Higher Levels Of Social Isolation Research Articles

Effects of Distance-Learning Strategies in Dental Fixed Prosthodontics Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study on Preclinical Dental Students' Perspective.

COVID-19's high transmissibility led to gathering restrictions where dental schools experienced disruptions due to restrictions on attending in-person lectures and limitations placed on applied preclinical and clinical activities. Students not only had to rapidly switch to digital technology-based learning (TB-learning) modules but also experienced high levels of social isolation and anxiety around virus transmission. This study aims to evaluate the preclinical students' perception of switching TB-learning modules amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying which module parameters were associated with strong student outcomes. A web-based survey of 39 Likert scale questions was delivered to preclinical dental students (Western University) to evaluate students' perceptions concerning TB-learning, fear amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact on their preclinical training. A Spearman rank correlation coefficient was determined to estimate the relationship between 2 variables in isolation (P=.01). An ordinal regression analysis was performed on variables of interest to determine how module variables (typically within the instructor's control) influenced the student outcomes (P=.05). The response rate was 30% (n=39). TB-learning was considered vital (34/39, 87.2%) as the students' education improved (18/39, 46.2%). However, 53.8% (n=21) of students showed increased difficulties in retaining, visualizing, or understanding the materials using TB-learning, and 64.1% (n=25) found it more difficult to concentrate than in in-person classes. In total, 79.5% (n=31) of students showed different levels of agreement about feeling fatigued from TB-learning. Through Spearman ρ correlation analysis, the quality of questions in quizzes (ρ=0.514; P<.001), relevant handouts (ρ=0.729; P<.001), and high-quality audiovisuals (ρ=0.585; P<.001) were positively correlated with students responding that the modules were useful to preclinical training. Similarly, good organization (ρ=0.512; P<.001), high-quality questions in quizzes (ρ=0.431; P=.01), and relevant handouts (ρ=0.551; P<.001) were positively correlated with web-based classes as an effective way to learn. In total, 91.6% (n=36) of the students agreed that COVID-19 was a dangerous disease, whereas 53.8% (n=21) showed different levels of agreement that they were afraid to be infected personally, and 69.2% (n=27) feared passing COVID-19 along to family and friends. A total of 82.1% (n=32) of the students showed that COVID-19 impacted their overall learning process and had a negative impact on their practical preclinical training (31/39, 79.5%). The students found a difference between TB-learning and face-to-face learning methods, where the students perceived fatigue toward the web-based method with difficulty concentrating and visualizing the subject. Moreover, there was a consensus that COVID-19 itself affected the students' overall learning process and preclinical training. As dental schools continue implementing TB-learning into their curriculum, this investigation identifies the students' struggles with the paradigm shift. In an effort to improve TB-learning, this work highlights 4 variables (organization, quizzes, quality handouts, and quality audiovisuals) within the control of instructors that can help improve content deliverance, improving the students' experience.

Examining the Interrelationships Between Social Isolation and Loneliness and Their Correlates Among Older British Adults Before and During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Evidence From Four British Longitudinal Studies.

Unprecedented social restrictions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have provided a new lens for considering the interrelationship between social isolation and loneliness in later life. We present these interrelationships before and during the COVID-19 restrictions and investigate to what extent demographic, socioeconomic, and health factors associated with such experiences differed during the pandemic. We used data from four British longitudinal population-based studies (1946 NSHD, 1958 NCDS, 1970 BCS, and ELSA, N = 12,129). Rates, co-occurrences, and correlates of social isolation and loneliness are presented prior to and during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic and the interrelationships between these experiences are elucidated in both periods. Across the Four studies, prepandemic proportions reporting social isolation ranged from 15% to 54%, with higher rates in older ages (e.g., 32% of individuals aged 70-79 years and 54% of those more than 80). During the pandemic, the percentage of older people reporting both social isolation and loneliness and isolation only slightly increased. The interrelationship between social isolation and loneliness did not change. Associations between sociodemographic and health characteristics and social isolation and loneliness also remained consistent, with greater burden among those with higher economic precarity (females, nonhomeowners, unemployed, illness, and greater financial stress). There were already large inequalities in experiences of social isolation and loneliness and the pandemic had a small impact on worsening extent and inequalities in these. The concepts of loneliness and social isolation are not interchangeable, and clarity is needed in how they are conceptualized, operationalized, and interpreted. Given many older adults experience high levels of social isolation, there should be greater emphasis on reducing social isolation and the inequalities observed in who experiences greater isolation and loneliness.

Childhood maltreatment and midlife cognitive functioning: A longitudinal study of the roles of social support and social isolation.

Negative consequences of childhood maltreatment have been well-documented, including poorer executive functioning and nonverbal reasoning in midlife. However, not all adults with a history of childhood maltreatment manifest these outcomes, suggesting the presence of risk and protective factors. Based on growing empirical support for the importance of social variables in understanding neuropsychological development and functioning, we examined whether social support and social isolation mediate or moderate the effects of childhood maltreatment on cognitive functioning in midlife. In the context of a prospective cohort design study, individuals with documented histories of childhood maltreatment (ages 0-11 years) and demographically matched controls were followed up and interviewed in adulthood. Social support and isolation were assessed in young adulthood (Mage = 29), and cognitive functioning was assessed in midlife (Mage = 41). Structural equation modeling was used for mediation and linear regressions for moderation. Childhood maltreatment predicted higher levels of social isolation and lower levels of social support and cognitive functioning. Only social isolation mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and midlife cognitive functioning, whereas childhood maltreatment interacted with social support to predict Matrix Reasoning in midlife. Social support was protective for the control group but not for those maltreated. Social isolation and social support play different roles in understanding how childhood maltreatment impacts midlife cognitive functioning. Greater social isolation predicts greater deficits in cognitive functioning overall, whereas the protective effects of social support are limited to those without a documented history of childhood maltreatment. Clinical implications are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Social isolation, coping efficacy, and social well-being over time in patients with lung cancer.

500 Background: Coping efficacy and social isolation are each uniquely related to social well-being among those with lung cancer, yet little is known how they fluctuate in the context of one’s CT scan. For the present study, researchers tested the cross-sectional relationship between social isolation and social well-being, as well as the longitudinal relationship between monthly coping efficacy and social well-being in the months before one’s CT scan. Methods: 25 patients with lung cancer who were within 6 months of their upcoming CT scan were recruited. These participants were predominantly white (80%; Black: 12%), women (96%), and were between 43 and 78 years old ( M = 62.33, SD = 8.10). Baseline surveys asked about demographic information and social isolation; the repeated monthly surveys asked about coping efficacy and social well-being every 30 days until one’s scan. Results: During months when participants reported high coping efficacy, they also reported increases in social well-being (γ10 = 0.07, t = 2.44, p = .02). In addition, if the participant reported high levels of social isolation at baseline, they reported low levels of social well-being (γ01 = -0.63, t = -3.01, p = .007). Our model accounted for 10.53% of the within-person variance, and 26.65% of the between-person variance, in monthly social well-being. Conclusions: This longitudinal study was the first to look at how social isolation and coping efficacy relate to social well-being in a cancer-specific context. That is, among those with lung cancer who are approaching their upcoming CT scans. Future research should identify specific mechanisms to intervene that could help patients with lung cancer improve their social well-being as they approach their recurrent scans.

Association of Social Isolation With Hospitalization and Nursing Home Entry Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Social isolation is associated with adverse health outcomes, yet its implications for hospitalization and nursing home entry are not well understood. To evaluate whether higher levels of social isolation are associated with overnight hospitalization, skilled nursing facility stays, and nursing home placement among a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adults after adjusting for key health and social characteristics, including loneliness and depressive symptoms. This observational cohort study included 7 waves of longitudinal panel data from the Health and Retirement Study, with community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older interviewed between March 1, 2006, and June 30, 2018 (11 517 respondents; 21 294 person-years). Data were analyzed from May 25, 2022, to May 4, 2023. Social isolation was measured with a multidomain 6-item scale (range, 0-6, in which a higher score indicates greater isolation). Multivariate logistic regressions were performed on survey-weighted data to produce national estimates for the odds of self-reported hospitalization, skilled nursing facility stays, and nursing home placement over time. A total of 57% of this study's 11 517 participants were female, 43% were male, 8.4% were Black, 6.7% were Hispanic or Latino, 88.1% were White, 3.5% were other ("other" includes American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, and other race, which has no further breakdown available because this variable was obtained directly from the Health and Retirement Study), and 58.2% were aged 65 to 74 years. Approximately 15% of community-dwelling older adults in the US experienced social isolation. Higher social isolation scores were significantly associated with increased odds of nursing home placement (odds ratio, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.21-3.32) and skilled nursing facility stays (odds ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06-1.28) during 2 years. With each point increase in an individual's social isolation score, the estimated probability of nursing home placement or a skilled nursing facility stay increased by 0.5 and 0.4 percentage points, respectively, during 2 years. Higher levels of social isolation were not associated with 2-year hospitalization rates. This cohort study found that social isolation was a significant risk factor for nursing home use among older adults. Efforts to deter or delay nursing home entry should seek to enhance social contact at home or in community settings. The design and assessment of interventions that optimize the social connections of older adults have the potential to improve their health trajectories and outcomes.

Association of social isolation and cognitive performance: a longitudinal study using a four-wave nationwide survey

BackgroundThis study aimed to examine the bidirectional relationship between social isolation and cognitive performance among Chinese middle-aged and older adults.MethodsWe used four waves of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. A latent growth model (LGM) was applied to examine the association between social isolation and cognitive performance across different characteristics.ResultsIn the analysis, we ultimately included 9,367 participants after excluding respondents with missing key variables. Social isolation and cognitive performance showed significant differences across time. After adjusting for the confounders, there was a significant association between higher social isolation and poor cognitive performance (β = −1.38, p < 0.001), and higher levels of social isolation resulted in a more pronounced decline in cognition over time (β = 0.17, p < 0.001). Additionally, the path coefficient between the initial level of cognition at baseline and the slope of social isolation was − 0.07 (p < 0.001) and 0.01 (p = 0.021), respectively. For the correlation between slopes, our study found that females’ cognition scores were more susceptible to social isolation (β = − 2.78, p < 0.001). Similarly, regarding cognition scores, the influence of social isolation was greater among people with education below the primary level (β = − 2.89, p = 0.002) or a greater number of chronic diseases (β = − 2.56, p = 0.001).ConclusionOur findings support the bidirectional association between social isolation and cognition. Specifically, higher baseline social isolation and its rate of increase over time contribute to an intensification of cognitive decline at follow-up. Besides, poorer cognitive performance predicted higher social isolation.

Perceived social support mediates loneliness and social isolation: A cross-sectional study of Chinese older adults relocated for poverty relief.

This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of perceived social support in the relationship between loneliness and social isolation among Chinese older adults relocated for poverty relief. We surveyed 128 older migrants from four resettlement areas in Guizhou Province, southwest China. A general information questionnaire, the Lubben Social Network Scale-6, the Perceived Social Support Rating Scale, and the Single Item Loneliness Scale were used in our study. We also used the SPSS macro PROCESS to test a mediation model and the Bootstrap method to assess its significance. The prevalence of social isolation among older relocators was 85.9%; the mediation model showed that loneliness had a direct negative effect on social isolation (B=-1.25, p<0.01), and that perceived social support fully mediated this effect (-1.18), with a total effect of -1.25 (p<0.01) and a mediating proportion of 94.4%. Older relocators in poverty alleviation areas experienced high levels of social isolation. Perceived social support might buffer the negative impact of loneliness on social isolation. We suggest that interventions should be designed to enhance perceived social support and reduce social isolation among this vulnerable population.

Impact of Social Isolation, Physician-Patient Communication, and Self-perception on the Mental Health of Patients With Cancer and Cancer Survivors: National Survey Analysis.

Cancer is perceived as a life-threatening, fear-inducing, and stigmatized disease. Most patients with cancer and cancer survivors commonly experience social isolation, negative self-perception, and psychological distress. The heavy toll that cancer takes on patients continues even after treatment. It is common for many patients with cancer to feel uncertain about their future. Some undergo anxiety, loneliness, and fear of getting cancer again. This study examined the impact of social isolation, self-perception, and physician-patient communication on the mental health of patients with cancer and cancer survivors. The study also explored the impact of social isolation and physician-patient communication on self-perception. This retrospective study used restricted data from the 2021 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), which collected data from January 11, 2021, to August 20, 2021. We used the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method for data analysis. We checked for quadratic effects among all the paths connecting social isolation, poor physician-patient communication, mental health (measured using the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-4]), and negative self-perception. The model was controlled for confounding factors such as respondents' annual income, education level, and age. Bias-corrected and accelerated (BCA) bootstrap methods were used to estimate nonparametric CIs. Statistical significance was tested at 95% CI (2-tailed). We also conducted a multigroup analysis in which we created 2 groups. Group A consisted of newly diagnosed patients with cancer who were undergoing cancer treatment during the survey or had received cancer treatment within the last 12 months (receipt of cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic). Group B consisted of respondents who had received cancer treatment between 5 and 10 years previously (receipt of cancer treatment before the COVID-19 pandemic). The analysis indicated that social isolation had a quadratic effect on mental health, with higher levels of social isolation associated with worse mental health outcomes up to a certain point. Self-perception positively affected mental health, with higher self-perception associated with better mental health outcomes. In addition, physician-patient communication significantly indirectly affected mental health via self-perception. The findings of this study provide important insights into the factors that affect the mental health of patients with cancer. Our results suggest that social isolation, negative self-perception, and communication with care providers are significantly related to mental health in patients with cancer.

Exploring the trajectory and correlates of social isolation for veterans across a 6-month period during COVID-19.

Social isolation is a relevant problem for veterans who are at risk for disengaging from others as a function of transition stress from military life to civilian life, and given high rates of exposure to trauma and psychological distress. Few researchers have examined social isolation in veterans over time, particularly during COVID-19 that led to significant barriers and restrictions on social interactions. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to assess veterans' experience of social isolation and its mental health and social functioning correlates during a 6-month period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were 188 United States veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. A total of four assessments were administered: one every two months for a total duration of six months. The average number of completed assessments across all participants was 3.70 (SD = 0.75) with 159 participants (84.13%) completing all four timepoints. Surveys included measures of global mental health and social functioning as indicated by perceived emotional support, quality of marriage, and couple satisfaction. Multilevel modeling was used to assess 1) growth models to determine whether social isolation changed over time and the trajectory of that change (i.e., linear or quadratic); and 2) whether social isolation was related to both concurrent and prospective indicators of mental health and social functioning. All analyses included person mean centered and grand mean centered isolation to assess for within-and between-person effects. Veterans reported a quadratic trajectory in social isolation that decreased slightly and stabilized over time. Findings indicate that higher social isolation, at both the within- and between-person level, was negatively associated with concurrent emotional support, mental health, quality of marriage, and couple satisfaction. However, all prospective effects were nonsignificant at the within-person level. Results suggest although isolation may decrease over time, veterans report worse mental health and social functioning during times when they report higher levels of social isolation compared to themselves and others. Future work is needed to determine if interventions can be applied during those times to prevent or target those negative associations.

Co-Occurring Autism Spectrum and Borderline Personality Disorder: An Emerging Clinical Challenge Seeking Informed Interventions.

Co-Occurring Autism Spectrum and Borderline Personality Disorder: An Emerging Clinical Challenge Seeking Informed Interventions.

Relationship Between Depression, Social Isolation, and Well-Being Among Older Adults

ABSTRACT&#x0D; Objective &#x0D; The objective of this research was to determine the relationship between mental health, marital status, social isolation and loneliness among a sample of older adults at an old age care facility. &#x0D; Method &#x0D; Older adults (N = 26) above the age of 70 completed a survey for conditions of depression, isolation, social well-being, physical health, and marital status.&#x0D; Results &#x0D; There was no significant association found between poorer well-being and depression, p=.863. Marital status in older adults did not make a difference on levels of depression, p=.791. There was a significant association between higher levels of social isolation and higher loneliness and well-being, ps &lt; .001.&#x0D; Discussion &#x0D; These findings suggest that even older adults who are socially isolated in a community home may experience poorer mental health and physical health outcomes.

Support over Social Media among Socially Isolated Sexual and Gender Minority Youth in Rural U.S. during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Opportunities for Intervention Research.

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) rural adolescents are at risk for higher levels of social isolation, a well-known risk factor for depression and other negative health outcomes. We qualitatively examined how rural SGM youth seek emotional and informational support, which are protective factors for social isolation on social media (SM) regarding their SGM identity, and determined which SM platforms and tools are most effective in providing support. We conducted semistructured online interviews with rural SGM teens who screened positive for social isolation in spring 2020 and used a thematic analysis approach to analyze the data. Sixteen youths participated in interviews. Themes included seeking emotional support through SM groups and communities, seeking emotional support in designated online SGM spaces, using SM feeds for informational support, and disclosing SGM identity differentially across platforms. SM-based interventions could be leveraged to provide emotional and informational support for rural SGM youth across specific SM platforms and consider whether they are providing emotional or information support. Interventions focused on informational support may best be used on content-based platforms. Those designed to combat social isolation and connect marginalized SGM youths to similar others might benefit from community and forum-based platforms.

Social determinants of willingness to discuss end-of-life care with family and doctors among Korean American immigrants: Findings from a cross-sectional survey in Alabama.

Prior research reported lower engagement in end-of-life discussions and planning among Korean American (KA) immigrants; however, there is a dearth of research investigating factors associated with their willingness to discuss their end-of-life care wishes. This study aimed to examine the willingness to have end-of-life discussions with family and doctors among KA immigrants and social determinants of health (SDH) associated with willingness. A self-administered, cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 259 KA immigrants recruited from two counties in Alabama. Demographic, health, acculturation and SDH information were collected. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between SDH and willingness for end-of-life discussion with family and doctors, respectively. The majority of the sample was willing to discuss end-of-life care with family (94%) and doctors (82%). Those with hospice awareness were more likely to have willingness for discussion with family (OR=27.70, p < 0.001) and doctors (OR=5.01, p < 0.001). Those who could not see a doctor because of cost (OR=0.03, p < 0.01) and who had higher threats to interpersonal safety (OR=0.74, p < 0.05) were less likely to have willingness for discussion with family. Those who had more chronic conditions (OR=0.60, p < 0.05) and higher levels of social isolation (OR=0.77, p < 0.05) were less likely to have willingness for discussion with doctors. The SDH identified in this study should be considered in developing interventions to promote end-of-life discussions in the KA immigrant community. Future research should investigate the associations explored in this study in a larger and more representative sample.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Physician-Scientist Trainees and Faculty in the United States: A National Survey.

Physician-scientists have long been considered an endangered species, and their extended training pathway is vulnerable to disruptions. This study investigated the effects of COVID-19-related challenges on the personal lives, career activities, stress levels, and research productivity of physician-scientist trainees and faculty. The authors surveyed medical students (MS), graduate students (GS), residents/fellows (R/F), and faculty (F) using a tool distributed to 120 U.S. institutions with MD-PhD programs in April-June 2020. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare differences between groups. Machine learning was employed to select variables for multivariate logistic regression analyses aimed at identifying factors associated with stress and impaired productivity. The analyses included 1,929 respondents (MS: n = 679, 35%; GS: n = 676, 35%; R/F: n = 274, 14%; F: n = 300, 16%). All cohorts reported high levels of social isolation, stress from effects of the pandemic, and negative impacts on productivity. R/F and F respondents were more likely than MS and GS respondents to report financial difficulties due to COVID-19. R/F and F respondents with a dual degree expressed more impaired productivity compared with those without a dual degree. Multivariate regression analyses identified impacted research/scholarly activities, financial difficulties, and social isolation as predictors of stress and impaired productivity for both MS and GS cohorts. For both R/F and F cohorts, impacted personal life and research productivity were associated with stress, while dual-degree status, impacted research/scholarly activities, and impacted personal life were predictors of impaired productivity. More female than male respondents reported increased demands at home. This national survey of physician-scientist trainees and faculty found a high incidence of stress and impaired productivity related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the challenges faced and their consequences may improve efforts to support the physician-scientist workforce in the postpandemic period.

Effectiveness of telehealth versus standard care on health care utilization, health-related quality of life, and well-being in homebound populations: a systematic review protocol.

The objective of the review is to determine the effectiveness of telehealth versus in-person care on health care utilization, health-related quality of life, and well-being in homebound populations. Globally, an increasing number of people are becoming homebound. These individuals experience high levels of social isolation and deterioration of their well-being. Reports from homebound people and recent publications suggest that this cohort may benefit from accessing telehealth solutions from their homes to treat and prevent serious issues affecting their health and well-being. This review will synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of telehealth compared to standard care (in-person care) on health care utilization, health-related quality of life, and well-being in homebound populations. Studies including people living in community settings, whose daily life is physically limited to the boundary of their homes because of their ongoing health, energy, and psychosocial or socio-functional impairments will be considered for inclusion. This review will consider relevant, peer-reviewed primary experimental and quasi-experimental studies, with no limit on language or date. Databases to be searched include MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Scopus, LILACS, JBI Evidence Synthesis (hand-searched for further studies), and Web of Science. Two independent reviewers will be involved in study selection and data extraction. Eligible studies will be critically appraised for methodological quality using the relevant JBI critical appraisal checklists, and statistical meta-analysis will be done (where possible). Findings will be presented in narrative form. PROSPERO CRD42021289578.

The negative effects of the pandemic on human behavior; alienation and social anhedonia: the example of sport sciences students

Background and Study Aim. The social change brought about by the pandemic process all over the world has led to the restructuring of human behavior and daily life practices. This process has brought with it some social-psychological problems (such as alienation and social anhedonia) for social segments. For this reason, the aim of the research is to examine the alienation and social anhedonia levels of the students studying at the faculty of sport sciences during the pandemic process.&#x0D; Material and Methods. The sample of the research consists of students studying at the faculties of sport sciences of different universities in Turkey. A total of 423 students (271 males, 152 females) participated in the study. Due to the normal distribution of the data, the t-test, one of the parametric tests, was performed for paired groups, and the relationship between Social Anhedonia Scale and Alienation Scale sub-dimensions was tested with Pearson correlation analysis. Statistical analyzes were performed with the “Statistical Package for the Social Sciences” commercial software (SPSS for Windows, version 26.0, SPSS). The significance level was determined as p&lt;0.05 in the analyzes, and skewness and kurtosis values were considered for the normality analysis.&#x0D; Results. According to the results obtained, it can be said that the pandemic process negatively affected the social anhedonia and alienation levels of male students studying at the faculty of sport sciences compared to female students. Again, it is seen that the level of alienation of the students who do sports at the professional level is higher than the students who do sports at the amateur level. Similarly, it is seen that the students of the faculty of sport sciences dealing with team sports have higher levels of social isolation, which is one of the sub-dimensions of the alienation scale, compared to the students who are engaged in individual sports. Finally, there is a negative and low-level significant relationship between social anhedonia and alienation scale sub-dimensions (p&lt;0.05; r=-0.187; r=-0.164; r=-132).&#x0D; Conclusions. As a result, it can be said that the pandemic process has had similar negative effects on the students studying in the faculties of sport sciences, as in other social segments.

Improving Sexual and Gender Minority Cancer Care: Patient and Caregiver Perspectives From a Multi-Methods Pilot Study.

Improving Sexual and Gender Minority Cancer Care: Patient and Caregiver Perspectives From a Multi-Methods Pilot Study.

