Impacts on social connections and wellbeing of COVID-19 policies in the Older Population: CFAS cohort Over 75s (OPPO)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Public Health and Primary Care
Abstract
The recent introduction of social distancing measures due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak will have had a profound impact on older people's physical and mental health. At the same time there has been a fundamental shift in the use of online communication, both for informal contact with family members and online health consultations as well as for the functions of everyday life.
The Cognitive Function and Ageing Study II (CFAS II) is a population representative longitudinal study examining the health, wellbeing, cognition, social networks and health and social care usage of older people in three diverse geographies of England including rural areas and those with high social deprivation. CFAS II began in 2009 but has recently completed (2018-2019) a 10-year follow-up interview with a sample of participants. During this follow up interview, measures of interest to this project, such as wellbeing, social networks, online communication and access to services were gathered.
The research team are currently undertaking a new wave of interviews that will enable direct assessment of the mental health impact that social distancing measures have had on this vulnerable group along with any changes to communications and social networks that have occurred.
The aim of this project is to analyse these effects, and to undertake a further follow-up interview to investigate the longer term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on this group of people; utilising extensive data collected from previous waves of the study.
Aims:
1) To estimate the immediate and persistent impacts on mental health, wellbeing, general health of the COVID-19 pandemic;
2) To estimate social care usage and support received from others (family/neighbours etc.) and how this has changed over the course of the pandemic.
3) To examine changes in mobile, smartphone and social network usage by comparing data from previous waves, exploring to what extent there has been new usage as a result of the crisis and if this has persisted.
The Cognitive Function and Ageing Study II (CFAS II) is a population representative longitudinal study examining the health, wellbeing, cognition, social networks and health and social care usage of older people in three diverse geographies of England including rural areas and those with high social deprivation. CFAS II began in 2009 but has recently completed (2018-2019) a 10-year follow-up interview with a sample of participants. During this follow up interview, measures of interest to this project, such as wellbeing, social networks, online communication and access to services were gathered.
The research team are currently undertaking a new wave of interviews that will enable direct assessment of the mental health impact that social distancing measures have had on this vulnerable group along with any changes to communications and social networks that have occurred.
The aim of this project is to analyse these effects, and to undertake a further follow-up interview to investigate the longer term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on this group of people; utilising extensive data collected from previous waves of the study.
Aims:
1) To estimate the immediate and persistent impacts on mental health, wellbeing, general health of the COVID-19 pandemic;
2) To estimate social care usage and support received from others (family/neighbours etc.) and how this has changed over the course of the pandemic.
3) To examine changes in mobile, smartphone and social network usage by comparing data from previous waves, exploring to what extent there has been new usage as a result of the crisis and if this has persisted.
Organisations
- University of Cambridge (Lead Research Organisation)
- London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London) (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (Collaboration)
- Newcastle University (Collaboration)
- University of Plymouth (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
Publications
Richardson CD
(2023)
Impact of COVID-19 policies on perceptions of loneliness in people aged 75 years and over in the cognitive function and aging study (CFAS II).
in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
De Rojas I
(2021)
Common variants in Alzheimer's disease and risk stratification by polygenic risk scores.
in Nature communications
| Description | We have discovered that within the study population levels of self-reported loneliness increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those most likely to report loneliness included females, those living alone, those living in high areas of deprivation, people separated from their families and people who were previously socially active. |
| Exploitation Route | Further analyses and publications focusing on Depression and loneliness across 3 waves (ARUK Pilot, OPPO waves 1 & 2); Changing Nature of internet connections/technology and Understanding response rates (Pilot trial) are planned. CFAS has clear data access processes for researchers, and CFAS data have been uploaded to ESRC Archive as well as earlier data on DPUK |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy |
| Description | Developing a sustainable platform to understand the primary care, public health and social care needs for dementia, with a focus on underserved populations |
| Organisation | London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London) |
| Department | LSE Health and Social Care |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Leading and providing expertise |
| Collaborator Contribution | Bringing essential multidisciplinary expertise and local engagement |
| Impact | Collaboration is still at an early stage so none at present |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Developing a sustainable platform to understand the primary care, public health and social care needs for dementia, with a focus on underserved populations |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Leading and providing expertise |
| Collaborator Contribution | Bringing essential multidisciplinary expertise and local engagement |
| Impact | Collaboration is still at an early stage so none at present |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Developing a sustainable platform to understand the primary care, public health and social care needs for dementia, with a focus on underserved populations |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Leading and providing expertise |
| Collaborator Contribution | Bringing essential multidisciplinary expertise and local engagement |
| Impact | Collaboration is still at an early stage so none at present |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Developing a sustainable platform to understand the primary care, public health and social care needs for dementia, with a focus on underserved populations |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Leading and providing expertise |
| Collaborator Contribution | Bringing essential multidisciplinary expertise and local engagement |
| Impact | Collaboration is still at an early stage so none at present |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Developing a sustainable platform to understand the primary care, public health and social care needs for dementia, with a focus on underserved populations |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Leading and providing expertise |
| Collaborator Contribution | Bringing essential multidisciplinary expertise and local engagement |
| Impact | Collaboration is still at an early stage so none at present |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Developing a sustainable platform to understand the primary care, public health and social care needs for dementia, with a focus on underserved populations |
| Organisation | University of Plymouth |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Leading and providing expertise |
| Collaborator Contribution | Bringing essential multidisciplinary expertise and local engagement |
| Impact | Collaboration is still at an early stage so none at present |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Title | Prevention of Dementia using Mobile phone Applications (PRODEMOS) |
| Description | Mobile phone app with coach control for people at greater risk of dementia living in areas of increased disadvantage. |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Psychological/Behavioural |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2020 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| Impact | Too early |
| Description | Discussion with donors |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | This was a meeting with the donors and the charity that has funded part of the ongoing cohort study I lead. The donors wished to have an update on our progress. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Formal Working Grous |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Membership and, in some cases, leadership of these groups aims to bring experts together along with societal representation to improve policy making related to public health, ageing and inequalities in populations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | International Talks |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I have given a large number of international talks based on the research I have led during my career and this is based on the empirical findings from studies supported by the grants noted. These are aimed at diverse and mixed audiences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Local Talks |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | These are talks to localities including local research teams, sharing research findings and evidence that we have generated from the noted grants across many decades. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Member of the National Council on Bioethics, Ageing Working Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | These are dedicated meetings to influence policy and practice through evidence that exists or can be generated, to improve population health and reduce inequalities. These are government meetings, expert advisory groups (that led to the development of Inequalities in Health Alliance in the case of the RCP committee). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | National Talks |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | These are the range of talks I have given at the national level and they take my learning and experience as a researcher in the field of public health as well as service into account. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Talks for U3A Cambridge Members and Cambridge Clinical Academic Trainee Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | These were talks to different audiences about the research conducted over decades including this grant. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |