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| Patterns of general mental well-being during COVID-19 and its changes from before the pandemic in the US and the UK. Note: CES-D, Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale; GHQ, General Health Questionnaire.
Source publication
Interacting with family members and friends from other households is a key part of everyday life and is crucial to people’s mental well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic severely curtailed face-to-face contact between households, particularly for older adults (aged 60 and above), due to their high risk of developing severe illness if infected by COVID-1...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... that both the HRS and USOC are household panel surveys, robust standard errors were estimated to account for sample clustering at the household level (Hoechle, 2007). Figure 1 presents the patterns of older adults' general mental well-being during COVID-19 and its changes relative to the prepandemic era. In the US, more than half of the respondents scored 0 (indicating the best possible mental well-being) both before and during COVID-19. ...
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Background
In the COVID-19 pandemic, rumors travel far faster than the outbreak itself. The current study aimed to evaluate the factors affecting the attitudes of individuals towards the rumors-producing media in Iran.
Methods
An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in Iran in March 2020 on the source of information and rumors, along with t...
Citations
... Video chat, which is more akin to face-to-face interactions, has been found to be particularly helpful in combating loneliness (Bonsaksen et al., 2021a). However, other studies have found that increased video call contact (Choi et al., 2022) and other forms of virtual communication such as using chat apps, instant messaging, and social media (Hu & Qian, 2021) were associated with more loneliness in older adults during the pandemic. Still, other studies found no significant relationship of loneliness with these messaging and social media contacts (Choi et al., 2022). ...
This study aims to investigate various forms of online engagement in relation to feelings of loneliness among older men and women during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored which types of online engagement were associated with loneliness among older adults, with special attention to potential gender differences. We analyzed data from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), including 4,421 respondents aged 50 or older (1,732 men and 2,689 women). Loneliness was measured using the 11-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Ordinary Least Squares Regression models were estimated to assess the relationship between different types of online engagement and loneliness. More frequent use of all examined online engagement types, including instant messaging, social network sites, other social media, chat apps, and video chat, was associated with lower loneliness levels. Video chat had the strongest association with reduced loneliness, while social network sites had the weakest. Older men tended to report higher levels of loneliness compared to older women during the pandemic. Older women generally reported higher levels of online engagement than older men, although this pattern varied across different online platforms. No gender differences were found in the associations between online engagement and loneliness. This study highlights the potential positive role of online engagement in mitigating loneliness among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings emphasize the importance of developing policies that encourage and support internet access and online engagement initiatives for older adults to combat loneliness.
... As a result, family members were able to turn to digital modes of communication during the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen intergenerational social ties (Arpino et al., 2021). However, most studies on intergenerational contact with digital communication during the COVID-19 pandemic focused on relationships between older adults and adult children (Hu & Qian, 2021;Litwin & Levinsky, 2022). As a result, we know little about whether young adults' intergenerational and digital relationships with grandparents are also important to their psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. ...
We aimed to discover young adults’ perceived intergenerational and digital solidarity patterns with grandparents and their life satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. Data collection was conducted from April to June 2022 in the Seoul-Incheon-Gyeonggi metropolitan area. The sample was 261 young adults who reported solidarity with their living grandmothers and 161 young adults who reported solidarity with their living grandfathers. The latent profile analysis indicated three profiles for grandmother–young adult and grandfather–young adult groups: tight-knit and digitally connected, detached, and sociable. Results showed that the sociable profile was predominant, suggesting emotionally connected relationships but lower instrumental support between Korean young adults and their grandparents. In addition, young adults in the tight-knit and digitally connected profile reported higher life satisfaction compared to detached and sociable profiles. The study highlights the significance of strong intergenerational connections in enhancing young adults’ well-being during challenging times such as COVID-19.
... Зерттеу қорытындысы Covid-19 пандемиясы кезінде әлеуметтік және физикалық белсенділікке қатысу қабілетінің нашарлауы туралы хабарлаған егде жастағылардың қабілеттері психикалық денсаулыққа теріс әсер етті. Бұл көрсеткіштер болашақ пандемияның немесе егде жастағы адамдардың психикалық денсаулығы мен өмір сапасына әсер етуі мүмкін басқа да ауыр өмірлік стресстердің теріс әсерін азайту үшін әлеуметтік және физикалық белсенділік ресурстарын кеңейтудің маңыздылығын көрсетеді [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. Зерттеудің келесі бөлімі Америка құрама штатының (әрі қарай АҚШ) әртүрлі қауымдастықтарында мекендейтін егде жастағы тұрғындары арасында жүргізілді. ...