A link between social isolation during the coronavirus outbreak and social alignment in balcony parties.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is a growing need for assessing the psychological costs of social isolation (SI). We examine whether the balcony party during the first outbreak of the pandemic is associated with how individuals cope with SI as well as its causes and consequences during the COVID-19 outbreak. A total of 303 quarantined persons responded to a Web-based survey. We found that the effect of balcony parties on the psychological costs of SI is dependent on the self-reported levels of SI. Those who experienced high levels of causes of SI perceived the balcony parties as more beneficial in inducing positive affect and reducing negative affect in comparison to those who experienced low levels of causes of SI. The opposite pattern was observed when individuals were asked about their participation in these parties: individuals with high levels of consequences of SI experienced balcony parties as less beneficial than similar pre-outbreak gathering events, while individuals with low levels of consequences of SI showed an opposite pattern. Finally, for those with high levels of causes of SI and consequences of SI, balcony parties did not meet the expectation of creating feelings of communal solidarity. However, a discrepancy between high SI expectations and experience was not found for those with low SI. Our findings demonstrate that the balcony parties are beneficial in reducing the emotional cost of social isolation–but only for those who feel low levels of SI. The fact that individuals with high levels of SI expected more out of these parties suggests the need to develop interventions aimed at optimizing their expectations. As society enters a new period in which the costs of social distancing may be higher, our findings are valuable for understanding the psychological battle that individuals face while in social isolation.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Health-Related Quality of Life of Individuals Living in Scottish Communities with High Infection Rates

A mixed method sequential study explored the impact of COVID-19 by gaining an understanding of how the pandemic has impacted individual experiences as well as examining if these experiences existed across a wider population of residents. Previous research suggests that socio-economic factors have exacerbated the adverse impact of the pandemic, therefore this study sought to explore this, as well as attempt to identify what these implications could mean for COVID recovery. The study was carried out in two phases. In phase one, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with eight participants, transcribed verbatim and an interpretative phenomenological analysis was conducted. Five themes emerged: self-evaluation and reflection, gratitude, uncertainty, social isolation, and lack of faith in the government were identified. In phase two, standardised measures were administered to assess elicited themes via an online questionnaire. Correlation and multiple regression analyses showed a strong relationship between social isolation, gratitude, uncertainty and HRQoL, with social isolated being a significant predictor. Despite the limitation of a low variance, evidence of a strong correlation amongst disabled and low-income participants experiencing higher levels of social isolation was found. Uncertainty and levels of gratitude were also found to be correlated with social isolation and HRQoL. Therefore, addressing social isolation should be a priority for mental health services and should influence any future restrictions that may be implemented in a ‘third wave’ or future pandemic.

The Intersection of Cancer, Geriatrics, and Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Approach Across the Cancer Continuum

Despite the majority of cancer survivors being older adults, the connection between oncology, geriatrics, and gerontology remains unexplored. Our symposium will provide insights across the cancer continuum from prevention through survivorship as well as a comprehensive view of the connection between gerontological and geriatric factors in oncology. Specifically, we will discuss the biopsychosocial and behavioral factors among older adults with cancer, their effect on health outcomes, and how researchers and clinicians can intervene to improve health outcomes. The first abstract by Dr. Cadet found that despite a lack of knowledge of options and harms of cancer screening among older adults with low health literacy, there was a desire to understand more to better their health. The second abstract by Dr. Bhattacharyya found that older patients with cancer experience high levels of social isolation, loneliness, and fear that are heightened by individual and technology-based barriers to telehealth. The third abstract by Dr. Carroll found that breast cancer survivors with good sleep quality had less accelerated biological aging than those with sleep problems. The fourth abstract by Dr. Krok-Schoen utilized one of the largest datasets of older women, the Women’s Health Initiative, and found multiple gerontological and geriatric factors associated with physical activity among older female cancer survivors. Closing this symposium is Dr. Guida, a Program Director at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), who will profile the current research efforts, programmatic priorities, and current funding in aging and cancer. These multidisciplinary researchers and clinicians will provide a comprehensive symposium regarding geriatric oncology.