Neighborhood Community Research Articles

Feeling safe: a critical look at the effect of neighborhood safety features and perceptions on childhood symptoms of depression

BackgroundPhysical characteristics and perceptions of an environment can have enduring effects on one’s mental health. The present study aimed to determine whether a set of measures of neighborhood safety – independent built environment features, parents’ perception of neighborhood safety and community cohesion, and children’s perception of neighborhood safety – best related to symptoms of depression in young boys and girls from Montréal, Québec.MethodsData were from the Quebec Adipose and Lifestyle Investigation in Youth (QUALITY) cohort. Participants were aged 8 to 10 years (M = 9.5) at baseline (2005). Measures included: child symptoms of depression, neighborhood perception (child and parentally reported), and independent rater assessed visible disorder/neighborhood safety issues and road safety features. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the relation between neighborhood safety measures and symptoms of depression for boys (n = 262) and girls (n = 212) at baseline and at follow-up time approximately 2 years later in 2008 after adjusting for baseline sex, age, body mass index, pubertal status, physical activity, family income, parent education, population density, and land-use mix. Analyses were sex stratified.ResultsGreater child perceived safety was associated with lower symptoms of depression in boys at both baseline and follow-up, and greater community cohesion was associated with lower symptoms of depression in girls at baseline. These results were not maintained after adjusting for multiple testing.ConclusionFuture research should elucidate the more precise pathways linking neighborhood safety to symptoms of depression among children and consider differences across sexes.

Who values urban open spaces? investigating heterogeneity in the capitalization of open space in New York city

Given the constraints on local budgets and the availability of urban land, understanding how different urban green spaces are valued by diverse residents is crucial for making informed urban land use decisions. We estimate the heterogeneity in housing price capitalizations of various open space classes in New York City using a hedonic price model. Our findings reveal that the capitalization of open spaces varies across open space types and nearby housing types. For instance, compared to residents who live in properties with private outdoor spaces, residents in condominiums and cooperatives may place greater value on open spaces such as neighborhood parks or community gardens. Furthermore, we aim to uncover how demographic factors are associated with the valuation of different types of open spaces, focusing on two sets of community factors: median household income and racial composition. Our results show that areas with low-income populations or a predominance of non-white residents exhibit substantially different preferences from other groups, with an increased capitalization for community gardens and a decreased capitalization for flagship parks. These insights highlight the importance of investigating heterogeneity in the valuation of environmental amenities and can help policymakers allocate funds for environmental amenities to better align with the preferences of local residents.

TASHKENT NEIGHBORHOODS (MAHALLAS) IN THE DESCRIPTION OF SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS

the article examines the reflection of the history of Tashkent mahallas in historical sources, literature and official documentsand their historical-ethnographic and socio-demographic description. It analyzes the works of scientists and researchers whoconducted scientific research on urban mahallas from a historical point of view. The article studies historical materials andliterature related to the way of life of the Uzbek people as a neighboring community, that is, the specific content and essenceof mahallas, from the point of view of historiography.

Cross-Institutional Collaboration through Audience Research

Abstract: Neighboring institutions with radically different access to resources circulate within segregated and siloed social worlds. Cross-institutional collaboration holds the potential to disrupt these silos, to redirect resources from resource-rich institutions to underfunded neighboring institutions, and to emphasize the value of lived experiences in the production of knowledge. The theatre can be a site for cross-institutional collaboration, but such projects are far from straightforward and require flexibility. This essay describes a collaboration between the theatre department of a resource-rich private university and an honors seminar at a neighboring community college, utilizing audience research as a site of cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional collaboration.

Sense of community, life satisfaction and psychological distress among seniors – HUNT4 study, Norway

