Impact Of Social Isolation Research Articles

Association between perceived quality of care and social isolation among cancer survivors in the US.

e23182 Background: Though social isolation has been linked to poorer survival outcomes among cancer survivors, studies assessing its association with perceived quality of care have not been explored in this population. We examined the association between perceived quality of care and self-reported social isolation among cancer survivors. Methods: Cross-sectional analyses were conducted using the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) data collected from a nationally representative population of US adults from March to November 2022. Social isolation was assessed with the self-reported Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Social Isolation Short Form. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the association between perceived quality of care and self-reported social isolation among cancer survivors. Other factors associated with social isolation in this population were also assessed. Results: In the adjusted analyses, social isolation scores were 6.3 points (95% CI: 2.30–10.28) higher among cancer survivors who reported fair/poor quality health care relative to those that reported excellent/very good/good quality of care. When compared to Non-Hispanic White cancer survivors, Non-Hispanic Blacks (β: –2.96; 95% CI: –5.35– –0.57) and Hispanic survivors (β: –4.06; 95% CI: –7.71– –0.40) had lower social isolation scores. Cancer survivors who were married or cohabiting had 3.3 points (95% CI: –6.01– –0.55) lower social isolation scores relative to single cancer survivors. Cancer survivors with high school or less education had lower isolation scores (β: –2.03; 95% CI: –4.00– –0.07) than those with some college education or more and those with an income of $50,000 or higher reported lower isolation scores (β: –2.19; 95% CI: –4.17– –0.21) than their counterparts earning less than $50,000. Furthermore, those with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety had 5.2 points (95%: 3.23–7.21) higher social isolation scores than cancer survivors without depression/anxiety. Conclusions: Fair or poor quality of care was associated with higher social isolation among cancer survivors. Additionally, race/ethnicity, marital status, level of education, income, and depression/anxiety were correlated with social isolation. To reduce the impact of social isolation and improve the health outcomes of cancer survivors, healthcare providers need to prioritize delivering holistic care, promote social connectivity and incorporate mental health screening and referrals into standard care practices.

The impact of social isolation on functional disability in older people: A multi-cohort study

ObjectivesWe assessed the relationship between social isolation and functional disability in older people. DesignComparison of longitudinal cohort studies. Setting and participantsHarmonised longitudinal datasets from the United States, England, European countries, Japan, Korea, China and Hong Kong. MethodsSocial isolation was operationalised as a composite score with five domains, such as marital status, living alone, and social contact with others. Functional disability was defined as whether the cohort participant had any difficulty in activities of daily living (ADL). In each dataset, we used robust Poisson regression models to obtain the relative risks (RRs) and the corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CI). We combined the RRs to synthesize a pooled estimate using meta-analysis with random-effects models. ResultsOverall, the social isolation composite score was not associated with ADL disability (pooled RR = 1.05, 95 % CI [0.97–1.14], n = 40,119). Subgroup analysis suggested social isolation composite score was associated with ADL disability in Asian regions (pooled RR = 1.09, 95 % CI [1.02, 1.16], but not in Western regions (pooled RR = 1.01, 95 % CI [0.96, 1.07]). The relationships between different domains of social isolation and ADL disability were heterogeneous, except that no participation in any social clubs or religious groups was consistently associated with ADL disability (pooled RR = 1.12, 95 % CI [1.04, 1.21]). ConclusionTargeting social isolation may prevent decline in functional abilities in older adults, providing an avenue to active and healthy ageing. Nonetheless, interventions tackling social isolation should tailor to the unique cultural and social underpinnings. A limitation of the study is that reverse causality could not be ruled out definitively.

Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults: The Moderating Effect of Resilience.

Social isolation has been recognized as a social problem with negative health consequences. Using data from 3 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, this study aimed to examine the long-term impact of social isolation on loneliness and depressive symptoms and to explore the moderating effect of resilience. This study comprised 3,681 U.S. adults aged 60 and older at the baseline wave. Social isolation index was constructed using 5 indicators, including not married or cohabitating with a partner, no social participation, and less than monthly contacts with children, family members, or friends. Loneliness was measured by the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale and depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale. The moderator of resilience was assessed by the simplified resilience score. Latent growth curve models with robust standard errors were estimated. The results of latent growth curvemodels showed that social isolation was significantly associated with more initial loneliness and depressive symptoms. However, social isolation was associated with a slower increasing rate of loneliness, but no significant relationship with the change rate of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, resilience significantly buffered the negative effect of social isolation on the initial level of depressive symptoms. The findings underscore the importance of enacting strategies and interventions targeting resilience to address social isolation and its negative consequences among older adults.

