdp.43.4.02. PMID: 37043546; PMCID: PMC10111573.
dc.identifier.doi
https://doi.org/10.24095/hpcdp.43.4.02
dc.identifier.issn
2368-738X
dc.identifier.pubmedID
37043546
dc.identifier.uri
https://open-science.canada.ca/handle/123456789/1270
dc.language.iso
en
dc.publisher
Public Health Agency of Canada
dc.relation.istranslationof
https://open-science.canada.ca/handle/123456789/1278
dc.subject - en
Health
dc.subject - fr
Santé
dc.subject.en - en
Health
dc.subject.fr - fr
Santé
dc.title - en
Social isolation, loneliness and positive mental health among older adults in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic
dc.type - en
Article
dc.type - fr
Article
local.article.journalissue
4
local.article.journaltitle
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada: Research, Policy and Practice
local.article.journalvolume
43
local.pagination
171-181
local.peerreview - en
Yes
local.peerreview - fr
Oui
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