ABSTRACT
Recent research has shown the mental health consequence of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, but longitudinal data are relatively scarce. It is unclear whether the pattern of isolation and elevated stress seen at the beginning of the pandemic persists over time. This study evaluates change in social interaction over six months and its mental health impact among older adults. We drew data from a panel study with six repeated assessments of social interaction and mental health conducted monthly May through October 2020. The sample included a total of 380 White, Black and Hispanic participants aged 50 and over, of whom 33% had low income, who residing in fourteen U.S. states with active stay-at-home orders in May 2020. The analysis examined how change in living arrangement, in-person interaction outside the household, quality of relationship with family and friends, and perceived social support affected trajectories of isolation stress, COVID worry and sadness. While their living arrangements and relationship quality remained stable, older adults experienced fluctuations in perceived social support and increases in in-person conversations outside the household. Living with a spouse/partner stabilized isolation stress and COVID worry over time. Individuals with better relationship quality with friends became happier over time. Changes in social support were associated with greater fluctuations in isolation stress and COVID worry. During the pandemic, social interactions are protective and lack of stability in feeling supported makes older adults vulnerable to stress. Efforts should focus on (re)building and maintaining companionship and support to mitigate the pandemic's negative impact.
ABSTRACT
This study elucidates the changes in family caregiving networks during the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications on caregiver well-being. Eighty-two caregivers of individuals diagnosed with dementia within the past 2 years participated in this study to test a post-diagnosis intervention that provides a community care planning service that connects caregivers directly to community-based services. Caregivers completed telephone surveys at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-up. The number of network members engaging in malfeasant (negative) social interactions increased by 0.798 every 3 months (p=0.002). Members engaging in uplifting interactions decreased, especially among intervention participants, by 1.93 every 3 months (p=0.047);urban caregivers reported greater decrease than rural (p=0.006). Participants in intervention group showed a trend for greater decrease in COVID-19 related distress (10-point scale) over time compared to control group (p=0.059);those with more members engaging in uplifting interactions reported lower distress (p=0.017) regardless of intervention status, network size, and rurality.
ABSTRACT
In 2008, we launched Project RAMA (Risk Assessments for Mexican Americans) in Houston, Texas, seeking to understand how multigenerational Mexican immigrant families communicate about familial risk for complex disease. Several lessons were learned. First, our community advisory committee endorsed research goals. Second, we listened to the community with regards to immigration concerns and structural racism. Finally, in the summer and fall of 2008, Hurricane Ike struck the region. Because our team provided support and resources to families in need, we had a higher participation rate post-disaster. Pausing recruitment and postponing assessments led us to unexpectedly discover a long-term intervention effect that was not originally hypothesized. These lessons guide a new initiative focused on Hispanic immigrant families affected by rheumatoid arthritis in Washington DC. We discuss how we address challenges in the on-going project during the Covid pandemic, including recruiting through embedded community clinics and integrating community needs into study design.