A Study of Older Adults’ Mental Health across 33 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Despite older adults’ extremely high vulnerability to COVID-19 complications and death, few studies have examined how personal characteristics and the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the mental health of older adults at the global level. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships amo...

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Main Authors: Carmen M. Tyler, Grace B. McKee, Elisabet Alzueta, Paul B. Perrin, Kristine Kingsley, Fiona C. Baker, Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
Series:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/10/5090
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spelling doaj-628126bf5a3741f8adb596b47d47b3ff2021-05-31T23:44:10ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1661-78271660-46012021-05-01185090509010.3390/ijerph18105090A Study of Older Adults’ Mental Health across 33 Countries during the COVID-19 PandemicCarmen M. Tyler0Grace B. McKee1Elisabet Alzueta2Paul B. Perrin3Kristine Kingsley4Fiona C. Baker5Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla6Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USADepartment of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USACenter for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USADepartment of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USAInstitute of Cognitive and Emotional Wellness, Westchester, NY 10801, USACenter for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USABioCruces Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, SpainDespite older adults’ extremely high vulnerability to COVID-19 complications and death, few studies have examined how personal characteristics and the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the mental health of older adults at the global level. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among demographics, COVID-19 life impacts, and depression and anxiety in adults aged 60 and older from 33 countries. A sample of 823 older adults aged 60–94 and residing in 33 countries completed a 10-min online survey following recruitment from mailing lists and social media. Being separated from and having conflicts with loved ones predicted both anxiety and depression, as did residing in a country with higher income. Getting medical treatment for severe symptoms of COVID-19 and having decreased work responsibilities predicted depression, but adjustment to working from home and younger age predicted both depression and anxiety. Participants from Europe and Central Asia reported higher depression than those from all other regions and higher anxiety than those from Latin America and the Caribbean. The COVID-19 pandemic has had serious deleterious effects on the mental health of older adults worldwide. The current findings have direct implications for mental health services that may be delivered to older adults to help facilitate healthy psychological adjustment.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/10/5090older adultsCOVID-19coronaviruspandemicdepressionanxiety
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Carmen M. Tyler
Grace B. McKee
Elisabet Alzueta
Paul B. Perrin
Kristine Kingsley
Fiona C. Baker
Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla
spellingShingle Carmen M. Tyler
Grace B. McKee
Elisabet Alzueta
Paul B. Perrin
Kristine Kingsley
Fiona C. Baker
Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla
A Study of Older Adults’ Mental Health across 33 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
older adults
COVID-19
coronavirus
pandemic
depression
anxiety
author_facet Carmen M. Tyler
Grace B. McKee
Elisabet Alzueta
Paul B. Perrin
Kristine Kingsley
Fiona C. Baker
Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla
author_sort Carmen M. Tyler
title A Study of Older Adults’ Mental Health across 33 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_short A Study of Older Adults’ Mental Health across 33 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_full A Study of Older Adults’ Mental Health across 33 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_fullStr A Study of Older Adults’ Mental Health across 33 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_full_unstemmed A Study of Older Adults’ Mental Health across 33 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_sort study of older adults’ mental health across 33 countries during the covid-19 pandemic
publisher MDPI AG
series International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
issn 1661-7827
1660-4601
publishDate 2021-05-01
description Despite older adults’ extremely high vulnerability to COVID-19 complications and death, few studies have examined how personal characteristics and the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the mental health of older adults at the global level. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among demographics, COVID-19 life impacts, and depression and anxiety in adults aged 60 and older from 33 countries. A sample of 823 older adults aged 60–94 and residing in 33 countries completed a 10-min online survey following recruitment from mailing lists and social media. Being separated from and having conflicts with loved ones predicted both anxiety and depression, as did residing in a country with higher income. Getting medical treatment for severe symptoms of COVID-19 and having decreased work responsibilities predicted depression, but adjustment to working from home and younger age predicted both depression and anxiety. Participants from Europe and Central Asia reported higher depression than those from all other regions and higher anxiety than those from Latin America and the Caribbean. The COVID-19 pandemic has had serious deleterious effects on the mental health of older adults worldwide. The current findings have direct implications for mental health services that may be delivered to older adults to help facilitate healthy psychological adjustment.
topic older adults
COVID-19
coronavirus
pandemic
depression
anxiety
url https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/10/5090
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