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Harris LE. The virus be damned: Older adults seek romantic relationships during a pandemic. J Women Aging 2024; 36:166-179. [PMID: 37992279 DOI: 10.1080/08952841.2023.2282025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 was concerning for older adults because they faced greater health risks from the virus and generally experience higher rates of isolation and loneliness. Single older adults are of particular concern because they also lack a cohabiting partner for social connection, so they may face greater levels of loneliness. Many older adults have been using technology to develop and maintain social connections, including romantic connections, to mitigate these feelings of loneliness and isolation. This research explores how feelings of loneliness connect to use of online dating sites during a pandemic, how older adults decided to and rationalized dating at a time when meeting in-person and social interactions were discouraged and dangerous, and how experiences differed between men and women. I interviewed 50 men and 50 women, ages 60-83, about their experiences seeking partners and dating during the pandemic. All respondents were single, heterosexual, and recruited from online dating websites, but varied by race, education level, marital experience, employment status, and geographic location. Single older adults relied on feelings of loneliness and isolation, the ubiquity of online dating sites, and particularly for women, adherence to safety measures while on a date as motivation for seeking and meeting romantic partners during a pandemic. Single older adults seeking new romantic interactions during a pandemic, when health risks were greater, illustrates the importance of intimate relationships even into older age and how loneliness and isolation are powerful drivers in seeking romantic relationships.
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Zambrano Garza E, Pauly T, Choi Y, Murphy RA, Linden W, Ashe MC, Madden KM, Jakobi JM, Gerstorf D, Hoppmann CA. Daily solitude and well-being associations in older dyads: Evidence from daily life assessments. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2024; 16:356-375. [PMID: 37740540 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Older adults spend significant time by themselves, especially since COVID-19. Solitude has been associated with positive and negative outcomes. Partners need to balance social connectedness with time for one's own needs. This project examines how individual and partner solitude are associated with daily affect and relationship quality in dyads of older adults and a close other. One-hundred thirty-six older adults plus a close other rated their relationship quality and reported affect, solitude, and its characteristics (desired and bothersome) every evening for 10 days. Over and above overall associations, individual and partner effects emerged; when individual desired solitude was up, participants reported more positive affect and their partners less negative affect. When bothersome solitude was up, participants and their partners alike reported more negative affect and less positive affect. Desired solitude was associated with more support, whereas bothersome solitude was associated with less partner support. Findings provide further evidence on the potential benefits of solitude, highlighting the importance of considering the social context of what is often believed to be an individual-level phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Theresa Pauly
- Department of Gerontology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Yoonseok Choi
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Rachel A Murphy
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Wolfgang Linden
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Maureen C Ashe
- Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Kenneth M Madden
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jennifer M Jakobi
- School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Okanagan, Canada
| | - Denis Gerstorf
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
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Lalani N, Dongjuan X, Cai Y, Arling GW. Structural equation model of coping and life satisfaction of community-dwelling older people during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Patient Rep Outcomes 2023; 7:46. [PMID: 37195441 DOI: 10.1186/s41687-023-00583-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 put older individuals at high risk for morbidity and mortality, isolation, reduced coping, and lower satisfaction with life. Many older adults experienced social isolation, fear, and anxiety. We hypothesized that successful coping with these stressors would maintain or improve satisfaction with life, a crucial psychological outcome during the pandemic. Our study investigated relationships between older people's coping and life satisfaction during the pandemic and their optimism, sense of mastery, closeness with spouse, family, and friends, and vulnerabilities from frailty, comorbid diseases, memory problems, and dependencies in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). METHODS The study was based on a special COVID-19 sample of 1351 community-dwelling older adults who participated in the 2020 Health and Retirement Survey. A comprehensive structural equation modeling was used to test direct and indirect effects, with life satisfaction as the main outcome and coping as a mediator between the other variables and coping. RESULTS Most survey respondents were female and between the ages of 65-74 years. They averaged 1.7 chronic conditions, one in seven was frail, about one-third rated their memory as fair or poor, and about one in seven reported one or more difficulties in IADL. As hypothesized-older people with increased sense of mastery and optimism were better able to cope and had greater life satisfaction. In addition, close relationships with friends and with other family members besides the spouse/partner or children contributed to more successful coping, while the interpersonal closeness of all types contributed directly to greater life satisfaction. Finally, older people with more IADL limitations reported greater difficulty coping and lower life satisfaction, and those older people who were frail or had multiple comorbid diseases reported lower life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS Optimism, sense of mastery and closeness with family/friends promotes coping and life satisfaction, whereas frailty and comorbidities make coping more challenging and lead to lower life satisfaction particularly during a pandemic. Our study improves on prior research because of its nationally representative sample and formal specification and testing of a comprehensive theoretical framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasreen Lalani
