Increased prevalence of loneliness and associated risk factors during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Older adults have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and related preventative measures undertaken during the pandemic. Given clear evidence of the relationship between loneliness and health outcomes, it is imperative to better understand if, and how, loneliness has changed for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, and whom it has impacted most.

Method

We used "pre-pandemic" data collected between 2015-2018 (n = 44,817) and "during pandemic" data collected between Sept 29-Dec 29, 2020 (n = 24,114) from community-living older adults participating in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Loneliness was measured using the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Weighted generalized estimating equations estimated the prevalence of loneliness pre-pandemic and d

SUBMITTER: Kirkland SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10175060 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature