Effects of Situational Loneliness on Mental Health and Sleep Health Outcomes among White Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Prev Sci. 2025 Jan;26(1):31-42. doi: 10.1007/s11121-024-01760-0. Epub 2024 Dec 12.

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the cross-sectional and 2-year prospective associations between situational loneliness and health outcomes in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Data were collected using an online survey that evaluated behaviors (e.g., socialization) and health outcomes at two points (May-June 2020 and October-November 2022) during the pandemic. Logistic regression was used to analyze the cross-sectional associations between situational loneliness and health outcomes (i.e., depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and sleep health) while linear regression was used to examine the prospective associations.

Results: In a sample of 428 older adults (age 65 +), situational loneliness was associated with short-term, but not long-term, increases in depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and problems with sleep.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that the older adult population demonstrates resilience in the face of short-term increases in loneliness. Thus, promoting resilience may be a promising strategy for mitigating the negative consequences of situational loneliness.

Keywords: Anxiety symptoms; Depressive symptoms; Older adults; Short-term loneliness; Situational loneliness; Sleep health.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anxiety / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / psychology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Loneliness* / psychology
  • Male
  • Mental Health*
  • Pandemics
  • Prospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Sleep*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires