Abstract This session will discuss hearing loss and vision impairment as modifiable risk factors for social isolation, loneliness, and mood disorders from both epidemiologic and intervention perspectives. Prevalence of hearing and vision loss is high; two-thirds of older adults have hearing loss and over one-quarter have vision impairment. Hearing loss and vision impairment have been linked to poor cognitive and physical health but remain understudied in the context of social and mental health in large, population-based studies. Research gaps remain in measurement (findings typically based on subjective assessments) and generalizability. This session will investigate associations between objectively measured hearing, vision, and dual sensory loss on social isolation and mood disorders using a sample nationally representative of older adults in the US. This session will also describe potential mechanistic and environmental factors, such as fatigue and exclusion of hearing loss and vision impairment in health care settings that may explain observed associations. Whether treatment of hearing loss and vision impairment is an effective intervention for improving social and mental health is unknown. We will conclude by presenting findings from a randomized controlled trial designed to test whether a hearing intervention consisting of provision of hearing aids and related technologies, counseling, and education could reduce cognitive decline in older adults with untreated hearing loss. We focus on the effect of hearing intervention on social isolation and loneliness, both pre-specified outcomes of this trial. This is a Loneliness and Social Isolation Interest Group Sponsored Symposium. This is a collaborative symposium between the Loneliness and Social Isolation and Sensory Health Interest Groups.

Background and Objectives The present study examined the measurement quality and performance of an abbreviated Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6) in three ethnic groups (Chinese, Koreans, and Vietnamese) of older Asian Americans, addressing both within- and cross-group validations. Research Design and Methods We selected 605 participants aged 50 or older (242 Chinese, 150 Koreans, and 213 Vietnamese) from the 2015 Asian American Quality of Life survey, conducted with self-identified Asian Americans aged 18 or above living in central Texas. We analyzed LSNS-6 data on measurement qualities (internal consistency and corrected item-total correlation), dimensionality (exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses), and correlations with other indicators. Results LSNS-6 showed very good internal consistency in each ethnic group, and the two-factor structure of family and friends were invariant across the groups. The items on friends demonstrated greater homogeneity than those on family and emerged as a first factor. Both subscale and total scores of LSNS-6 were associated in expected directions with the social and health indicators considered. Discussion and Implications The findings confirm the measurement qualities of LSNS-6 within each group and provide support for measurement invariance across the groups. While the observed difference in family and friend networks warrants further investigation, LSNS-6 serves as a viable option for the assessment of social networks. When using LSNS-6 with older Asian Americans, it is highly recommended to use the family/friend subscales in consideration of cultural and immigration contexts.

Social isolation and its consequences are a critical challenge facing the social work profession. This chapter reviews the literature on the biopsychosocial consequences of social isolation and the risk factors for experiencing social isolation and loneliness across the life span. Associations between stigma, marginalization, systemic oppression, and social isolation are also examined. The risks for and consequences of social isolation among children/youth and families, during midlife, and among older adults are also explored. This chapter includes discussions of the protective aspects of social support and the ways in which social support may buffer stress across the life span. The history of research on social isolation, with updated information on the current state of research in this area, are presented. Last, research on interventions to increase social support and decrease isolation, and examples of specific interventions are considered.

T he peer-review process is critical to ensuring the quality and rigor of the work published by the Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research ( JSSWR). Peer reviews are the core of good scholarly publishing and a hallmark of all reputable journals. The peer reviewers listed here contributed their time and talents in 2021 to provide thoughtful, constructive critiques and encourage authors to produce their best written work. These reviewers have played a vital role in maintaining JSSWR’s high standards and commitment to timely dissemination of innovative research. Indeed, the time and effort that our peer reviewers dedicate to providing well-considered feedback on JSSWR submissions is a contribution not only to the journal but also to the social work field. The responsiveness of our reviewers has enabled JSSWR to maintain its commitment to high-quality, rapid review of manuscripts, with authors receiving a decision within 25 days of submission, on average. As a gesture of our appreciation to the referees who have given of their time and expertise, we would like to formally thank them for their service to the journal in 2021.

The COVID-19 global pandemic and subsequent public health social measures have challenged our social and economic life, with increasing concerns around potentially rising levels of social isolation and loneliness. This paper is based on cross-sectional online survey data (available in 10 languages, from 2 June to 16 November 2020) with 20,398 respondents from 101 different countries. It aims to help increase our understanding of the global risk factors that are associated with social isolation and loneliness, irrespective of culture or country, to support evidence-based policy, services and public health interventions. We found the prevalence of severe loneliness was 21% during COVID-19 with 6% retrospectively reporting severe loneliness prior to the pandemic. A fifth were defined as isolated based on their usual connections, with 13% reporting a substantial increase in isolation during COVID-19. Personal finances and mental health were overarching and consistently cross-cutting predictors of loneliness and social isolation, both before and during the pandemic. With the likelihood of future waves of COVID-19 and related restrictions, it must be a public health priority to address the root causes of loneliness and social isolation and, in particular, address the needs of specific groups such as carers or those living alone.

