Older adults experiencing social isolation are more likely to smoke

By Gilbert Gimm

Social isolation among U.S. adults aged 65 and older increases the risk of smoking and premature death.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a bright spotlight to social isolation which was experienced by many Americans to prevent the spread of the virus.  My parents who are now in their 80s were completely isolated from friends and relatives for many months.  My PhD student co-author and I thought about this experience of our parents and grandparents, and we were both concerned that extended periods of social isolation might have harmful effects on older adults.  Both the U.S. Surgeon General and the National Academy of Medicine have issued recent warnings about the growing public health concern of social isolation and loneliness and its association with premature death among older adults.

Not having anyone to call (via phone or online) or not interacting with people in the community are forms of social isolation, which affects nearly a fifth of U.S. adults over the age of 65.   There are different levels of social isolation – from having some communication with others and only sometimes feeling isolated or lonely to the more extreme: zero connections with other people.

In our new study, we found that 17.1% of older adults in the U.S. were socially isolated.  Furthermore, socially isolated older adults were more twice as likely to smoke compared to those with social interactions with others in the community. Additionally, older adults with higher levels of depression and anxiety had greater odds of smoking.  Older adults with limited or no social connections are more likely to smoke, which in turn leads to health challenges and premature death. Reducing social isolation in older adults can help to improve their health and life expectancy.

Older adults who experienced moderate social isolation, such as only being able to connect via phone, but never seeing anyone in person, were twice as likely to smoke as someone who is socially connected. Older adults who had severe social isolation, such as no connection or interaction with anyone in the community, were five times as likely to smoke as those who were socially connected.

Although it is not yet clear whether smoking behavior leads to social isolation or if social isolation leads to smoking, both factors increase the risk of health challenges and premature death. For this study, we analyzed data from a national sample of 8,136 adults aged 65 or older who participated in the National Health and Aging Trends Study.

Examining the Association of Social Isolation and Smoking in Older Adults was published in Journal of Applied Gerontology in June 2023. Former Mason PhD student Mary Louise Pomeroy and Thomas K.M. Cudjoe from Johns Hopkins University were co-authors of the study. Both co-authors were supported by National Institute on Aging grants.

Article Details
Examining the Association of Social Isolation and Smoking in Older Adults
Gilbert Gimm, Mary Louise Pomeroy, Panagis Galiatsatos & Thomas K. M. Cudjoe
First published: June 5, 2023
DOI: 10.1177/07334648231180786
Journal of Applied Gerontology

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