The predictive role of social isolation in COVID-19 anxiety among older adults

Abstract Background COVID-19 is one of the most significant diseases that has spread in the present century. Older adults have been greatly affected by the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social isolation is one of the challenges of modern aging that leads to various detrimental cond...

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Main Authors: Bahrami Mahdie, Marzieh Khatooni, Mojtaba Senmar, Hosseinali Movahedeh, Fateme Zarei, Seyedeh Ameneh Motalebi, Mohammad Amerzadeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Geriatrics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06046-w
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author Bahrami Mahdie
Marzieh Khatooni
Mojtaba Senmar
Hosseinali Movahedeh
Fateme Zarei
Seyedeh Ameneh Motalebi
Mohammad Amerzadeh
author_facet Bahrami Mahdie
Marzieh Khatooni
Mojtaba Senmar
Hosseinali Movahedeh
Fateme Zarei
Seyedeh Ameneh Motalebi
Mohammad Amerzadeh
author_sort Bahrami Mahdie
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background COVID-19 is one of the most significant diseases that has spread in the present century. Older adults have been greatly affected by the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social isolation is one of the challenges of modern aging that leads to various detrimental conditions for health. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the predictive role of social isolation in COVID-19 anxiety among older adults. Methods This cross-sectional study with a descriptive-analytical approach was conducted in 2023. A total of 300 older adults were included in the study through cluster sampling from three districts in Qazvin City, Iran based on inclusion criteria. Data collection involved demographic information questionnaires, the COVID-19 Anxiety Questionnaire, and the Social Isolation Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using descriptive tests and multivariate regression analysis with the SPSS 23 software. Results The mean and standard deviation of COVID-19 anxiety and social isolation among the participants were 10.99 and 28.10, respectively. The results of the multivariable regression model indicated that marital status (P = 0.04, β = 0.14), COVID-19-related deaths in the family (P = 0.02, β = 0.14), and social isolation (P = 0.03, β=-0.13) were associated with COVID-19 anxiety among older adults. Conclusion The findings of this study indicated that social isolation can predict COVID-19 anxiety in older adults. It is expected that policymakers and family members of older adults will take steps to enhance community-oriented approaches, such as group meetings and face-to-face visits, while adhering to the relevant health protocols.
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spelling doaj-art-c6b3a069d5084ff7b09219a476fa714a2025-08-20T02:00:09ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182025-05-012511810.1186/s12877-025-06046-wThe predictive role of social isolation in COVID-19 anxiety among older adultsBahrami Mahdie0Marzieh Khatooni1Mojtaba Senmar2Hosseinali Movahedeh3Fateme Zarei4Seyedeh Ameneh Motalebi5Mohammad Amerzadeh6Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical ScienceNon-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical ScienceNon-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical ScienceDepartment of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Qazvin University of Medical ScienceDepartment of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Qazvin University of Medical ScienceNon-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical ScienceNon-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical ScienceAbstract Background COVID-19 is one of the most significant diseases that has spread in the present century. Older adults have been greatly affected by the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social isolation is one of the challenges of modern aging that leads to various detrimental conditions for health. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the predictive role of social isolation in COVID-19 anxiety among older adults. Methods This cross-sectional study with a descriptive-analytical approach was conducted in 2023. A total of 300 older adults were included in the study through cluster sampling from three districts in Qazvin City, Iran based on inclusion criteria. Data collection involved demographic information questionnaires, the COVID-19 Anxiety Questionnaire, and the Social Isolation Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using descriptive tests and multivariate regression analysis with the SPSS 23 software. Results The mean and standard deviation of COVID-19 anxiety and social isolation among the participants were 10.99 and 28.10, respectively. The results of the multivariable regression model indicated that marital status (P = 0.04, β = 0.14), COVID-19-related deaths in the family (P = 0.02, β = 0.14), and social isolation (P = 0.03, β=-0.13) were associated with COVID-19 anxiety among older adults. Conclusion The findings of this study indicated that social isolation can predict COVID-19 anxiety in older adults. It is expected that policymakers and family members of older adults will take steps to enhance community-oriented approaches, such as group meetings and face-to-face visits, while adhering to the relevant health protocols.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06046-wSocial isolationOlder adultsCOVID-19 anxiety
spellingShingle Bahrami Mahdie
Marzieh Khatooni
Mojtaba Senmar
Hosseinali Movahedeh
Fateme Zarei
Seyedeh Ameneh Motalebi
Mohammad Amerzadeh
The predictive role of social isolation in COVID-19 anxiety among older adults
BMC Geriatrics
Social isolation
Older adults
COVID-19 anxiety
title The predictive role of social isolation in COVID-19 anxiety among older adults
title_full The predictive role of social isolation in COVID-19 anxiety among older adults
title_fullStr The predictive role of social isolation in COVID-19 anxiety among older adults
title_full_unstemmed The predictive role of social isolation in COVID-19 anxiety among older adults
title_short The predictive role of social isolation in COVID-19 anxiety among older adults
title_sort predictive role of social isolation in covid 19 anxiety among older adults
topic Social isolation
Older adults
COVID-19 anxiety
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06046-w
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