Social Isolation, Social Capitals, and Quality of Life Among the Elderly During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Northeast of Thailand.

This cross-sectional study examined the relationships among social isolation, social capitals, and QoL among older adults in Northeastern Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic. A multi-stage stratified random sampling were used to selected a total of 1,015 adults aged ≥60 years from Health Regions 7-10. Data were collected through structured interviews using standardized instruments. A Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) was applied to identify factors associated with good QoL. The results showed that only 36.3% of participants reported good QoL. Factors significantly associated with good QoL included being male (Adj. OR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.27-2.39), aged 60-69 years (Adj. OR = 3.30, 95% CI = 1.56-7.01), absence of depressive symptoms (Adj. OR = 10.08, 95% CI = 8.45-13.72), and low social isolation (Adj. OR = 3.04, 95% CI = 3.04-5.97). High levels of social capital-kinship (Adj. OR = 5.95, 95% CI = 3.47-10.21), social networks (Adj. OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.31-3.98), and organizational participation (Adj. OR = 3.22, 95% CI = 2.09-4.97)-were strongly associated with good QoL. In conclusion, social isolation and social capitals are critical determinants of QoL among older adults during public health crises. Strengthening community-based social capital and addressing mental health should be integral to public health strategies promoting healthy aging in post-pandemic contexts.