LOCKED DOWN IN THE RAINBOW NATION: ALLEVIATING THE LONELINESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN OLDER PERSONS
he literature on the biopsychosocial effects of COVID-19 on older persons has originated predominately from the Global North, with a dearth of studies focusing on the loneliness of older persons in the developing world, such as South Africa. This cross-sectional study explored the loneliness of Sout...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
| Published: |
Stellenbosch University
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://socialwork.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/1171 |
| _version_ | 1797404858580467712 |
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| author | Stephan Geyer Jill Chonody Barbra Teater |
| author_facet | Stephan Geyer Jill Chonody Barbra Teater |
| author_sort | Stephan Geyer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | he literature on the biopsychosocial effects of COVID-19 on older persons has originated predominately from the Global North, with a dearth of studies focusing on the loneliness of older persons in the developing world, such as South Africa. This cross-sectional study explored the loneliness of South African older persons (N = 118) before and during COVID-19 to inform gerontological social work. The survey incorporated a standardised scale of loneliness and items to assess the type and quantity of contact with others, physical health, mental health and socio-demographic variables. Bivariate and multivariate analyses explored the factors that contributed to overall loneliness, emotional loneliness and social loneliness. Results indicated a statistically significant increase in social, emotional and overall loneliness from pre- to during COVID-19. Considered from a socio-ecological resilience perspective, gerontological social work services are recommended for alleviating loneliness amongst South African older persons during a pandemic, such as COVID-19. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:02:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9bfcfd28393e455399dce57976c94aee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0037-8054 2312-7198 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:02:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk |
| spelling | doaj.art-9bfcfd28393e455399dce57976c94aee2023-12-04T13:30:00ZafrStellenbosch UniversitySocial Work/Maatskaplike Werk0037-80542312-71982023-12-0159410.15270/59-4-1171LOCKED DOWN IN THE RAINBOW NATION: ALLEVIATING THE LONELINESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN OLDER PERSONSStephan Geyerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3765-3051Jill Chonodyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6859-0826Barbra Teater0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1503-0096he literature on the biopsychosocial effects of COVID-19 on older persons has originated predominately from the Global North, with a dearth of studies focusing on the loneliness of older persons in the developing world, such as South Africa. This cross-sectional study explored the loneliness of South African older persons (N = 118) before and during COVID-19 to inform gerontological social work. The survey incorporated a standardised scale of loneliness and items to assess the type and quantity of contact with others, physical health, mental health and socio-demographic variables. Bivariate and multivariate analyses explored the factors that contributed to overall loneliness, emotional loneliness and social loneliness. Results indicated a statistically significant increase in social, emotional and overall loneliness from pre- to during COVID-19. Considered from a socio-ecological resilience perspective, gerontological social work services are recommended for alleviating loneliness amongst South African older persons during a pandemic, such as COVID-19. https://socialwork.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/1171covid-19developmental social welfaregerontological social worklonelinessolder personssocio-ecological resiliencesouth africa |
| spellingShingle | Stephan Geyer Jill Chonody Barbra Teater LOCKED DOWN IN THE RAINBOW NATION: ALLEVIATING THE LONELINESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN OLDER PERSONS Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk covid-19 developmental social welfare gerontological social work loneliness older persons socio-ecological resilience south africa |
| title | LOCKED DOWN IN THE RAINBOW NATION: ALLEVIATING THE LONELINESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN OLDER PERSONS |
| title_full | LOCKED DOWN IN THE RAINBOW NATION: ALLEVIATING THE LONELINESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN OLDER PERSONS |
| title_fullStr | LOCKED DOWN IN THE RAINBOW NATION: ALLEVIATING THE LONELINESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN OLDER PERSONS |
| title_full_unstemmed | LOCKED DOWN IN THE RAINBOW NATION: ALLEVIATING THE LONELINESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN OLDER PERSONS |
| title_short | LOCKED DOWN IN THE RAINBOW NATION: ALLEVIATING THE LONELINESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN OLDER PERSONS |
| title_sort | locked down in the rainbow nation alleviating the loneliness of south african older persons |
| topic | covid-19 developmental social welfare gerontological social work loneliness older persons socio-ecological resilience south africa |
| url | https://socialwork.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/1171 |
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