Ella Cohn?Schwartz|Adi Vitman-Schorr|Rabia Khalaila
Physical distancing is related to fewer electronic and in-person contacts and to increased loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic among older Europeans
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev|University of Haifa|Zefat Academic College
covid19 pandemic older adults asked maintain physical distancing linked loneliness older people encouraged use electronic communication stay socially connected remains open question whether electronic contacts related lower loneliness pandemic study examined associations physical distancing pandemic loneliness role inperson electronic contacts children nonkin explaining associations across european regionsthe study used data survey health ageing retirement europe share collected covid19 pandemic 2020 mediation moderation analyses tested direct indirect associations physical distancing contact frequency loneliness well differences across european regionsthe results indicate adults reported higher frequency physical distancing also felt lonelier pandemic association partly explained social contactsthose practiced physical distancing maintained less inperson contact children nonkin less electronic contact nonkin related feeling lonelier adults southern european countries felt lonelier reported frequent contacts moderation analyses showed link physical distancing loneliness found northern region southern eastern regions europethis study indicate attention paid adults may struggle maintain social contacts light physical distancing guidelines