Abstract Loneliness and social isolation as antecedents of cognitive decline have received substantial attention in recent research. This symposium addresses this year’s conference theme of aging in the “new normal”. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the negative impacts of loneliness and social isolation on older adults’ health and wellbeing. This symposium includes studies that shed light on the relationships between loneliness, social isolation and cognitive health using a multidisciplinary approach, and provide recommendations and future directions for advancing this research area. The first presentation examines cardiovascular biomarkers as potential mechanisms that mediate the longitudinal relationship between loneliness and cognitive decline with the HRS dataset. The second presentation examines several social isolation indicators and their effects on cognitive decline in a Canadian longitudinal study. Using the US ADRC longitudinal study of aging, the third study shows the effect of loneliness on cognitive health in older adults pre- and post-onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The symposium concludes with a literature review of the different measures employed to operationalize the constructs of loneliness, isolation, which resulted in heterogeneous study findings on their influences on the risk of developing dementia. This review calls for consistent measures to produce comparable evidence on the health consequences of loneliness and isolation. In all, this symposium reports and reviews the latest evidence on the association between social isolation, loneliness and cognitive health amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It also echoes the conference theme of transforming disruption to opportunities in aging health service and research.

Abstract In the United States, the field of social work faces a critical shortage of students and faculty with expertise in gerontology needed to meet the growing needs of an aging society. To help recruit, train, and retain aging-related social work practitioners, researchers, and educators, the Association for Gerontological Education in Social Work (AGESW) created the Pre-Dissertation Fellowship Program in 2010. AGESW provides leadership in the areas of gerontological social work education, research, and policy and its PDFP was designed to support doctoral students in their education and future careers. In this 10th anniversary year of the PDFP, this symposium presents multiple perspectives of PDFP program evaluation. The first paper uses qualitative data from eight years of PDFP evaluations to identify types of professional skills attained through the program and areas of professional development missing from PDFP fellows’ home doctoral programs. The second paper uses quantitative data from a retrospective survey administered to PDFP alumni to describe their perspectives on the effects of the program. The third paper uses data from a retrospective survey of three cohorts of PDFP alumni to demonstrate the use of social network analysis for program evaluation. The fourth and final paper uses an idiographic approach to explain benefits of the PDFP from the perspectives of early stage scholars who participated in the program. Overall, the symposium provides evidence that suggests the effectiveness of the PDFP in building professional networks, mentoring doctoral students, and teaching academic skills and discusses using the PDFP model in other gerontological fields.

Abstract Social isolation and loneliness (SIL) are serious yet underappreciated public health risks for many older adults (AARP, 2018a). Strong evidence suggests that, for older adults, social isolation and loneliness are associated with an increased likelihood of early death, dementia, heart disease, and more (AARP, 2018b, Holt-Lunstad and Smith, 2016). While all ages may experience SIL, older adults are at increased risk because they are more likely to face predisposing factors such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and sensory impairments. Health care providers may be in the best position to identify older individuals who are at highest risk for SIL – individuals for whom the health care system may be the only point of contact with their broader community. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) developed a consensus study report on this issue. This symposium presents the study recommendations. Dr. Holt-Lunstad examines the recommendations to develop a more robust evidence base for effective assessment, prevention, and intervention strategies for social isolation and loneliness. Dr. Galambos examines the recommendations to translate current research into health care practices and to improve awareness of the health and medical impacts of SIL. Dr. Lustig examines the recommendations to strengthen ongoing education and training and to strengthen ties between the health care system and community-based resources. Dr. Demiris examines the role of technology across all of these recommendations. Loneliness and Social Isolation Interest Group Sponsored Symposium

Physical activity is one of the most promising nonpharmacological, noninvasive, and cost-effective methods of health-promotion, yet statistics show that only a small percentage of middle-aged and older adults engage in the recommended amount of regular exercise. This state of affairs is less likely due to a lack of knowledge about the benefits of exercise than to failures of motivation and self-regulatory mechanisms. Many types of intervention programs target exercise in later life, but they typically do not achieve sustained behavior change, and there has been very little increase in the exercise rate in the population over the last decade. The goal of this paper is to consider the use of effective low-cost motivational and behavioral strategies for increasing physical activity, which could have far-reaching benefits at the individual and population levels. We present a multicomponent framework to guide development of behavior change interventions to increase and maintain physical activity among sedentary adults and others at risk for health problems. This involves a personalized approach to motivation and behavior change, which includes social support, goal setting, and positive affect coupled with cognitive restructuring of negative and self-defeating attitudes and misconceptions. These strategies can lead to increases in exercise self-efficacy and control beliefs as well as self-management skills such as self-regulation and action planning, which in turn are expected to lead to long-term increases in activity. These changes in activity frequency and intensity can ultimately lead to improvements in physical and psychological well-being among middle-aged and older adults, including those from underserved, vulnerable populations. Even a modest increase in physical activity can have a significant impact on health and quality of life. Recommendations for future interventions include a focus on ways to achieve personalized approaches, broad outreach, and maintenance of behavior changes.

