International Journal of

ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES

EISSN: 2313-3724, Print ISSN: 2313-626X

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 Volume 10, Issue 9 (September 2023), Pages: 186-195

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 Original Research Paper

Social isolation and loneliness in older adults in the context of COVID-19

 Author(s): 

 Lenka Lachytová *, Vitalii Horovenko

 Affiliation(s):

 Department of Social Studies Slovakia, Fakulty of Public Administration, Pavol Jozef Šafárik Univerzity, Košice, Slovakia

  Full Text - PDF          XML

 * Corresponding Author. 

  Corresponding author's ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7736-7212

 Digital Object Identifier: 

 https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2023.09.021

 Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic, accompanied by stringent social restrictions, wrought profound changes across various facets of human existence. Unprecedented measures, such as compulsory quarantines, curfews, and restrictions on mobility and social interactions, were implemented to mitigate infection rates. This paper delves into the repercussions of isolation, with a specific focus on its impact on the elderly population—an exceptionally vulnerable demographic. The primary objective of this study is to discern the ramifications of pandemic-induced isolation on the mental and physical well-being of senior citizens. This contribution underscores the comparative analysis of three prior studies that have illuminated the nexus between pandemic-induced isolation and heightened levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. A notable strength of this research lies in its comprehensive dataset, derived from comparisons with extant scientific literature and the utilization of diverse scientific methodologies. The preceding investigations centered on the Austrian populace, juxtaposing the effects of loneliness among senior citizens before and during the pandemic. However, these studies were constrained by their inability to explore the enduring consequences of isolation and loneliness post-repeal of anti-pandemic measures, and their incapacity to ascertain its correlation with senior citizens' mortality, particularly those residing in solitary circumstances. This article represents a partial outcome of the Project VEGA 1/0595/21-public administration interventions at the time of COVID-19 and their impact on the quality of life of citizens of selected communities.

 © 2023 The Authors. Published by IASE.

 This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

 Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, Isolation, Senior citizens, Mental health, Physical health, Loneliness, Anxiety

 Article History: Received 20 March 2023, Received in revised form 26 July 2023, Accepted 7 September 2023

 Acknowledgment 

No Acknowledgment.

 Compliance with ethical standards

 Conflict of interest: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

 Citation:

 Lachytová L and Horovenko V (2023). Social isolation and loneliness in older adults in the context of COVID-19. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 10(9): 186-195

 Permanent Link to this page

 Figures

 Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 

 Tables

 Table 1 Table 2 Table 3

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