Social Isolation and Population Density: Racial and Ethnic Differences Among Older Adults.

This study uses secondary data analysis to assess the relationship between social isolation (SI) and population density in the US, as well as any moderating influence that race/ethnicity may have on that relationship. A recent consensus on the measure of SI is that it focuses on the objective absence of social connections, whereas loneliness refers to subjective assessments of one's social connections. Therefore, while the original study measured both objective and subjective SI may be innovative, it may also be overly ambitious. SI puts older people at risk for health problems, including an increased chance of dying. The AARP Foundation gathered the initial convenience sample, which included 8149 senior citizens. The study determined population density using self-reported zip codes, measured as persons per square mile, and divided the results into tertiles. Linear mixed models were used to investigate the moderating role of race/ethnicity between population density and SI. The findings revealed that greater population density was associated with less SI for individuals residing in zip codes with a higher percentage of the same race/ethnicity, but more SI for those in zip codes with a lower percentage of the same race/ethnicity. These results suggest that race/ethnicity should be considered in future studies or when developing policies and interventions to address SI among older adults in high-population-density areas. For example, when policymakers aim to address SI in a community, they may want to collect data based on zip codes and create targeted interventions for specific racial/ethnic groups within those zip code areas.

Social disconnection correlates of a "Wish to Die" among a large community-dwelling cohort of older adults.

Introduction: Social disconnection and deaths by suicide among older adults are both important public health concerns, particularly in the context of ageing populations. The association between death ideation and behaviours, and social disconnection is well established and both functional and structural social relationships have been identified as predictive of suicide-related thoughts and behaviours. The "Wish to Die" (WTD) involves thoughts of or wishes for one's own death or that one would be better off dead is a commonly used indicator to capture death ideation. It has been shown to be as predictive as active ideation of future suicide attempt. Methods: Data were from a large cohort of community-dwelling older adults aged 50+, The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). Cross-sectional analyses of the association between numerous markers of social disconnection (loneliness, social isolation, living alone, marital status, social participation, volunteering, and attending religious service) and WTD were conducted. Results: Multiple markers of social disconnection were associated with a "wish to die". However, loneliness was the strongest risk factor while attendance of religious services was an important protective behaviour. Discussion: There is a strong association between social disconnection and a WTD among older adults. There is also a strong association between depression and a WTD, while attending religious services or similarly prosocial settings may protect older adults from experiencing negative thoughts about dying.

The impact of social relationships on the risk of stroke and post-stroke mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The association between poor social relationships and post-stroke mortality remains uncertain, and the evidence regarding the relationship between poor social relationships and the risk of stroke is inconsistent. In this meta-analysis, we aim to elucidate the evidence concerning the risk of stroke and post-stroke mortality among individuals experiencing a poor social relationships, including social isolation, limited social networks, lack of social support, and loneliness. METHODS: A thorough search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases to systematically identify pertinent studies. Data extraction was independently performed by two researchers. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using either a random-effects or fixed-effects model. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the reliability of the results. Random-effects meta-regression was performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity in stroke risk estimates between studies. Assessment for potential publication bias was carried out using Egger's and Begg's tests. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included, originating from 4 continents and 12 countries worldwide. A total of 1,675,707 participants contributed to this meta-analysis. Pooled analyses under the random effect model revealed a significant association between poor social relationships and the risk of stroke (OR = 1.30; 95%CI: 1.17-1.44), as well as increased risks for post-stroke mortality (OR = 1.36; 95%CI: 1.07-1.73). Subgroup analyses demonstrated associations between limited social network (OR = 1.52; 95%CI = 1.04-2.21), loneliness (OR = 1.31; 95%CI = 1.13-1.51), and lack of social support (OR = 1.66; 95%CI = 1.04-2.63) with stroke risk. The meta-regression explained 75.21% of the differences in reported stroke risk between studies. Random-effect meta-regression results indicate that the heterogeneity in the estimated risk of stroke may originate from the continent and publication year of the included studies. CONCLUSION: Social isolation, limited social networks, lack of social support, and feelings of loneliness have emerged as distinct risk factors contributing to both the onset and subsequent mortality following a stroke. It is imperative for public health policies to prioritize the multifaceted influence of social relationships and loneliness in stroke prevention and post-stroke care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The protocol was registered on May 1, 2024, on the Prospero International Prospective System with registration number CRD42024531036.

