ArticleThe journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences2022
Associations Between Changes in Loneliness and Social Connections, and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Women's Health Initiative.
Article in The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Guideline
- PTSD symptoms, loneliness, and amygdala volumes during pandemic social distancing associated with risk of suicidal ideation in trauma survivors with and without pre-pandemic PTSD.Journal of affective disorders reports · 2026Article
- Perceived Supports and Barriers to Optimal Nutrition and Physical Activity in a Cohort of Vermont Older Adults: A Convergent Parallel Mixed-Methods Study.Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society · 2026Article
- The impact of exercise on women's health: A bibliometric and visualization analysis (2010-2024).Medicine · 2025Article
- Pre-Pandemic Physical Activity and Early COVID-19 Pandemic Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults.Journal of integrative and complementary medicine · 2025Article
- Four-Year Loneliness Trajectory and Its Predictors in Older Adults.The Gerontologist · 2025Article
- Institutional, neighborhood, and life stressors on loneliness among older adults.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Investigating Biological Pathways Underpinning the Longitudinal Association Between Loneliness and Cognitive Impairment.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2023Article
- Changes in Fall Rates From Before to During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From the Prospective AMBROSIA Study.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2023Article
- What We've Learned From the Women's Health Initiative Participants About Their COVID-19 Experience.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2022Article
- Association of Global Cognitive Function With Psychological Distress and Adherence to Public Health Recommendations During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: The Women's Health Initiative.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
17 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundOlder women have faced significant disruptions in social connections during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Whether loneliness increased or whether a change in loneliness from pre- to intrapandemic period was associated with mental health during the pandemic is unknown.
methodsOlder women (n = 27 479; mean age 83.2 [SD: 5.4] years) completed surveys in mid-2020, including questions about loneliness, living arrangements, changes in social connections, and mental health. Loneliness was also previously assessed in 2014-2016. We examined whether loneliness changed from the pre- to intrapandemic period and explored factors associated with this change. In multivariable models, we investigated the association of changes in loneliness and social connections with mental health.
resultsLoneliness increased from pre- to intrapandemic levels. Factors associated with worsening loneliness included older age, experiencing stressful life events, bereavement, histories of vascular disease and depression, and social connection disruptions. Factors associated with a decrease in loneliness included identifying as Black, engaging in more frequent physical activity, being optimistic, and having a higher purpose in life. A 3-point increase in loneliness scores was associated with higher perceived stress, higher depressive, and higher anxiety symptoms. Social connection disruptions showed modest or no associations with mental health.
conclusionsLoneliness increased during the pandemic in older women and was associated with higher stress, depressive, and anxiety symptoms. Our findings point to opportunities for interventions targeting lifestyle behaviors, well-being, disrupted social connections, and paying closer attention to those with specific medical and mental health histories that may reduce loneliness and improve mental health.
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