Егде жастағы халықтың өмір сүру сапасын зерттеу денсаулық сақтау саласындағы заманауи зерттеулердің маңызды міндеттерінің бірі болып табылады. Халықтың қартаюы және өмір сүру ұзақтығының артуы егде жастағы адамдардың өмір сүру сапасына айтарлықтай әсер етеді және бүгінгі таңда өзекті болып келеді. Бұл әдебиеттік шолу денсаулық пен тірек-қимыл қозғалысының белсенділігіне, әлеуметтік қолдауға, психологиялық әл-ауқат пен өзін-өзі бағалауға және медициналық сауаттылығына назар аудара отырып, егде жастағы тұрғындардың өмір сапасының негізгі аспектілерін зерттейді. Осы аспектілерді зерделеу егде жастағы халықтың әл-ауқаты мен өміріне қанағаттанушылықты арттыруға бағытталған тиісті стратегияларды әзірлеуге және бағдарламалар мен саясатты жүзеге асыруға мүмкіндік береді.
... The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digitalization of family contact far beyond a migrant context. Given the curtailment of movement and in-person contact, many people relied on virtual contact to interact with family members living in other households, albeit locally (Hu & Qian, 2021;Qian & Hanser, 2021). Video calls became "part of everyday life," and ICTenabled online and hybrid family events gained popularity (Mcclain et al., 2021, p. 11). ...
... Digital interactions augment, but cannot replace, face-to-face family contact, and they may exacerbate gender inequality in kin-keeping activities (Cabalquinto, 2022;Hu & Qian, 2021;Newson et al., 2024;Valentine, 2006;Wajcman, 2015). First, despite the usefulness of ICTenabled virtual copresence, face-to-face contact "remains the gold standard" for maintaining family intimacy as it embodies full sensory experiences of hearing, seeing, and physically feeling (e.g., hugging, kissing) family members (Baldassar et al., 2016, pp. ...
The internet and digital technologies have penetrated all domains of people's lives, and family life is no exception. Despite being a characterizing feature of contemporary family change, the digitalization of family life has yet to be systematically theorized. Against this backdrop, this article develops a multilevel conceptual framework for understanding the digitalization of family life and illustrates the framework by synthesizing state‐of‐the‐art research from multiple disciplines across global contexts. At a micro level, as individuals “do” family online, digitalization influences diverse aspects of family practices, including family formation, functioning, and contact. How individuals “do” family online is not free‐floating but embedded in macro‐level economic, sociocultural, and political systems underpinning processes of digitalization. Bridging the micro–macro divide, family‐focused online communities serve as a pivotal intermediary at the meso level, where people display family life to, and exchange family‐related support with, mostly nonfamily members. Meso‐level online communities are key sites for forming and diffusing collective identities and shared family norms. Bringing together the three levels, the framework also considers cross‐level interrelations to develop a holistic digital ecology of family life. The article concludes by discussing the contributions of the framework to understanding family change and advancing family scholarship in the digital age.
... Older adults have also reported relationships with family and friends, the presence of digital social contact, and starting and/or maintaining hobbies, as sources of joy and comfort during the pandemic [21]. Using technology to sustain social contact has become an important mechanism for many older adults to cope during the pandemic as demonstrated in the US and UK [22]. Indeed, while previous studies have explored technology adoption during the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic [14,23,24], a critical gap remains in understanding how older adults' technology use evolves and adapts during subsequent lockdowns. ...
Background
An informed understanding of older adults’ perceptions of the impact (positive or negative) of recurrent COVID-19 long lockdowns is important for the development of targeted interventions and resources for future restrictions. This study aimed to understand self-reported impacts of COVID-19 recurrent restrictions on older adults and how technology has been used to mitigate these.
Methods
A cross-sectional national study of 257 community-dwelling older Australians based in Victoria (mean age = 67.6 years [SD = 7.2]; 20.6% male) completed an online or postal survey as part of a larger study examining the physical and mental health impacts of a second extended COVID-19 lockdown period. This secondary analysis reports on the findings from free-text responses to two open-ended questions included in that survey that asked participants to comment on the greatest impacts of the COVID-19 lockdowns (positive or negative) and the role of technology in supporting their wellbeing during this time. Responses were collected between July and September 2020. Data were analysed using content (COVID-19 impacts) and thematic (role of technology) analysis.
Results
Respondents gave more negative responses (75.5%) than mixed (15.2%) and positive responses (6.2%) in reporting on the biggest impact of COVID-19 lockdowns. Inductive content analysis revealed two first-order main categories (Positive impacts and Negative impacts). Axial coding of main categories showed five second-order categories (Environmental, Physical Health, Social, Mental Health, and Personal) for both negative and positive main categories (totalling 10 second-order categories). Overall, respondents highlighted social loss as the key negative experience (70%), with acute feelings of social isolation contributing to negative impacts on mental wellbeing. The most commonly reported positive impact reported (11%) was having more time for relationships, relaxation, and new hobbies. Technology was primarily used to sustain socialisation and provide access to essential resources, services, and goods, which respondents perceived to contribute to maintaining their wellbeing.
