Loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparison between Older and Younger People
| Autor: | Yoshihiko Kadoya, Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Gerontology
comparative analysis social isolation Health Toxicology and Mutagenesis media_common.quotation_subject socio-demographic and psychological factors Psychological intervention COVID-19 pandemic Article 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine logit regression Japan Pandemic medicine Humans 030212 general & internal medicine older and younger people Social isolation Pandemics media_common Aged SARS-CoV-2 Loneliness Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health COVID-19 Mental health Mental Health Feeling Medicine Household income Marital status medicine.symptom Psychology 030217 neurology & neurosurgery |
| Zdroj: | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Volume 18 Issue 15 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 18, Iss 7871, p 7871 (2021) |
| ISSN: | 1660-4601 |
| Popis: | 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. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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