America at a glance: Social isolation and loneliness during the first wave of COVID-19 Organization: RTC:Rural

September 28, 2020

America at a glance: Social isolation and loneliness Before the current pandemic, people with disabilities reported significantly higher rates of social isolation and loneliness than those without disabilities. When restrictions are put in place to help protect people from COVID-19, what happens to these rates? RTC:Rural's newest research brief explores how COVID-19 and public health responses may contribute to feelings of social isolation and loneliness among people with disabilities.

This study compared two groups who provided data at different points of time - one pre-COVID and another post-COVID. Post-COVID rural and urban samples reported significantly more interactions with family and close friends. Post-COVID urban respondents reported significantly lower rates of feeling left out, while the post-COVID rural respondents reported similar rates. To learn more about these findings or to download the research brief from the RTC:Rural and Rural Institute ScholarWorks collection, follow this link: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/ruralinst_health_wellness/50/