Impact of social isolation on corticosterone release and recovery after stroke in aged rats: A behavioral and biochemical analysis

Social isolation (SI) after stroke reduces recovery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of SI on corticosterone release and recovery after stroke in aged rats. A total of 64 male Wistar rats (aged 24 months) were used in the present study. All rats were housed in pairs for two weeks. After two weeks, rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups: (1) rats underwent sham surgery and kept socially isolated (control/social isolated (CO/SI) group); (2) rats underwent sham surgery and kept pair housed (control/pair housed (CO/PH) group); (3) rats underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgery and kept socially isolated (stroke/isolated (ST/SI) group); (4) rats underwent MCAO surgery and kept pair housed (stroke/pair housed (ST/PH)) group. Behaviors were assessed using the adhesive removal test, rotarod test and social interaction test at 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st days after stroke. Serum biochemical analysis was also performed on the behavioral testing days. Results showed THAT serum corticosterone and MDA levels in CO/PH group were significantly lower than CO/SI group. Serum BDNF levels in CO/PH group was significantly higher than CO/SI group. Serum corticosterone and MDA levels in ST/PH group were lower than ST/SI group. In ST/PH group, serum Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and BDNF levels were significantly higher than ST/SI group. Biochemical analysis of certain regions of the brain (hippocampus, striatum and cerebral cortex) was performed on 21st day after stroke. In the hippocampus of CO/PH group, BDNF and TAC levels were significantly higher than CO/SI group. The hippocampal MDA level of CO/PH group were significantly lower than CO/SI group. BDNF and TAC levels in the hippocampus, striatum and cerebral cortex of ST/PH group were significantly higher and MDA level was significantly lower as compared with ST/SI group. Both ischemic groups showed sensorimotor recovery over a 21-day period, but recovery of ST/PH group was significantly greater than ST/SI group. Total social interaction time in ST/PH group was significantly longer than ST/SI group. Based on the results of this study, social interaction after stroke enhances histologic and sensorimotor recovery through reduction of HPA activity and corticosterone release, leading to increased TAC and BDNF levels.

Review of the Health of the Elderly on the Impact of Social Isolation and Loneliness: Focusing on the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic

Review of the Health of the Elderly on the Impact of Social Isolation and Loneliness: Focusing on the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic

Humanism during the COVID-19 pandemic: video call as a strategy to satisfy the communication needs of Intensive Care Unit patients and their family members.

Background: Patients affected by the COVID-19 pandemic required physical/social isolation due to the transmissibility of SARs CoV-2; those hospitalized in healthcare facilities often suffered loneliness due to a complete separation from their loved ones through visitor restrictions.(1) Human contact and movement were restricted to contain the spread of disease. When this kind of restriction must be employed, the “Guidance for Managing Ethical Issues in Infectious Disease Outbreaks”, states that it is necessary to provide people with “effective alternative communication strategies”. (2) Methods: This is an observational descriptive study that uses qualitative variables to analyze information obtained by virtual focus groups consisting of either medical professionals or family members of hospitalized patients in the ICU of the Eugenio Espejo Hospital (EEH) in Quito, Ecuador. Each video call allowed us to assess anonymous opinions concerning communication methods utilized during the delivery of daily clinical updates in the ICU. By focusing on a patient-and family-centered model, this study aims to minimize the impact of social isolation in hospitalized patients through the implementation of regular doctor-led video conference calls with family members, as well as video calls between the patient and family members when feasible.(1) Results: This study evaluates the increased satisfaction of family members and medical professionals with the implementation of video calls when compared to traditional telephone calls. A contrast between the time before implementing the telehealth team and the time afterward was observed in at least five positive characteristics: 1) the general telehealth experience, 2) the clarity of the messages, 3) the quality of care, 4) the sense of comfort, and 5) the improvement of communication. Conclusions: There was a positive effect on communication quality for both family members and medical professionals, increasing their satisfaction in terms of finding new methods to reduce the social isolation enforced by the current pandemic. Nevertheless, the future role of virtual communication remains undefined as we return to individualized face-to-face meetings.

Relationships between trace elements and cognitive and depressive behaviors in sprague dawley and wistar albino rats.

Introduction: This study investigates the effects of social isolation on mental health and cognitive functions in Sprague Dawley (SD) and Wistar Albino (WIS) rat strains, prompted by the heightened awareness of such impacts amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to explore the impact of social isolation on memory, learning, and behavioral changes in middle-aged SD and WIS rat strains and to investigate cortical trace element levels, seeking potential correlations between these levels and the observed behavioral responses to social isolation. Methods: Four groups of 14-month-old male rats were established: control and isolated SDs and WIS rats (CONT-SD, ISO-SD, CONT-WIS, ISO-WIS). Morris Water Maze and Porsolt Forced Swimming tests were conducted for behavioral assessment. Following behavioral tests, rats were sacrificed under general anesthesia, and cortices were isolated for analysis of macro and trace element levels (ICP/MS). Results: In behavioral tests, CONT-SD rats exhibited superior performance in the Morris Water Maze test compared to CONT-WIS rats, but displayed increased depressive behaviors following social isolation, as evident in the Porsolt Forced Swimming test (p < 0.05). ISO-SD rats showed elevated levels of Co and Cu, along with reduced levels of Cs and As, compared to ISO-WIS rats. Moreover, isolation resulted in decreased Cu and Mo levels but increased Rb levels in WIS rats. Comparison of trace element levels in naïve groups from different strains revealed lower Zn levels in the WIS group compared to SD rats. Discussion: The findings suggest that the SD strain learns faster, but is more susceptible to depression after isolation compared to the WIS strain. Increased Co and Cu levels in ISO-SD align with previous findings, indicating potential trace element involvement in stress responses. Understanding these mechanisms could pave the way for preventive treatment strategies or therapeutic targets against the consequences of stressors, contributing to research and measures promoting a balanced diet to mitigate neurobehavioral abnormalities associated with social isolation in the future.

Social isolation and identity processing styles among students living in orphanages

The aim of the study was to understand the relationship between Social Isolation and Identity Processing Styles among students living in Orphanages. The study also aimed to understand relationship between Social Isolation and various Identity Processing Style, including Normative style, Diffuse-avoidant style and Informational Style. The study also helped to understand the impact of Social Isolation on Identity Processing Style among students living in Orphanages. A total of 100 students under the age of 10-26 were a part of the study and the data was collected through pen and paper method including the questionnaire for Social Isolation by Victor G.Cacioppo and William Patrick (2002), Identity Processing Style by Michael D. Berzonsky (2013). Informed consent was included while collecting the data and demographic details of the participants were taken. The results of the study showed that there was a relationship between Social Isolation and Identity Processing among students residing in Orphanages. The study also aimed to understand relationship between Social Isolation and various Identity Processing Style, including Normative style, Diffuse-avoidant style and Informational Style and it was found out that there was a positive relationship between Social Isolation and various Identity Styles among Students residing in Orphanages. The study also wanted to see the impact of Social Isolation on Identity Processing style among students residing in Orphanages and it was found that there is a significant impact of Social Isolation and Identity Processing style among students living in Orphanage. Which is helpful in understanding that Interventions and support systems target at resolving social isolation and foster healthy identity development among students living in orphanages

Impact of the Pandemic Time on the Mental Health of People with Dementia and Their Family Caregivers in Brazil and Chile: One-Year Follow-Up.

Previous studies reported the negative impact of social isolation on mental health in people with dementia (PwD) and their caregivers, butlongitudinal studies seem scarcer. To describe a one-year follow-up impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on PwD and their caregivers in both Brazil and Chile. This study analyzed the impact of the pandemic on the psychological and physical health of PwD and their family caregivers after one year of follow-up in three outpatient clinics in Brazil (n = 68) and Chile (n = 61). In both countries, PwD reduced their functional capacity after one year of follow-up (p = 0.017 and p = 0.009; respectively) and caregivers reported worse physical and mental health (p = 0.028 and p = 0.039). Only in Chile, caregivers reported more sadness associated with care (p = 0.001), and reduced time sleeping (p = 0.07). In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have had a long-lasting impact on PwD and their caregivers. However, it is essential to acknowledge that the inherent progression of dementia itself may also influence changes observed over a year.

Exploring the association between social isolation and utilization of primary health services by older adults: evidence from China.

