Correlates of Social Isolation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Background: The past year has severely curtailed social interactions among older adults given their high rates of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. This study examined social, behavioral, and medical correlates of social isolation among community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.702965/full |
| _version_ | 1818388729960595456 |
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| author | Omolola E. Adepoju Omolola E. Adepoju Minji Chae LeChauncy Woodard LeChauncy Woodard Kendra L. Smith Kendra L. Smith Luz Herrera Daikwon Han Daniel L. Howard Jessica Dobbins Marcia Ory Marcia Ory |
| author_facet | Omolola E. Adepoju Omolola E. Adepoju Minji Chae LeChauncy Woodard LeChauncy Woodard Kendra L. Smith Kendra L. Smith Luz Herrera Daikwon Han Daniel L. Howard Jessica Dobbins Marcia Ory Marcia Ory |
| author_sort | Omolola E. Adepoju |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The past year has severely curtailed social interactions among older adults given their high rates of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. This study examined social, behavioral, and medical correlates of social isolation among community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and stratified findings to explore unique differences in two typically neglected populations, African American and Hispanic older adults.Methods: Working with community-based organizations and senior living centers, the research team administered a survey to older adults 55 years of age and older (n = 575). The survey assessed COVID-19 prevention behaviors, medical conditions, and lived experiences, including feelings of social isolation, in the target population. Responses to a previously validated social isolation question informed a dichotomous social isolation dependent variable. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for sociodemographic characteristics, medical conditions, unmet caregiving needs, and COVID-19 prevention behaviors. Results from the regression model were stratified by race/ethnicity to examine correlates of social isolation in African American and Hispanic older adults, separately.Results: Overall, female sex and a higher level of education were also positively associated with social isolation (OR = 2.46, p = 0.04; OR = 5.49, p = 0.02) while having insurance exhibited an inverse relationship (OR = 0.25, p = 0.03). Unmet caregiving needs were strongly associated with social isolation (OR = 6.41, p < 0.001) as was having any chronic conditions (OR = 2.99, p = 0.02). Diabetes was the single strongest chronic condition predictor of social isolation. Among minority older adults, a different pattern emerged. For Hispanic older adults, language, unmet caregiving needs, and social distancing were strongly associated with social isolation; while unmet caregiving needs, having 1+ chronic conditions and adhering to social distancing guidelines were significant predictors in African American older adults.Conclusion: These findings suggest that social isolation affects older adults in a myriad of ways and support the need for culturally sensitive initiatives to mitigate the effect of social isolation in these vulnerable populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T04:30:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc45539efe69403b9a7fdd90f0e56572 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T04:30:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc45539efe69403b9a7fdd90f0e565722022-12-21T23:17:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652021-12-01910.3389/fpubh.2021.702965702965Correlates of Social Isolation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During the COVID-19 PandemicOmolola E. Adepoju0Omolola E. Adepoju1Minji Chae2LeChauncy Woodard3LeChauncy Woodard4Kendra L. Smith5Kendra L. Smith6Luz Herrera7Daikwon Han8Daniel L. Howard9Jessica Dobbins10Marcia Ory11Marcia Ory12Department of Health Systems and Population Health Sciences, University of Houston College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesHumana Integrated Health System Sciences Institute, University of Houston College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesHumana Integrated Health System Sciences Institute, University of Houston College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Health Systems and Population Health Sciences, University of Houston College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesHumana Integrated Health System Sciences Institute, University of Houston College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Health Systems and Population Health Sciences, University of Houston College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesHumana Integrated Health System Sciences Institute, University of Houston College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesTexas A&M University School of Law, Fort Worth, TX, United StatesDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, TX, United StatesDepartment of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United StatesOffice of Health Affairs and Advocacy, Humana Inc., Louisville, KY, United StatesCenter for Population Health and Aging, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, TX, United StatesDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, TX, United StatesBackground: The past year has severely curtailed social interactions among older adults given their high rates of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. This study examined social, behavioral, and medical correlates of social isolation among community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and stratified findings to explore unique differences in two typically neglected populations, African American and Hispanic older adults.Methods: Working with community-based organizations and senior living centers, the research team administered a survey to older adults 55 years of age and older (n = 575). The survey assessed COVID-19 prevention behaviors, medical conditions, and lived experiences, including feelings of social isolation, in the target population. Responses to a previously validated social isolation question informed a dichotomous social isolation dependent variable. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for sociodemographic characteristics, medical conditions, unmet caregiving needs, and COVID-19 prevention behaviors. Results from the regression model were stratified by race/ethnicity to examine correlates of social isolation in African American and Hispanic older adults, separately.Results: Overall, female sex and a higher level of education were also positively associated with social isolation (OR = 2.46, p = 0.04; OR = 5.49, p = 0.02) while having insurance exhibited an inverse relationship (OR = 0.25, p = 0.03). Unmet caregiving needs were strongly associated with social isolation (OR = 6.41, p < 0.001) as was having any chronic conditions (OR = 2.99, p = 0.02). Diabetes was the single strongest chronic condition predictor of social isolation. Among minority older adults, a different pattern emerged. For Hispanic older adults, language, unmet caregiving needs, and social distancing were strongly associated with social isolation; while unmet caregiving needs, having 1+ chronic conditions and adhering to social distancing guidelines were significant predictors in African American older adults.Conclusion: These findings suggest that social isolation affects older adults in a myriad of ways and support the need for culturally sensitive initiatives to mitigate the effect of social isolation in these vulnerable populations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.702965/fullsocial isolationagingCOVID-19racial/ethnic differencesloneliness |
| spellingShingle | Omolola E. Adepoju Omolola E. Adepoju Minji Chae LeChauncy Woodard LeChauncy Woodard Kendra L. Smith Kendra L. Smith Luz Herrera Daikwon Han Daniel L. Howard Jessica Dobbins Marcia Ory Marcia Ory Correlates of Social Isolation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic Frontiers in Public Health social isolation aging COVID-19 racial/ethnic differences loneliness |
| title | Correlates of Social Isolation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full | Correlates of Social Isolation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Correlates of Social Isolation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Correlates of Social Isolation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_short | Correlates of Social Isolation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | correlates of social isolation among community dwelling older adults during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | social isolation aging COVID-19 racial/ethnic differences loneliness |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.702965/full |
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