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Volume 18
Issue 9
10.3390/ijerph18094517
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Article

Loneliness, Wellbeing, and Social Activity in Scottish Older Adults Resulting from Social Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by
Simone A. Tomaz
1,2,
Pete Coffee
1,
Gemma C. Ryde
1,
Bridgitte Swales
1,
Kacey C. Neely
1,
Jenni Connelly
1,
Andrew Kirkland
1,
Louise McCabe
1,
Karen Watchman
1,
Federico Andreis
3,
Jack G. Martin
1,
Ilaria Pina
1 and
Anna C. Whittaker
1,*
1
Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
2
College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G1 1BQ, UK
3
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YR, UK
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editors: Catherine Hennessy and Elaine Douglas
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4517; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094517
Received: 24 March 2021 / Revised: 15 April 2021 / Accepted: 21 April 2021 / Published: 24 April 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health and Well-Being of Older People in an Era of COVID-19)
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Abstract

This study examined the impact of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic on loneliness, wellbeing, and social activity, including social support, in Scottish older adults. A mixed methods online survey was used to examine these factors during social distancing mid-lockdown, July 2020. Participants were asked to state whether loneliness, wellbeing, social activity, and social support had changed since pre-social distancing, and to provide details of strategies used to keep socially active. A total of 1429 adults (84% aged 60+ years) living in Scotland took part. The majority reported that social distancing regulations made them experience more loneliness and less social contact and support. Loneliness during lockdown was higher than reported norms for this age group before the pandemic. A larger social network, more social contact, and better perceived social support seemed to be protective against loneliness and poor wellbeing. Positive coping strategies reported included increasing online social contact with both existing social networks and reconnecting with previous networks, as well as increasing contact with neighbours and people in the community. This underlines the importance of addressing loneliness and social support in older adults but particularly during situations where risk of isolation is high. View Full-Text
Keywords: loneliness; social support; social isolation; social network; wellbeing loneliness; social support; social isolation; social network; wellbeing
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MDPI and ACS Style

Tomaz, S.A.; Coffee, P.; Ryde, G.C.; Swales, B.; Neely, K.C.; Connelly, J.; Kirkland, A.; McCabe, L.; Watchman, K.; Andreis, F.; Martin, J.G.; Pina, I.; Whittaker, A.C. Loneliness, Wellbeing, and Social Activity in Scottish Older Adults Resulting from Social Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 4517. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094517

AMA Style

Tomaz SA, Coffee P, Ryde GC, Swales B, Neely KC, Connelly J, Kirkland A, McCabe L, Watchman K, Andreis F, Martin JG, Pina I, Whittaker AC. Loneliness, Wellbeing, and Social Activity in Scottish Older Adults Resulting from Social Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(9):4517. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094517

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tomaz, Simone A., Pete Coffee, Gemma C. Ryde, Bridgitte Swales, Kacey C. Neely, Jenni Connelly, Andrew Kirkland, Louise McCabe, Karen Watchman, Federico Andreis, Jack G. Martin, Ilaria Pina, and Anna C. Whittaker. 2021. "Loneliness, Wellbeing, and Social Activity in Scottish Older Adults Resulting from Social Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 9: 4517. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094517

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