MPC Member Publications

This database contains a listing of population studies publications written by MPC Members. Anyone can add a publication by an MPC student, faculty, or staff member to this database; new citations will be reviewed and approved by MPC administrators.

Full Citation

Title: OLDER AMERICANS LIVING ALONE: AN INTERSECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL ISOLATION RISKS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2022

DOI: 10.1093/GERONI/IGAC059.2628

Abstract: More Americans aged 50-75 are living alone than ever before (about a third of adults over 60 live alone today–see Ausubel 2020; Esteve 2020), placing older adults at risk of social isolation, and especially so during COVID-19. Not only do demographers’ project the rate of older adults living alone will continue to rise, but they also predict increasing racial disparities due to differential population aging rates (Verdery and Margolis 2017). We pinpoint two mediators of social isolation: employment status and living arrangements, drawing on panel data from the Current Population Survey, from January 2018 through August 2021 (N = 83,232), to investigate whether the pandemic increased disparities in vulnerabilities to social isolation across different subgroups. We use an intersectional lens to consider the experiences of population groups defined by gender, age, race/ethnicity and social class. We know that employment has important protective health benefits (Berkman, et al. 2000; Kelly, et al. 2017). Living arrangements condition social isolation, especially in terms of living alone (Cudjoe, et al. 2020). The aim of our study is twofold. First, we aim to show how the dynamics of living alone and employment participation for older adults change between the immediate pre-Covid period and Covid period, using COVID-19 as a natural experiment in precipitating change. Second, we show how demographic characteristics intersect to structure vulnerability to social isolation during the same period. Our results demonstrate the risks of social isolation are not evenly distributed, suggesting the need for policies and practices promoting social inclusion.

Url: https://academic.oup.com/innovateage/article/6/Supplement_1/720/6939568

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Gudjonsson, Milan Chang; Michelet, Mona; Strand, Bjørn Heine; Bokun, Anna; Flood, Sarah; Moen, Phyllis

Periodical (Full): Innovation in Aging

Issue: Supplement_1

Volume: 6

Pages: 720-720

Countries:

IPUMS NHGIS NAPP IHIS ATUS Terrapop