Changes in Social Contacts and Psychological Well-Being Among Older Adults During the Pandemic
Author Information
Author(s): Kim BoRin, Li Ke, Jeong Chung Hyeon
Primary Institution: University of New Hampshire
Hypothesis
Can remote social contacts substitute for in-person contacts in terms of psychological well-being among older adults during the pandemic?
Conclusion
The study found that while remote social contacts could help, they did not fully replace the benefits of in-person interactions for older adults.
Supporting Evidence
- Social interactions are critical for health and well-being among older adults.
- The pandemic significantly reduced face-to-face social contacts.
- Decreasing in-person contacts were negatively associated with well-being.
- Older adults with increased remote contact with friends had worse psychological well-being.
Takeaway
Older adults had fewer in-person friends during the pandemic, and while talking to friends online helped a bit, it wasn't as good as seeing them in person.
Methodology
Latent class analysis and OLS regressions were used to analyze changes in social contacts and their effects on psychological well-being.
Participant Demographics
Older adults aged 65 and above.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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