COVID-19: Virtual contact increased loneliness among some older people

Phone calls, text messages and online video chats during the COVID-19 pandemic weren’t enough to fill the void left by face-to-face interactions for older people.

In fact, loneliness increased in the US, while mental well-being declined in the UK, among those aged over 60 years old, according to researchers at Lancaster University.

The findings add to evidence that coronavirus containment measures have increased the risk for social isolation and loneliness. The researchers expected to uncover a preference for virtual communication over none at all, but the study, published in Frontiers in Sociology, found the opposite.

“Despite rapid digitisation in the UK and elsewhere, virtual means of social interaction cannot replace in-person contact in supporting older people’s mental health,” says Dr Yang Hu. “This has to do with a complex set of factors, such as digital access, device affordance, tech know-how, and potential digital stress among the ageing population.”

These themes - and others - were discussed by the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Longevity, which found a need for stronger and more resilient communities that foster greater participation and include people of all ages.

While social isolation and loneliness are major risk factors for poor physical and mental health, it’s important to remember that within the over-60s category, there is a great variation among people and attitudes, the Forum council found.

It also drew a distinction between the concept of social isolation and that of loneliness, pointing out that “someone who is socially isolated may not necessarily feel lonely”.

“Older adults are not a homogenous group,” says Sofiat Akinola, Project Lead on the Shaping the Future of Health and Healthcare Platform at the World Economic Forum.

“So when we think of ways to address or reduce the risk of social isolation and loneliness among older adults, we must employ diverse interventions to have an inclusive response. We must strive for solutions that empower and not further alienate older adults.”

There’s a need to address these “looming” mental health issues among older adults, the researchers at Lancaster University said.

Their article underscores the need for policy development. It suggests that public health policymakers and practitioners should pre-empt and mitigate the potential unintended implications of household-centred pandemic responses for mental well-being.

“Beyond the context of the pandemic, the findings also indicate the need to enable strong inter-household ties to bolster public mental health in the long run,” the research said.