Exploring Loneliness, Fear and Depression among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Era: A Cross-Sectional Study in Greek Provincial Towns

Abstract

Background: With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, life changed abruptly for older adults in Greece. Social isolation, lockdowns, the fear of serious illness and death, all contributed to an increased risk of developing depression. Objective: To explore the presence and severity of depression in older adults in Greek provincial towns during the pandemic and to explore any possible relationships with loneliness and fear. Methods: A convenience sample of 200 participants aged >65, completed a socio-demographic form, the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Geriatric Depression-15 Scale (GDS-15) and the COVID-19 Fear Scale (FCV-19S). Data were collected from April to May 2022. Results: The average age of participants was 76.6 years and 35.5% of the participants presented depressive symptoms (mean prevalenceof depression 5 ± 3.7). A moderate to low level of loneliness (mean value 39 ± 11.3) and a moderate level of COVID-19 fear (mean value 18.9 ± 6.5) were also experienced. Higher levels of loneliness were found among participants with lower perceived health status and among those participants registered in Primary Health and Social Care (PHSC) services. Loneliness was positively correlated with depression (r = 0.7, p < 0.001), and increased loneliness and depression were associated with an increase in fear of COVID-19 (r = 0.2, p = 0.01 for both). Conclusions: During the pandemic, older adults experienced loneliness, fear of COVID-19 and depression which were positively associated with each other. It is imperative to develop PHSC policies that are aimed at addressing the mental health problems of the older population, which have been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, through developing their resilience, offering psychological support and promoting social connections.

Association between Levels of Loneliness, Laboratory Measurements, and Behavioral Aspects in a Primary Care Setting in Crete, Greece

“…Furthermore, loneliness may have a pluripotent burden on human lives since, apart from its impact on physical well-being, it was reported to be related with mental health issues, as mentioned earlier. More specifically, loneliness was linked with depression [45,46], anxiety [47], eating disorders [48], or even mortality caused by suicide [49]. By 'Puzzling' the mentioned 'pieces of knowledge', it can be understood that loneliness appears to influence many dimensions of physical and mental health with a direct manner, without being able to precisely assess its multiple impact on life, when more than one dimension are synchronically affected overtime.…”

“Meaning in Life” Mediates the Relationship between Loneliness and Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…When older adults experience loneliness, their health deteriorates, leading to visual and hearing impairments [ 10 ], and an increased risk of heart disease, depression, anxiety, dementia, cognitive decline, and even mortality rates [ 14 , 15 ]. In particular, it has been well established that an increased level of loneliness is closely related to the development of depression among older adults [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”

Combating Loneliness in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a Volunteer-Based Program in Greece

“…Despite their initial effectiveness, following December 2021 a rapid increase in infection rate became apparent [19]. Nevertheless, the impact on Greek older adults loneliness was evident from the start, with more than one in five older adults reporting feeling more lonely a few months into the first quarantine [20] and with evident consequences on the quality of life [5], with loneliness persisting among older adults even two years later (Spring 2022) [21].…”