Entenda o isolamento pessoal e tenha um próspero 2k21

No Coisa de Homem desta semana, o papo é reto com a rapaziada que está aglomerando nas festas de fim de ano. Entender a importância do isolamento pessoal e praticá-lo é uma das armas mais eficazes na luta contra o novo coronavírus.

The mediating and moderating effects of psychological distress on the relationship between social media use with perceived social isolation and sleep quality of late middle-aged and older adults.

OBJECTIVES: Older adults are more likely to have poor sleep quality and be socially isolated. The present study examined the potential benefits and disadvantages of social media use (SMU) with respect to sleep quality and perceived social isolation among Iranian late-middle-aged and older adults with focus a on both the mediating and moderating role of psychological distress. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 900 older community-dwellers living in Shiraz using a structured questionnaire. Social media use was assessed by estimating the frequency of social networking site visits per week. Data concerning self-rated physical health, chronic medical and mental health conditions, perceived social isolation, sleep quality, and psychological distress were also collected. Multiple linear regression was used to identify independent variables associated with outcomes. Then, mediation and moderation models were used to examine the potential mediating and moderating effects of psychological distress and SMU on their relationships with the study variables. RESULTS: Higher social media use was associated with better sleep quality and less perceived social isolation. Nevertheless, the relationships between SMU and participants' sleep quality and perceived social isolation were largely mediated by their level of psychological distress. Furthermore, SMU had a significant moderating effect in the relationship between the psychological distress and the levels of perceived social isolation, so that participants with higher frequency of SMU per week felt less loneliness. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings suggest that SMU has a positive buffering effect regarding late middle-aged and older adults' mental health mainly through moderation of their perceived social isolation. The mediating role of psychological distress in research examining the relationship between SMU and older adults' mental health outcomes should be considered in future research.

Loneliness and social isolation are associated with an increased risk of glaucoma: a UK Biobank cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Loneliness and social isolation have been found to be associated with various health-related outcomes. Our study aimed to evaluate the association of loneliness and social isolation with the risk of glaucoma. METHODS: A total of 373,330 participants from the UK Biobank without glaucoma at recruitment were included in this study. Self-reported questionnaires were used to define loneliness and social isolation. Incident glaucoma events were identified by hospital inpatient admissions and self-reported data. COX proportional hazards models adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 13.1 (interquartile range: 12.3-13.9) years, 6,489 participants developed glaucoma. After adjusting for confounding factors, loneliness (yes vs. no: adjusted HR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.04-1.30; P = 0.009) and social isolation (yes vs. no: adjusted HR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.01-1.16; P = 0.033) were associated with an increased risk of glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based prospective cohort study, loneliness and social isolation were associated with a higher risk of glaucoma.

Social deficits mirror delayed cerebrovascular dysfunction after traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors face debilitating long-term psychosocial consequences, including social isolation and depression. TBI modifies neurovascular physiology and behavior but the chronic physiological implications of altered brain perfusion on social interactions are unknown. Adult C57/BL6 male mice received a moderate cortical TBI, and social behaviors were assessed at baseline, 3-, 7-, 14-, 30-, and 60-days post injury (dpi). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, 9.4T) using dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion weighted MRI were acquired. At 60dpi mice underwent histological angioarchitectural mapping. Analysis utilized standardized protocols followed by cross-correlation metrics. Social behavior deficits at 60dpi emerged as reduced interactions with a familiar cage-mate (partner) that mirrored significant reductions in cerebral blood flow (CBF) at 60dpi. CBF perturbations were dynamic temporally and across brain regions including regions known to regulate social behavior such as hippocampus, hypothalamus, and rhinal cortex. Social isolation in TBI-mice emerged with a significant decline in preference to spend time with a cage mate. Cortical vascular density was also reduced corroborating the decline in brain perfusion and social interactions. Thus, the late emergence of social interaction deficits mirrored the reduced vascular density and CBF in regions known to be involved in social behaviors. Vascular morphology and function improved prior to the late decrements in social function and our correlations strongly implicate a linkage between vascular density, cerebral perfusion, and social interactions. Our study provides a clinically relevant timeline of alterations in social deficits alongside functional vascular recovery that can guide future therapeutics.

