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Bai X, Cai X, Zhou J, Yang W. COVID-19 infection, resilience, and depressive symptoms: the protective role of family functioning for aging Chinese adults in Hong Kong. Aging Ment Health 2024:1-10. [PMID: 38794850 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2024.2356874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Older adults are at an elevated risk of experiencing long COVID, with post-COVID-19 depressive symptoms being prevalent. However, the protective factors against this remain understudied. This study examined (a) the role of resilience in the association between COVID-19 infection and depressive symptoms in aging adults; (b) the moderating role of family functioning in the relationships between COVID-19 and resilience and between resilience and depressive symptoms; and (c) potential gender differences in the moderation. METHOD Data were drawn from the first wave of the Panel Study of Active Ageing and Society, a representative survey of Hong Kong adults aged 50 or above. Mediation and moderated mediation analyses were conducted. RESULTS Approximately 35% of the participants had tested positive for COVID-19. Resilience significantly mediated the association between COVID-19 infection and post-COVID-19 depressive symptoms (p < 0.001). Family functioning was a significant moderator: the COVID-19-resilience association was stronger, and the resilience-depressive symptoms association was weaker among participants with higher family functioning. The moderating role of family functioning was more salient in women than in men. CONCLUSION Resilience can protect aging adults from post-COVID-19 depressive symptoms. Interventions for enhancing family functioning may promote the formation of resilience, especially among older women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Bai
- GH338, Department of Applied Social Sciences, Research Centre for Gerontology and Family Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xinxin Cai
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, Research Centre for Gerontology and Family Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jiajia Zhou
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, Research Centre for Gerontology and Family Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Institute of Gerontology, King's College London, London, UK
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Kuijpers TG, Gerkema MH, Engels G, Schipper M, Herber GCM. Physical Activity, Sleeping Problems, Weight, Feelings of Social Isolation, and Quality of Life of Older Adults After Coronavirus Infection: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. Epidemiology 2024; 35:119-129. [PMID: 38290137 PMCID: PMC10826922 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000001693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is debate as to whether a coronavirus infection (SARS-CoV-2) affects older adults' physical activity, sleeping problems, weight, feelings of social isolation, and quality of life (QoL). We investigated differences in these outcomes between older adults with and without coronavirus infection over 180 days following infection. METHODS We included 6789 older adults (65+) from the Lifelines COVID-19 cohort study who provided data between April 2020 and June 2021. Older adults (65+) with and without coronavirus infection were matched on sex, age, education, living situation, body mass index, smoking status, vulnerable health, time of infection, and precoronavirus health outcome. Weighted linear mixed models, adjusted for strictness of governmental policy measures, were used to compare health outcomes after infection between groups. RESULTS In total, 309 participants were tested positive for coronavirus. Eight days after infection, older adults with a coronavirus infection engaged in less physical activity, had more sleeping problems, weighed less, felt more socially isolated, and had a lower QoL than those without an infection. Differences in weight, feelings of social isolation, and QoL were absent after 90 days. However, differences in physical activity were still present at 90 days following infection and sleeping problems were present at 180 days. CONCLUSION Our findings found negative associations of coronavirus infection with all the examined outcomes, which for physical activity persisted for 90 days and sleeping problems for 180 days. Magnitudes of estimated effects on physical activity and sleeping problems remain uncertain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G. Kuijpers
- From the Center for Prevention, Lifestyle and Health, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Maartje H. Gerkema
- From the Center for Prevention, Lifestyle and Health, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Gwenda Engels
- From the Center for Prevention, Lifestyle and Health, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten Schipper
- Department of Statistics, Data Science and Modelling, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Gerrie-Cor M. Herber
- From the Center for Prevention, Lifestyle and Health, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Lau J, Koh WL, Ng JS, Khoo AMG, Tan KK. Understanding the mental health impact of COVID-19 in the elderly general population: A scoping review of global literature from the first year of the pandemic. Psychiatry Res 2023; 329:115516. [PMID: 37797442 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Self-isolation was common in the first year of COVID-19. While necessary, it also increased vulnerability to adverse mental health among elderly (i.e. aged 60 and above). This review seeks to summarise the outcomes, measures, and protective and risk factors of elderly mental health in the first year of COVID-19. Four international databases were systematically searched from inception to August 2021. Forty-five studies examining elderly mental health outcomes specific to COVID-19 were included - one was qualitative, 29 used cross-sectional quantitative methods, and 15 were longitudinal. Anxiety and depression were examined most commonly and consistently, largely with well-validated scales. Older age, female sex, poor financial status, being unmarried, high loneliness, low social engagement, low resilience and more severe pandemic measures were associated with poor elderly mental health outcomes. Ten of 13 longitudinal studies found deteriorations in elderly mental health outcomes over time. More consistent measures are needed to understand the pandemic's impact on elderly mental health. Our findings also suggest that socialising through digital mediums may not be helpful, and might even exacerbate loneliness. While the elderly are generally considered a high-risk population, higher-risk subpopulations were identified. We conclude by suggesting a multilevel approach to safeguard elderly mental health for future crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerrald Lau
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Level 8. 1E Kent Ridge Road, 119228, Singapore; Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wei-Ling Koh
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Level 8. 1E Kent Ridge Road, 119228, Singapore
| | - Janelle Shaina Ng
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Level 8. 1E Kent Ridge Road, 119228, Singapore
| | - Athena Ming-Gui Khoo
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Level 8. 1E Kent Ridge Road, 119228, Singapore
| | - Ker-Kan Tan
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Level 8. 1E Kent Ridge Road, 119228, Singapore; Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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Taha P, Tahir A, Ahmed F, Radha R, Taha A, Slewa-Younan S. Depression and Generalized Anxiety as Long-Term Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 in Iraqi Kurdistan. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6319. [PMID: 37444166 PMCID: PMC10341427 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20136319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with a variety of psychiatric symptoms. However, COVID-19's association with psychiatric symptoms after the acute illness phase is not fully understood. Thus, this study sought to examine symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety and associated factors in the period following COVID-19 infection. A cross-sectional study design was conducted in three governorates of the Iraqi Kurdistan region. Face-to-face interviews were held between the period of 15 September and 20 December 2021 with both those who had been infected with COVID-19 and those who had not. Depression symptomology was assessed using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire and levels of anxiety were measured using the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale. A total of 727 participants were recruited. The bulk of the respondents (n = 454) reported having a past COVID-19 infection, of whom a considerable proportion (82%) had mild-moderate symptoms. More than half of the infected respondents (53.3%) stated they were treated at home. The mean score of generalized anxiety was higher among the infected group compared to the non-infected group t(725) = 2.538, p = 0.011. Factors such as older age, female gender, unemployment, previous psychological problems, and diabetes mellitus were strongly associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety post-COVID-19 infection. Additionally, anxiety was associated with a longer duration of post-COVID symptoms. The majority of the study population had mild to moderate levels of post-COVID-19 depression and anxiety. Psychological education and interventions are required to reduce the psychological burden of post-COVID-19 symptoms among the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perjan Taha
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok 42001, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Arazoo Tahir
- Community Health, Public Health Department, College of Health and Medical Technology, Shekhan, Duhok Polytechnic University, Duhok 42001, Kurdistan Region, Iraq;
| | - Fatima Ahmed
- Clinical Biochemistry, Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Health and Medical Technology, Shekhan, Duhok Polytechnic University, Duhok 42001, Kurdistan Region, Iraq;
| | - Runak Radha
- Biology Department, Shorsh General Hospital, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Sulaymaniyah 46001, Kurdistan Region, Iraq;
| | - Ari Taha
- Cardiac Center, Erbil, Erbil Governorate, Erbil 44001, Kurdistan Region, Iraq;
| | - Shameran Slewa-Younan
- Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 1797, Australia;
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Goldstein Ferber S, Shoval G, Zalsman G, Weller A. Does COVID-19 related symptomatology indicate a transdiagnostic neuropsychiatric disorder? - Multidisciplinary implications. World J Psychiatry 2022; 12:1004-1015. [PMID: 36158308 PMCID: PMC9476837 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v12.i8.1004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical presentation that emerges from the extensive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mental health literature suggests high correlations among many conventional psychiatric diagnoses. Arguments against the use of multiple comorbidities for a single patient have been published long before the pandemic. Concurrently, diagnostic recommendations for use of transdiagnostic considerations for improved treatment have been also published in recent years. In this review, we pose the question of whether a transdiagnostic mental health disease, including psychiatric and neuropsychiatric symptomology, has emerged since the