| Sumario: | We sought to identify factors associated with social interactions, critical to ameliorating social isolation, while also considering the COVID-19 timeline. Surveys (online, Texas, n = 925) asked about activities in a typical week immediately prior to and within the most recent pandemic, allowing for a dual benefit of providing findings unrelated to the pandemic that may be more relevant to current times, but also to provide insights into pandemic-related changes in social isolation. The major outcome of interest was social interaction with neighbors (SIWN). Longitudinal analyses were employed to account for repeated measures and to simultaneously consider multiple variables in adjusted analyses. Analyses identified that neighborhood walkability, marital status, age, and the interaction of time and race and ethnicity were all significantly (P <.05) related with whether or not one reported SIWN. There was also evidence of a significant effect of time, suggesting SIWN were less likely within the COVID-19 pandemic. Sociodemographic factors and neighborhood features such as walkability (measured via Walk Score), may play a role in social isolation. This study holds importance for multiple sectors, including public health, urban planning and neighborhood design, and as such can provide intelligence for continued work by multiple key partners and decision makers.
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