Abstract Background Strong sense of community with one’s neighbors may benefit psychosocial well-being. Moreover, local communities with high level of belonging and social cohesion can have a positive impact on public mental health. This study aims to investigate associations between sense of community and life satisfaction - at both an individual and local community level in a Norwegian county. Methods Data from Trøndelag Health Study 4 (HUNT4: 2017-2019) on 22 939 participants were linked to geographic data of residence from Statistics Norway. The basic statistical unit in Norwegian, known as “grunnkrets,” serves to identify participants’ local communities. These units are subdivisions of municipalities, covering geographically contiguous areas that typically include a few hundred inhabitants. This population-based study enables investigation of variation in sense of community, trust, life satisfaction and psychological distress on individual and community level. Results Seniors (median age 70.3 years) with strong sense of community with their neighbors had more than three times higher odds (95%CI 3.08-3.93) of high level of life satisfaction and less than 0.3 times lower odds (95%CI 0.26-0.33) of psychological distress symptoms vs those with low sense of community, adjusted to sociodemographic variables. The average sense of community varied between local communities (N = 284). At this local geographical unit, strong sense of community was associated with high level of trust, enjoying the neighborhood and high life satisfaction. Conclusions The study can inform public health policy to consider development of social infrastructures that bolster sense of community among seniors within neighborhoods. Policy and action plans targeting to increase the overall sense of community in neighborhoods may contribute to create mental health-promoting and age-friendly local communities in Norway. Key messages • At individual level, sense of community with neighbors are associated with life satisfaction and psychological distress among Norwegian seniors. • The average sense of community varies between geographic local areas and are associated with level of trust, enjoying the neighborhood, average life satisfaction, and psychological distress.

Understanding Barriers to Access and Opportunities for Telemedicine in Underserved Urban Communities.

Introduction: Loss to follow-up and decreased access to timely care have health consequences that often lead to increased emergency service utilization for benign, treatable, and preventable conditions. As such, significant medical intervention is necessary. Specifically in the District of Columbia (DC), the health of Medicaid beneficiaries of Wards 7 and 8, overwhelmingly underserved communities, necessitates alternative means for more accessible, convenient, and consistent care, which can be achieved by integrating telemedicine services into current care modalities. Methods: Utilizing survey responses from the pre-COVID-19 pandemic, we identified a need for a community-based telemedicine service centered at the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church, designing a threefold project to build knowledge, capacity, and to test feasibility. To build knowledge, we assessed demographics, telemedicine knowledge, current and past telemedicine use, health care utilization, access and improvement issues, telemedicine layperson utilization, and opinions and desire for telemedicine services. Results: A total of 223 responses were gathered from residents residing in Wards 7 and 8 as well as in the neighboring DC communities. An array of data results demonstrates that integrating telemedicine services into community care centers ultimately satisfies identifiable needs in DC's low-income communities for mental health resources, better coordination of care, more convenient and culturally attuned care, and greater health literacy. Discussion: Integrating telemedicine services into community care centers satisfies the need to decrease costs of care and improve the access and quality of care. Effective evaluation strategies and outcome measures that indicate benefits beyond cost savings could provide useful information on how to integrate sustainable telehealth systems in health care delivery models.

Engaging culturally and linguistically diverse youth in semiotic analysis for community‐based inquiry

AbstractThis manuscript examines multimodal storytelling as community inquiry for an urban high school class of 30 first‐ and second‐generation bi/multilingual immigrant students, most of whom maintained transnational connections. We share how these students, in an A.P. Research class, engaged in community‐based inquiry and utilized various multimodal artifacts from a university cultural heritage collection, including a field trip to the cultural heritage archives, to analyze signs and symbols. We asked: How did students engage with semiotic resources and approaches to support inquiry about their school and neighborhood communities? Findings showed that students drew upon their linguistic and cultural experiences to analyze signs and symbols, yet in their digital storytelling presentations some student groups chose signs and symbols that reified stereotypical views of their neighborhood despite their insider status in the local community. We offer recommendations for using cultural heritage artifacts to advance multimodal meaning‐making in teaching and research.

Coal Ash Triggers an Elevated Temperature Landfill Development: Lessons from the Bristol Virginia Solid Waste Landfill Neighboring Community