Mixbiotic society measures: Assessment of community well-going as living system.

Social isolation and fragmentation represent global challenges, with the former stemming from a lack of interaction and the latter from exclusive mobs-both rooted in communication issues. Addressing these challenges, the philosophical realm introduces the concept of the "mixbiotic society." In this framework, individuals with diverse freedoms and values mix together in physical proximity with diverse mingling, recognizing their respective "fundamental incapacities" and uniting in solidarity. This study aims to provide novel measures to balance freedom and solidarity, specifically the intermediate between isolation and mobbing, within a mixbiotic society. To achieve this, we introduce simplified measures to evaluate dynamic communication patterns. These measures complement traditional social network analysis of static structures and conventional entropy-based assessments of dynamic patterns. Our specific hypothesis posits that the measures corresponding to four distinct phases are established by representing communication patterns as multidimensional vectors. These measures include the mean of Euclidean distance to quantify "mobism" for fragmentation, the relative distance change for "atomism" indicating isolation, and a composite measure derived from multiplying the mean and variance of cosine similarity for "mixism," reflecting the well-going state of a mixbiotic society. Additionally, nearly negligible measures correspond to "nihilism." Through the evaluation of seven real-society datasets (high school, primary school, workplace, village, conference, online community, and email), we demonstrate the utility of the "mixism" measure in assessing freedom and solidarity in society. These measures can be employed to typify communities on a radar chart and a communication trajectory graph. The superiority of the measures lies in their ability to evaluate dynamic patterns, ease of calculation, and easily interpretable meanings compared to conventional analyses. As a future development, alongside additional validation using diverse datasets, the mixbiotic society measures will be employed to analyze social issues and applied in the fields of digital democracy and platform cooperativism.

The effect of acute social isolation on neural molecular responses in components of the social decision-making network.

Prolonged or chronic social isolation has pronounced effects on animals, ranging from altered stress responses, increased anxiety and aggressive behaviour, and even increased mortality. The effects of shorter periods of isolation are much less well researched; however, short periods of isolation are used routinely for testing animal behaviour and physiology. Here, we studied how a 3 h period of isolation from a cagemate affected neural gene expression in three brain regions that contain important components of the social decision-making network, the hypothalamus, the nucleus taeniae of the amygdala, and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, using a gregarious bird as a model (zebra finches). We found evidence suggestive of altered neural activity, synaptic transmission, metabolism, and even potentially pain perception, all of which could create cofounding effects on experimental tests that involve isolating animals. We recommend that the effects of short-term social isolation need to be better understood and propose alternatives to isolating animals for testing.

Psychosocial Factors and Quality of Life in Older Adults Discharged After Isolation Due to COVID-19 Infection.

PURPOSE: To identify the impact of psychosocial factors on quality of life (QoL) of older adults hospitalized and isolated after contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHOD: Data were collected between April 30 and June 18, 2022, from 117 discharged older adults who were in isolation for COVID-19 treatment in a tertiary hospital in South Korea. RESULTS: Of participants, 33.3% were at high risk for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and 21.4% of participants were identified as having severe depressive symptoms. Participants' QoL negatively correlated with PTSS, depressive symptoms, and fear of social stigma. Depressive symptoms were the primary psychosocial factor identified as significantly affecting QoL (ß = -0.682, p < 0.001), and the explanatory power of the regression model was 41.2%. CONCLUSION: To enhance QoL of older adults who have experienced hospitalization and isolation due to COVID-19, identifying pertinent psychosocial factors, especially depressive symptoms, is necessary. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(8), 29-36.].

Promoting digital inclusion for enhanced resident wellbeing: an examination of aged residential care facility websites.

