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Psychosocial implications of early COVID-19 restrictions on older adults in a small-town region in Southwestern, Pennsylvania (USA)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2022

Tiffany F. Hughes Open the ORCID record for Tiffany F. Hughes [Opens in a new window] ,
Xinhui Ran ,
Fang Fang Open the ORCID record for Fang Fang [Opens in a new window] ,
Erin Jacobsen ,
Beth E. Snitz ,
Chung-Chou H. Chang  and
Mary Ganguli Open the ORCID record for Mary Ganguli [Opens in a new window]
Tiffany F. Hughes*
Affiliation:
Department of Graduate Studies in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Youngstown State University, One University Plaza, Youngstown, OH 44555, USA
Xinhui Ran
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
Fang Fang
Affiliation:
EVMS-Sentar Health Analytics and Delivery Science Institute, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 855 W. Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23510, USA
Erin Jacobsen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
Beth E. Snitz
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
Chung-Chou H. Chang
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
Mary Ganguli
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, School of Medicine, and Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Tiffany F. Hughes, Youngstown State University, One University Plaza, Youngstown, OH 44555, USA. Phone: 330-941-2970; Fax: 330-941-1898. Email: tfhughes@ysu.edu
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Abstract

Objectives:

The restrictions put in place in 2020 to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 limited or eliminated social connections that are vital for psychosocial well-being. The objectives of this research were to examine the impact of early pandemic-related restrictions on feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety as well as social activity disruption and their concomitant associations in a sample of community-dwelling older adults residing in a small-town region in the USA.

Design and Setting:

Cross-sectional data collected from an ongoing population-based cohort study in Southwestern, Pennsylvania.

Participants:

Analyses included 360 adults aged 65 years and older whose annual study assessment occurred during the first 120 days of pandemic-related restrictions.

Measurements:

Self-reported feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety due to the pandemic-related restrictions were each measured using a single question. Depressive symptoms and anxiety were also assessed with the modified Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 item tools. Disruption in a variety of common social activities was also assessed.

Results:

Feeling lonely affected 36% of participants who were more likely to be female, not currently married, and living alone. Giving up in-person visits with family was associated with significantly higher odds of feeling lonely, and feeling lonely was associated with significantly higher odds of feelings of anxiety and depression.

Conclusions:

Loneliness is a serious outcome of pandemic-related restrictions among older adults, potentially linked to loss of connection with family, and may be associated with increased feelings of depression and anxiety.

Keywords

lonelinesssocial activitydepressionanxietypandemic restrictionsCOVID-19
Type
Original Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 36 , Special Issue 9: Issue Theme: Social Determinants of Health , September 2024 , pp. 762 - 771
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2022

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