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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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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