AIM: Digital inclusion has a positive impact on health and wellbeing through fostering connectivity and access to information. In Aotearoa New Zealand, 4% of older adults live in aged residential care (ARC) facilities and are vulnerable to social isolation. This study explored whether ARC facilities provide opportunities to socially connect online and whether the COVID-19 pandemic affected the provision of these opportunities. METHOD: Information on technology and internet provision from 558 ARC facilities was extracted from facilities' own or related websites in 2019 and 2021. ARC facilities were categorised according to whether they provided digital devices, internet access and internet-based leisure activities, or made no reference to technology. RESULTS: In 2019, 392 (70%) of 558 ARC facilities publicised availability of internet-based technologies for residents; however, only 46 (8%) mentioned providing access to computer devices. In 2021 (during the pandemic), there was a small increase to 421 (76%) and 54 (10%) of facilities respectively. Facilities mentioning internet-based leisure activities were 63 (11%) in 2019 and 55 (10%) in 2021. Those not referring to technology had reduced from 166 (30%) in 2019 to 137 (24%) in 2021. CONCLUSION: Few ARC facilities enabled residents to fully access the digital world, even after periods of isolation due to COVID-19. Aged care providers could be more proactive by providing internet access and digital learning opportunities.

Loneliness and the persistence of fear: Perceived social isolation reduces evaluative fear extinction.

Loneliness has been linked to a host of harmful physical and mental health outcomes, detrimental effects that may stem from increases in threat-responding caused by altered fear learning in lonely individuals. In particular, the heightened threat-vigilance that is a hallmark of loneliness may augment the processes by which fear learning occurs, ultimately resulting in a greater number of perceived threatening cues in the environment. However, almost no research has examined how loneliness alters fear learning processes in humans. Here, we investigated the effect of loneliness on fear learning during an evaluative learning procedure in which participants (n = 782) were taught to associate fearful, positive, or neutral control stimuli with neutral images. Results showed that reduced extinction of evaluative fear associations occurred in high (vs. low) lonely individuals, but there was no difference in extinction of evaluative appetitive (also known as positive or reward) associations, suggesting this effect is specific to fear learning. In addition to shedding light on the link between loneliness and poor health, these results represent an important step forward in the growing understanding of the powerful impact of social bonds on fear learning processes.

Later Life Food Insecurity and Social Isolation in Ghana: The Importance of Psychological Factors.

BACKGROUND: Social isolation (SI) and food insecurity (FI) are important social determinants of health that can negatively impact well-being in old age. While research on the association between FI and SI is limited in LMICs, the mediators of this association are largely unknown. This cross-sectional study examined whether FI is associated with SI among older adults in Ghana and whether psychological factors (i.e., depression, anxiety, and sleep problems) mediated the association. METHODS: Our study consisted of adults aged ≥50 years in the Aging, Health, Well-being, and Health-seeking Behavior Study. SI was assessed with the Berkman-Syme Social Network Index, while FI was assessed with dietary inadequacy-related items. We used an ordinary least squares regression (OLS), logistic regressions, and bootstrapping modeling approach to examine our hypotheses with p < 0.05. RESULTS: The analysis included 1201 individuals (Mage = 66 [SD = 12], women = 63%). In the full sample (ß = 0.21; p < 0.001) and in women (ß = 0.30, p < 0.001) but not in men, FI was independently associated with SI. FI was comparably associated with increases in SI for the 50-64 age group (ß = 0.21, p < 0.001) and ≥65 age cohort (ß = 0.19, p < 0.01). Moreover, FI showed differential associations with specific domains of SI (OR = 1.81 to 1.45, p < 0.001). Finally, the FI-SI association was mediated by depressive symptoms (65.16%), anxiety symptoms (30.16%), and sleep problems (9.50%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data highlight the fundamental role of FI in SI among older adults, and the effect is explained by psychosocial factors. Interventions targeted toward strengthening interpersonal ties in old age should include addressing FI and older adults' psychosocial outcomes.

A population of Insula neurons encodes for social preference only after acute social isolation in mice.

The Insula functions as a multisensory relay involved in socio-emotional processing with projections to sensory, cognitive, emotional, and motivational regions. Notably, the interhemispheric projection from the Insula to the contralateral Insula is a robust yet underexplored connection. Using viral-based tracing neuroanatomy, ex vivo and in vivo electrophysiology, in vivo fiber photometry along with targeted circuit manipulation, we elucidated the nature and role of InsulaIns communication in social and anxiety processing in mice. In this study, we 1) characterized the anatomical and molecular profile of the InsulaIns neurons, 2) demonstrated that stimulation of this neuronal subpopulation induces excitation in the Insula interhemispheric circuit, 3) revealed that InsulaIns neurons are essential for social discrimination after 24 h of isolation in male mice. In conclusion, our findings highlight InsulaIns neurons as a distinct class of neurons within the insula and offer new insights into the neuronal mechanisms underlying social behavior.

