IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i23p16058-d989724.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Examining the Complex (Curvilinear and Contingent) Associations between Social Distancing Compliance and Subjective Health during a Global Health Crisis

Author

Listed:
  • Jong Hyun Jung

    (Department of Sociology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 03063, Republic of Korea)

  • Kyung Won Choi

    (Department of Sociology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA)

  • Harris Hyun-soo Kim

    (Department of Sociology, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated a potential curvilinear link between social distancing behavior and subjective health in later life. It also evaluated whether food insecurity and community social capital moderated the focal relationship. Methods: Data were drawn from three waves of the COVID Impact Survey (N = 19,234). Mixed-effects models were fitted. Results: Social distancing has a non-monotonic (U-shaped) relationship with subjective health, i.e., individuals with low and high levels of social distancing show relatively better health. Moreover, the negative linear relationship between social distancing and health is weaker among people suffering from food insecurity as well as those living in communities with lower stocks of social capital. Discussion: This study sheds new light on the health implications of social distancing during the pandemic. Our findings dovetail with the steeling hypothesis, i.e., that social distancing is less harmful for U.S. older adults exposed to prior stressful or vulnerable conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Jong Hyun Jung & Kyung Won Choi & Harris Hyun-soo Kim, 2022. "Examining the Complex (Curvilinear and Contingent) Associations between Social Distancing Compliance and Subjective Health during a Global Health Crisis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-15, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:23:p:16058-:d:989724
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/23/16058/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/23/16058/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vincenzo Alfano, 2022. "Does social capital enforce social distancing? The role of bridging and bonding social capital in the evolution of the pandemic," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 39(3), pages 839-859, October.
    2. Aparna Kumari & Tim G. Frazier, 2021. "Evaluating social capital in emergency and disaster management and hazards plans," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 109(1), pages 949-973, October.
    3. Theo G van Tilburg & Stephanie Steinmetz & Elske Stolte & Henriëtte van der Roest & Daniel H de Vries & Deborah Carr, 2021. "Loneliness and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study Among Dutch Older Adults," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(7), pages 249-255.
    4. Siyun Peng & Adam R Roth, 2022. "Social Isolation and Loneliness Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study of U.S. Adults Older Than 50," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 77(7), pages 185-190.
    5. Marie Kivi & Isabelle Hansson & Pär Bjälkebring & Derek M Isaacowitz, 2021. "Up and About: Older Adults’ Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Swedish Longitudinal Study," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(2), pages 4-9.
    6. Kang, Jeong-han & Kim, Jibum & Lee, Min-Ah, 2016. "Marital status and mortality: Does family structure in childhood matter?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 152-160.
    7. Anne C Krendl & Brea L Perry & Derek M Isaacowitz, 2021. "The Impact of Sheltering in Place During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adults’ Social and Mental Well-Being," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(2), pages 53-58.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Thomas Hansen & Thomas Sevenius Nilsen & Marit Knapstad & Vegard Skirbekk & Jens Skogen & Øystein Vedaa & Ragnhild Bang Nes, 2022. "Covid-fatigued? A longitudinal study of Norwegian older adults’ psychosocial well-being before and during early and later stages of the COVID-19 pandemic," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 463-473, September.
    2. Maria R. Dekker & Noud Frielink & Alexander H. C. Hendriks & Petri J. C. M. Embregts, 2022. "The General Public’s Perceptions of How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Impacted the Elderly and Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-13, March.
    3. Suzie Noten & Annerieke Stoop & Jasper De Witte & Elleke Landeweer & Floor Vinckers & Nina Hovenga & Leonieke C. van Boekel & Katrien G. Luijkx, 2022. "“Precious Time Together Was Taken Away”: Impact of COVID-19 Restrictive Measures on Social Needs and Loneliness from the Perspective of Residents of Nursing Homes, Close Relatives, and Volunteers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Vincenzo Alfano & Salvatore Ercolano, 2023. "Measuring Tight and Loose Cultures across NUTS-2 Regions: The Regional Index of Looseness," CESifo Working Paper Series 10731, CESifo.
    5. Deolfa Josè Moisès & Nnenesi Kgabi & Olivia Kunguma, 2023. "Integrating “Top-Down” and “Community-Centric” Approaches for Community-Based Flood Early Warning Systems in Namibia," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-17, October.
    6. Alfano, Vincenzo & Capasso, Salvatore & Ercolano, Salvatore & Goel, Rajeev K., 2022. "Death takes no bribes: Impact of perceived corruption on the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions at combating COVID-19," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    7. Latikka, Rita & Koivula, Aki & Oksa, Reetta & Savela, Nina & Oksanen, Atte, 2022. "Loneliness and psychological distress before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Relationships with social media identity bubbles," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    8. Eugenie Sin Sing Tan & Shaun Ashley Fung Xian Chin & Manimeyapan S. Palaniappan Sathapan & Astrid Disimond Dewi & Farahnaz Amini & Normina Ahmad Bustami & Pui Yee Tan & Yu Bin Ho & Chung Keat Tan, 2023. "Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observational Evidence from Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, February.
    9. Olenka Dworakowski & Zilla M. Huber & Tabea Meier & Ryan L. Boyd & Mike Martin & Andrea B. Horn, 2022. "You Do Not Have to Get through This Alone: Interpersonal Emotion Regulation and Psychosocial Resources during the COVID-19 Pandemic across Four Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-20, November.
    10. Gerrath, Maximilian H.E.E. & Mafael, Alexander & Ulqinaku, Aulona & Biraglia, Alessandro, 2023. "Service failures in times of crisis: An analysis of eWOM emotionality," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    11. Deborah J. Bowen & Kelly E. Rentscher & Amy Wu & Gwen Darien & Helen Ghirmai Haile & Jeanne Mandelblatt & Marion Kavanaugh-Lynch, 2021. "Learning from and Leveraging Multi-Level Changes in Responses to the COVID 19 Pandemic to Facilitate Breast Cancer Prevention Efforts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-12, June.
    12. Yu Song & Chenfei Qian & Susan Pickard, 2021. "Age-Related Digital Divide during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-13, October.
    13. Carmen M. Tyler & Grace B. McKee & Elisabet Alzueta & Paul B. Perrin & Kristine Kingsley & Fiona C. Baker & Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla, 2021. "A Study of Older Adults’ Mental Health across 33 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-15, May.
    14. Sumeet Lal & Trinh Xuan Thi Nguyen & Abdul-Salam Sulemana & Pattaphol Yuktadatta & Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan & Yoshihiko Kadoya, 2022. "A Longitudinal Study on Loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-17, September.
    15. Louise McCabe & Alison Dawson & Elaine Douglas & Nessa Barry, 2021. "Using Technology the Right Way to Support Social Connectedness for Older People in the Era of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-19, August.
    16. Pegah Derakhshan & William C. Miller & Jaimie Borisoff & Elham Esfandiari & Sue Forwell & Tal Jarus & Somayyeh Mohammadi & Isabelle Rash & Brodie Sakakibara & Julia Schmidt & Gordon Tao & Noah Tregobo, 2022. "Describing the Function, Disability, and Health of Adults and Older Adults during the Early Coronavirus Restrictions in 2019: An Online Survey," Disabilities, MDPI, vol. 2(4), pages 1-13, September.
    17. Sacramento Pinazo-Hernandis & Mauricio Blanco-Molina & Raúl Ortega-Moreno, 2022. "Aging in Place: Connections, Relationships, Social Participation and Social Support in the Face of Crisis Situations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-14, December.
    18. Hui Liu & Molly Copeland & Gerald Nowak & William J. Chopik & Jeewon Oh, 2023. "Marital Status Differences in Loneliness Among Older Americans During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(5), pages 1-25, October.
    19. Grace Achepohl & Catherine Heaney & Lisa G. Rosas & Jessie Moore & Tia Rich & Sandra J. Winter, 2022. "The Value of Contemplative Practices: A Mixed Methods Approach Exploring Associations between Resilience and Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-13, August.
    20. Jack Roberto Silva Fhon & Maritza Evangelina Villanueva-Benites & Maria del Pilar Goméz-Luján & Maria Rosario Mocarro-Aguilar & Orfelina Arpasi-Quispe & Reyna Ysmelia Peralta-Gómez & Sofia Sabina Lava, 2022. "The Mental Health of the Peruvian Older Adult during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-12, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:23:p:16058-:d:989724. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.