Alone together? A time use approach for examining socializing when travel is limited

Abstract

Migrant populations access different social networks due to their cultural contexts and the locations of their social relationships. The COVID-19 pandemic generated concern about social isolation among older adults. During Ontario's extended lockdown, we investigated the social behaviours of a generally sedentary older Chinese migrant community (n = 77) in the Greater Toronto Area. Using single-day activity diaries, we grouped respondents using a k-means clustering approach, which resulted in four categories of socializing characteristics. We then used ANOVA tests and multinomial logistic regression to understand the geographic contexts for these socializing behaviours. Findings reveal that this older migrant community was mostly socializing online, but a small group reported socializing in person. Living in a house, having better physical health, and having children living abroad was associated with a higher likelihood of socializing in person rather than online. Ultimately, it is important to understand the context within which older migrants socialize in order to support social connection and related health outcomes as they age.