Diverse Contexts, Unique Experiences: Impact of Social Isolation on Psychosocial Factors and Cognition

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

2:30 PM – 4:00 PM ET

Location: 232 CC

Chair(s)

Jess Francis, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow
Institute for Social Research
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Slides

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

Jess Francis, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow
Institute for Social Research
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Slides
Jeewon Oh, PhD

Assistant Professor
Psychology
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York, United States
Ji Hyun Lee, PhD

Postdoctoral research fellow
Psychology
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Sungjae Hong, MPH

Graduate Student
Kinesiology and Community Health
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Champaign, Illinois, United States
JC

Jasmine Cooper, B.A.

Graduate Student
Psychology
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

The aging population is not a monolithic group. Older adults’ experiences of and behaviors within their social networks are as varied as their diverse backgrounds and lifestyles. Although the threat of social isolation is particularly salient among older adults, the psychosocial and cognitive impact can differ along demographic and socioeconomic lines. The objective of this symposium is to highlight how different older adults are effected by their social network characteristics and structure, and how they mobilize their psychosocial resources to protect against loneliness, depression, and threats to cognition. First, Hong & Mejia examine how older men and women compare in their use of information and communication technology (ICT) as each influenced the experience of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Francis & Brauer also look at ICT use as they assess demographic and socioeconomic differences in social isolation, perceived mattering, and Facebook use among single older adults who are childless and live alone. Oh & Chopik explore uncoupled older adults along demographic lines in a 10-year longitudinal study of single people, their perceptions of change, satisfaction with singlehood, and major life events. Further exploring the theme of well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cooper, Ajrouch, & Antonucci assess cognition, depressive symptoms, and their association with race among a sample of Whites, Blacks, and Arab Americans. Finally, Lee & Colleagues round out this symposium by sharing results of their study in which they examine the coping styles of non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks and the impact on cognition.

Learning Objectives:

After attending this session, participants will be able to identify different psychosocial and cognitive impacts of social isolation and social relations among older adults.
After this attending this session, participants will be able to understand the effects of varying demographic and socioeconomic contexts on social isolation and psychosocial and cognitive well-being among older adults.
After attending this session, participants will be able to identify different ways in which older adults access and mobilize their social networks to mitigate the threat of social isolation and cognitive impairment.

Presentations:

2:30 PM – 4:00 PM ET

Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Mattering Among Older Adult Facebook Users From Diverse Backgrounds
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Jess Francis, PhD – University of Michigan
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM ET

Navigating Life Uncoupled: Changes in Singlehood Satisfaction in Response to Major Life Events
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Jeewon Oh, PhD – Syracuse University
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM ET

Coping Styles and Cognitive Function in Older Non-Hispanic Black and White Adults
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Ji Hyun Lee, PhD – University of Michigan
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM ET

Social Resources and Stratified Experiences of ICT Use and Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Sungjae Hong, MPH – University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM ET

Depression, Social Relations, and Cognitive Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Jasmine Cooper, B.A. – University of Michigan