Conclusions
Findings suggest a critical need for interventions that address the social loss experienced by older adults during COVID-19 recurrent lockdowns, particularly to alleviate the associated negative impact on mental wellbeing. Recognising the positive aspect of increased time for relationships and leisure activities indicates potential areas for resilience-building strategies. The pivotal role of technology in mitigating adverse effects highlights its significance in building social connections and supporting overall wellbeing during challenging times. These implications can guide future efforts to enhance older adults’ resilience, mental health, and holistic wellbeing in future public health crises.
... In addition, the current literature has been limited to explaining the association between digital communication and mental health between older parents and adult children during the pandemic. Although the use of digital communication has been associated with fewer depressive symptoms, less intense feelings of loneliness, better mental health, and more positive emotions among older adults (Monin et al., 2020;Sixsmith et al., 2022), other studies have found that digital communication does not fully compensate for increased loneliness that resulted from reduced face-to-face contact during the pandemic (Hu & Qian, 2021;Sommerlad et al., 2021). Furthermore, compared to older parents, less is known about whether digital communication is beneficial for adult children's mental health during the pandemic. ...
Objective
We aimed to explore dyadic latent classes of intergenerational solidarity with digital communication (texting, video call, and social media interaction) among older parent and adult child pairs during the COVID‐19 pandemic, and whether derived dyadic latent classes were associated with older parents' and adult children's depressive symptoms.
Background
Previous studies have not considered how digital communication fits with the established intergenerational solidarity paradigm. Consequently, we know little about how the use of digital communication creates new types of intergenerational solidarity between older parents and adult children, and how they are associated with their depressive symptoms during the pandemic.
Methods
Using data from the 2022 survey of the Longitudinal Study of Generations (LSOG), the analysis took a dyadic‐centered approach and applied a three‐step latent class analysis with 271 mother–child and 190 father–child dyads.
Results
Dyadic partners were consistent in their relationship evaluations for the three latent classes identified in both mother–child and father–child dyads: tight‐knit traditional (strong solidarity with frequent in‐person contact), distant‐but‐digitally connected (geographically distant but frequent digital contact), and detached (low solidarity). In mother–child dyads, mothers reported significantly fewer depressive symptoms when they were in tight‐knit traditional and distant‐but‐digitally connected relationships, than those in detached relationships. In father–child dyads, adult children reported significantly fewer depressive symptoms when they were in tight‐knit traditional and distant‐but‐digitally connected relationships, than those in detached relationships.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that digital communication was beneficial for older parents' and adult children's psychological well‐being, depending on parents' gender and generational position during the pandemic.
... A study reported that a higher number of partners for virtual interaction was associated with better mental health when in-person interaction was limited [37]. According to another study, both inperson and virtual interaction between households during the pandemic were associated with better mental health, even though the effect was limited in the case of virtual interaction [38]. By contrast, some reported that virtual interaction, which requires "close-up eye contact", could be more stressful than in-person interaction [39]. ...
Background: Although social interaction and social support during the “new normal” due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be related to presenteeism, the effect between these factors has not been clear for Japanese workers. The aim of this study was to describe the presenteeism of Japanese workers with reference to social interaction and social support following the lifestyle changes due to COVID-19 and to assess whether social interaction and social support affected their presenteeism.
Methods: The data were obtained from internet panel surveys from October 2020. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and multiple linear regression was conducted using the data from the first, fourth and fifth surveys, which were conducted during October to November 2020, July to August 2021, and September to October 2021, respectively. To measure presenteeism, questions from “absenteeism and presenteeism questions of the World Health Organization’s Heath and Work Performance Questionnaire”, short version in Japanese was utilized. Multiple linear regressions were conducted to investigate the effects of social interaction and social support-related factors on presenteeism.
Results: A total of 3,407 participants were included in the analysis. The mean score of absolute presenteeism from the fifth survey was 58.07 (SD = 19.71). More time spent talking with family, a larger number of social supporters and a higher satisfaction level for social support were associated with a higher absolute presenteeism score.
Conclusions: Our results suggested that social support reduced the presenteeism of the Japanese workers during the “new normal” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Social interaction with family also relieved presenteeism.
... The influence of social support and social trust on mental well-being According to a Finnish study by Forsman et al. (4) based on qualitative data materials and quantitative survey data, informal social contacts such as family members and life-long relationships between friends impact the experienced mental well-being among older people owing to shared life events, social support, mutual appreciation, and trust, as well as a sense of belonging through common social activities. Hu and Qian (38) examined and revealed the relationship between social support and mental well-being among older people in the United Kingdom and the United States. In rural China, mutual aid and social support among neighbors, friends and family are very common on the base of traditional culture (39). ...