A qualitative study of a Sporting Memories program in South Australia: belonging, participation, and social connection.

Background: Older people can experience health and social challenges such as loneliness, depression, and lack of social connectedness. There is need for programs and approaches that address the growing incidence of social isolation and loneliness for older people. One initiative that aims to address these challenges is the Sporting Memories program. This program was developed in the United Kingdom and licensed to South Australia in 2019. The program is currently delivered across six community locations. Methods: The aim of this study was to explore participants perspectives of the Sporting Memories program in South Australia. Underpinned by qualitative research, three focus groups were conducted, led by an experienced interviewer. Focus groups occurred at three of the six locations, including a day respite center, assisted living center and a government community center. The data were analyzed thematically by the research team. Results: There were 16 participants over 65 years old, including four women and 12 men. Three key themes were developed: "free to talk about anything," "not feeling left out" and "a chance to share and learn." Collectively, participants reflected on how they built social connections, felt safe and included and learnt more about each other. Conclusion: The Sporting Memories program provides a group program for older people to come together and develop new friendships. The use of sports as a means of reminiscence was considered relatable for the participants who reported social benefits and plans to keep attending. They valued learning through the program which was enhanced by having a facilitator who was knowledgeable about sport.

Comparing the effects of infant maternal and sibling separation on adolescent behavior in rats (Rattus norvegicus).

Maternal separation in early life has been observed to have lasting, detrimental effects that impair personal and social development and can persist into adulthood. Maternal separation during infancy can be most detrimental during adolescence, leading to long-term adverse effects on development and social behavior. This research study compared the effects of sibling and maternal separation in infancy on anxiety, sociability, or memory later in adolescence (postnatal day, PND, 50-58) in male and female Long-Evans Rats (Rattus norvegicus). Rat pups were semi-randomly assigned into eight conditions for daily isolation (PND 1-14). The groups were separated by the duration of isolation between 15 minutes (control group) or 180 minutes (experimental group) and the sex of the rat. They were also separated by comfort conditions with the dam present in an adjoining cage versus not present and siblings present or not present during isolation. The result was a 2 (15-min vs. 180-min) x 2 (dam vs. no dam) x 2 (single vs. grouped) x 2 (male vs. female) design. Once pups had reached adolescence (PND 50), researchers tested for differences in anxiety, activity, and social behavior using elevated plus-maze, open field habituation, a three-chamber social interaction, and a social discrimination task. Results indicate that longer isolation was more stressful and caused lower body weight. The female rats showed more anxious behavior in the open field but only if they were in the shorter isolation group. Social interaction showed that the rats isolated with the dam had different effects of isolation. In males, shorter isolation with the dam increased sociability but decreased sociability in females. These complicated findings may be due to the effects of inoculation, which describes how moderate stress combined with comfort may produce adaptation or immunity to stress and affect males and females differently.

Needs of social isolation, loneliness, and intergenerational interventions in the United States: a scoping review.

Social isolation and loneliness are major health concerns for older adults in the United States. This scoping review examines the effectiveness of intergenerational interventions aimed at reducing social isolation and loneliness among older adults in the United States, specifically through programs that engage university students from healthcare-related fields in one-on-one settings with older adults, as reports of lacking geriatric training of healthcare students causes older adult neglect to persist in the healthcare workforce. The importance of addressing these issues is underscored by significant health risks and substantial economic burdens, with social isolation and loneliness potentially increasing mortality and costing Medicare an estimated $6.7 billion annually. Covering literature from 2010 to 2022, this review critically assesses the role of such interventions in fostering social connections and improving both physical and mental health outcomes. Despite the positive preliminary results indicating significant reductions in loneliness and enhancements in social networks among participants, the review highlights considerable gaps in current research, particularly in structured intervention curricula, demographic reporting and detailed intervention descriptions. This underscores the need for more rigorous and standardized research methodologies to better understand the effectiveness and potential of intergenerational programs as interventions against the detrimental effects of social isolation and loneliness among older adults.

