Facebook Indians: Social Isolation and Social Media Among Native Elders in the Age of COVID-19
Presenter Type
UNO Graduate Student (Doctoral)
Major/Field of Study
Gerontology
Advisor Information
Lyn Holley
Location
MBSC Ballroom Poster # 508 - G (Doctoral)
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
24-3-2023 2:30 PM
End Date
24-3-2023 3:45 PM
Abstract
Facebook Indians:
Social Isolation and Social Media
Among Native Elders in the Age of COVID-19
by
Kathleen C. Gallagher-Williams
In times of unprecedented public health crises such as COVID-19, marginalized populations are at higher risk for many reasons, including underlying health conditions, access to quality health care and exposure through work, family, or cultural obligations. Social distancing, as an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus, contributes to and escalates the social isolation of older adults, placing the older adult at acute risk of loneliness, and indirectly contributing to deterioration in both physical and mental health.
Research is needed to fill the gap in literature to inform policies and design governing services and practices intended to relieve social isolation and loneliness among American Indian Tribal Elders.
This project studies Native American Tribal Elders, and the perceived efficacy of their use of social media, specifically Facebook, to deter social isolation and loneliness during restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A survey to assess efficacy of using Facebook to address social isolation and loneliness was developed, and classified as “Exempt”, IRB #220-21-EX . Survey participants were invited to take part in the study via distribution of a flyer by well-respected Leaders in the local Native American community.
Survey items were based on the literature. Items on social isolation and loneliness were included as both have been associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes such as cognitive decline and impairment, which were indicated by items about feelings of loneliness or self-reported health.
The survey items used to indicate engagement with social media are focused on self-reporting of the time spent social networking on Facebook with friends and family. Survey items for each variable were drawn from relevant literatures.
The survey consists of multiple-choice questions that are answered three times:
1. Retrospectively for the time before the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
2. At the time they felt most concerned about contracting COVID-19 in their own community.
3. Currently.
Efficacy of social media in re amelioration of effects of loneliness will be indicated by relationship of change scores for self-rated health and loneliness to time spent on Facebook with friends and family.
This research will contribute to a baseline understanding of the relationship between social media and the impact of social isolation imposed by the coronavirus pandemic on Native American Tribal Elders.
References
Eriksson, I., Undén, A., & Elofsson, S. (2001). Self-rated health. comparisons between three different measures. results from a population study. International Journal of Epidemiology, 30(2), 326-333. doi:10.1093/ije/30.2.326
Flaskerud, J. H. (2020). Loneliness, social isolation, morbidity and social networks. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 41(7), 650-654. doi:10.1080/01612840.2019.1705947
Hawkley, L., & Cacioppo, J. (2010). Loneliness matters: A theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 40(2), 218-227. doi:10.1007/s12160-010-9210-8
Holt-Lunstad, J., Baker, M., Harris, T., Stephenson, D., & Smith, T. B. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review doi:10.1177/1745691614568352
Perissinotto, C. M., Stijacic Cenzer, I., & Covinsky, K. E. (2012). Loneliness in older persons: A predictor of functional decline and death. Archives of Internal Medicine (1960), , 1-7. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.1993
Stanford, S.Self-rated health | SPARQtools. Retrieved from https://sparqtools.org/mobility-measure/self-rated-health/
Taylor, H. O. (2020). Social isolation's influence on loneliness among older adults doi:10.1007/s10615- 019-00737-9
Tyrrell, C. J., & Williams, K. N. (2020). The paradox of social distancing: Implications for older adults in the context of COVID-19. Psychological Trauma, 12(S1), S214-S216. doi:10.1037/tra0000845
Scheduling
9:15-10:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m.-Noon, 1-2:15 p.m., 2:30 -3:45 p.m.
Facebook Indians: Social Isolation and Social Media Among Native Elders in the Age of COVID-19
MBSC Ballroom Poster # 508 - G (Doctoral)
Facebook Indians:
Social Isolation and Social Media
Among Native Elders in the Age of COVID-19
by
Kathleen C. Gallagher-Williams
In times of unprecedented public health crises such as COVID-19, marginalized populations are at higher risk for many reasons, including underlying health conditions, access to quality health care and exposure through work, family, or cultural obligations. Social distancing, as an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus, contributes to and escalates the social isolation of older adults, placing the older adult at acute risk of loneliness, and indirectly contributing to deterioration in both physical and mental health.
Research is needed to fill the gap in literature to inform policies and design governing services and practices intended to relieve social isolation and loneliness among American Indian Tribal Elders.
This project studies Native American Tribal Elders, and the perceived efficacy of their use of social media, specifically Facebook, to deter social isolation and loneliness during restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A survey to assess efficacy of using Facebook to address social isolation and loneliness was developed, and classified as “Exempt”, IRB #220-21-EX . Survey participants were invited to take part in the study via distribution of a flyer by well-respected Leaders in the local Native American community.
Survey items were based on the literature. Items on social isolation and loneliness were included as both have been associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes such as cognitive decline and impairment, which were indicated by items about feelings of loneliness or self-reported health.
The survey items used to indicate engagement with social media are focused on self-reporting of the time spent social networking on Facebook with friends and family. Survey items for each variable were drawn from relevant literatures.
The survey consists of multiple-choice questions that are answered three times:
1. Retrospectively for the time before the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
2. At the time they felt most concerned about contracting COVID-19 in their own community.
3. Currently.
Efficacy of social media in re amelioration of effects of loneliness will be indicated by relationship of change scores for self-rated health and loneliness to time spent on Facebook with friends and family.
This research will contribute to a baseline understanding of the relationship between social media and the impact of social isolation imposed by the coronavirus pandemic on Native American Tribal Elders.
References
Eriksson, I., Undén, A., & Elofsson, S. (2001). Self-rated health. comparisons between three different measures. results from a population study. International Journal of Epidemiology, 30(2), 326-333. doi:10.1093/ije/30.2.326
Flaskerud, J. H. (2020). Loneliness, social isolation, morbidity and social networks. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 41(7), 650-654. doi:10.1080/01612840.2019.1705947
Hawkley, L., & Cacioppo, J. (2010). Loneliness matters: A theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 40(2), 218-227. doi:10.1007/s12160-010-9210-8
Holt-Lunstad, J., Baker, M., Harris, T., Stephenson, D., & Smith, T. B. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review doi:10.1177/1745691614568352
Perissinotto, C. M., Stijacic Cenzer, I., & Covinsky, K. E. (2012). Loneliness in older persons: A predictor of functional decline and death. Archives of Internal Medicine (1960), , 1-7. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.1993
Stanford, S.Self-rated health | SPARQtools. Retrieved from https://sparqtools.org/mobility-measure/self-rated-health/
Taylor, H. O. (2020). Social isolation's influence on loneliness among older adults doi:10.1007/s10615- 019-00737-9
Tyrrell, C. J., & Williams, K. N. (2020). The paradox of social distancing: Implications for older adults in the context of COVID-19. Psychological Trauma, 12(S1), S214-S216. doi:10.1037/tra0000845
Additional Information (Optional)
A poster easel, access to a chair.