WI25-03: Long COVID, Economic Outcomes, and SSA Program Participation: A Community-Informed Mixed-Methods Study

This project will apply a community-informed mixed-methods approach to advance our understanding of how Long COVID impacts working-age adults. The quantitative component of the study will draw on existing data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), a nationally representative longitudinal survey, to evaluate Long COVID’s impact on individuals’ economic outcomes and SSA program participation. The qualitative component of the study will draw on focus group and in-depth interviews to identify barriers and facilitators of employment and SSA program participation for people with Long COVID. As Long COVID is likely to impose a heavier burden on individuals from historically disadvantaged communities we will consider how relationships may vary across groups. The quantitative and qualitative components of the study will be carried out concurrently and independently; however, findings from the two components will be integrated and interpreted together in order to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the issues studied. The proposed research is closely aligned with SSA’s overarching interests in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SSA programs and populations and equity and support for communities facing barriers. Prospective findings could improve our understanding of the economic burden of Long COVID and the service needs of people living with this condition, as well as what supports may be most effective in mitigating barriers to employment and access to SSA programs for these individuals.