- College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
- Center of Aging and Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| | - Xu Dongjuan
- College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Center of Aging and Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Yun Cai
- College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Center of Aging and Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Greg W Arling
- College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Center of Aging and Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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Delaruelle K, Vergauwen J, Dykstra P, Mortelmans D, Bracke P. Marital-history differences in increased loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: A European study among older adults living alone. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2023; 108:104923. [PMID: 36634441 PMCID: PMC9815881 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2023.104923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and related physical distancing measures have disproportionally affected older adults living alone due to their greater social isolation. Unlike previous studies on the subject, the current research recognizes the diversity amongst older adults living alone by considering the impact of marital history. Combining information from Wave 8 of the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement (SHARE), with data of SHARELIFE and the SHARE Corona survey, we investigated the differential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on loneliness in older men (N = 1504) and women (N = 4822) living alone. Logistic multilevel analyses were performed on data from 26 European countries and Israel. For men, we found that the short-term widowed were more likely to report increased loneliness than the medium- and long-term widowed and those living apart together (LAT). For women, the results indicated that the short- and medium-term widowed and the divorced were at greater risk for increased loneliness than those in a LAT relationship. Also, medium-term widowed women were more likely to report increased loneliness than their long-term widowed counterparts. The three hypothesized underlying mechanisms - i.e., (i) the opportunity mechanism, (ii) the expectation mechanism, and (iii) the vulnerability mechanism - only played a small role in explaining the observed differences. In sum, our study highlights the importance of recognizing the diversity within the group of older adults living alone when investigating the effects of the pandemic on loneliness, yet the mechanisms behind the stratifying role of marital history are not fully understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrijn Delaruelle
- Ghent University, Department of Sociology, Technicum T1, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Jorik Vergauwen
- University of Antwerp, Department of Sociology, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Pearl Dykstra
- Erasmus University Rotterdam, Department of Public Administration and Sociology, Burg. Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dimitri Mortelmans
- University of Antwerp, Department of Sociology, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Piet Bracke
- Ghent University, Department of Sociology, Technicum T1, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Dankowski T, Kastner L, Suenkel U, von Thaler AK, Mychajliw C, Krawczak M, Maetzler W, Berg D, Brockmann K, Thiel A, Eschweiler GW, Heinzel S. Longitudinal dynamics of depression in risk groups of older individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Epidemiol 2023; 3:1093780. [PMID: 38455897 PMCID: PMC10911044 DOI: 10.3389/fepid.2023.1093780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Background Older individuals are most at risk of severe COVID-19 and particularly require protection causing (self)restriction of psychosocial interaction in daily living. So far, the impact of psychosocial withdrawal on mental health seems less pronounced in community-dwelling older individuals compared to younger individuals. However, dynamics and adverse long-term effects of the pandemic, such as increases in depression, are still mostly unclear, especially for vulnerable subgroups. Methods Pre-pandemic and 3-, 8-, 14-, 20-month peri-pandemic data were analyzed in 877 older participants (age at 3-month peri-pandemic: mean ± SD: 72.3 ± 6.3, range: 58-91 years) of the observational prospective TREND study in Germany. Severity of depression (Beck's Depression Inventory-II scores) and key factors of (mental) health were investigated for cross-sectional associations using path modeling. Risk groups defined by resilience, loneliness, history of depression, stress, health status and fear of COVID-19 were investigated for differences in depression between timepoints. Findings The early pandemic (3-month) severity of depression was most strongly associated with history of depression, stress and resilience. Overall increases in clinically relevant depression (mild-severe) from pre- to 3-month peri-pandemic were small (% with depression at pre-/3-month peri-pandemic: 8.3%/11.5%). Changes were most pronounced in risk groups with low resilience (27.2%/41.8%), loneliness (19.0%/28.9%), fear of COVID-19 (17.6%/31.4%), high stress (24.4%/34.2%), a history of depression (27.7%/36.9%), and low health status (21.8%/31.4%). Changes in depression were largely observed from pre- to 3-month and were sustained to the 20-month peri-pandemic timepoint, overall and in stratified risk groups defined by single and cumulative risk factors. Changes between timepoints were heterogenous as indicated by alluvial diagrams. Conclusion Only specific risk groups of older individuals showed a large increase in depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since these increases occurred early in the pandemic and were sustained over 20 months, these vulnerable risk groups need to be prioritized for counselling and risk mitigation of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Dankowski
