Loneliness and Mental Health Disorders in Older Adults Living in Portugal During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of the general population, particularly older adults. This study aimed to explore the association between loneliness and mental health disorders in this demographic during the pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Portugal using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) database between June and August 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic (Wave 8 COVID-19 Survey), using computer-assisted telephone interviews. Results: The final sample included 836 participants, with 387 (46.4%) men and a mean age of 74.5 years (SD = 6.7). Mental health indicators revealed that 441 (52.1%) reported feelings of nervousness, 384 (45.3%) experienced sadness or depression, 349 (41.2%) encountered sleeping difficulties, and 280 (33.1%) reported experiencing loneliness often or some of the time. Increased feelings of loneliness were notably associated with women in poorer health, those with heightened fear of falling, dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and concurrent health and sleep issues. Age and medication use did not significantly impact feelings of loneliness. Conclusions: The findings highlight a potential association between adverse mental health outcomes among older adults during the initial phase of the pandemic. Future research, employing longitudinal research designs, is warranted to explore these relationships more rigorously, in a post-pandemic context, and to inform effective intervention development and strategies to prevent mental health problems within this vulnerable population.