Factors associated with emotional and social loneliness among Latin American family care partners of people with dementia and other long‐term conditions during Covid‐19

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundCOVID‐19‐related restrictions led to an increase in loneliness and social isolation Historically, dementia care partners present worse mental health and higher burden than non‐dementia care partners. We aimed to analyse the during‐COVID‐19 loneliness levels of Latin American care partners and explore differences between care partners of people with dementia compared to those of people with other enduring health conditions.MethodThis was a sub‐study of the ‘Coping with Loneliness and Isolation during COVID‐19’ (CLIC) Study, an international self‐report survey of 5236 care partners during the COVID‐19 pandemic. People living at home in one of three Latin American countries: Mexico, Chile, Brazil and others. We analysed data from 241 care partners living in Latin American countries who responded to the CLIC Study survey. We used linear regression models to identify factors associated with loneliness and compared care partners of people living with dementia with care partners with other chronic deseases.ResultCompared to pre‐pandemic, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of self‐reported total loneliness reported by the care partners. The levels of social and emotional loneliness between care partners of people with dementia vs other conditions did not differ. Low education and low perception of mental health was associated with emotional and social loneliness during the COVID‐19 pandemic.Conclusionloneliness during the pandemic was similar across care partners. Some groups are at special risk for higher levels of loneliness and should be considered when planning public health interventions for major societal disruptions, such as a pandemic, in the future.