Loneliness and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study Among Dutch Older Adults

Abstract Objectives With the spread of COVID-19, the Netherlands implemented a policy to keep citizens physically distanced. We hypothesize that consequent reduction in the frequency of social contacts, personal losses, and the experience of general threats in society reduced well-being. Methods Data were collected from 1,679 Dutch community-dwelling participants aged 65–102 years comprising a longitudinal online panel. Social and emotional loneliness and mental health were measured in May 2020, that is, 2 months after the implementation of the measures, and earlier in October and November 201... Mehr ...

Verfasser: van Tilburg, Theo G
Steinmetz, Stephanie
Stolte, Elske
van der Roest, Henriëtte
de Vries, Daniel H
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2020
Reihe/Periodikum: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B ; volume 76, issue 7, page e249-e255 ; ISSN 1079-5014 1758-5368
Verlag/Hrsg.: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Schlagwörter: Geriatrics and Gerontology / Gerontology / Clinical Psychology / Social Psychology
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-26661863
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaa111

Abstract Objectives With the spread of COVID-19, the Netherlands implemented a policy to keep citizens physically distanced. We hypothesize that consequent reduction in the frequency of social contacts, personal losses, and the experience of general threats in society reduced well-being. Methods Data were collected from 1,679 Dutch community-dwelling participants aged 65–102 years comprising a longitudinal online panel. Social and emotional loneliness and mental health were measured in May 2020, that is, 2 months after the implementation of the measures, and earlier in October and November 2019. Results In this pandemic, the loneliness of older people increased, but mental health remained roughly stable. The policy measures for physical distancing did not cause much social isolation but personal losses, worries about the pandemic, and a decline in trust in societal institutions were associated with increased mental health problems and especially emotional loneliness. Discussion The consequences of long-term social isolation and well-being must be closely monitored.