Changes in Social Network Size and Older Adults’ Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Structural characteristics of older adults’ social networks, including network size, affect mental and physical health, while health conditions can also spur changes in network size. Understanding these patterns is particularly important during a global pandemic that disrupted many older adults’ social connections and health. Using nationally representative survey data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (n = 2869), models examine (1) pre-pandemic depressive symptoms, chronic conditions, and self-rated health predicting personal network size stability, growth, and contraction over the early pandemic and (2) how changes in network size predict health. Results indicate that greater pre-pandemic chronic conditions and worse self-rated health predict network contraction during the pandemic, while greater pre-pandemic depressive symptoms predict network growth. Network contraction predicts higher depressive levels. Results speak to older adults’ poor physical health increasing risks to social resources, while network contraction presents risks to mental health during a global health crisis.