This study aims to investigate the impact of social isolation on the utilization of primary health services among older adults in China. Data from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) conducted in 2018 were utilized. A binary logistic regression model was established, and propensity score matching (PSM) was employed for analysis. The results of the binary logistic regression showed that family isolation within social isolation had a significant negative impact on the utilization of primary health services for older adults. In contrast, there was no significant association between friend isolation, community isolation, and the utilization of primary health services. Furthermore, the PSM results, using three matching methods (nearest neighbor matching, radius matching, and kernel matching), confirmed that family isolation significantly reduced older adults' utilization of primary health services, consistent with the baseline regression findings. Reducing the occurrence of family isolation among older adults may be a cost-effective intervention measure. Efforts should be directed toward improving family support for older adults, promoting the utilization of primary health services, and strengthening disease prevention.

Isolation and loneliness as pathways to heavy drinking early in the pandemic.

social isolation and forced quarantines during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with a steep and persistent rise in alcohol consumption among US adults. While the association between loneliness and drinking is well established, less is known about the impact of social isolation (a known correlate of loneliness) and the interplay between these two variables in relation to drinking. we recruited US adults using the MTurk platform for an online survey in early April 2020. The initial survey was followed up with a second wave, 30days later in mid to late May. Data from the current analyses focus on this second wave of data collection. we found significant direct effects on heavy drinking for both social isolation (c'= 0.495; P< .01) and loneliness (b= 0.071; P< .05). We also found a significant indirect path from social isolation to heavy drinking through social isolation's impact on elevating loneliness (a= 0.919; P< .001). The indirect effect of social isolation on the composite measure of heavy drinking was 0.0652 (0.919 × 0.071) and was significant at the 0.05 level after bootstrapping estimates of the variance were constructed. those most isolated early in the pandemic were at increased risk for heavy drinking, in part because their social isolation led to increased loneliness. Post-pandemic research is needed to explore whether the relationships that stemmed from social isolation during the pandemic led to a persistent pattern of behavioral risk that maintained high rates of heavy drinking.

Forced Social Isolation leads to Smartphone Addiction and Depression

Background: Addiction to smartphone usage is a common problem among adults worldwide. Smartphones are popular devices capable of processing more information than other phones. During COVID-19, a situation of “forced social isolation” was created which increased the use of smartphones. We conducted this study with the hypothesis that the period of social isolation may enhance depression and it may be related to the excessive use of smartphones among the population.&#x0D; Objective: The purpose of this work is to investigate the impact of social isolation on smartphone addiction and depression.&#x0D; Materials and methods: The study was carried out on 191 individuals (44.50% male) with a mean age of (23.79 ±3.91) years. The participants completed the questionnaire via online Google forms to access their smartphone use, depression and chronotype.&#x0D; Result: Smartphone use and depression significantly increase during social isolation (p&lt;0.001). Smartphone addiction was found positively correlated with depression (r = 0.324, p &lt; 0.01) and was maintained during social isolation conditions as well (r = 0.434, p &lt;0.01). There was no direct effect of gender on smartphone addiction during lockdown (β= -0.059, t= -0.887, p= &lt;0.001).&#x0D; Conclusions: The Smartphone addiction is positively correlated with depression and the social isolation induced the smartphone dependency may lead to depression in the Indian population. This study expanded the literature to include smartphone overuse and depression in the Indian population.

The role of subjective, interpersonal, and structural social isolation in 12-month and lifetime anxiety disorders

BackgroundAnxiety disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric conditions worldwide, and the incidence of anxiety disorders among adults in the U.S. have increased over the last decade. Anxiety disorders can have debilitating effects on multiple areas of functioning and quality of life. Recently, social isolation has emerged as an important public health problem associated with worse health and well-being outcomes. Research on the connection between social isolation and mental health has found that multiple dimensions of social isolation may negatively impact mental health, but few inquiries have focused on the association between social isolation and anxiety. This study examined the relationships between multiple dimensions of social isolation and anxiety disorders in a nationally representative sample of adults aged 18 and older.MethodsThe sample includes 6082 individuals from the National Survey of American Life. This study examined whether three different dimensions of social isolation—subjective, interpersonal, and structural—were associated with 12-month and lifetime anxiety disorders (any anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder (PD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and agoraphobia (AG). Logistic regressions were used to test the associations between the three social isolation variables and the anxiety outcomes.ResultsThis study found that of the three dimensions of social isolation, subjective isolation was most consistently related to both lifetime and 12-month anxiety disorders. Those who were subjectively isolated had increased odds of meeting criteria for any anxiety disorder, PTSD, GAD, PD, and AG over the past 12 months and throughout their lifetimes. Structural isolation was negatively associated with lifetime and 12-month AG.ConclusionsPublic health approaches should include mental health and primary care providers and need to target social isolation, especially subjective isolation, which may be key in preventing anxiety disorders and the worsening of anxiety disorders. Future public health research is needed on how and in what ways the differing dimensions of social isolation impact mental health.

