Loneliness Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Are Unpartnered and Childless Older Adults at Higher Risk?

Objectives: COVID-19 mitigation efforts had the potential to exacerbate loneliness among older adults, particularly for the unpartnered or childless, yet COVID-19 loneliness among these groups remains unstudied. Methods: Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) collected before (October 2019- March 2020) and during the pandemic (June-August 2020), we examine two loneliness outcomes: 1) “have you felt lonely recently?” (both waves), and 2) “have you felt lonelier than before the pandemic?” (2020), and explore differences by partnership and parenthood status. Results: Before COVID-19, those who lacked one tie but had the other (unpartnered parents or partnered childless) were at highest loneliness risk. During COVID-19, unpartnered and childless—especially unpartnered—remain at higher risk for loneliness, entering loneliness, and not “exiting” loneliness. Discussion: We discuss these findings in light of family norms and needs in pandemic and non-pandemic times, and provide recommendations for future research.