Landfills for disposing of solid waste are designed, located, managed, and monitored facilities expected to comply with government regulations to prevent contamination of the surrounding environment. After the average life expectancy of a typical landfill (30 to 50 years), a large investment in the construction, operation, final closure, and 30-year monitoring of a new site is needed. In this case study, we provide a holistic explanation of the unexpected development of elevated temperature landfills (ETLFs), such as that in the city of Bristol (United States) on the border of the states of Virginia and Tennessee, including the initial role played by coal ash. Despite the increasing frequency of ETLF occurrence, there is limited knowledge available about their associated environmental problems. The study uses mixed (qualitative, quantitative, and mapping) methods to analyze (1) the levels of odoriferous reduced sulfur compounds, ammonia, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted, (2) the ratio of methane to carbon dioxide concentrations in five locations, which dropped from unity (normal landfill) to 0.565, (3) the location of gas well heads with gradients of elevated temperatures, and (4) the correlation of the filling rate (upward of ~12 m y−1) with depth for registered events depositing coal ash waste. The work identifies spatial patterns that support the conclusion that coal ash served as the initiator for an ETLF creation. The case of the city of Bristol constitutes an example of ETLFs with elevated temperatures above the regulatory United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) upper threshold (65 °C), having alongside low methane emissions, large production of leachate, land subsidence, and a large production of organic compounds. Such landfills suffer abnormal chemical reactions within the waste mass that reduce the life expectancy of the site. Residents in such communities suffer intolerable odors from fugitive emissions and poor air quality becomes prominent, affecting the well-being and economy of surrounding populations. Conclusive information available indicates that the Bristol landfill has been producing large amounts of leachate and hazardous gases under the high pressures and temperatures developed within the landfill. A lesson learned, which should be used to prevent this problem in the future, is that the early addition of coal ash into the landfill would have catalyzed the process of ETLF creation. The work considers the public health risks and socioeconomic problems of residents exposed to emissions from an ETLF and discusses the efforts needed to prevent further incidents in other locations.

PERAN PONDOK PESANTREN DALAM MENINGKATKAN MORALITAS KEAGAMAAN DI LINGKUNGAN BANJAR (STUDI KASUS PONDOK PESANTREN NURUL JANNAH NW AMPENAN)

This research is field research with a qualitative case study type approach. Data collection was carried out using participatory observation techniques, interviews and documentation. The intensive research process was carried out for almost seven months involving competent informants from the Islamic boarding school and community leaders in the Banjar area. Religious activities are one of the efforts to shape the religious morality of the people of the Banjar area, so that the people have Islamic and virtuous morals. In this case, religious activities in the form of TPQ, Hiziban, Sayafaah, Public Study, Hadroh, PHBI emphasize the involvement of the Banjar Neighborhood community in carrying out active religious activities so that the community can receive direct and trained training to be able to carry out the religious activities they participate in themselves. Therefore, one of the benefits of religious activities is to form individuals with Islamic morals and dignity. Thus, through religious activities it is hoped that it can improve the religious morality of the people of the Banjar EnvironmentThis research concludes that improving the religious morality of the people of the Banjar Environment through religious activities carried out by the Nurul Jannah NW Ampenan Islamic Boarding School, including TPQ, Hiziban, Sayafaah, Public Recitation, Hadroh, and PHBI

Profiles of community support and challenges associated with insomnia symptoms: Findings from the pilot Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio Health Study

Study objectivesWe investigated profiles of community support and challenges in relation to insomnia symptoms among the Bhutanese living in the United States. MethodsUsing data from the pilot Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio Health Study (N = 495; 51.5% men, 69.8% aged 18-44years), we used latent class analysis to identify distinct profiles of neighborhood social cohesion, social support, and community challenges (e.g., limited access to healthcare services and transportation, crime and safety issues, substance use, intimate partner violence) and their associations with insomnia symptoms. Insomnia symptoms were self-reported as difficulty falling and staying asleep and dichotomized as “not at all” vs. “some to always.” Identified classes/profiles were further differentiated by self-reported sociodemographic, socioeconomic, health, acculturative, and discrimination factors. ResultsLatent class analysis revealed four distinct classes/profiles. The High Cohesion (class 1) profile (30.1% of sample) had the lowest likelihood of insomnia symptoms at 6.5%, followed by class 2 or High Support (23.6%) with a 15.3% likelihood. Class 3 or High Challenges profile (11.5%) had a moderate likelihood of insomnia symptoms at 49%. Class 4 or the Low Cohesion/Support profile (34.7%) had a 100% likelihood of reporting insomnia symptoms. Class 4 when compared to class 1 was more likely to report cardiometabolic conditions, experiences of everyday discrimination, limited English linguistic proficiency, and not using telehealth. ConclusionCommunity social cohesion and support may play an important role in mitigating insomnia symptoms among Bhutanese refugees. Further investigations are warranted.

