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Healthcare
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Impact of Social Connections on Well-Being of Older Adults
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Impact of Social Connections on Well-Being of Older Adults

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Community Care".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 5435

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Lixia Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
Interests: aging; cognition; training; wellbeing; culture
Dr. Kateryna Metersky

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
Interests: health equity; community wellbeing; nursing; older immigrants

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the rapid advance of technology and overall emphasis on efficiency in modern society, in-person social connection and social support have become less available or accessible. In this context, individuals have become more socially isolated and interpersonally disconnected than ever. As a result, the experience of loneliness is drastically increasing, especially among older adults who typically experience a reduction in their social network and social support.

The literature in this field has revealed some negative psychological outcomes (i.e., increased anxiety levels) of loneliness, and this relationship could be buffered by perceived social support or social connection. Given this, it is crucial to address the impact of social connection/support on older adults’ wellbeing and develop prevention or intervention programs to enhance a sense of social connection among this population. This is especially urgent in the post-pandemic era because social connection drastically reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, it is important to acknowledge that it takes time for older adults to recover and adjust back to their in-person social routines.

This Special Issue will address these questions by determining the risk predictors and wellbeing outcomes of social connection and loneliness among older adults who are most vulnerable to social disconnection.

We are pleased to invite you to submit your research manuscripts to this Special Issue. Your contribution will inform clinicians and researchers on the risk factors and wellbeing consequences of social disconnection and loneliness among older adults. The results will inform professionals working with older adults on their clinical, community, and/or social practice.

This Special Issue aims to publish a collection of research reviews and original research articles to address the aforementioned research questions, with a specific focus on risk factors, mechanisms, social context, prevention and intervention, as well as healthcare or community policies and practices related to social connection and wellbeing among older adults.

Research themes and article types featured in this Special Issue will include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Reviews and meta-analyses of studies on social connection and wellbeing of older adults.
  • Validation studies of existing assessment tools on social connection for older adults.
  • Cross-sectional or longitudinal studies assessing the wellbeing impact of social connection in older adults.
  • Research studies to determine the underlying factors/mechanisms and practice/training to enhance social connection among older adults.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Lixia Yang
Dr. Kateryna Metersky
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • social connection
  • social engagement
  • social support
  • wellbeing
  • health
  • aging
  • older adults

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 224 KiB  
Article
Social Participation Among Older Immigrants: A Cross-Sectional Study in Nine Cities in Canada
by Sepali Guruge, Souraya Sidani, Jill Hanley and The ICOI Team
Healthcare 2025, 13(13), 1478; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13131478 - 20 Jun 2025
Viewed by 309
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Social participation is important for healthy aging but challenging for older immigrants because of factors such as the loss of cultural community, language and transportation barriers, ageism, and racism. This study aimed to examine (1) the type of social activities in which [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Social participation is important for healthy aging but challenging for older immigrants because of factors such as the loss of cultural community, language and transportation barriers, ageism, and racism. This study aimed to examine (1) the type of social activities in which older immigrants from Arabic (Arab), Mandarin (East Asian), and Punjabi-speaking (South Asian) communities in Canada engage; (2) their desire for more participation in social activities; and (3) factors they perceive as preventing their engagement in more social activities. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we collected data, using existing measures, from 476 older immigrants between fall 2022 and winter 2023. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: More than 75% of participants reported engagement in three solitary activities (having a hobby, going on a day trip; and using the internet and/or email) and more than 85% participated in community-based activities with family inside and outside and with friends outside the household. Most (71%) expressed a desire to participate in more social activities in the community, but they were prevented from doing so due to factors such as language barriers or not wanting to go alone. Conclusions: Interventions are needed to facilitate community-based participation among older immigrants and improve their quality of life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Social Connections on Well-Being of Older Adults)
16 pages, 994 KiB  
Article
Loneliness and Social Isolation of Older Adults and Quality of Dyadic Relationships with Migrant Domestic Workers: A Mixed-Method Study
by Maria Shuk Yu Hung, Ken Hok Man Ho, Michael Man Ho Li and Edward Kwok Yiu Choi
Healthcare 2024, 12(24), 2496; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12242496 - 10 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1507
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Loneliness among older individuals is widespread globally, leading to increasing public health and policy concerns. Migrant domestic workers (MDWs) offer continuous services for older adults worldwide, recompensing for dwindling support from family members. The study objectives were to explain how the quality [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Loneliness among older individuals is widespread globally, leading to increasing public health and policy concerns. Migrant domestic workers (MDWs) offer continuous services for older adults worldwide, recompensing for dwindling support from family members. The study objectives were to explain how the quality of dyadic relationships with MDWs is associated with older adults’ loneliness and further explore older adults’ perceived experiences of care by MDWs. Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted from 2021 to 2023. Convenience and snowball samplings of older adults aged ≥60 living with MDWs were recruited by elderly community centers in Hong Kong for a survey, and purposive sampling of in-depth interviews followed. The survey comprised several well-validated scales assessing loneliness, perceived social networks, and the quality of dyadic relationships. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed for preliminary content analysis. A total of 288 older adults participated in the first phase of the survey interviews. Among them, 19 joined the in-depth interviews in the second phase. Results: There is a high prevalence of loneliness among older adults being cared for by MDWs in Hong Kong. In addition, the results showed that social loneliness negatively and significantly correlated with perceived dyadic relationship quality and social network. Two major interrelated themes were identified along with eight subthemes: (1) established relational interaction with MDWs and (2) enjoyed functional assistance and support from MDWs. Conclusions: Our study findings illustrated that good dyadic relationships among MDWs and older adults enhance older adults’ social connections and networking, alleviating loneliness and social isolation. Appropriate strategies are suggested to strengthen older adults’ social support and improve the quality of dyadic relationships with MDWs, which may reduce loneliness among older adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Social Connections on Well-Being of Older Adults)
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15 pages, 308 KiB  
Article
Psychological Wellbeing and Life Satisfaction among Chinese Older Immigrants in Canada across the Early and Late Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Lixia Yang, Andrea D. Y. Lee and Linying Dong
Healthcare 2024, 12(18), 1899; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12181899 - 22 Sep 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1221
Abstract
Objectives: This study compared the psychological wellbeing, life satisfaction, and perceived social support in Chinese older immigrants living in Canada between the early (i.e., Wave 1: September–November 2020) and late (i.e., Wave 2: January–February 2023) stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it assessed [...] Read more.
Objectives: This study compared the psychological wellbeing, life satisfaction, and perceived social support in Chinese older immigrants living in Canada between the early (i.e., Wave 1: September–November 2020) and late (i.e., Wave 2: January–February 2023) stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it assessed perceived social support from family, friends, or others as predictors for psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction in this population. Methods: These questions were addressed with a cross-sectional survey design with two independent samples at Wave 1 (n = 171) and Wave 2 (n = 191), respectively. Results: The results revealed lower levels of psychological wellbeing, life satisfaction, and perceived social support in Wave 2 compared to Wave 1. The hierarchical regression models identified social support from friends (but not from family or others) as a significant predictor for psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction. Additionally, a higher level of income and being a male predicted better psychological wellbeing. A higher level of income and a lower level of education predicted greater life satisfaction. Conclusions: The findings suggest a deterioration in psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction from the early to late stages of the pandemic and highlight the protective effect of social support from friends among Chinese older immigrants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Social Connections on Well-Being of Older Adults)

