Exploring Social Support Strategies and Socio-Cultural Factors Influencing Social Isolation and Loneliness: The Role of Digital Literacy.

Publication date: Oct 29, 2024

Social isolation (SI) and loneliness (L) are the long-standing critical concerns impacting the mental well-being of older adults. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities, leading to a notable rise in perceived social isolation (PSI) and its associated risks among an aging population. Reportedly, nearly 35% of older Americans felt lonely before the pandemic, with the pandemic further intensifying these feelings. This commentary examines the multifaceted factors contributing to PSI, including demographic and socio-economic characteristics. We outline the health risks associated with PSI, including cardiovascular diseases and mental health conditions. This commentary addresses the potential of information and communication technology (ICT) to alleviate loneliness, despite significant barriers such as the digital divide and technological anxiety among older adults. This commentary advocates targeted digital literacy interventions and theoretical frameworks to enhance technology adoption and mitigate PSI, ultimately aiming to improve health outcomes and quality of life for the aging population.

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Concepts Keywords
Americans aging
Covid COVID-19
Economic loneliness
Healthcare mental health
Pandemic social isolation

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH Loneliness
disease IDO role
disease MESH COVID-19 pandemic
disease MESH cardiovascular diseases
disease MESH anxiety
disease IDO quality
drug DRUGBANK Coenzyme M
disease MESH tics
disease MESH living alone
disease MESH chronic illnesses
disease MESH frailty
disease MESH hikikomori
disease MESH social vulnerabilities
disease MESH marital status
disease MESH morbidities
disease MESH depression
disease MESH premature mortality
disease MESH cardiovascular risk factors
disease MESH infection
disease MESH cardiac disorders
disease MESH physiological stress response
disease MESH lifestyle factors
disease MESH insomnia
disease MESH physical inactivity
disease MESH privacy
disease IDO intervention
disease IDO process
drug DRUGBANK Silver
drug DRUGBANK (S)-Des-Me-Ampa
disease MESH education level
disease MESH death
disease MESH syndrome
drug DRUGBANK Trestolone
disease MESH social phobia
disease MESH myocardial infarction
disease MESH stroke
disease MESH heart failure
disease MESH chronic pain
drug DRUGBANK Boron
disease MESH schizophrenia

Original Article

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