Relationship between face‐to‐face and non‐face‐to‐face communication, and well‐being in older volunteers during the pandemic: The REPRINTS project

Abstract Volunteering older adults plays a role in maintaining well‐being through facilitation of face‐to‐face communication. However, the COVID‐19 pandemic reduced volunteer opportunities involving physical interaction among seniors. While studies have reported that indirect communication such as non‐face‐to‐face can support and improve mental health, it remains unclear whether it can substitute face‐to‐face communication among older volunteers accustomed to frequent interpersonal interactions. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the relationship between communication forms and well‐being during the pandemic by communication partner, among volunteers aged 65 years and above. Participants engaged in REPRINTS, which are volunteer who read picture books to children. At questionnaire survey was completed to investigate changes in the frequency of face‐to‐face and non‐face‐to‐face communication before and during the pandemic, and well‐being using the WHO‐5. The results showed that maintaining or increasing the frequency of face‐to‐face communication with friends and neighbours before to during the pandemic was associated with a lower risk of being determined poor well‐being (ORs: 0.465, 95% CI: 0.274–0.789, p = .004). This study demonstrated the significance of creating opportunities for face‐to‐face communication to maintain the well‐being of older volunteers during the pandemic.