Investigating the mediating role of green performance measurement systems in the nexus between green intellectual capital and environmental performance

PurposeThis study aims to propose and examine a conceptual model that shows how green performance measurement systems (GPMS) mediate the relationship between green intellectual capital components and environmental performance.Design/methodology/approachThe research surveyed 407 Vietnamese publicly listed companies to gather empirical data. Then, the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) are used to examine the degree of emphasis firms place on using GPMS to transform green intellectual capital into firm value.FindingsThe results indicate that both green human capital and green organizational capital have a direct positive impact on environmental performance. On the contrary, the influence of green social capital on environmental performance was found to be indirect through the mediation of GPMS.Practical implicationsGPMS can be considered a tool that helps managers renew, develop and synchronize their systems to take advantage of green resources in environmental performance improvement.Social implicationsThe effective assimilation of GPMS within industrial entities holds the potential to mitigate air pollution and hazardous waste, thereby ameliorating social conditions for both employees and the neighboring community. Besides that, proficient implementation of GPMS enhances collaborative efforts within the industrial sphere, yielding collective societal benefits.Originality/valueThis study emphasizes the importance of aligning green intellectual capital with appropriate control mechanisms, such as performance measurement systems, to maximize the benefits derived from these capital resources. The findings provide insights for organizations seeking to enhance their environmental performance and sustainability practices by effectively using their intellectual and social capital while implementing robust measurement systems.

Can cultural capital, cognitive ability, and economic capacity help rural older adults bridge the digital divide? Evidence from an empirical study.

The digital divide is the difference between individuals who use the Internet and those who do not. Under the triple social environment of urban-rural dichotomy, population aging, and the digital era in China, the existence of digital divide among rural older adults has seriously affected their access to health information through the Internet, so it is urgent to bridge the digital divide problem they face. Based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory and Stress Coping Theory, the impact of cultural capital on the digital divide among rural older adults was systematically analyzed using hierarchical regression and Chained Mediation Effect Tests using data from the Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS). Cultural capital has a significant positive effect on the digital divide among rural older adults (β = 0.178, p < 0.01). Cognitive ability and economic capacity both play independent intermediary effects between cultural capital and digital divide among rural older adults, and the intermediary chain formed by the two plays a chain intermediary effect. The increase in the cultural capital of rural older adults has led to an increase in their cognitive ability and economic capacity, which ultimately has a favorable effect on the bridging of the digital divide. Heterogeneity results suggest that cultural capital is more effective in bridging the digital divide among male rural older adults aged 60-69. Cultural capital is able to bridge the digital divide faced by rural older adults and is age and gender heterogeneous. At the same time, improved cognitive ability and economic capacity can also help rural older adults bridge the digital divide. Therefore, it is proposed that we increase the construction of public cultural service infrastructure in rural areas, liaise with community neighborhood committees and village committees to do a good job of publicity, improve training measures for key groups, and maintain the enthusiasm of rural older adults for learning, so as to provide references for the rural older adults in China and developing countries in general to bridge the digital divide.

Molecular Diversity of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi in Relation to the Diversity of Neighboring Plant Species.

(1) Background: Plant diversity has long been assumed to predict soil microbial diversity. The mutualistic symbiosis between forest trees and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi favors strong correlations of EM fungal diversity with host density in terrestrial ecosystems. Nevertheless, in contrast with host tree effects, neighboring plant effects are less well studied. (2) Methods: In the study presented herein, we examined the α-diversity, community composition, and co-occurrence patterns of EM fungi in Quercus acutissima across different forest types (pure forests, mixed forests with Pinus tabuliformis, and mixed forests with other broadleaved species) to ascertain how the EM fungi of focal trees are related to their neighboring plants and to identify the underlying mechanisms that contribute to this relationship. (3) Results: The EM fungal community exhibited an overall modest but positive correlation with neighboring plant richness, with the associations being more pronounced in mixed forests. This neighboring effect was mediated by altered abiotic (i.e., SOC, TN, LC, and LP) and biotic (i.e., bacterial community) factors in rhizosphere soil. Further analysis revealed that Tomentella_badia, Tomentella_galzinii, and Sebacina_incrustans exhibited the most significant correlations with plant and EM fungal diversity. These keystone taxa featured low relative abundance and clear habitat preferences and shared similar physiological traits that promote nutrient uptake through contact, short-distance and medium-distance smooth contact-based exploration types, thereby enhancing the potential correlations between EM fungi and the neighboring plant community. (4) Conclusions: Our findings contribute to the comprehension of the effect of neighboring plants on the EM fungal community of focal trees of different forest communities and the biodiversity sensitivity to environmental change.

A new direction for neighbourhood governance and community construction in China: the case of Zhejiang province’s ‘Future Communities’

ABSTRACT In March 2019, Zhejiang province introduced a new approach to China’s neighbourhood governance, placing digital technology at the centre of communities. Utilizing a case study design, we examine this approach and the role of technology in cultivating community autonomy, public participation, and local social interaction. The findings show how sociospatial dynamics guide the orchestration and reception of smart innovations for community engagement and empowerment, indicating what works and for whom. The empirical work provides a basis for future recommendations, signalling the limitations of digital innovation within communal life and reinforcing a human-centred approach to developing smart systems of community development.

Mengembangkan Inspirasi Kewirausahaan dan Kualitas Perdagangan Skala Kecil Melalui Manajemen Aset Manusia

Within the confront of fast worldwide nourishment patterns and modernization, concerns are rising almost the potential misfortune of nearby culinary conventions that exemplify a nation's imaginativeness, culture, history, and character. To address this, STIEPARI Semarang propelled a community benefit extend in Nongkosawit, Gunungpati, pointed at protecting and advancing its one of a kind culinary legacy. The venture included recording conventional formulas and their social centrality, guaranteeing that this information is passed down and shared. The group collaborated with neighborhood cooks to coordinated present day culinary methods whereas keeping up genuineness. Workshops were held to educate the community how to showcase their conventional dishes, emphasizing storytelling as a way to associate with visitors. To maintain these endeavors, the venture presented computerized stages for nearby culinary businesses to reach broader gatherings of people through social media and e-commerce. This activity not as it were jam Nongkosawit s culinary bequest but moreover engages the neighborhood community by making modern financial openings tied to their wealthy social conventions. Throughthese endeavors, Nongkosawit Town represents the significance of defending and celebrating culinary conventions that characterize our social personality.

Ubiquitous processes strengthening neighbourhood communities: How neighbourhood‐related social media can foster the active involvement of citizens and build resilient communities

AbstractModern local communities are undergoing deep changes due to modern social and cultural processes and to the widespread use of ubiquitous, neighbourhood‐related social media. Indeed, the latter shape citizens' experiences in terms of both local relationships and opportunities for shared aims and behaviours. Therefore, this study endeavours to unravel the impact of neighbourhood‐related social media on users' sense of community (SoC), sense of responsible togetherness (SoRT), and perceptions of community resilience via their potential in enhancing their informal neighbouring behaviours and civic engagement. Nine hundred and sixty‐five Italian citizens (30.1% males; Mage = 22.80; SDage = 4.88) answered an online questionnaire; Structural Equation Modelling was used to run a multiple sequential mediation model having community resilience as the final outcome. The results confirm the positive relationship of such social media with users' informal neighbouring behaviours and civic engagement but show that only civic engagement mediates its relationships with SoC, SoRT, and perceptions of community resilience. Altogether, this opens interesting venues for future developments in both research and intervention fields, with reference to (a) further unravelling the intertwinement between online and local social dynamics and environments, and (b) better understanding how such intertwinement and this kind of social media could represent tools for the promotion of community building processes and of local resilience in community interventions.