Social isolation is a silent killer -- as dangerous to health as smoking. National and global health organizations have underscored the hidden, deadly, and pervasive hazards stemming from feeling alone and abandoned. Our challenge is to educate the public on this health hazard, encourage health and human service professionals to address social isolation, and promote effective ways to deepen social connections and community for people of all ages.

The issue of social isolation and loneliness is gaining increasing attention as a pressing public health concern. Indeed, social relationships represent an integral part of older adults’ overall health and well-being, with research suggesting that social isolation carries a mortality risk similar to that of heavy smoking. Social engagement interventions include both strategies for enhancing the quantity and quality of interpersonal relationships as well as enhancing opportunities for older adults to fully participate in society. However, it is important to gain a better understanding of under what circumstances and for whom various types or aspects of social support matter for health and well-being. In this session, we will present papers exploring social engagement (or lack-there-of) as it relates to health/well-being within specific under-researched sub-groups of the older adult population. The first presentation uses time use data to explore differences the relationships between types of social activities and derived meaning/happiness, comparing Latinos and non-Latinos. The second will report on the findings of an intervention to simultaneously increase walking activity and social engagement for Chinese older adults. Next, analyses explore the extent to which face-to-face social interaction plays a mediating role in the relationship between mobile phone usage and loneliness among Japanese midlife/older adults. The final presentation proposes a typology, conceptual framework, and practice guidelines for incorporating peer-based strategies into physical activity interventions for older adults. A discussant will reflect on the contributions of these works toward the development of scholarship, policies and programs that may be beneficial for older adults.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of the Engaged4Life program, an intervention to encourage inactive community-dwelling older adults to embed physical activity, cognitive activity, and social interaction into their everyday lives in contexts that are personally meaningful and natural for them. Fifteen participants were randomized to the intervention group (technology-assisted self-monitoring of daily activity via pedometers and daily tablet-based surveys; psychoeducation + goal-setting via a 3-hour workshop; and peer mentoring via phone 2×/week for 2.5 weeks) and 15 to the control (technology-assisted self-monitoring only). Recruitment was shown to be feasible and efficient, but not able to reach the target for men. Retention rate was 83% and participants manifested high adherence and engagement with the intervention. Though this pilot trial was not powered to demonstrate significant differences between groups, daily steps increased by 431 (11% increase) from baseline to Week 4 for the intervention (p < .05), but decreased by 458 for the control, for a net difference of 889 steps (p < .05). Findings were sustained at Week 8 (p < .01). In a future trial, difficulties in recruiting men, barriers due to the technology-intensive design, and the optimization of secondary outcome measures should be addressed.

Purpose: To perform a face validity study of the Spanish version of the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6) among Mexican and Mexican-American older adults. Design and Methods: A cross-national qualitative descriptive approach, based on cognitive survey testing and cross-cultural equivalence analysis, was followed to assess the face validity of the Spanish version of the LSNS-6. Data were collected through 2 focus groups in Los Angeles (LA) and 4 in Mexico City (CDMX). Focus groups followed a semi-structured guide. Eligibility criteria included being 60 years and older, native Spanish speaking, and not suffering from significant cognitive impairments. Four initial focus groups were targeted at conducting a face validity assessment of the initial scale, which led to some modifications. The two remaining focus groups reassessed the face validity of the modified version of the Spanish LSNS-6. Results: 56 older adults participated in the focus groups yielding 152 pages of verbatim transcripts. Analysis of the transcripts identified relevant themes affecting how Mexican and Mexican American older adults understood the items from the LSNS-6 Spanish version, among them: labelling of family members and friends, notions of neighborhood, identifying and counting people, and understanding of “private matters”. This led to propose a modified Spanish version of the LSNS-6 following a name generating approach, as well as some language and instruction modifications. The face validity of the modified version suggested a better understanding. Implications: The study proposes that the LSNS-6 Spanish version needs to be adapted for its use among Mexican and Mexican American older adults, and we suggest a modified version. This potentially implies that social isolation may be more accurately measured in a vulnerable group of older adults. Further research is needed to ascertain the construct validity and psychometric properties of the modified version.

Research has pointed to the relationship between social network and health in late life. However, it is still unclear whether greater network resources are responsible for better health or whether people with better health tend to recruit and maintain more social ties. This symposium attempts to disentangle the network/ health nexus by means of uniquely appropriate longitudinal databases that employ state-of--the-art social network inventories. We focus, especially, on data derived from name-generating network mechanisms. The papers also address a range of populations. The study by van Tilburg and Broese van Groenou looks at 25 years of data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) and finds that social networks are influenced by cognitive health, but also protect against mortality. Using data from the German Ageing Survey (DEAS), Deindl and Brandt discovered effects of health on social networks over time and vice versa. Schwartz and Litwin employed structural equation modeling to examine data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The results show that social networks and mental health have a reciprocal relationship, but the effect of mental health is stronger. Webster, Ajrouch and Antonucci examined two waves of data (1992; 2015) from the longitudinal Social Relations Study in Detroit and found that later-life health and relationship transitions are inter-connected and moderated by education. Finally, the study by Chi looks at three groups of Chinese older adults in immigrant, transnational, and nonmigrant families, and finds that worry about future health needs are moderated by network factors.