Abstract
This study used a systems thinking perspective to explore socio-ecological risk factors and potential solutions to address social isolation among older adults aged 65 years and older in Northeast Tennessee. Four community health professionals working in the aging sector were individually interviewed in March and April 2024 to capture their insights into this issue. Thematic analysis was used to organize the findings according to three levels of the Social Ecological Model. Individual-level factors included health and well-being, skills and abilities, and motivation for engagement. Family support emerged as a common theme for interpersonal-level factors. Community-level factors comprised social/cultural influences, built environment infrastructure, and faith-based and non-governmental organizational engagement. The findings highlighted several risk factors for social isolation and leverage points to address the issue. This exploratory study can serve as a starting point for further investigation into the issue of social isolation among older adults in the region.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Recommended Citation
Rowe, Aimee; Mauck, Erin; Dodson, Kayla B.; Rogers, Priscilla; Smith, Matthew L.; and Southerland, Jodi (2026) "Exploring the Issue of Social Isolation Among Older Adults in Northeast Tennessee: A Brief Report," Health Behavior Research: Vol. 9: No. 1.
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