Functional diversity of neighbours mediates sap flow density and radial growth of focal trees, but in different ways between evergreen and deciduous broadleaved species

Abstract The functioning of a tree is shaped by the neighbouring species through the interspecific interaction and local environments. The functional trait composition of the neighbourhood could provide mechanistic insights into the effects of neighbours on the resource strategies of focal trees. In this study, we deployed an automated high‐frequency measurement of the sap flow density (SFD) and the radial growth of 48 trees of 12 species at BEF‐China, a large‐scale forest biodiversity manipulation experiment, to investigate the consequences and underlying mechanisms of the functional trait composition of the neighbourhood on the sap flow and radial growth of focal trees. We found a positive relationship between SFD and growth, reflecting the important supportive role of sap flow in tree growth. High functional diversity (FD) of the neighbourhood depressed SFD but promoted growth when considering all species, and thus promoted water‐use efficiency. Acquisitiveness of neighbouring trees positively affected growth, suggesting interspecific facilitation. Furthermore, neighbourhood FD benefits evergreen focal trees by promoting growth. However, in deciduous focal trees, neighbourhood FD reduced SFD but had no significant effects on growth. Our findings suggest that considering the functional trait composition of neighbourhood communities will support effective afforestation and forest management. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Kuliah Kerja Mahasiswa (KKM) Sebagai Bentuk Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat (Pkm) Di Kelurahan Sukajaya Kecamatan Curug Kota Serang

Based on Law No. 12 of 2012, community service is defined as one of the activities of the academic community that utilizes Science and Technology to enlighten the nation's life and improve the welfare of society. Student Work Lectures (KKM) are one form of implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, which is community service. The KKM Group 06 students consist of 20 individuals from different study programs and faculties. This activity is carried out by the KKM students of Group 06 and the Field Supervising Lecturer (DPL), by directly engaging with the community to gather data through research and observation of each existing issue. The observation conducted involved visiting several locations and interviewing individuals in each neighborhood association, community leaders, youth leaders, and residents. The KKM Group 06 students from Bina Bangsa University are preparing a work program from various fields, through discussions and assigning tasks to the person in charge of each field, which has been adjusted to the standards of Bina Bangsa University. Student Community Service (KKM) provides opportunities for students to be independent by actively participating, sharing knowledge about understanding healthy living behaviors and a good environment, assisting in business development such as packaging changes, creating permits, and marketing products through online media, and having a very positive impact on students and the community.

Penggabungan Kearifan Lokal dan Teknopreneurship dalam Wisata Kuliner Desa Nongkosawit Gunungpati Semarang

Within the confront of fast worldwide nourishment patterns and modernization, concerns are rising almost the potential misfortune of nearby culinary conventions that exemplify a nation's imaginativeness, culture, history, and character. To address this, STIEPARI Semarang propelled a community benefit extend in Nongkosawit, Gunungpati, pointed at protecting and advancing its one of a kind culinary legacy. The venture included recording conventional formulas and their social centrality, guaranteeing that this information is passed down and shared. The group collaborated with neighborhood cooks to coordinated present day culinary methods whereas keeping up genuineness. Workshops were held to educate the community how to showcase their conventional dishes, emphasizing storytelling as a way to associate with visitors. To maintain these endeavors, the venture presented computerized stages for nearby culinary businesses to reach broader gatherings of people through social media and e-commerce. This activity not as it were jam Nongkosawit s culinary bequest but moreover engages the neighborhood community by making modern financial openings tied to their wealthy social conventions. Through these endeavors, Nongkosawit Town represents the significance of defending and celebrating culinary conventions that characterize our social personality.

COVID-19 and older people’s wellbeing in northern KwaZulu-Natal – the importance of relationships

Background The COVID-19 pandemic and the non-pharmacological prevention methods have affected the wellbeing of older people. In this paper we focus on the wellbeing, and vulnerability, of older people in rural northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa during the first year of the pandemic. Methods We conducted monthly in-depth interviews for up to four months with 26 people aged 57 years and older. A total of 86 interviews were conducted by telephone, because of restrictions on face-to-face contact, and digitally recorded. After transcription and translation, the data were coded thematically, with analysis guided by a wellbeing theoretical framework. Results Having access to food, to healthcare and to somewhere they felt safe to stay, was essential for everyone. For many managing expenses became more of a struggle as adult children who had lost their source of employment came home to stay. However, despite the shortages of money, the importance of relationships, whether they are familial or the close community of neighbours, was highlighted in the accounts of many participants. Older people not only got help with day-to-day life from others, but also found solace in the company of others. The sense of community, from family and neighbours, helped to ease some of the stress experienced because of the lockdowns. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed to limit the spread of the virus impacted the wellbeing of older adults in rural KwaZulu-Natal. Our findings show how the importance of relationships with family and friends contributed to nurturing wellbeing for older people.