AUTHOR=Adepoju Omolola E. , Chae Minji , Woodard LeChauncy , Smith Kendra L. , Herrera Luz , Han Daikwon , Howard Daniel L. , Dobbins Jessica , Ory Marcia 

TITLE=Correlates of Social Isolation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.702965

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2021.702965

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> 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.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Working with community-based organizations and senior living centers, the research team administered a survey to older adults 55 years of age and older (<italic>n</italic> = 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.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Overall, female sex and a higher level of education were also positively associated with social isolation (OR = 2.46, <italic>p</italic> = 0.04; OR = 5.49, <italic>p</italic> = 0.02) while having insurance exhibited an inverse relationship (OR = 0.25, <italic>p</italic> = 0.03). Unmet caregiving needs were strongly associated with social isolation (OR = 6.41, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) as was having any chronic conditions (OR = 2.99, <italic>p</italic> = 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.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> 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.</p>