Review

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13 pages, 247 KiB  
Review
Supporting Migrant 2SLGBTQIA+ Unpaid Caregivers for Family Members Living with Chronic Illnesses
by Roya Haghiri-Vijeh, Robin Coatsworth-Puspoky, Harish Ramesh, Arvin Shakibai, Willian Roger Dullius and Marcus Allan
Healthcare 2025, 13(13), 1533; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13131533 - 27 Jun 2025
Viewed by 858
Abstract
The literature details the healthcare needs of migrant people living with chronic illnesses and the consequent economic, social, and healthcare needs of their caregivers. Similarly, some studies have underscored the social and healthcare needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and [...] Read more.
The literature details the healthcare needs of migrant people living with chronic illnesses and the consequent economic, social, and healthcare needs of their caregivers. Similarly, some studies have underscored the social and healthcare needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex individuals, including diverse sexual and gender identities under the “+” symbol) adults living with chronic illnesses and their caregivers. This narrative review presents the context of migrant 2SLGBTQIA+ unpaid caregivers and how their intersecting identities influence their caregiving roles for family members with chronic illnesses. In this article, caregivers are defined as family members or chosen families who provide unpaid support that may last for three months or longer for people living with chronic illnesses. Most studies and policies overlook 2SLGBTQIA+ migrants who are also unpaid caregivers of individuals living with chronic illnesses, leaving them unsupported through discrimination at the intersection of racism, homophobia, transphobia, ageism, and ableism, forcing them to remain vulnerable to increased emotional and physical strain. There is a presence of pervasive systemic barriers, including a lack of training and education among social and healthcare providers, about the needs of migrant 2SLGBTQIA+ unpaid caregivers. Additional challenges stem from inadequate policies and insufficient targeted resources, particularly for caregivers from marginalized racial and ethnic backgrounds. The findings of this study highlight the necessity for a call to action to address these gaps and improve support systems for these highly marginalized communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Social Connections on Well-Being of Older Adults)
17 pages, 1003 KiB  
Review
Home Healthcare Among Aging Migrants: A Joanna Briggs Institute Scoping Review
by Areej Al-Hamad, Yasin M. Yasin, Lujain Yasin and Grace Jung
Healthcare 2025, 13(8), 863; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13080863 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 787
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The aging migrant population faces unique healthcare challenges due to linguistic, cultural, and systemic barriers. Home healthcare services play a crucial role in supporting aging migrants, yet accessibility and effectiveness remain inconsistent across different healthcare systems. This scoping review examines the experiences [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The aging migrant population faces unique healthcare challenges due to linguistic, cultural, and systemic barriers. Home healthcare services play a crucial role in supporting aging migrants, yet accessibility and effectiveness remain inconsistent across different healthcare systems. This scoping review examines the experiences of aging migrants in home healthcare settings and explores the impact of these services on their health and well-being. This review aims to synthesize the existing literature on home healthcare experiences among aging migrants, highlighting the facilitators and barriers to effective service delivery and the implications for policy and practice. Method: A scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework. A comprehensive search was performed across multiple databases, including CINAHL, Medline, and Scopus, for articles published between 2000 and 2024. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria focusing on home healthcare experiences among aging migrants. Data extraction and thematic analysis were conducted to identify key themes. Results: The review identified 35 studies across various geographical regions, highlighting four key themes: (1) Cultural and Linguistic Accessibility, (2) The Role of Informal Caregiving, (3) Structural and Systemic Challenges, and (4) Health Outcomes and Identity Preservation. The findings indicate that language barriers, cultural stigma, and systemic exclusion significantly hinder equitable access to home healthcare. Informal caregiving by family members remains a primary support mechanism, though it places considerable strain on caregivers. The lack of culturally competent healthcare services and inadequate policy frameworks exacerbate disparities in care. Conclusions: This review highlights the critical need for systemic reforms to improve healthcare accessibility for aging migrants. Policies must prioritize cultural competence training for healthcare providers, expand multilingual healthcare services, and integrate informal caregiving into formal support structures. Investment in community-driven healthcare initiatives and targeted outreach programs can help bridge existing service gaps. While home healthcare plays a vital role in supporting aging migrants, structural inequities and cultural barriers continue to hinder equitable access. Addressing these disparities requires comprehensive policy interventions, enhanced provider training, and culturally inclusive care models. Future research should explore innovative frameworks that incorporate culturally responsive practices to ensure effective and equitable home healthcare for aging migrant populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Social Connections on Well-Being of Older Adults)
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