Loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparison between Older and Younger People

Abstract

The precautionary measures and uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have serious psychological impacts on peoples’ mental health. We used longitudinal data from Hiroshima University to investigate loneliness before and during the pandemic among older and younger people in Japan. We provide evidence that loneliness among both older and younger people increased considerably during the pandemic. Although loneliness among younger people is more pervasive, the magnitude of increase in loneliness during the pandemic is higher among older people. Our logit regression analysis shows that age, subjective health status, and feelings of depression are strongly associated with loneliness before and during the pandemic. Moreover, household income and financial satisfaction are associated with loneliness among older people during the pandemic while gender, marital status, living condition, and depression are associated with loneliness among younger people during the pandemic. The evidence of increasing loneliness during the pandemic is concerning for a traditionally well-connected and culturally collectivist society such as Japan. As loneliness has a proven connection with both physical and mental health, we suggest immediate policy interventions to provide mental health support for lonely people so they feel more cared for, secure, and socially connected.

Loneliness and its predictors among older adults prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional and longitudinal survey findings from participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study cohort in the USA

“…It is important, however, to keep in mind that the association of age with the prevalence of perceived loneliness may be region specific. For example, results from the representative population-based Nikkei Research survey conducted in Japan suggest a modestly higher increase in the prevalence of perceived loneliness post as compared with during the COVID-19 pandemic among adults 65 years of age or older as compared with those younger than 65 years, thus confirming our observation 25. At the same time, data from the combined longitudinal cohort data from France, the Netherlands, Denmark and the UK suggest that during March–July 2020, a larger proportion of adults under the age of 30 years experienced loneliness as compared with those 60 years of age and older 26…”

“…For example, results from the representative population-based Nikkei Research survey conducted in Japan suggest a modestly higher increase in the prevalence of perceived loneliness post as compared with during the COVID-19 pandemic among adults 65 years of age or older as compared with those younger than 65 years, thus confirming our observation. 25 At the same time, data from the combined longitudinal cohort data from France, the Netherlands, Denmark and the UK suggest that during March-July 2020, a larger proportion of adults under the age of 30 years experienced loneliness as compared with those 60 years of age and older. 26 In the ARIC Study population of older adults, the overall prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 infection was low, however, we observed a greater prevalence of the infection among black as compared with white participants and among those with less than high school, as compared with those with a high school or greater educational attainment.…”

Are healthcare workers particularly vulnerable to loneliness? The role of social relationships and mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Discussions about the effects of COVID-19 must acknowledge its current and future psychological impact including the increased loneliness that many have experienced ( Cabello et al, 2021 ; Cowan., 2020 ; Fang et al, 2021 ; Holmes et al, 2020 ; Holt-Lunstad, 2021 ; Killgore et al, 2020 ). Elevated levels of loneliness during the pandemic are evident across the globe and have been reported among the general population ( Bu et al, 2020 ; Cabello et al, 2021 ; Khan and Kadoya, 2021 ; Killgore et al, 2020 ; O'Sullivan et al, 2021 ; Pai and Vella, 2021 ; Tutzer et al, 2021 ) and healthcare workers (HCWs) ( Cabello et al, 2021 ; De Sio et al, 2020 , 2021 ; Repon et al, 2021 ). The combined prevalence of severe loneliness across 101 countries during the pandemic was 21%, compared to 6% prior to the pandemic ( O'Sullivan et al, 2021 ).…”

Couple Conflict and Intimate Partner Violence during the Early Lockdown of the Pandemic: The Good, the Bad, or Is It Just the Same in a North Carolina, Low-Resource Population?

“…During the early stages of the pandemic, when widespread lockdowns were common, some began to wonder about the unintended and potentially negative impacts of this public health strategy [ 3 ]. Consistent with this concern, both the pandemic itself, as well as efforts to prevent the spread of the pandemic, have been associated with social, economic, and health/mental health difficulties across the United States, with pandemic-related effects constituting a substantial stressor for many individuals [ 4 , 5 ]. The pandemic and corresponding safety efforts have also put stress on relationships and families.…”