Are non-face-to-face interactions an effective strategy for maintaining mental and physical health?. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Katayama, Osamu; Lee, Sangyoon; Bae, Seongryu; Makino, Keitaro; Chiba, Ippei; Harada, Kenji; Morikawa, Masanori; Tomida, Kouki; Shimada, Hiroyuki
• Is Part Of: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics. Volume 98(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: interactions -- depressive symptoms -- frailty -- COVID-19; Aging -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 305.26
• DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104560
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-4943

Abstract

Highlights: This study assessed the interaction status of older adults. The interaction status was associated with the mental and physical health. Interaction status to maintain mental and physical health will be different. 1 Abstract: Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to social isolation measures, forcing many people to stay indoors, stop daily outdoor activities, and limit face-to-face social interactions with friends, colleagues, and family. This study aimed to identify if non-face-to-face interaction affects depressive symptoms and frailty in older adults. Methods: We included 3834 older adults (age: 71.1 ± 6.9 [mean ± standard deviation] years; range: 60–96 years; 2153 women) from the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology–Study of Geriatric Syndromes. Interaction status was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Participants were categorized into: "both interactions" (both face-to-face and non-face-to-face interactions), "face-to-face only" (only face-to-face interactions), "non-face-to-face only" (only non-face-to-face interactions), "no interactions" (neither face-to-face nor non-face-to-face interactions) groups. Depressive symptoms and frailty were measured using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale and Kihon Checklist, respectively. Results: Potential confounding factors-adjusted odds ratios for both, face-to-face only and non-face-to-face only groups for developing depressive symptoms were 0.39 (95%CI, 0.26–0.57; p<0.001), 0.56 (95%CI, 0.38–0.84; p=0.004), and 0.51 (95%CI, 0.27–0.96; p=0.038), respectively, and those for development of frailty were 0.44 (95%CI, 0.30–0.65; p<0.001), 0.59 (95%CI, 0.39–0.87; p=0.008), and 0.63 (95%CI, 0.34–1.15; p=0.128), respectively. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that non-face-to-face interactions are also important in preventing the deterioration of mental health, which is a concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, non-face-to-face interactions alone may not be sufficient to maintain physical health, and it is important to maintain opportunities for face-to-face interaction among older adults, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.