Abstract
The policies for containing the spread of the SARS-CoV2 virus include a number of measures aimed at reducing physical contacts. In this paper, we explore the potential impact of such containment measures on social relations of both young adults and the elderly in Italy. We propose two ego-centered network definitions accounting for physical distance in light of the COVID-19 containment measures: the easy-to-reach network, that represents an accessible source of support that can be activate in case of new lockdown; the accustomed-to-reach network, which includes proximity and habit to meet in person. The approach used for constructing personal (ego-centered) networks on data from the most recent release of Families and Social Subject survey allows us to bring to the foreground people exposed to relational vulnerability. The analysis of the most vulnerable individuals by age, gender, and place of residence reveals that living alone is often associated with a condition of relational vulnerability for both the elderly and for young adults.
Highlights
The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 virus caused, as of July 7, 2021, four million deaths worldwide (WHO, 2021)
The loss of physical contact may have translated into a loss of support for those who were used to receiving instrumental support through a physical presence, such as families who counted on grandparents for the care of children or elders who required daily care
We combine knowledge of the containment measures, the results provided by the above-mentioned studies, and the most recent data collected on personal networks through large-scale official surveys with the aim of elaborating new perspectives on the characteristics of personal support networks
Summary
The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 virus caused, as of July 7, 2021, four million deaths worldwide (WHO, 2021). The collected data—available since the end of December 2020—allow the study of different domains of the older adults’ lives during the pandemic, including social networks and changes in personal contacts with family and friends, help given and received, and personal care given and received These ad hoc surveys designed during the pandemic are aimed at quickly providing information on number of contacts and how social relations have changed throughout the pandemic. We combine knowledge of the containment measures, the results provided by the above-mentioned studies, and the most recent data collected on personal networks through large-scale official surveys with the aim of elaborating new perspectives on the characteristics of personal support networks These perspectives are mainly based on a novel use of relational information collected in the pre-pandemic period. This is not surprising, considering the well-known gender differences
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