onset of the pandemic. There are many attempts to identify a syndrome related to the pandemic, but none of the validated scales is able to capture the entire psychiatric and neuropsychiatric clinical presentation in infected and non-infected individuals. These scales also only marginally touch the issue of etiology and prevalence. We suggest a working hypothesis termed Complex Stress Reaction Syndrome (CSRS) representing a global psychiatric reaction to the pandemic situation in the general population (Type A) and a neuropsychiatric reaction in infected individuals (Type B) which relates to neurocognitive and psychiatric features which are part (excluding systemic and metabolic dysfunctions) of the syndrome termed in the literature as long COVID. We base our propositions on multidisciplinary scientific data regarding mental health during the global pandemic situation and the effects of viral infection reviewed from Google Scholar and PubMed between February 1, 2022 and March 10, 2022. Search in-clusion criteria were “mental health”, “COVID-19” and “Long COVID”, English language and human studies only. We suggest that this more comprehensive way of understanding COVID-19 complex mental health reactions may promote better prevention and treatment and serve to guide implementation of recommended administrative regulations that were recently published by the World Psychiatric Association. This review may serve as a call for an international investigation of our working hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sari Goldstein Ferber
- Department of Psychology and Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5317000, Israel
| | - Gal Shoval
- Department of Psychiatry, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Department of Neuroscience, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
| | - Gil Zalsman
- Department of Psychiatry, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Aron Weller
- Department of Psychology and Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5317000, Israel
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Physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic in older adults. Turk J Phys Med Rehabil 2022; 68:308-310. [PMID: 35989953 PMCID: PMC9366495 DOI: 10.5606/tftrd.2022.10080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Moye
- VA New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School
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Cybulski M, Cwalina U, Sadowska D, Krajewska-Kułak E. The Assessment of the Severity of COVID-19-Related Anxiety Symptoms in Participants of the University of the Third Age in Poland: A Cross-Sectional Study among Internet Survey Respondents. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10173862. [PMID: 34501310 PMCID: PMC8432185 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10173862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Fear of infection with SARS-CoV-2 has become widespread. All over the world, since the very beginning of the pandemic, older adults have been considered one of the groups at highest risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and death due to COVID-19. The aim of the study was to evaluate the severity of anxiety symptoms related to COVID-19 in the older adults who are participants of the Universities of the Third Age in Poland. Material and methods: The study included participants of the University of the Third Age in Poland. A total of 296 persons were enrolled, including 258 women and 38 men. The study was a diagnostic survey, conducted with the use of the following validated psychometric scales: General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results: In two scales (STAI and SHAI), the mean scores demonstrated mild symptoms indicative of anxiety disorders in the older respondents. Women and men did differ significantly in terms of the scores obtained in STAI X-1 and STAI X-2. Single respondents differed significantly from divorced ones in terms of STAI X-1 scores. Moreover, widows/widowers differed significantly from divorced ones in terms of STAI X-2, and GAD-7 scores. Respondents declaring their financial status as average differed significantly from those declaring their financial status as good in terms of: STAI X-1, STAI X-2, SHAI, and GAD-7 scores. Conclusions: The subjective experience of anxiety symptoms associated with fear of contracting COVID-19 was increased due to the ongoing pandemic, but was not significantly high in the analysed population of older people. COVID-19-related anxiety was significantly more common in lonely individuals and in those of worse financial status. Women and men differed significantly in terms of perceived state anxiety and trait anxiety measured by STAI. More studies addressing COVID-19-related anxiety in older people participating in the Polish Universities of the Third Age are needed to determine a more accurate distribution of this phenomenon in Poland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Cybulski
- Department of Integrated Medical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Białystok, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 7A str., 15-096 Białystok, Poland;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-(85)-686-51-08
| | - Urszula Cwalina
- Department of Medical Statistics and Health Informatics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Białystok, Szpitalna 37 str., 15-295 Białystok, Poland;
| | - Dorota Sadowska
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Białystok, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 24A str., 15-276 Białystok, Poland;
| | - Elżbieta Krajewska-Kułak
- Department of Integrated Medical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Białystok, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 7A str., 15-096 Białystok, Poland;
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