The role of place types on social relationships and satisfaction as influenced by COVID and disabilities.
Brent Chamberlain, Valerie Novack, Teresa Larsen and 6 others
PMID 40820988WHAT IT FOUND
People with disabilities rated outdoor recreation and healthcare as less important for social relationships during the pandemic.
Online activities became the most important place type overall. This reflects access barriers and risk avoidance, not a change in social need.
Key findings
01Individuals with disabilities reported significantly lower importance ratings for outdoor recreation and healthcare facilities for their social relationships during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels.
02Online activities were rated as the single most important place type for social relationships during the pandemic, surpassing home, work, and retail locations.
03Perceived importance of place types for social relationships was positively correlated with overall social satisfaction, meaning those who found places more important for connecting with others reported higher satisfaction.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional and relies on self-reported data, which cannot establish causality between place types and social satisfaction. The sample was recruited from an online panel, which may exclude people with disabilities who lack internet access or digital literacy, potentially biasing the results. The survey was conducted during a specific surge in COVID-19 cases, so findings may not generalize to other phases of the pandemic or to post-pandemic life. The study did not explore the reasons behind the changes in importance ratings, leaving the role of accessibility, fear, or policy restrictions speculative. Participants were asked to recall pre-COVID behaviors and foreshadow post-COVID expectations, which introduces potential recall and prediction biases.
Declared interests
The research was funded by the United States Administration for Community Living and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. The authors declared no other conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the decline in importance of outdoor recreation and healthcare for people with disabilities as a loss of interest in these activities. The authors suggest this reflects access barriers and health risk concerns during the pandemic, not a change in the value of social connection.