Examining the relationship between loneliness and hospital visits for influenza-like symptoms in Canadian older adults

Project Summary

Loneliness is the subjective experience of one’s level of social belonging in their community. It is a complex, multifaceted issue that causes not only psychological distress, but also physical ailments. Loneliness and social isolation have been associated with chronic gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, as well as metabolic conditions. The association between loneliness and infectious diseases is yet to be fully understood. We propose a longitudinal, and cross-sectional study using the CLSA COVID-19, Tracking, and Comprehensive datasets to understand the association between loneliness and the odds of seeking medical care for flu-like symptoms. We hypothesize based on previous literature that lonelier individuals are more likely to seek medical care, and less likely to take protective precautions. We will also analyze the effect of demographic factors, and social functioning factors on the relationship between loneliness and hospital treated flu-like symptoms.