- Department of Neurology, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
- Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Lydia Kastner
- Institute of Sport Science, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
- Lead Graduate School and Research Network, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Suenkel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anna-Katharina von Thaler
- Department of Neurology, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
- Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Mychajliw
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael Krawczak
- Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Walter Maetzler
- Department of Neurology, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Daniela Berg
- Department of Neurology, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Kathrin Brockmann
- Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ansgar Thiel
- Institute of Sport Science, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gerhard W. Eschweiler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
- Geriatric Center, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Heinzel
- Department of Neurology, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
- Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
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Arpino B, Bordone V, Di Gessa G. Close kin influence COVID-19 precautionary behaviors and vaccine acceptance of older individuals. Res Sq 2022:rs.3.rs-1699988. [PMID: 35677077 PMCID: PMC9176653 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1699988/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The family plays a central role in shaping health behaviors of its members through social control and support mechanisms. We investigate whether and to what extent close kin (i.e., partner and children) have mattered for older people in taking on precautionary behaviors (e.g., physical distancing) and vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. Drawing on data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we combine its Corona Surveys (June-August 2020 and June-August 2021) with pre-COVID information (October 2019-March2020). We find that having close kin (especially a partner) is associated with a higher probability of both adopting precautionary behaviors and accepting a COVID-19 vaccine. Results are robust to controlling for other potential drivers of precautionary behaviors and vaccine acceptance, as well as to accounting for co-residence with kin. Our findings suggest that policy makers and practitioners may differently address kinless individuals when promoting public policy measures.
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Emmer De Albuquerque Green C, Scharf T, Kessler EM. Responding to Covid-19: an analysis of position statements of gerontological societies worldwide. Eur J Ageing 2022; 19:1229-1241. [PMID: 36692750 PMCID: PMC9014281 DOI: 10.1007/s10433-022-00700-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic, with its adverse implications for older adults, has generated unprecedented public interest in issues around age and ageing globally. We systematically investigated the responses of national gerontological and geriatric societies (NGGS) to emerging challenges during the first wave of the pandemic. Framed within traditional research topics in gerontology, the aim was to identify the spectrum of focal points and positions directed towards governments, policy makers, researchers and society. A comprehensive, two-phased data collection strategy generated N = 22 position statements of NGGS affiliated to the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics. Using Ayalon et al. (J Gerontol Ser B, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaa066 ) thematic categorisation of gerontological research, we applied quantitative and qualitative content analysis to analyse "calls for action" within the statements. The content of NGGS' position statements show a high level of agreement on the salient topics during the first wave of the pandemic and reveal shared values such as equality, diversity and inclusion of older adults and the discipline of gerontology to be an applied one with relevance to policy and practice. The results can support future interdisciplinary research in gerontology post Covid-19 based on a vision to contribute to a society of all ages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas Scharf
- Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Eva-Marie Kessler
- Department of Psychology, MSB Medical School Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Masters JL, Wilkinson LR, Kelly CM, McKelvey M, Ghazi Saidi L, Hill TL, Drozd D, Wu H, O’Brien T. COVID-19 and the Vulnerabilities of Community-Dwelling Other Adults: Findings From a Statewide Survey of Home-Delivered Meals Recipients*. Gerontol Geriatr Med 2022; 8:23337214221086465. [PMID: 35382451 PMCID: PMC8977429 DOI: 10.1177/23337214221086465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19’s impact on community-dwelling older adults, especially those in rural
and underserved areas, as well as those who are homebound, is of interest to
policy makers and clinicians, now and in the future. This study aims to examine
the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on community-dwelling older adults
with the greatest social and economic needs residing in a mostly rural state.
Using a self-administered survey, we collected data from 1852 home-delivered
meal recipients, age 60 years and older, served by Nebraska’s eight Area
Agencies on Aging. Results highlight three areas of importance: social
connections, healthcare access and utilization, and technology. We found that
while most older adults maintained social interaction, despite the restrictions
imposed by the pandemic, feelings of loneliness persisted or even increased,
with 35% of respondents feeling lonelier because of the pandemic. Our findings
further reveal that 42% of older adults skipped or postponed healthcare visits
during the pandemic, although the majority expressed interest in using
telehealth. Finally, the rural‐urban divide was evident in our data, with less
than one-half of respondents (45%) having access to reliable internet.
Suggestions on how to prepare the most vulnerable people for similar crises are
included.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Toni L. Hill
- University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE, USA
| | - David Drozd
- Community Health Development Partners, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Heng Wu
- University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Although older adults are more vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus, a significant proportion of them do not follow recommended guidelines concerning preventive actions during the ongoing pandemic. This article analyses the role of biased health beliefs for adaptive health behaviour such as reduced mobility, protection in public spaces and hygiene measures, for the population aged 50 and older in 13 European countries. METHODS Health perception is measured based on the difference between self-reported health and physical performance tests for over 24 000 individuals included in the most recent Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Logistic regressions are employed to explore how over- and underestimating health are related to preventive behaviours. RESULTS Results suggest that older adults who underestimate their health are more likely to show adaptive behaviour related to mobility reductions. In particular, they are more likely to stay at home, shop less and go for walks less often. In contrast, overestimating health is not significantly associated with reduced mobility. Protective behaviour in public spaces and adopting hygiene measures do not vary systematically between health perception groups. CONCLUSION As health beliefs appear relevant for the adoption of preventive health behaviours related to mobility, they have serious consequences for the health and well-being of older Europeans. Although adaptive behaviour helps to contain the virus, exaggerated mobility reduction in those who underestimate their health might be contributing to the already high social isolation and loneliness of older adults during the ongoing pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Spitzer
- Department of Demography, University of Vienna, Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital (IIASA, OeAW, Univ. Vienna), 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Daniela Weber
- Health Economics and Policy Division, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria
- Population and Just Societies Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital (IIASA, OeAW, Univ. Vienna), Laxenburg, Austria
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McGarrigle C, Ward M, De Looze C, O'Halloran A, Kenny R. Caring in the time of COVID-19, longitudinal trends in well-being and mental health in carers in Ireland: Evidence from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2022; 102:104719. [PMID: 35588613 PMCID: PMC9085370 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2022.104719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 resulted in the older population being asked to remain at home and avoid other people outside their household. This could have implications for both receipt and provision of informal caring. OBJECTIVE To determine if informal care provision by older carers changed during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic from pre-pandemic care and if this was associated with a change in mental health and well-being of carers. DESIGN AND SETTING Longitudinal nationally representative study of community dwelling adults from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) (Waves 3-COVID-Wave 6). METHODS We studied a cohort of 3670 adults aged ≥60 in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic (July-November 2020) and compared with previous data collections from the same cohort between 2014-2018. Independent variables were caregiving status and caregiving intensity, outcome measures included depressive symptoms (CES-D8), Perceived Stress (PSS4) and Quality of life (CASP12). Mixed models adjusting for socio-demographics and physical health were estimated. RESULTS Caregiving increased from 8.2% (2014) to 15.4% (2020). Depression, and stress scores increased while quality of life decreased for all participants. Carers reported poorer mental health, and higher caring hours were associated with increased depression and stress and decreased quality of life scores on average, and increased depression was higher for women. CONCLUSIONS Informal caregiving increased during the pandemic and family caregivers reported increased adverse mental health and well-being and this continued throughout the early months of the pandemic. The disproportionate burden of depression was highest in women providing higher caring hours.
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Affiliation(s)
- C.A. McGarrigle
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland,Corresponding author
| | - M. Ward
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - C. De Looze
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - A. O'Halloran
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - R.A. Kenny
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland,Mercer's Institute for Successful Ageing, St James’ Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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Affiliation(s)
- Danan Gu
- United Nations Population Division, New York, New York, USA
| | - Qiushi Feng
- Department of Sociology, Centre of Family and Population Research, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Ward M, Clarke N, Wang M, McGarrigle CA, De Looze C, O’Halloran AM, Kenny RA. Study protocol for TILDA COVID-19 survey. Altered lives in a time of crisis: preparing for recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of older adults. HRB Open Res 2021. [DOI: 10.12688/hrbopenres.13248.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Older adults are the most at-risk of contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and among the most affected by measures put in place to prevent the spread of the virus. While the full effect of the public health measures, such as social distancing and wearing masks in public spaces, implemented since March 2020 are not yet known, it is expected that they will have a severely damaging effect on physical and psychological wellbeing. The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) has been researching the lives of older adults in Ireland since 2008 with data collection conducted at two-year intervals. With an established research infrastructure, TILDA was ideally placed to examine the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on older adults. The aim of this study is to document the lives of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic to understand the effect of the pandemic and public health responses on their wellbeing. Methods: Data was collected from TILDA participants via self-completion-questionnaire (SCQ). The SCQ contains ten sections that capture information on many aspects of people’s lives during the pandemic including, changes in behaviour and social interactions, physical and psychological wellbeing indicators, healthcare utilisation, and exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Ethical approval was granted by the National Research Ethics Committee (NREC). Conclusions: Research findings will be shared in a variety of formats including research reports and briefs, presentations, and academic papers. Data will be archived in the Irish Social Science Data Archive (ISSDA) and the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR). As well as documenting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults, findings from this study will provide important information to policy-makers as we respond to the damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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