Date of Presentation
5-4-2023 12:00 AM
College
School of Osteopathic Medicine
Poster Abstract
Background: Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in January 2020, elderly populations aged 65+ have been deemed at-risk for severe symptoms and poor prognosis. Because it is important to protect this vulnerable population, policies such as social distancing and shelter-in-place orders have been implemented in the United States in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. However, many older citizens may live alone or may not have access to technology, and therefore may be limited in their ability to maintain important relationships and social interactions throughout shelter-in-place orders and social distancing. Therefore, it is important to understand the cost of social distancing and disease prevention in order to do proper cost-benefit analysis and mitigate any negative outcomes due to social distancing.
Purpose: To explore the risk factors and biopsychosocial effects of shelter-in-place order in males and females over the age of 65 living in the US.
Methods: This literature review predominantly relied on PubMed, Scopus, and JAMA as primary databases. Search terms utilized include: social distancing, isolation, loneliness seniors, effects, depression, COVID, anxiety. Though the research was focused on the US, additional research was performed on general urban and suburban US as well as other developed countries’ populations with similarities that were then extrapolated to address the US population.
Results: Preliminary results show that some conditions of the shelter-in-place order such as social isolation and feelings of disconnection may be associated with poor mental health outcomes including depression, anxiety, and suicidality; physical health outcomes measured by increased physician visits, decreased immune response, inflammation, and decreased cognition; and behavioral effects such as decreased physical activity and decreased sleep.
Conclusion: More studies should be conducted to understand the impact of social distancing and sheltering-in-place in elderly American populations. Social distancing, while important and effective in combating the spread of disease to vulnerable populations in the community, comes at the cost of mental and physical health. The elderly population is vulnerable both to Covid as well as loneliness and social isolation. Therefore, it is important to implement interventions to protect older populations from the negative health effects of loneliness while still taking measures to protect them against Covid-19. Such interventions will be useful in continuing through the aftermath of the pandemic as well as future cases in which social distancing or sheltering-in-place may be necessary again.
Keywords
COVID-19, Aged, Social Isolation, Social Determinants of Health, Mental Health, Public Health, Psychological Phenomena, Social Participation
Disciplines
Community Health | Geriatrics | Health and Medical Administration | Medicine and Health Sciences | Mental and Social Health | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychiatry | Psychological Phenomena and Processes
Document Type
Poster
Included in
Community Health Commons, Geriatrics Commons, Health and Medical Administration Commons, Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Psychiatry Commons, Psychological Phenomena and Processes Commons
Biopsychosocial Impacts of Social Distancing Due to Covid-19 in People over 65: A Literature Review
Background: Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in January 2020, elderly populations aged 65+ have been deemed at-risk for severe symptoms and poor prognosis. Because it is important to protect this vulnerable population, policies such as social distancing and shelter-in-place orders have been implemented in the United States in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. However, many older citizens may live alone or may not have access to technology, and therefore may be limited in their ability to maintain important relationships and social interactions throughout shelter-in-place orders and social distancing. Therefore, it is important to understand the cost of social distancing and disease prevention in order to do proper cost-benefit analysis and mitigate any negative outcomes due to social distancing.
Purpose: To explore the risk factors and biopsychosocial effects of shelter-in-place order in males and females over the age of 65 living in the US.
Methods: This literature review predominantly relied on PubMed, Scopus, and JAMA as primary databases. Search terms utilized include: social distancing, isolation, loneliness seniors, effects, depression, COVID, anxiety. Though the research was focused on the US, additional research was performed on general urban and suburban US as well as other developed countries’ populations with similarities that were then extrapolated to address the US population.
Results: Preliminary results show that some conditions of the shelter-in-place order such as social isolation and feelings of disconnection may be associated with poor mental health outcomes including depression, anxiety, and suicidality; physical health outcomes measured by increased physician visits, decreased immune response, inflammation, and decreased cognition; and behavioral effects such as decreased physical activity and decreased sleep.
Conclusion: More studies should be conducted to understand the impact of social distancing and sheltering-in-place in elderly American populations. Social distancing, while important and effective in combating the spread of disease to vulnerable populations in the community, comes at the cost of mental and physical health. The elderly population is vulnerable both to Covid as well as loneliness and social isolation. Therefore, it is important to implement interventions to protect older populations from the negative health effects of loneliness while still taking measures to protect them against Covid-19. Such interventions will be useful in continuing through the aftermath of the pandemic as well as future cases in which social distancing or sheltering-in-place may be necessary again.