Loneliness in Older Adults Living in Puerto Rico During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Underexamined Public Health Concern

Abstract

Few studies have examined the mental health of older adults in low resource settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used a negative binomial regression with a log linear link function to model the effects of demographic, health, and social factors and common pandemic-related experiences on loneliness in older adults in Puerto Rico. Data are from a 2021 Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices survey about COVID-19 with persons aged 60+ who reside in Puerto Rico (N = 213). Almost 40% of study participants met the loneliness cutoff score (≥6) on the UCLA Three-Item Loneliness Scale. Age, psychological distress, and psychological sense of community were associated with loneliness. We discuss cultural and contextual factors (e.g., familism, outmigration after Hurricane María, under-resourced healthcare system) that may influence loneliness. We conclude that culturally consonant and contextually feasible public health measures should focus on key correlates in developing loneliness interventions for older adults in Puerto Rico.