Examining the inter-relationships between social isolation and loneliness and their correlates among older British adults before and during the COVID-19 lockdown: evidence from four British longitudinal studies

Abstract Background and Objectives Unprecedented social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic have provided a new lens for considering the inter-relationship between social isolation and loneliness in later life. We present these inter-relationships before and during the COVID-19 restrictions and investigate to what extent demographic, socio-economic, and health factors associated with such experiences differed during the pandemic.Research Design and Method We used data from four British longitudinal population-based studies (1946 MRC NSHD, 1958 NCDS, 1970 BCS, and ELSA). Rates, co-occurrences, and correlates of social isolation and loneliness are presented prior to and during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic and the inter-relationships between these experiences are elucidated in both periods.Results Across the four studies, pre-pandemic proportions reporting social isolation ranged from 15 to 54%, with higher rates in older ages (e.g., 32% of 70-79 and 54% of those over 80). During the pandemic, the percentage of older people reporting both social isolation and loneliness and isolation only slightly increased. The inter-relationship between social isolation and loneliness did not change. Associations between socio-demographic and health characteristics and social isolation and loneliness also remained consistent, with greater burden among those with greater economic precarity (females, non-homeowners, unemployed, illness and greater financial stress).Discussion and Implications There were already large inequalities in experiences of social isolation and loneliness and the pandemic had a small impact on worsening these inequalities. The concepts of loneliness and social isolation are not transferable and clarity is needed in how they are conceptualised, operationalised, and interpreted..

Medienart:	Preprint

Erscheinungsjahr:	2024
Erschienen:	2024

Enthalten in:	bioRxiv.org - (2024) vom: 23. Apr. Zur Gesamtaufnahme - year:2024

Sprache:	Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:	Mansfield, Rosie [VerfasserIn] Di Gessa, Giorgio [VerfasserIn] Patel, Kishan [VerfasserIn] McElroy, Eoin [VerfasserIn] Wels, Jaques [VerfasserIn] Henderson, Morag [VerfasserIn] Maddock, Jane [VerfasserIn] Stafford, Jean [VerfasserIn] Steptoe, Andrew [VerfasserIn] Richards, Marcus [VerfasserIn] Patalay, Praveetha [VerfasserIn]

Links:	Volltext [lizenzpflichtig] Volltext [kostenfrei]

Themen:	570 Biology

doi:	10.1101/2023.06.27.23291947

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PPN (Katalog-ID):	XBI040042634