Cross-Temporal Patterns of Care Provision by Older Adults during COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for Resilience

Abstract

The current study aimed to examine the link between cross-temporal patterns of care provision and loneliness in older adults. Social capital and caregiver stress perspectives served as a theoretical framework for the study. The data were obtained from the two COVID-19 waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) conducted in 2020 and 2021. The data were analyzed using logistic regression models. The analytical sample consisted of 48,722 older adults residing in Europe and Israel. The analysis results show that both starting and continuing to provide instrumental care between the survey waves negatively related to loneliness. In contrast, all cross-temporal patterns of personal care (starting, ceasing, and resuming) were positively associated with loneliness. The results suggest that cross-temporal patterns of care provision correspond differently to loneliness while supporting both theoretical perspectives. The results also suggest that the studied link exhibits different directions depending on the type of care provided.