Social Contact, Emotional Support, and Anxiety during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Older Adults with Chronic Conditions

Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic may contribute to heightened anxiety among older adults with chronic conditions, which might be attenuated by social resources. This study examined how social contact and emotional support were linked to anxiety symptoms among adults aged 50 and older with chronic conditions, and whether these links varied by age. Methods Participants included 705 adults (M = 64.61 years, SD = 8.85, range = 50- 94) from Michigan (82.4%) and 33 other U.S. states who reported at least one chronic condition and completed an anonymous online survey between May 14 and July 9, 2020. Results Multiple regression models revealed among younger people, those reporting more frequent social contact had significantly lower anxiety symptoms. Emotional support was not significantly associated with anxiety symptoms. Conclusions More frequent social contact was linked to lower anxiety symptoms for younger but not older individuals. Emotional support was not significantly associated with anxiety symptoms. Clinical Implications Interventions to manage anxiety during the pandemic among older adults with chronic conditions may benefit from strategies to safely increase social contact, especially for middle-aged adults.