Perceptions, feelings, and the routine of older adults during the isolation period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study in four countries

Psychological responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and situational impact: A network analysis in Hong Kong residents

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has had situational impacts and induced various psychological responses among residents. The present study aims to analyze the network structure of psychological responses to the pandemic and their relationships with situational impact, resilience, and well-being through a network approach.

METHODS

An online survey recruited 1122 residents (mean age = 32.5 years, 65.4 % female) in Hong Kong from October 2020 to October 2021. The participants completed the Mental Impact and Distress Scale: Psychological Response (MIDc-PR) and other validated measures. Gaussian graphical modeling was conducted in R to identify the central MIDc-PR symptoms and their bridge linkages with situational impact, resilience, and well-being.

RESULTS

In the MIDc-PR network, the central symptoms were 'Routine' and 'Images' for Anticipation and 'Tense' and 'Lonely' for Modulation, with 12 bridge edges between the two clusters. In the combined network, the MIDc-PR nodes showed 12 bridge edges with situational impact, particularly in the health domain. 'Concerned', 'Sleep', and 'Lonely' showed negative linkages with resilience; 'Unmotivated' and 'Trapped' showed negative linkages with well-being. The network models showed good levels of stability and did not differ significantly in network structure and global strength across gender and age groups.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional study design only allowed undirected associations in the network and could not model the within-subject effects.

CONCLUSIONS

The study findings contributed to the literature by elucidating the network structure of psychological responses to the pandemic. The central and bridge symptoms have clinical implications as potential targets for future interventions.

Three Perspectives on Older Adults' Daily Performance, Health, and Technology Use During COVID-19: Focus Group Study

Background

During COVID-19 lockdowns, older adults' engagement in daily activities was severely affected, causing negative physical and mental health implications. Technology flourished as a means of performing daily activities in this complex situation; however, older adults often struggled to effectively use these opportunities. Despite the important role of older adults' social environments-including their families and health professionals-in influencing their technology use, research into their unique perspectives is lacking.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the daily activity performance, health, and technology use experiences of healthy independent Israeli adults (aged ≥65 years) during COVID-19 from a 3-dimensional perspective: older adults, older adults' family members, and health professionals.

Methods

Nine online focus groups, averaging 6-7 participants per group, were conducted with older adults, family members, and health professionals (N=59). Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and constant comparative methods.

Results

The intertwining of daily activity performance and health emerged as a central theme, with differences between the groups. Older adults prioritized their self-fulfilling routines based on motivation and choice, especially in social-familial activities. In contrast, family members and health professionals focused on serious physical and mental health COVID-19-related consequences. A consensus among all three groups revealed the meaningful role of technology use during this period in bridging functional limitations. Participants delved into technology's transformative power, focusing on the need for technology to get engaged in daily activities.

Conclusions

This study illustrates the profound interplay between daily activity performances, physical and mental health, and technology use, using a 3-dimensional approach. Its focus on technology's uses and benefits sheds light on what older adults need to increase their technology use. Interventions for improving digital activity performance can be tailored to meet older adults' needs and preferences by focusing on motivational and preference-related activities.

The psychological implications of COVID-19 over the eighteen-month time span following the virus breakout in Italy

Background

In a short time, the COVID-19 pandemic has exerted a huge impact on many aspects of people's lives with a number of consequences, an increase in the risks of psychological diseases being one of them. The aim of this experimental study, based on an eighteen-month follow-up survey, is to assess the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, changes in stress, anxiety and depression levels, and the risks of developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Methods

A follow-up survey was performed on a sample of 184 Italian individuals to collect relevant information about the psychological impact of COVID-19. Predictors of the components of the psychological impact were calculated based on the ANCOVA model.

Results

The analysis of the online questionnaires led to the conclusion that a high percentage of the participants suffer from levels of stress, anxiety and depression higher than normal as well as an increased risk of PTSD. The severity of such disorders significantly depends on gender, the loss of family members or acquaintances due to the pandemic, the amount of time spent searching for COVID-19 related information, the type of information sources and, in part, on the level of education and income. The time factor had a more severe effect on the low-income population.

Conclusion

COVID-19 has entailed a very strong psychological impact on the Italian population also depending on the coping strategies adopted, the level of mindful awareness, socio-demographic variables, people's habits and the way individuals use the available means of communication and information.

Older Adults' Metaphorical Perceptions of Aging in Turkey

PURPOSE

To determine older adults' metaphorical perceptions of the concept of aging.

METHOD

Participants in this qualitative study comprised 57 older adults as determined using convenience and criterion sampling methods. Data were obtained using a personal data form and the metaphor form and analyzed with descriptive and content analysis techniques.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven metaphors were identified within three themes: 24 within Mental Aspect, 18 within Physical Aspect, and 15 within Psychosocial Aspect.

CONCLUSION

The fact that most metaphors appeared within the Mental Aspect theme was interpreted as an indication that participants felt the effects of aging more in the mental dimension. Results of the research show that aging is perceived as experience and accumulation mentally, as inadequacy physically, and as the end or loneliness psychosocially. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(5), 27-34.].

Older adults' experiences of wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparative qualitative study in Italy and Switzerland

Background

Particularly at the beginning of the pandemic, adults aged 65 and older were portrayed as a homogeneously vulnerable population due to the elevated health risks associated with contracting the COVID-19 disease. This portrayal, combined with travel restrictions, closures of economic sectors, country-wide lockdowns, and suggestions by governmental authorities to limit social contact, had important implications for the wellbeing of older individuals. However, older adults are a heterogeneous population who relies on different resources to cope with stressful periods, like the COVID-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, countries also employed different measures to contain the virus. Research thus far has focused on the short-term consequences of the pandemic, but studies have yet to address its long-term consequences.

Objectives

We explore older adults' lived experiences nearly 2 years after the pandemic onset. Moreover, we focus on the bordering countries of Switzerland and Italy, who employed contrasting containment measures. This paper analyzes (1) How the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the experiences of wellbeing of older adults in these regions and (2) How older adults coped with the stressors brought about by the pandemic, in particular social distancing.

Methods

The paper draws on 31 semi-structured interviews with 11 Swiss natives residing in Switzerland, 10 Italian migrants residing in Switzerland, and 10 Italian natives residing in Italy. Interviews were conducted from December 2021 to March 2022.

Results

Coping mechanisms of the three groups related to acceptance, hobbies, cognitive reframing, telephone use, vaccine use and social distancing. However, results show heterogeneous experiences of wellbeing, with Swiss natives sharing more positive narratives than the other two groups. Moreover, Italian migrants and Italian natives expressed the long-term negative consequences of the pandemic on their experienced wellbeing.

Heterogeneity of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of Metabolic Syndrome onset at a Japanese campus

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak began in China in December 2019, with the World Health Organization declaring a state of emergency in January 2020. Worldwide implementation of lockdown measures to slow the spread of the virus led to reduced physical activity, disrupted eating habits, mental health issues, and sleep disturbances, which increased the risk of lifestyle-related diseases such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers, especially intensive care workers, experienced longer working hours and burnout, which further increased the risk of lifestyle-related diseases. Accordingly, it is important to identify individuals at a risk of new-onset MetS during a pandemic, which could direct preventive interventions. This study aimed to assess the heterogeneous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of new-onset MetS based on the conditional average treatment effect (CATE) and to identify at-risk populations.

Methods

This study analyzed health checkup data obtained from Okayama University Shikata Campus workers using paired baseline and follow-up years. Baseline data encompassed 2017 to 2019, with respective follow-up data from 2018 to 2020. Furthermore, as the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan began in January 2020, workers who underwent follow-up health checkups in 2018 to 2019 and 2020 were considered as "unexposed" and "exposed," respectively. As the Shikata campus has several departments, comparisons among departments were made. The primary outcome was new-onset MetS at follow-up. Predictor variables included baseline health checkup results, sex, age, and department (administrative, research, medical, or intensive care department). X-learner was used to calculate the CATE.

Results

This study included 3,572 eligible individuals (unexposed, n = 2,181; exposed, n = 1,391). Among them, 1,544 (70.8%) and 866 (62.3%) participants in the unexposed and exposed groups, respectively, were females. The mean age (±standard deviation) of the unexposed and exposed groups was 48.2 ± 8.2 and 47.8 ± 8.3 years, respectively. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the average probability of new-onset MetS by 4.4% in the overall population. According to the department, the intensive care department showed the highest CATE, with a 15.4% increase. Moreover, there was large heterogeneity according to the department. The high-CATE group was characterized by older age, urinary protein, elevated liver enzymes, higher triglyceride levels, and a history of hyperlipidemia treatment.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic increased the incidence of new-onset MetS, with this effect showing heterogeneity at a single Japanese campus. Regarding specific populations, workers in the intensive care department showed an increased risk of new-onset MetS. At-risk populations require specific preventive interventions in case the current COVID-19 pandemic persists or a new pandemic occurs.

Understanding the Experiences of COVID-19 Public Health Measures and Well-Being: A Qualitative Study Among Older Adults in Quebec, Canada

This interpretative descriptive study explores how public health measures implemented during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec, Canada, affected the well-being of older adults. Twenty-six participants aged 60-81 took photographs to depict how COVID-19 public health measures affected their well-being and were invited to discuss their photographs in virtual focus groups. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The impacts of health measures on the well-being of participants were framed according to three overarching themes. First, participants endured an intensification of ageism, feeling diminished and excluded from their social spheres. Second, they faced a burden of loneliness due to the loss of connections with their communities, particularly for those who were single and without children. Third, participants highlighted navigating a degradation of social cohesion. This manifested through tensions and distrust in both the public and private spheres, as well as acts of resistance in response to rules deemed unjust. While public health measures were essential to prevent onward transmission of COVID-19 and mortality, they negatively impacted older adults' self-image, loneliness, and trust in society. This study argues for a rethinking of public health norms specific to older adults to address potential sources of inequality. In particular, a greater emphasis is needed on social connectedness and addressing the unique needs of older adults during pandemics.

Attitudes and perceptions toward the COVID-19 risk-mitigation strategies among racially and ethnically diverse older adults in the United States and Puerto Rico: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

There is limited qualitative research investigating how risk-mitigation strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the lives of diverse older adults, who met criteria for mild to severe generalized anxiety or depression and minor to moderate disability. This study aims to address this gap by examining how racially and ethnically diverse older adults with at least mild mental health symptoms and minor physical disability in the United States and Puerto Rico adapted to guidelines during COVID-19. It aims to inform the medical community and policymakers of potential threats to these older adults' well-being given the COVID-19 burden.

DESIGN

Based on descriptive qualitative inquiry and phenomenological perspectives, we conducted semi-structured interviews over the phone with a racially and ethnically diverse sample of older (age 60+), predominantly minoritized adults (N = 100) in four states and territories across the United States and Puerto Rico in 2021. Interviews were recorded, coded, and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.

RESULTS

Findings centered on five themes: (1) Previous experiences with the healthcare system and cultural beliefs related to trust and distrust led to mixed attitudes toward COVID-19 risk-mitigation strategies; (2) Compliance with COVID-19 mitigation strategies ensured safety and addressed fear of illness; (3) Compliance led to isolation due to interrupted social relations; (4) Isolation and disrupted social networks negatively impacted mental health and finances, and (5) Coping strategies and embracing support reduced the effects of social isolation.

CONCLUSION

This study underscores the importance of increasing support and social connectedness during a pandemic and beyond to ensure the well-being of older adults in racially and ethnically diverse communities. It highlights the resiliency of older adults in identifying strategies to cope with negative impacts. We recommend safeguarding economic security through policy efforts toward financial safety nets during health crises and collaborative approaches with community-based organizations to mitigate social isolation.

Challenging experiences of the elderly with heart failure in the COVID-19 pandemic: a phenomenological study in Iran

BACKGROUND

Patients with heart failure (HF), especially the elderly, faced many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which need to be explored. The present study aimed to analyse the challenging experiences facing the elderly with heart failure during the pandemic in Iran. To achieve this aim, a qualitative approach to research was employed.

METHODS

The present qualitative research employed a phenomenological approach to study 12 elderly with heart failure visiting Imam Ali Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kermanshah, Iran. The data collection occurred between August 5, 2022, and November 21, 2022. The participants were selected through a purposive sampling method and interviewed using a semi-structured interview. MAXQDA10 software was used for data organisation and the Colizzi analytical technique for data analysis. Guba and Lincoln's criteria were also used to evaluate the trustworthiness of the qualitative research.

RESULTS

A total of two categories, 8 subcategories, and 110 primary codes were extracted from the data. The two categories were challenges and coping strategies. The former included the sub-categories of economic issues, fear, anxiety, and fear of death; limited access to health care; quarantine issues; disruption of family life; and medication non-adherence. The subcategories of the latter were faith in God, social support, and self-care behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study revealed the challenges experienced and the coping strategies employed by elderly patients with heart failure during the pandemic in Iran. A knowledge of these challenges and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic can raise healthcare workers' awareness of the elderly patients' strategies used to cope with the virus.

COVID-19 stress and coping strategies among older adults: a systematic review of qualitative evidences

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about far more stressful conditions for people worldwide. As a vulnerable group, older adults have suffered various psychological problems, such as stress, because of this pandemic and have applied various strategies to cope with the dire consequences. This study aimed to synthesize qualitative evidence regarding coping strategies for stressful situations among older adults throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

We searched electronic databases, including Scopus, Embase, PubMed, ProQuest, and the Cochrane Library, based on PRISMA standards. The protocol of this systematic review was registered on the PROSPERO (registration code: CRD42022364831). All relevant English-language articles published between 2019 and November 10, 2022, were searched. We reviewed the reference lists for all the included studies and key references. Two reviewers conducted screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal independently, with disagreements resolved by consensus with all team members. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist was used to assess the quality of studies. A thematic synthesis of the selected studies was conducted.

RESULTS

We included 13 studies in our review. Most studies were conducted in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic was classified into six categories: health management challenges, stress caused by quarantine, economic challenges, media and bad news stress, virus threats, and challenges related to the use of communication technologies. The strategies used by older adults to cope with these challenges were categorized into five categories: protective strategies, avoidance strategies, maintaining social connections, meaning-based strategies, and fun strategies. This research showed that depending on the situation and conditions, older adults use various strategies to cope with COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

Older adults experience much stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. In most cases, older adults can cope with these challenges with simple strategies from previous experiences and learnings. Older people require educational interventions in some cases, such as those involving communication skills. A better understanding of older adults coping strategies may enable policymakers to develop more effective policies and manage the problems of older adults in post-COVID situations.

Older adults' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative systematic literature review

OBJECTIVES

Relatively little is known about the lived experiences of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. We systematically review the international literature to understand the lived experiences of older adult's experiences during the pandemic.

DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

This study uses a meta-ethnographical approach to investigate the included studies. The analyses were undertaken with constructivist grounded theory.

RESULTS

Thirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria and only five papers were of low quality. Most, but not all studies, were from the global north. We identified three themes: desired and challenged wellbeing; coping and adaptation; and discrimination and intersectionality. Overall, the studies' findings were varied and reflected different times during the pandemic. Studies reported the impact of mass media messaging and its mostly negative impact on older adults. Many studies highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants' social connectivity and well-being including missing the proximity of loved ones and in consequence experienced an increase in anxiety, feeling of depression, or loneliness. However, many studies reported how participants adapted to the change of lifestyle including new ways of communication, and social distancing. Some studies focused on discrimination and the experiences of sexual and gender minority and ethnic minority participants. Studies found that the pandemic impacted the participants' well-being including suicidal risk behaviour, friendship loss, and increased mental health issues.

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted and impacted older adults' well-being worldwide. Despite the cultural and socio-economic differences many commonalities were found. Studies described the impact of mass media reporting, social connectivity, impact of confinement on well-being, coping, and on discrimination. The authors suggest that these findings need to be acknowledged for future pandemic strategies. Additionally, policy-making processes need to include older adults to address their needs. PROSPERO record [CRD42022331714], (Derrer-Merk et al., Older adults' lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review, 2022).

Future Time Perspective and Psychological Well-Being for Older Canadian Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Relevant literature indicates that one's perception of future time is related to their psychological well-being, particularly for older adults. However, more research is needed to understand this relationship in the context of COVID-19. Older adults may be especially vulnerable to the psychological impacts of the pandemic, but findings on their psychological well-being during COVID-19 are mixed. The current study examines relationships between Future Time Perspective (FTP), COVID-19 impact, and Psychological Well-Being, and how these variables change over 8 months during the earlier period of the pandemic. The current study explored these relationships in a sample of older women in Ontario, Canada, at two time points (Mage = 70.39 at T1), who completed online Qualtrics surveys. We used hierarchical linear regressions to test our expectations that COVID-19 impact would be negatively associated with psychological well-being, whereas FTP would be positively associated with psychological well-being, and that FTP would moderate the relationship between COVID-19 impact and psychological well-being. We found partial support for these hypotheses. Our knowledge of the relationship between FTP and psychological well-being would benefit from research that continues to explore different contexts and diverse samples, to enhance understandings of important differences.

Older adults' subjective experiences of the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown in Italy: A qualitative study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the subjective experience of the COVID-19 outbreak in healthy older adults and develop a model of the older population's psychological adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A qualitative grounded theory approach was taken to the study design and analysis, using semi-structured interviews to collect data from 19 community-active Italian older people by telephone during the first wave of COVID-19 (May 2020).

RESULTS

The theory emerging from the study conceptualized the COVID-19 subjective experience in older people as an adjustment process to the disruption of habits, social contacts, and routines that prompted a meaning-making process to face this adverse experience. Three emergent categories included 'loss, uncertainty, and distress' as the psychological impact of the pandemic emergency, 'making sense of COVID-19' as a subjective sense-making process of the pandemic, and 'living with the pandemic' as agency and self-management within the pandemic experience. The resulting narratives encompassed themes, i.e. risk perception, representation of the self, connection with past-time memories, and compliance with safety measures.

CONCLUSION

The results have implications for designing effective messages to promote hope, social responsibility, and commitment in aging during the COVID-19 pandemic and for health workers who wish to support the psychological health of older adults.

Nursing Home Residents' Perceptions of Challenges and Coping Strategies during COVID-19 Pandemic in China

Older people in nursing homes are at a high risk of being infected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). They also experienced nursing home lockdowns that harm their psychological wellbeing. Better support for this vulnerable population requires understanding their perceptions of challenges and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the data. Participants were recruited from six nursing homes in three cities in Hunan Province, China. Fourteen nursing home residents participated in the study. Four themes were identified from interviews and described as: mental stress and coping strategies, self-regulation to respond to lockdown, the lack of social connection and coping strategies, and the need for medical care services and coping strategies. This study revealed that nursing home residents perceived stress during the nursing home lockdown, but they reported initiating activities to maintain health and connections with their families and peers. Resilience improvement interventions are necessary to enable residents' autonomy and develop their resilience in coping with difficulties and hardship during crises. The findings also indicate that a supportive environment with interactions from families, peers, and staffs played a key role in enabling residents' positive health and wellbeing during the lockdown.

Mediating Effects of Attitudes, Risk Perceptions, and Negative Emotions on Coping Behaviors

Based on the perspectives of social risk amplification and the knowledge-attitudes-practice model, this study aimed to test how the level of knowledge about COVID-19 and information sources can predict people's behavioral changes and to examine the effect mechanisms through the mediating roles of attitude, risk perception, and negative emotions in a survey of 498 older Chinese adults. The results showed that (1) older people had a lower level of factual knowledge regarding the variant strains and vaccines; (2) in the information sources-behavior, information sources had a critical influence on elderly individuals' coping behaviors; and (3) in the knowledge-behavior, factual knowledge had a significant effect on elderly individuals' coping behaviors. Specifically, for prevention behaviors, both risk perception and negative emotions played full mediating roles. The findings have significant implications for the development of an effective COVID-19 prevention program to older adults coping with pandemic conditions.

The Significance of Pets for Vulnerable Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Explorative Qualitative Study

Older adults receiving long-term care at home (LTCH-clients) were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and its countermeasures. Previous research suggests that pets can mitigate some of the pandemic's impacts for older adults but results are contradictory. Our aim was to investigate experiences of LTCH-clients and the significance of their pets during the pandemic. Accounting for saturation, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five LTCH-clients and four family caregivers of LTCH-clients with dementia. Participants were asked about their experiences with COVID-19 and the significance of LTCH-clients' pets during the pandemic. Two researchers performed thematic analyses in ATLAS.ti using open coding and an iterative-inductive approach. All participants reported negative experiences as a result of COVID-19 countermeasures. Results suggested that caring for pets provided pet owners with structure, which may have contributed to a sense of stability and continuity. Our outcomes underlined an important role of pets for LTCH-clients both before and during the pandemic.

There must be a way out: The consensual qualitative analysis of best coping practices during the COVID-19 pandemic

Despite the continuous efforts to understand coping processes, very little is known about the utilization of best coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we aimed to analyze the coping strategies of individuals who scored high on an adaptive coping questionnaire in order to understand the most adaptive coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used consensual qualitative analysis in a team of four researchers and one auditor. The convenience sample from which we identified the high scorers comprised 1,683 participants (67% women, 32.35% men, and 0.65% did not report their gender) with a mean age of 31.02 years (SD = 11.99) ranging between 18 and 77 years old. Based on their scoring in the COPE Inventory, nine participants were selected from the sample with the highest scores in coping skills in at least two out of its 15 subscales. In-depth repeated interviews with six participants for the main analysis were conducted, and three were added to check the data saturation. The results showed that the most adaptive coping strategies used during the COVID-19 pandemic could be categorized into four main domains: self-compassion, compassion to others, compassion from others, and mutual compassion. The most frequently mentioned and the most elaborated upon by our respondents was the domain of self-compassion. The most interesting finding was the emergence of the fourth type of compassion, labeled mutual compassion, which referred to deliberate attempts to take care of oneself and others while suffering together in order to elevate the suffering for both. This kind of compassion might arise in the situations of collective suffering, such as a catastrophe or a pandemic and might have the additional benefit of bringing people closer to each other in difficult times.

COVID-19, loneliness, social isolation and risk of dementia in older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the relevant literature

OBJECTIVES

During the COVID-19 lockdown, social isolation and feelings of loneliness (SIFL) in the older population have increased, and they can be a risk of dementia, especially in vulnerable older people. The current research is a systematic review meta-analysis of the studies that approach the risk of dementia in older people with SIFL.

METHODS

The ten studies selected for meta-analysis utilised an opportunistic sample of older people in the community from age 50 to above with no dementia and enrolment. The populations consisted of cohorts of an average of 8,239 people, followed for a mean period of 6.41 years. Random effect meta-analysis summarised the Cox Proportional Hazard Ratios and Relative Risks of the individual studies.

RESULTS

Results of the meta-analysis show that in older people, the risk of developing dementia because of the impact of prolonged loneliness and social isolation is about 49 to 60% [HR/HR = 1.49; CI₉₅=1.37-1.61] higher than in those who are not lonely and socially isolated.

CONCLUSION

The biopsychosocial model of dementia supports the need for more integrated social programs and reduced risks for the older persons who, during the COVID-19 lockdown, have suffered from deprivation of support from primary carers and restricted social interactions.KeypointsDuring the COVID-19 lockdown, social isolation and feelings of loneliness in the general population have increased.Older persons are more vulnerable to social isolation and feelings of loneliness (SIFL).SIFL in older people has been associated with an increased risk of dementia.The current study's findings suggest the need to improve healthcare policies to reduce the impact of SIFL in older persons during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coping With Uncertainty: Use of Contemplative Practices Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

Scant research has attempted to understand the use and frequency of contemplative practices across social groups of older adults in the context of uniquely uncertain and stressful circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from a nationwide web-based survey (n = 1861), we examined the change in the frequency of contemplative practices and variation across sociodemographic, health, and psychological status and we documented a significant increase in the use of prayer and meditation since the beginning of the pandemic. Minority groups and those with lower income reported praying longer than their counterparts. Respondents who were unmarried, women, and more educated were more likely to meditate, whereas lower-educated respondents were more likely to pray during the pandemic. Greater use of these practices was found among participants with higher anxiety. Our study offers much-needed guidance for future intervention studies to improve psychological well-being among diverse groups of older adults facing stressful circumstances.

Gender-Related Differences in Social Participation Among Japanese Elderly Individuals During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Introduction/Objectives:

The health of elderly individuals is known to benefit from maintaining societal involvement and relationships with other people, such as through social participation. We aimed to determine trends in the percentage of Japanese elderly people who engaged in social participation before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in one municipality in Japan, and compared differences in this status by gender.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Questionnaires were sent by mail to 3000 people aged 65 to 85 years who were randomly selected by the administrative staff of the city. Participant characteristics (age, gender, working status, residential status) and their economic status, daily physical activity, and social participation status were obtained at 3 time points: (1) before the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020; (2) immediately prior to the declaration of a state of emergency in April 2020; and (3) in January 2021, 1 year after (1).

Results:

A total of 1301 people responded to the survey. The mean age was 73.3 (SD 5.5) years, and 690 (53.0%) were women. There were significant gender differences in terms of living alone, employment status, and amount of physical activity. The number of people reporting social participation gradually decreased from 543 respondents (41.7%) at (1) to 319 (24.5%) at (2) and 251 (19.3%) at (3). Women were more likely to demonstrate reduced social participation.

Conclusions:

Elderly individuals, particularly women, reported decreased social participation during the pandemic.

International psychological research addressing the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: A rapid scoping review and implications for global psychology

In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Given that keeping abreast of international perspectives and research results is of particular importance for such massive global emergencies, we employed a scoping review methodology to rapidly map the field of international psychological research addressing this important early phase of the pandemic. We included a total of 79 studies, with data mostly collected between March and June 2020. This review aimed to systematically identify and map the nature and scope of international studies examining psychological aspects of the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic. We mapped key research themes, subfields of psychology, the nature and extent of international research collaboration, data methods employed, and challenges and enablers faced by psychological researchers in the early stages of the pandemic. Among the wide range of themes covered, mental health and social behaviours were the key themes. Most studies were in clinical/health psychology and social psychology. Network analyses revealed how authors collaborated and to what extent the studies were international. Europe and the United States were often at the centre of international collaboration. The predominant study design was cross-sectional and online with quantitative analyses. We also summarised author reported critical challenges and enablers for international psychological research during the COVID pandemic, and conclude with implications for the field of psychology.

Predictive Model of Preventive Behaviors against COVID-19 in the Older Adult: The PREASOC-COVID-19 Study

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between COVID-19 preventive behaviors, as the dependent variable, with risk perception, coping style and sense of coherence, as independent variables, in older people living in the community. Methods: An observational design for predictive model development. This study was reported following the STROBE statement. The subjects were people over 65 years of age living in the community. Data collection included sociodemographic variables related to COVID-19, risk perception and types, coping styles in the face of contagion, sense of coherence, and preventive behaviors in the face of COVID-19. The data collection period was from November 2020 to January 2021. Results: A total of 305 people participated in this study (71.5% women, mean age 71.34 years; 6.9% suffered from COVID-19 and 44.3% knew someone close to them who suffered from the virus). The coping style variables problem-focused, emotion-focused, and sense of coherence subscales Significance and manageability explained 17% of the variable preventive behaviors against COVID-19. There were statistically significant differences by gender in all subscales, with women scoring higher in all of them; Conclusions: Men with low risk perception, extrinsic risk perception, and low sense of coherence presented worse COVID-19 preventive behaviors. It would be interesting to develop specific prevention and health education campaigns for this population.

The COVID-19 pandemic as experienced by the spouses of home-dwelling people with dementia - a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Worldwide, restrictive measures have been taken to manage the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing and self-isolation have considerably affected the lives of people with dementia and their informal caregivers. The purpose of the study was to explore the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic as experienced by the spouses of home-dwelling people with dementia in Norway.

METHODS

The study had a qualitative descriptive design using individual telephone interviews for data collection. A total sample of 17 spouses of people with dementia were included, 14 women and three men ages 52 to 82 years. A qualitative content analysis following six steps inspired by Graneheim and Lundman was used to identify the categories presented.

RESULTS

The participants emphasized four main perspectives: 1) Radical changes in available services, 2) Restrictions changed everyday life, 3) Impacts on health and well-being, and 4) Actions that made life easier. The participants also described how positive activities and easily accessible services helped them in this situation.

CONCLUSIONS

The governmental restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in radical changes in available services with severe consequences for the lives and well-being of home-dwelling people with dementia and their spouses. Examples of coping strategies and possible psychosocial interventions compatible with virus precautions were identified. The potential of such interventions should be further explored to meet the needs of vulnerable groups in situations like a pandemic.

Exploring the Interpretation of COVID-19 Messaging on Older Adults’ Experiences of Vulnerability

Public health messages and societal discourse during the COVID-19 pandemic have consistently indicated a higher morbidity and mortality risk for older people, particularly those with multiple health conditions. Older adults’ interpretations of pandemic messaging can shape their perceived vulnerability and behaviours. This study examined their perspectives on COVID-19 messaging. Eighteen community-dwelling older adults residing in Manitoba (Canada) participated in semi-structured telephone interviews between July and August 2020, a period of low COVID-19 cases within the province. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify key themes that described participants’ processes of information interpretation when consuming pandemic-related messages, their emotional responses to messaging and consequent vulnerability, and the impacts of messaging on their everyday lives. Understanding how older adults have construed COVID-19 and pandemic-related messages, and the subsequent impact on their daily behaviours, is the first step towards shaping societal discourse and sets the stage for examining the pandemic’s long-term effects.