Disability, Technology Based Communication, and Loneliness

Examination of the relationship between disability types, technology dependent communication, and loneliness during the COVID19 pandemic using t-tests and regression models on national survey data of adults with disabilities. People with learning disabilities, high levels of worrying, speaking limitations, as well as fatigue and limited stamina report higher levels of loneliness when compared to other people with disabilities. Social interaction with friends as well as living with a spouse are associated with lower levels of loneliness while social interaction via text messages is associated with higher levels of loneliness. Technology dependent communication that mirrors in person interaction, such as video and phone calls, is correlated with lower levels of loneliness while more impersonal interaction, texting, is associated with higher levels of loneliness.