Older adults’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: The association with social networks

Abstract

This study examined the impact of different social networks on the mental health outcomes of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were 25,534 older adults from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The study identified five social network profiles (family, friends, spouse, diverse, others) and a “no network” group. Findings showed that, compared to the no network profile, those with spouse and family profiles are more protected against depression and loneliness during the COVID-19. In turn, individuals within friends and diverse profiles had a similar likelihood of feeling depressed, anxious, and lonely. Friends and diverse profiles had higher likelihood of suffering more anxious or lonelier than before the COVID-19 compared to the no network profile. The study further discusses possible explanations about why these profiles, which typically served as mental health protectors, were significantly affected by the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.