Authors: Fengyan Tang, Ke Li, Yi Wang, Yuyang Zhu, and Yanping Jiang
This new article, ‘Social Disconnectedness, Perceived Loneliness, and Cognitive Functioning: The Role of Neighborhood Environment’, is one of the first attempts to investigate the complex relationships among social disconnectedness, loneliness, neighborhood contexts, and cognitive functioning for older Chinese immigrants. At a time when the older Chinese immigrant population is growing, and there has also been an increasing prevalence of cognitive impairment for many older adults, insights from this study provide vital guidance for developing effective interventions and policies that can promote social integration, alleviate loneliness, and cultivate supportive neighborhood environments for older Chinese immigrants and other minority aging populations.
Key Insights:
- Loneliness had a detrimental effect on cognitive decline for older Chinese immigrants.
- This effect was particularly significant for older Chinese immigrants residing in neighborhoods characterized by low socioeconomic status, high residential segregation, and high levels of physical and social disorder.
- By addressing loneliness and enhancing neighborhood conditions, we can potentially mitigate the negative impact of these factors on cognitive decline.