Work

Loneliness before and during the COVID-19 pandemic—are unpartnered and childless older adults at higher risk?

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: COVID-19 mitigation efforts had the potential to exacerbate loneliness among older adults, particularly for the unpartnered or childless, yet specific studies on loneliness among these groups during the COVID-19 pandemic are lacking. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) collected before (October 2019-March 2020) and during the pandemic (June-August 2020), we examine two loneliness outcomes: (1) "have you felt lonely recently?" (both datasets) and (2) "have you felt lonelier than before the pandemic?" (2020), and examine differences by partnership and parenthood status. Before COVID-19, those who lacked one tie but had the other (unpartnered parents or partnered childless) were at highest loneliness risk. During COVID-19, unpartnered and childless-especially unpartnered-remain at higher risk for loneliness, entering loneliness, and not "exiting" loneliness. We discuss these findings in light of family norms and needs in pandemic and non-pandemic times and provide recommendations for future research. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10433-022-00718-x.

Source: European Journal of Ageing

DOI: 10.1007/s10433-022-00718-x

Authors: Bruno Arpino, Christine A. Mair, Nekehia T. Quashie, Radoslaw Antczak

Institutions: University of Florence, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University of Rhode Island, SGH Warsaw School of Economics

Language: English

Topic: Health disparities and outcomes

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,890