Pilot testing the Engaging Generations (eGen) Program to address social well-being among lower-income older adults.

Introduction: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to address digital inclusion and social well-being for older adults was particularly apparent for those from disadvantaged communities. This pilot program provided access to technology and intergenerational mentorship to older adult participants interested in receiving and learning how to utilize an iPad. Pre/post-changes were examined for social well-being in the areas of quality of life, social isolation, and loneliness. Methods: This study conducted pre- and post-surveys with older participants (n = 145) from five disadvantaged communities in the United States utilizing standardized measures. One-on-one interviews were conducted post-program (n = 98) to examine participants' perceptions of the program and evaluate its impact on social measures. Results: The study sample included older adults (Mean age = 72.3) who were mostly lower income (82.3%) and self-reported as Black (13.6%), Hispanic (21.7%), and White (56.5%). Significant differences were identified in participant pre/post-survey scores for social isolation, loneliness, and a global measure of quality of life. Qualitative analyses suggest improvements in various aspects of social well-being. Themes showed that participants believed the program contributed to (1) enhanced mood and mental health, (2) improved quality of life, (3) sense of purpose and feelings of being less alone, (4) ability to use video calling to connect with others; and (5) ability to more freely use email, texting, and messaging to communicate with others. Discussion: This research demonstrates that this pilot program seemed to contribute to reduced social isolation and loneliness for participants, and participants stated more positive social well-being following program participation. However, future research with larger samples is needed to expand upon these findings. Future studies will examine the pathways between technology improvements and social well-being and examine group differences.

The priorities for a prisoner are food, being able to talk to their family, and taking a shower: the experiences of prisoners placed in emergency isolation due to COVID-19 in a Catalan prison.

PURPOSE: This study aims to learn about the experiences of inmates who experienced long periods of isolation due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Brians 1 penitentiary centre. This approach is relevant, as it sought to understand the experiences from the perspective of the prisoners during periods of isolation. The aim was to gain in-depth knowledge, based on the idiosyncrasies of this population, of their emotions and coping strategies in the prison context. This information that may be useful to prison institutions and prison primary healthcare teams to guide the organisation in future health emergencies involving the isolation of prisoners. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A qualitative interpretative phenomenological study was conducted. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 30 people who had undergone a period of isolation due to a COVID-19 outbreak in one or two of the last two outbreaks at the Brians 1 (Barcelona) prison in 2022, in the days following periods of social isolation. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using the content analysis approach, and were coded using the NVivo 12 qualitative software. The credibility and validity of the data analysed were increased through triangulation at different levels. In this study, data was collected from a heterogeneous sample of prisoners, capturing different views among the prison population. FINDINGS: This research gave us the opportunity to collect prisoners' accounts of isolation due to COVID-19, in which it became clear that it conditioned the management of time and space in daily prison life. The restrictions amplified negative emotions such as anxiety, stress and restlessness and led to disruptions in communication with the outside world, daily prison activities and judicial processes. Despite these changes, the prisoners understood the imperatives of isolation and the need to adapt to the new situation for a limited period of time. Faced with the detrimental effect on their well-being, the prisoners employed coping strategies focused on emotional management, social supports and occupational engagement. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: This study is subject to several limitations related to the characteristics of the sample. No women participated in the study as the modules studied were exclusively for men. People with impaired cognitive abilities, were not included. With regard to the method, it is understood that conducting the interviews in the days after the isolation may have influenced the content and enthusiasm of the participants. Despite these limitations, we are confident that the data triangulation may have given us reliable insight that will further our knowledge of prisoners' experiences in this type of situation. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The issue of the negative impact of restrictive measures in the prison environment has rarely been studied from the perspective of prisoners. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to provide qualitative data on the experiences of prisoners during periods of social isolation due to COVID-19 outbreaks in prisons in Catalonia (Spain). The narratives allowed the authors to determine what impact the restrictions had on the emotional well-being and daily life of the prison population, information that can help prison institutions and healthcare teams understand how prisoners experienced this type of situation. The authors were also able to carry out an in-depth study of the coping strategies used by the prisoners to deal with negative emotions during the COVID-19 outbreaks, which may serve to guide the organisation of material and human resources in future emergencies or regimented situations involving social isolation.