Virtual contact little help to aged: study

As the COVID -19 pandemic forced people to isolate in household “bubbles,” many turned to virtual means of communication, like texting, phone calls, Zoom and Facetime.

But researchers from the University of British Columbia and Lancaster University in the U.K. found digital technology may not be a boon for older people, and that virtual interaction among people age 60 and older actually led to increased feelings of loneliness.

The study, published Monday in Frontiers in Sociology, found that phone calls, text messages and online audio and video chats were poor substitutes for face-to-face meetups for older people.

“It's surprising that virtual contact was associated with greater loneliness and mental stress, but again, it's not so surprising because a wide range of studies has documented the digital burnout and stress experienced by some in the aging population,” said Dr. Yue Qian, a University of B.C. sociologist and study co-author.

After the study was featured in the British press, the authors received emails from seniors saying the findings hit close to home, she said.

“For people to really enjoy the benefits of digital technology requires access and know-how,” and being able to afford the equipment.

Older people were not exposed to digital technology as readily as younger people, and may have been less prepared for the sudden switch brought about by the pandemic, added Qian.

The study analyzed results from two longitudinal surveys using data from 5,148 people in the U.K. and 1,391 people in the U.S. They were surveyed before COVID -19 hit as well as during the pandemic, in June 2020.

The study found a “notable increase” in loneliness in the U.S. and a decline in mental health in the U.K. after the onslaught of COVID -19.

Older adults in both countries who had more frequent virtual contact were more likely to feel lonely, especially when face-toface contact was limited.

In contrast, more frequent in-person contact with family or friends resulted in improved mental well-being and less loneliness.