Factors related to social disconnectedness among older unpaid caregivers
BackgroundOlder unpaid caregivers often face social isolation and loneliness, yet risk factors for social disconnection remain largely unexplored. As the demand for unpaid caregiving rises with an aging population, there is a need for targeted interventions to reduce social disconnectedness in this...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1589103/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850141294192492544 |
|---|---|
| author | Moka Yoo-Jeong Jonathan Singer Caroline D. Bergeron Jodi L. Southerland Hye Won Chai Andrew C. Pickett Yuanjin Zhou Christian E. Vazquez Juanita-Dawne Bacsu Katherine Kwong Wonkyung Jung Tiffany R. Washington Marcia G. Ory Marcia G. Ory Matthew Lee Smith Matthew Lee Smith |
| author_facet | Moka Yoo-Jeong Jonathan Singer Caroline D. Bergeron Jodi L. Southerland Hye Won Chai Andrew C. Pickett Yuanjin Zhou Christian E. Vazquez Juanita-Dawne Bacsu Katherine Kwong Wonkyung Jung Tiffany R. Washington Marcia G. Ory Marcia G. Ory Matthew Lee Smith Matthew Lee Smith |
| author_sort | Moka Yoo-Jeong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundOlder unpaid caregivers often face social isolation and loneliness, yet risk factors for social disconnection remain largely unexplored. As the demand for unpaid caregiving rises with an aging population, there is a need for targeted interventions to reduce social disconnectedness in this vulnerable group. This study aimed to identify determinants of social disconnectedness.MethodsData came from a sample of 701 unpaid caregivers aged 60 + who completed an internet-based survey assessing sociodemographics, health status, financial strain, social environment, and social disconnectedness. Four sequential regression models were used to identify the unique contribution of these factors related to social disconnectedness.ResultsThe first model (F = 3.94, p < 0.001, aR2 = 0.030) showed that older age (β = −0.15, p < 0.001), self-identifying as being Black (β = −0.10, p = 0.008), and higher education (β = −0.11, p = 0.041) were associated with lower social disconnectedness. Adding health factors in the second model (F = 15.33, p < 0.001, aR2 = 0.170) revealed that, in addition to age and education, chronic conditions (β = 0.12, p = 0.001) and possible depression (β = 0.35, p < 0.001) were associated with social disconnectedness. Including financial strain in the third model (F = 15.52, p < 0.001, aR2 = 0.212) showed that household income (β = −0.10, p = 0.012) and financial stress (β = 0.18, p < 0.001) were additionally associated with social disconnectedness. The final model (F = 23.42, p < 0.001, aR2 = 0.366) that included social environmental factors showed that age (β = −0.07, p = 0.033), possible depression (β = 0.22, p < 0.001), financial stress (β = 0.16, p < 0.001), and levels of community belonging (β = −0.20–0.58, p < 0.001) were significantly related to the risk of disconnectedness.ConclusionFindings highlight possible intervention targets that have the potential to reduce social disconnectedness among older unpaid caregivers. Particularly, addressing depressive symptoms, reducing financial stress, and enhancing community belonging are essential components to mitigate social disconnectedness risk in this population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6b842f9d385c421d9c52294b2aa8be86 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-6b842f9d385c421d9c52294b2aa8be862025-08-20T02:29:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-04-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15891031589103Factors related to social disconnectedness among older unpaid caregiversMoka Yoo-Jeong0Jonathan Singer1Caroline D. Bergeron2Jodi L. Southerland3Hye Won Chai4Andrew C. Pickett5Yuanjin Zhou6Christian E. Vazquez7Juanita-Dawne Bacsu8Katherine Kwong9Wonkyung Jung10Tiffany R. Washington11Marcia G. Ory12Marcia G. Ory13Matthew Lee Smith14Matthew Lee Smith15School of Nursing, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United StatesDepartment of Psychological Sciences Texas Tech University, Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United StatesLIFE Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, CanadaDepartment of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United StatesInstitute for Engaged Aging, Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United StatesDepartment of Health and Wellness Design, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United StatesSteve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United StatesSchool of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United StatesSchool of Nursing, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, Canada0Department of Human Development, Connecticut College, New London, CT, United States1Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States2College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States3Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States4Center for Community Health and Aging, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States4Center for Community Health and Aging, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States5Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United StatesBackgroundOlder unpaid caregivers often face social isolation and loneliness, yet risk factors for social disconnection remain largely unexplored. As the demand for unpaid caregiving rises with an aging population, there is a need for targeted interventions to reduce social disconnectedness in this vulnerable group. This study aimed to identify determinants of social disconnectedness.MethodsData came from a sample of 701 unpaid caregivers aged 60 + who completed an internet-based survey assessing sociodemographics, health status, financial strain, social environment, and social disconnectedness. Four sequential regression models were used to identify the unique contribution of these factors related to social disconnectedness.ResultsThe first model (F = 3.94, p < 0.001, aR2 = 0.030) showed that older age (β = −0.15, p < 0.001), self-identifying as being Black (β = −0.10, p = 0.008), and higher education (β = −0.11, p = 0.041) were associated with lower social disconnectedness. Adding health factors in the second model (F = 15.33, p < 0.001, aR2 = 0.170) revealed that, in addition to age and education, chronic conditions (β = 0.12, p = 0.001) and possible depression (β = 0.35, p < 0.001) were associated with social disconnectedness. Including financial strain in the third model (F = 15.52, p < 0.001, aR2 = 0.212) showed that household income (β = −0.10, p = 0.012) and financial stress (β = 0.18, p < 0.001) were additionally associated with social disconnectedness. The final model (F = 23.42, p < 0.001, aR2 = 0.366) that included social environmental factors showed that age (β = −0.07, p = 0.033), possible depression (β = 0.22, p < 0.001), financial stress (β = 0.16, p < 0.001), and levels of community belonging (β = −0.20–0.58, p < 0.001) were significantly related to the risk of disconnectedness.ConclusionFindings highlight possible intervention targets that have the potential to reduce social disconnectedness among older unpaid caregivers. Particularly, addressing depressive symptoms, reducing financial stress, and enhancing community belonging are essential components to mitigate social disconnectedness risk in this population.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1589103/fullunpaid caregiversolder adultssocial environmentfinancial strainsocial disconnectedness |
| spellingShingle | Moka Yoo-Jeong Jonathan Singer Caroline D. Bergeron Jodi L. Southerland Hye Won Chai Andrew C. Pickett Yuanjin Zhou Christian E. Vazquez Juanita-Dawne Bacsu Katherine Kwong Wonkyung Jung Tiffany R. Washington Marcia G. Ory Marcia G. Ory Matthew Lee Smith Matthew Lee Smith Factors related to social disconnectedness among older unpaid caregivers Frontiers in Public Health unpaid caregivers older adults social environment financial strain social disconnectedness |
| title | Factors related to social disconnectedness among older unpaid caregivers |
| title_full | Factors related to social disconnectedness among older unpaid caregivers |
| title_fullStr | Factors related to social disconnectedness among older unpaid caregivers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors related to social disconnectedness among older unpaid caregivers |
| title_short | Factors related to social disconnectedness among older unpaid caregivers |
| title_sort | factors related to social disconnectedness among older unpaid caregivers |
| topic | unpaid caregivers older adults social environment financial strain social disconnectedness |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1589103/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mokayoojeong factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers AT jonathansinger factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers AT carolinedbergeron factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers AT jodilsoutherland factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers AT hyewonchai factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers AT andrewcpickett factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers AT yuanjinzhou factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers AT christianevazquez factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers AT juanitadawnebacsu factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers AT katherinekwong factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers AT wonkyungjung factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers AT tiffanyrwashington factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers AT marciagory factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers AT marciagory factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers AT matthewleesmith factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers AT matthewleesmith factorsrelatedtosocialdisconnectednessamongolderunpaidcaregivers |