The Association Between Online Social Network Support and Fear of COVID-19 Among Older Adults

Public health concerns related to the COVID-19 health crisis are particularly salient among older adults. Fear surrounding COVID-19 has also been associated with increased spread, morbidity, and mortality of the disease. Prior to the pandemic, loneliness and social isolation were already a concern for older adults, and the pandemic further constrained how older adults may socially connect with others because of public health safety precautions. Online social networks are a valuable form of support for older adults, and usage of online social networks during the pandemic may have expanded. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the association between online social networks and fear of COVID-19 among older adults. A convenience sample (n = 239) of adults 60+ years of age in the U.S. completed a 20-minute, online survey. The independent variable utilized the Lubben Social Network Scale (four items), focusing on online support. The dependent variable was measured by the Fear of COVID-19 scale (eight items). Results of ordinary least squares regression show that increased online social network support was significantly associated with decreased fear of COVID-19 (p < 0.05), while holding constant age, sex, race, marital status, education, whether a respondent lives alone, and self-rated health. Findings highlight the importance of online social networks for older adults during the COVID-19 crisis. Existing online networks which engage older adults should be expanded, and efforts should be made to provide older adults with online forms of social support who may experience barriers or inequities related to accessing technology.

Psychosocial burden and professional and social support in patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) and their relatives in Italy

Background Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR), alias ATTR variant (ATTRv) is a severe and disabling disease causing sensory and motor neuropathy, autonomic dysfunction, and cardiomyopathy. The progressive decline of patient’s functional autonomy negatively affects the patient’s quality of life and requires increasing involvement of relatives in the patient’s daily life. Family caregiving may become particularly demanding when the patient is no longer able to move independently. This study is focused on the psychosocial aspects of ATTRv from the patient and relative perspectives. In particular, it explored: the practical and psychological burdens experienced by symptomatic patients with ATTRv and their key relatives and the professional and social network support they may rely on; whether burden varied in relation to patients’ and relatives’ socio-demographic variables, patients’ clinical variables, and perceived professional and social network support; and, any difference in burden and support between patients and their matched relatives. Methods The study was carried out on symptomatic patients included in the ATTRv Italian national registry and living with at least one adult relative not suffering from severe illness and being free from ATTRv symptoms. Patients and relatives’ assessments were performed using validated self-reported tools. Results Overall, 141 patients and 69 relatives were evaluated. Constraints of leisure activities, feelings of loss and worries for the future were the consequences of ATTRv most frequently reported by patients and relatives. Both in patients and their relatives, the burden increased with the duration of symptoms and the level of help in daily activities needed by the patient. In the 69 matched patient-relative pairs, the practical burden was significantly higher among the patients than among their relatives, while the psychological burden was similar in the two groups. Moreover, compared to their relatives, patients with ATTRv reported higher levels of professional and social network support. Conclusions These results show that ATTRv is a disease affecting quality of life of both patients and their families. Supporting interventions should be guaranteed to patients, to facilitate their adaptation to the disease, and to their families, to cope as best as possible with the difficulties that this pathology may involve.

The role of social network support on treatment outcomes for medication for opioid use disorder: a systematic review protocol

Background Although medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) models are the most efficacious evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder, there remains a high percentage of patients experiencing unfavorable treatment outcomes. Greater understanding of how social network support functions with respect to MOUD treatment outcomes may possibly improve treatment outcomes. Social network support are the kinds of support, such as assistance or help, that people receive from friends, family, peers and neighbors, paid or unpaid, in their social network. We aim to provide quality evidence to understand the role of social network support on MOUD treatment outcomes. Methods A systematic review of experimental and observational studies will be conducted. PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and Sociological Abstracts will be searched. Primary outcomes will include adherence to MOUD, defined as continuation in or completion of an MOUD program; and opioid use, defined as the percentage of urine samples negative for opioids and/or self-reported drug use. The systematic review will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Quality assessments will be conducted using criteria from the Cochrane Handbook. A narrative synthesis will be conducted for all included studies. Discussion This systematic review seeks to provide policymakers, administrators, practitioners and researchers with a systematic and reproducible strategy to query the literature around the role of social network support on MOUD treatment outcomes. Systematic review registration International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), CRD42018095645.

We’re Lesbian Pioneers- We Can Manifest Good Death: EOL Experiences of Older LGB Women Who Have Lost a Spouse or Partner

Preparing for end-of-life (EOL) and identifying support systems are ways older lesbian, gay, and bisexual women (LGB) women can assert agency over EOL. This paper presents qualitative data from a sample of older LGB women 60+ who have lost a spouse or partner. Thematic analysis revealed four main categories of concern: 1) advance care documents and wills; 2) interactions with healthcare professionals; 3) discussions about EOL; and 4) social network support. The work also analyzed participants’ discussions of how they have changed since losing a loved one and how they now view preparation for EOL. Findings reveal the need for better communication between healthcare professionals and LGB women, better understanding of care options (e.g. hospice, palliative care) and deeper EOL conversations among loved ones. This work critically engages queer gerontology, providing an important foundation of how to better understand how older LGB women perceive needs and preferences for their EOL.

Mental Health, Sexual Orientation, and Perceived Social Network Support in Relation to Hazardous Alcohol Consumption Among Active Duty Military Men

Knowledge surrounding perceived network support and alcohol consumption among active duty U.S. military personnel is limited, particularly among sexual minorities. We sought to determine the correlates of hazardous alcohol consumption and whether perceived network support moderated the relationship between sexual orientation and Alcohol Use Identification Test (AUDIT-C) score. The sample comprised cisgender men currently serving in the U.S. military ( N = 292). Participants were recruited through respondent-driven sampling and completed an online survey. Logistic regression analysis evaluated associations between positive AUDIT-C with sociodemographic characteristics (including sexual orientation), military service, mental health, and perceived social network support. Interaction analysis assessed the moderating effect of perceived network support on sexual orientation and AUDIT-C. Among study participants, 52.7% (154/292) had positive AUDIT-C, while 65.4% (191/292) self-identified as heterosexual/straight and 34.6% (101/292) identified as gay or bisexual. In adjusted analysis, positive AUDIT-C was associated with increased post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology (adjusted odds ratio [adjOR] 1.03; 95% CI [1.00, 1.06]; p = .019) and high perceived network support (adjOR 1.85; 95% CI [1.04, 3.29]; p = .036), while mental health service utilization had reduced odds of positive AUDIT-C (adjOR 0.40; 95% CI [0.20, 0.78]; p = .007). In interaction analysis, high perceived network support was associated with increased odds of positive AUDIT-C among sexual minority men (adjOR 3.09; 95% CI [1.21, 7.93]; p = .019) but not heterosexual men (adjOR 1.38; 95% CI [0.68, 2.81]; p = .37). Hazardous alcohol use was prevalent among all men in our sample. Perceived social network support may influence hazardous alcohol consumption, particularly among sexual minority servicemen. These findings suggest the potential role of tailored social network-based interventions to decrease hazardous alcohol use among military personnel.