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Article: Later-life depressive symptoms during the Covid-19 pandemic: Investigations of individual, cumulative, and synergistic effects of social isolation

TitleLater-life depressive symptoms during the Covid-19 pandemic: Investigations of individual, cumulative, and synergistic effects of social isolation
Authors
KeywordsHong Kong Chinese
loneliness
Social isolation
social networks
social supports
Issue Date31-Jan-2023
PublisherTaylor and Francis Group
Citation
Aging and Mental Health, 2023, v. 27, n. 9, p. 1702-1710 How to Cite?
Abstract

Objectives

This study examines associations between social isolation and depressive symptoms among Hong Kong Chinese adults aged 65 and older by investigating the distinct effects of individual indicators, cumulative index, and typologies of social isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Methods

We used a sample of 260 older adults from a cross-sectional, city-wide online survey targeting 1,109 aged 45+ adults through purposive sampling. Seven indicators of social isolation (not married; living alone; not engaging in social/organizational activities; no social contact with friends or families; lack of family and friends networks; loneliness) using Cornwell & Waite’s framework were selected to construct three unique types of social isolation measures. We used latent class analysis (LCA) and regression models to examine the effects of varied typologies of social isolation on depressive symptoms.

Results

Individual model of social isolation showed that lack of social contact and feeling lonely were significant predictors of depressive symptoms. A strong linear-trend gradient effect of cumulative social isolation on depressive symptoms was also observed. The LCA model identified four typologies of social isolation (socially isolated; living alone but socially engaged; married but lacking social ties, and not socially isolated); those in the ‘socially isolated’ and ‘married but lacking social ties’ groups had the most depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

Three operationalizations of social isolation demonstrated different utilities and implications in assessing the impacts of social isolation on depressive symptoms. Social contacts and loneliness, rather than living status or other characteristics of isolation, were the factors most strongly associated with depressive symptoms. Support programs should target lonely older adults who lack social engagement opportunities, as they are at increased risk of depression.


Persistent Identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/340980
ISSN
2023 Impact Factor: 2.8
2023 SCImago Journal Rankings: 1.403
ISI Accession Number ID

 

DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributor.authorChen, Yu-Chih-
dc.contributor.authorTaylor, Harry Owen-
dc.contributor.authorHung, Natalee-
dc.contributor.authorChan, Cecilia L W-
dc.date.accessioned2024-03-11T10:48:47Z-
dc.date.available2024-03-11T10:48:47Z-
dc.date.issued2023-01-31-
dc.identifier.citationAging and Mental Health, 2023, v. 27, n. 9, p. 1702-1710-
dc.identifier.issn1360-7863-
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/340980-
dc.description.abstract<h3>Objectives</h3><p>This study examines associations between social isolation and depressive symptoms among Hong Kong Chinese adults aged 65 and older by investigating the distinct effects of individual indicators, cumulative index, and typologies of social isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>We used a sample of 260 older adults from a cross-sectional, city-wide online survey targeting 1,109 aged 45+ adults through purposive sampling. Seven indicators of social isolation (not married; living alone; not engaging in social/organizational activities; no social contact with friends or families; lack of family and friends networks; loneliness) using Cornwell & Waite’s framework were selected to construct three unique types of social isolation measures. We used latent class analysis (LCA) and regression models to examine the effects of varied typologies of social isolation on depressive symptoms.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Individual model of social isolation showed that lack of social contact and feeling lonely were significant predictors of depressive symptoms. A strong linear-trend gradient effect of cumulative social isolation on depressive symptoms was also observed. The LCA model identified four typologies of social isolation (<em>socially isolated; living alone but socially engaged; married but lacking social ties,</em> and <em>not socially isolated</em>); those in the ‘<em>socially isolated’</em> and ‘<em>married but lacking social ties’</em> groups had the most depressive symptoms.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Three operationalizations of social isolation demonstrated different utilities and implications in assessing the impacts of social isolation on depressive symptoms. Social contacts and loneliness, rather than living status or other characteristics of isolation, were the factors most strongly associated with depressive symptoms. Support programs should target lonely older adults who lack social engagement opportunities, as they are at increased risk of depression.</p>-
dc.languageeng-
dc.publisherTaylor and Francis Group-
dc.relation.ispartofAging and Mental Health-
dc.subjectHong Kong Chinese-
dc.subjectloneliness-
dc.subjectSocial isolation-
dc.subjectsocial networks-
dc.subjectsocial supports-
dc.titleLater-life depressive symptoms during the Covid-19 pandemic: Investigations of individual, cumulative, and synergistic effects of social isolation-
dc.typeArticle-
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/13607863.2023.2172137-
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-85147181187-
dc.identifier.volume27-
dc.identifier.issue9-
dc.identifier.spage1702-
dc.identifier.epage1710-
dc.identifier.eissn1364-6915-
dc.identifier.isiWOS:000924270000001-
dc.identifier.issnl1360-7863-

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