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THE PATHS OF LONELINESS AND AFFECTION IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC: MEMORIES OF THE ELDERLY IN TEFÉ, AMAZONAS

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Thayline Carius Teixeira Universidade do Estado do Amazonas https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5448-1750
Ana Claudeise Silva do Nascimento Universidade do Estado do Amazonas

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/SciELOPreprints.12788

Keywords:

elderly, mental health, COVID-19 pandemic, Tefé/AM

Abstract

This article analyzes the psychosocial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on elderly individuals in the municipality of Tefé, Amazonas, from a qualitative perspective. Through ethnography and semi-structured interviews conducted in 2024 with ten elderly participants attending the Elderly Social Center, the study explored the effects of social isolation on daily life, mental health, and care networks. The results reveal that the disruption of routine, loss of autonomy, and reduced social interactions intensified feelings of loneliness, fear, sadness, and insecurity. On the other hand, family presence emerged as a significant protective factor. The study highlights the resilience of the elderly in the face of adversity and shows how structural inequalities exacerbate vulnerability during public health crises. The analysis contributes to the debate on aging, mental health, and public policies in territories marked by social inequalities.

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Author Biographies

Thayline Carius Teixeira , Universidade do Estado do Amazonas

Master in Human Sciences from the Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Program in Human Sciences at the State University of Amazonas. Graduated in Psychology from Salgado de Oliveira University. Postgraduate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from the Latin American Institute of Higher Education (IESLA). Professional experience as a Clinical Psychologist CRP 20/12.907.

Ana Claudeise Silva do Nascimento , Universidade do Estado do Amazonas

PhD in Social Sciences, with an emphasis in Sociology, Master's in Family Farming and Sustainable Development, and Bachelor's in Social Sciences/Sociology, all from the Federal University of Pará/UFPA. She is an adjunct professor at the Federal University of Southern and Southeastern Pará (UNIFESSPA), in the undergraduate program in Public Health and in the postgraduate program in Territorial Dynamics and Societies in the Amazon (PDTSA). She is an Associate Researcher at the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development (IDSM-OS/MCT), and a Collaborating Professor in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Human Sciences - PPGICH/UEA. She works in the area of Rural Sociology and Social Sciences in Health in the Amazon, with research experience in the following topics: Traditional Peoples and Communities; Demographic and Socioeconomic Dynamics; Social Technologies and Territories and Health in the Amazon.

PDF (Portuguese)

Posted

07/28/2025

How to Cite

THE PATHS OF LONELINESS AND AFFECTION IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC: MEMORIES OF THE ELDERLY IN TEFÉ, AMAZONAS. (2025). In SciELO Preprints. https://doi.org/10.1590/SciELOPreprints.12788