There is evidence that the COVID-19 epidemic has had a substantial influence on the mental health of older adults living in the community, particularly those who are lonely.

After analyzing the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), a team of researchers from across the country found an increase in the percentage of adults 50 and older who had moderate or severe depressive symptoms at first of the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than any other pandemic-related stressor, loneliness was the most significant predictor of developing depression symptoms.

Nature Aging published the research today.

As a professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact and scientific director of the Institute for Research on Aging at McMaster University, Parminder Raina led the study.

In the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging since 2011, those who were socially isolated had poor health, and were of the lower socioeconomic class were more likely to have deteriorating depression compared to their pre-pandemic depression status.”

In addition to McGill University CLSA principal investigator Christina Wolfson, Dalhousie University CLSA principal investigator Susan Kirkland, and McMaster University CLSA principal investigator Lauren Griffith, a national team of researchers working on the project.

Survey data from telephone and web surveys were used to explore how characteristics such as income and social participation affected the prevalence of depressive symptoms during initial lockdown beginning in March 2020 and after reopening following the first wave of COVID-19 in Canada.

A greater likelihood of moderate or high levels of depressive symptoms that worsened over time was associated with caregiving responsibilities, separation from family, conflict in the family, and loneliness.

A greater number of women also reported a greater amount of separation from family, increased time spent caring for others, and other barriers to caregiving during the pandemic.

In general, older persons were twice as likely to experience depressive symptoms during the pandemic than they were prior to it. Because of pre-existing health conditions or concerns raised during the pandemic, those with lower incomes and poorer health had a greater impact.

Research shows that the pandemic’s negative psychological effects remain and may worsen over time, highlighting the need for personalized interventions to address pandemic stressors and reduce their influence on the mental health of older persons, Raina continued.

COVID-19 results are the first published from the CLSA, a national research platform on aging that recruited more than 50,000 middle-aged and older adults. Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Canada Foundation for Innovation are funding the platform.