Publication by Daniela Weber

The article titled „Transitions in and out of Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Latent Class Analysis of Older Adults in England”, was published by Daniela Weber and co-authors Mengxing Joshi and Anne Goujon, in the journal Sociology of Health and Illness. Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing across four waves, their research identifies four distinct patterns of loneliness: ‘not lonely,’ ‘pandemic loneliness,’ ‘transitioned out of loneliness,’ and ‘enduring loneliness.’ The study highlights that younger age within the older population (50–74), female gender, depression, COVID-related worries, and disruptions to daily routines increased the risk of experiencing loneliness during the pandemic. Conversely, optimism and strong partner support were found to be protective factors that helped individuals maintain or regain social well-being. The findings emphasize the importance of strengthening mental health services, social and economic stability, and social connections to reduce loneliness and safeguard the well-being of older adults during and beyond public health crises.