What Happens When Family is Forced Together: Conflict, Intimacy, and Distance in Queer and Trans Youth’s Family Relations During the Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth lived with family members in forced togetherness. Using the Texas Queer Youth COVID Study, a longitudinal qualitative study of 26 LGBTQ youth in Texas, we argue that the social conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted relationships between LGBTQ youth and their family in dynamic ways, including cultivating intimacy and magnifying new or existing conflicts. LGBTQ youth could not use their preferred strategies of avoidance to handle relatives’ conservative pandemic politics and conspiracy theories. For Latinx LGBTQ youth, the intensified familism required during the shelter-in-place of the pandemic cultivated more intimacy but also became a justification for distance for youth trying to avoid homophobic relatives. These findings contribute to the study of LGBTQ youth and family relations, along with the impact of social isolation on family life.

Changes in diet and physical activity in students during lockdown by example of COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to the spread of COVID-19 infections around the world, in early 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a global pandemic, i.e. an epidemic of particularly large dimensions affecting countries and entire continents. Long-term stay at home and self-isolation may have significantly impacted lifestyle, diet, food choices and access to food, as well as physical activity in the entire population, including students. The aim of the study was to examine the impact of social isolation caused by the coronavirus pandemic on changes in diet, lifestyle and body mass index in a group of students, so that we would be better prepared for future new viral infections with characteristics similar to Covid-19. The study was conducted in 2021 using a cross-sectional online survey (using the CAWI technique). The survey was addressed to students of universities in Poland who were over 18 years of age. After excluding forms completed incorrectly or with incorrect data, the final analysis of the results included the responses of 196 respondents. Statistical analyzes were performed in STATISTICA 13.3. Statistical significance was assumed at the level of p ≤ 0.05. The study involved 136 women and 60 men with an average age of 23. The majority of respondents were residents of cities with over 500,000 inhabitants (50%), were students of 1st degree (45%) in medical/natural sciences (36%). The largest percentage of respondents (above 70%), before the pandemic and during isolation, had normal body weight, according to the BMI. There were significant statistical differences between gender and changes during COVID-19 pandemic in sleeping (p=0.013), physical activity (p=0.028), as well as the consumption of tea (p=0.047), milk and dairy products (p=0.041), alcohol (p=0.001) and red meat (p=0.003), vegetables (p=0.049), sweets (p=0.029) and fast food (p=0.004). Due to the fact that the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the diet and lifestyle has been demonstrated, it is very important that the recommendations of public health organizations spread the message about rational nutrition and physical activity in the event of new viral infections among young people, including students.

Social isolation induces intestinal barrier disorder and imbalances gut microbiota in mice

Social isolation, a known stressor, can have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. Recent scientific attention has been drawn to the gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication system between the central nervous system and gut microbiota, suggesting that gut microbes may influence brain function. This study aimed to explore the impact of social isolation on the intestinal barrier and gut microbiota. 40 male BALB/c mice were either individually housed or kept in groups for 8 and 15 weeks. Socially isolated mice exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior, with significant differences between the 8-week and 15-week isolation groups (P < 0.05). After 8 weeks of isolation, there was a reduction in tight junction protein expression in the intestinal mechanical barrier. Furthermore, after 15 weeks of isolation, both tight junction protein and mucin expression, key components of the intestinal chemical barrier, decreased. This was accompanied by a substantial increase in inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 mRNA, IL-10, and TNF-α) in colon tissue in the 15-week isolated group (P < 0.05). Additionally, Illumina MiSequencing revealed significant alterations in the gut microbiota of socially isolated mice, including reduced Firmicutes and Bacteroides compared to the control group. Lactobacillus levels also decreased in the socially isolated mice.

Social Isolation, Self-Rated Health, and Self-Rated Oral Health among African Americans

Abstract: Social isolation is associated with worse health; however, few studies have examined the health effects of isolation among African Americans. The purpose of this study is to evaluate associations between social isolation and self-rated physical and oral health from the National Survey of American Life, a nationally representative sample of African Americans. Social isolation was operationalized to reflect both objective isolation (lack of contact) and subjective isolation (lack of emotional closeness). Self-rated physical and oral health were regressed on objective and subjective isolation while controlling for marital status, gender, age, family income, education, and health behaviors. Poorer self-rated physical health was associated with objective isolation, while poorer self-rated oral health was associated with subjective isolation. This study contributes to the small literature of the impact of social isolation on health among African Americans; furthermore, it is the first to examine the relationship between isolation and self-rated oral health in this population.

Age-related impact of social isolation in mice: Young vs middle-aged

Social isolation is a chronic mild stressor and a significant risk factor for mental health disorders. Herein we explored the impact of social isolation on depression- and anxiety-like behaviours, as well as spatial memory impairments, in middle-aged male mice compared to post-weaning mice. We aimed to quantify and correlate social isolation-induced behaviour discrepancies with changes in hippocampal glial cell reactivity and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels.Post-weaning and middle-aged C57BL7/J6 male mice were socially isolated for a 3-week period and behavioural tests were performed on the last five days of isolation. We found that 3 weeks of social isolation led to depressive-like behaviour in the forced swim test, anxiety-like behaviour in the open field test, and spatial memory impairment in the Morris water maze paradigm in middle-aged male mice. These behavioural alterations were not observed in male mice after post-weaning social isolation, indicating resilience to isolation-mediated stress.Increased Iba-1 expression and NLRP3 priming were both observed in the hippocampus of socially isolated middle-aged mice, suggesting a role for microglia and NLRP3 pathway in the detrimental effects of social isolation on cognition and behaviour. Young socially isolated mice also demonstrated elevated NLRP3 priming compared to controls, but no differences in Iba-1 levels and no significant changes in behaviour. Ageing-induced microglia activation and enhancement of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 proinflammatory cytokines, known signs of a chronic low-grade inflammatory state, were also detected.Altogether, data suggest that social isolation, in addition to inflammaging, contributes to stress-related cognitive impairment in middle-aged mice.

Cognitive effects on experienced duration and speed of time, prospectively, retrospectively, in and out of lockdown

Psychological time is influenced by multiple factors such as arousal, emotion, attention and memory. While laboratory observations are well documented, it remains unclear whether cognitive effects on time perception replicate in real-life settings. This study exploits a set of data collected online during the Covid-19 pandemic, where participants completed a verbal working memory (WM) task in which their cognitive load was manipulated using a parametric n-back (1-back, 3-back). At the end of every WM trial, participants estimated the duration of that trial and rated the speed at which they perceived time was passing. In this within-participant design, we initially tested whether the amount of information stored in WM affected time perception in opposite directions depending on whether duration was estimated prospectively (i.e., when participants attend to time) or retrospectively (i.e., when participants do not attend to time). Second, we tested the same working hypothesis for the felt passage of time, which may capture a distinct phenomenology. Third, we examined the link between duration and speed of time, and found that short durations tended to be perceived as fast. Last, we contrasted two groups of individuals tested in and out of lockdown to evaluate the impact of social isolation. We show that duration and speed estimations were differentially affected by social isolation. We discuss and conclude on the influence of cognitive load on various experiences of time.

Social Isolation, Physical Activity, and Subsequent Changes in Cognition Among Middle- and Older-Aged Adults: Results From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

The objectives of this study were to a) evaluate associations between social isolation and change in cognition over a 3-year period, and b) evaluate whether physical activity mediates the association between social isolation and cognition change. Using baseline and follow-up 1 data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, latent change score models, incorporating direct and indirect pathways, were constructed to estimate the indirect effect of social isolation on cognitive change through physical activity. Multigroup models were constructed based on age group (45-65 versus 65+ years) and sex to allow for varying estimates across age and sex. The final analytic sample included 51,338 participants. Indirect effects of social isolation on cognition through physical activity were evident in men and women 65+ years old for memory change ( = -0.005 [99.9% confidence interval = -0.007 to -0.002], p < .001 in both groups) and in male adults 65+ years old for executive function change ( = -0.01 [99.9% confidence interval = -0.02 to -0.006], p < .001). Statistically significant indirect effects were not observed for adults between 45 and 65 years old. Social isolation is associated with diminished physical activity, and in turn, diminished physical activity is associated with decline in memory in older women and men, with larger declines in executive function in older men. Public health initiatives to promote physical activity-perhaps incorporating social interaction-among older adults experiencing social isolation could be one way to mitigate the negative impact of social isolation on cognitive health.