The rural development strategy in contemporary China has evolved from focusing solely on “absolute poverty alleviation” to addressing multiple dimensions, including “targeting relative poverty and revitalizing the entire rural area.” Using a mixed-methods approach, our study aimed to examine whether and how social capital, particularly social support and social trust, influences the mental well-being of middle-aged and older people aging in place in a remote rural Northeast area of China, exploring three constructs: life purpose, self-actualization, and capability. Our quantitative findings revealed that higher levels of social support and social trust were positively related to higher levels of life purpose. Increased social support was positively related to increased life purpose through increased social trust. However, the associations between social support, social trust, and the constructs of self-actualization and capability were not substantiated after controlling for covariates. Our interview data illuminated how middle-aged and older people perceived the interplay between social support, social trust, and mental well-being.
... With no movements to seek psychological support from the community-based organizations, it is possible that the battered elderly women suffered in silence and remained stuck with their sexual partners even if they had intended to divorce or separate (Nduna & Tshona,2020). Older adults are defined as individuals aged 60 and above (United Nations, 2019) and owing to being immunocompromised, it is imperative that they receive emotional support, care and their basic needs are met to cope with infectious diseases (Fuller et al., 2020;Hu & Qian, 2021;United Nations Development program, 2020). It is for this reason that they are being encouraged to buy orthodox medicine at the pharmacies for self-diagnosed symptoms (Arthur-Holmes, 2020). ...
During COVID 19 lockdown in South Africa, majority of the elderly people suffered domestic abuse and neglect from their family members and nurses, thus they reported impaired mental health and weak immunity. In a qualitative research approach that interviewed twelve isiXhosa-speaking participants (aged 62-75) from one village in Keiskamahoek, Eastern Cape Province, a chief from a village granted permission for the study to be carried out. The study was guided by Ryff's dimensions of psychological well-being, namely, self-acceptance, purpose in life, autonomy, personal growth, and environmental mastery. The participants gave consent to be tape-recorded during data collection and were given pseudonyms to protect their identity. For data analysis, the researchers relied on axial, open and selective coding to identify themes. Findings reveal that the elderly people reported poverty, guilty feelings and decline in immune system after being hospitalized although some reported resilience and positive human relations. To restore psychosocial well-being of the elderly, post COVID-19 pandemic, this study recommends an intervention from multiple stakeholders such as the church, community leaders, social workers, and psychologists. Most importantly, social, and emotional support from family members can alleviate stress and contribute towards positive mental health.
... For those unfamiliar with ICT, accessing public services and making online appointments was difficult (19). Furthermore, for older adults who experience virtual social interactions through ICT, the digital stress and burden suggest that virtual contact may not significantly contribute to their mental well-being (20). Consequently, there has been a shift in perspective regarding access to and utilization of ICT by older adults from the previous encouragement of ICT usage. ...
... Some studies have suggested that ICT use in remote social interactions may have a positive and beneficial influence on cognitive abilities and reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation among older adults (21)(22)(23). However, contrasting viewpoints argue that ICT-facilitated social interactions in a "contact-free society" may have adverse effects on mental wellbeing, further widening the digital divide (20,24,25). ...
... However, it should be noted that virtual communication facilitated by ICT may amplify feelings of isolation (20), and increased subjective pleasure and improved well-being during the pandemic were found to be effective only when ICT was used for leisure purposes (56). Therefore, the use of ICT for tasks such as work management and accessing public services may not have a positive association with mental health. ...
Introduction
As society ages and the digital economy continues to develop, accessibility to information and communication technology (ICT) has emerged as a critical factor influencing the mental health of older adults. Particularly, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for non-face-to-face communication has significantly increased older adults’ reliance on ICT for accessibility. This transition from a self-motivated engagement to a more socially passive mode of interaction highlights the importance of creating a digitally inclusive aging society.
Methods
This empirical study used pooled cross-sectional data from the Digital Gap Survey conducted in South Korea in 2018 and 2020. It aimed to analyze the association between ICT accessibility and the mental health of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results
A significant positive relationship was found between ICT and mental health among older adults in South Korea. However, this positive association weakened during the COVID-19 period. Furthermore, the analysis revealed heterogeneity among older adults by age, sex, and place of residence, with older females in their 70s living in rural areas experiencing the greatest weakening.
Discussion
These results highlight the need for tailored interventions and support mechanisms for specific demographic groups of older adults. We recommend that the South Korean government implement various policies to facilitate the post-COVID-19 digital landscape. These include initiatives such as ICT-related education programs, development of user-friendly e-government systems, and creation of social media platforms designed to accommodate the needs and preferences of older adults.
