The Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Health and Psychosocial Functioning in Older Adults Aged 70 and Over
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SUBMITTER: Docherty S
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8580486 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:PurposePsychosocial health problems, such as social isolation, loneliness, depression and anxiety, have gained attention during the COVID-19 pandemic and are commonly co-occurring. We investigated the network of psychosocial health constructs during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis study included 4553 participants (mean age: 68.6 ± 11.2 years, 56% women) from the prospective Rotterdam Study, who filled out a questionnaire between April and July 2020, the time of the first COVID-19 wave in the Netherlands. Psychosocial health constructs included were depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale), anxiety symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale), loneliness (University of California, Los Angeles loneliness scale), social connectedness (five items) and pandemic-related worry (five items). We estimated mixed graphical models to assess the network of items of these constructs and whether age and sex affected the network structure.ResultsWithin the network of psychosocial constructs, a higher depressive symptoms score was particularly associated with items of loneliness and social connectedness, whereas overall anxiety was particularly associated with items of pandemic-related worry. Between people from different sex and age, the network structure significantly altered.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that within the same network of psychosocial health constructs, depressive symptom score is particularly associated with loneliness and social connectedness, whereas anxiety symptom score is associated with pandemic-related worry during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Our results support that psychosocial constructs should be considered in conjunction with one another in prevention and treatment efforts in clinical care, and that these efforts need to be tailored to specific demographic groups.
| S-EPMC9174915 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background: Older adults are at a greater risk for contracting and experiencing severe illness from COVID-19 and may be further affected by pandemic-related precautions (e.g., social distancing and isolation in quarantine). However, the longitudinal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults is unclear. The current study examines changes in health behaviors, psychosocial factors, and cognitive functioning in a large sample of older adults using a pre-pandemic baseline and longitudinal follow-up throughout 9 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: One hundred and eighty-nine older adults (ages 65-89) were recruited from a multisite clinical trial to complete additional virtual assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mixed effects models evaluated changes in health behaviors, psychosocial factors, and cognitive functioning during the pandemic compared to a pre-pandemic baseline and over the course of the pandemic (i.e., comparing the first and last COVID-19 timepoints). Results: Compared to their pre-pandemic baseline, during the pandemic, older adults reported worsened sleep quality, perceived physical health and functioning, mental health, slight increases in depression and apathy symptoms, reduced social engagement/perceived social support, but demonstrated better performance on objective cognitive tasks of attention and working memory. Throughout the course of the pandemic, these older adults reported continued worsening of perceived physical health and function, fewer depression symptoms, and they demonstrated improved cognitive performance. It is important to note that changes on self-report mood measures and cognitive performance were relatively small regarding clinical significance. Education largely served as a protective factor, such that greater years of education was generally associated with better outcomes across domains. Conclusions: The present study provides insights into the longitudinal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health behaviors, psychosocial factors, and cognitive functioning in a population disproportionately affected by the virus. Replicating this study design in a demographically representative older adult sample is warranted to further inform intervention strategies targeting older adults negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
| S-EPMC9732386 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesTo explore the experiences of older Peruvian adults living in urban areas of Lima under lockdown due to the National COVID-19 Emergency, this study analyzes how older adults (aged 60 and older) exercise agency while also living with the negative impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and related control measures.MethodsBetween August and December 2020, our research team conducted a telephone-based, qualitative study, in which we undertook semistructured interviews with a purposive sample of low-income older adults living with chronic multimorbidities and limited resources. Forty older adults, 24 women and 16 men, with a mean age of 72 years, participated in the study. For data analysis, we employed thematic analysis with a predominantly inductive approach.ResultsOlder adults demonstrated several forms of agency to regulate emotions, maintain crucial bonds, foster social relationships, and seek economic and food security. Older adults experienced entertainment and support by caring for pets, undertaking farm work, and practicing their religious beliefs. For several participants and their families, quarantine was an opportunity to strengthen family relationships and learn new technologies. Older adults and their families reorganized themselves to assume new roles and perform activities that improved self-worth and confidence, thereby improving their well-being and mental health.DiscussionPeruvian older adults exerted agency in different ways to respond to and sustain their mental health during the COVID-19 lockdown. Policymakers should value and recognize the agency of older adults when planning future health responses.
| S-EPMC10214643 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSocial isolation in older people has been increasingly regarded as a public health issue in the face of rapid population ageing. It is not clear whether social isolation mediates the relationship between socioeconomic status and functional impairment.MethodsWe used data from a cohort of Chinese older people aged 70 or older living in community (n = 1590). Socioeconomic status (SES) was operationalised as highest education attainment, monthly income at baseline and longest held occupation in lifetime. Functional abilities were measured using Barthel's Index for activities of daily living (ADL) measured at 18 and 36 months of follow-up, from which impairment was defined as score ≤ 19. Social isolation was measured by six attributes, such as marital status, living alone, and social contact with others. A score of ≥ 3 was defined as being in social isolation. Causal mediation analysis using natural effect models was used to assess mediation by social isolation.ResultsWe found that lower monthly income at baseline was related to higher risk of social isolation [relative risk comparing lowest to highest income (RR) = 1.52, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.01-2.28]. Social gradient of ADL impairment was not clearly present. The evidence for the mediating role of social isolation was not clear.ConclusionsOlder people with low SES, particularly those with lower income, were at greater risk of social isolation. Policymakers should strive to improve the current community services and pension scheme to mitigate the situation of social isolation in older people in Hong Kong.
| S-EPMC9589608 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC7239713 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Objectives:This study investigates education differences in levels and change in sense of control and hopelessness among older adults. Method:We used data from the Health and Retirement Study, an ongoing biennial survey of a nationally representative sample of older Americans, to examine education differences in sense of control (e.g., mastery and perceived constraints) and hopelessness. Our sample included 8,495 adults aged 52 and older who were interviewed in 2006/2008 and 2010/2012. We assessed separate models for change in sense of control and hopelessness, accounting for recent changes in social circumstances and health status. Results:Low mastery, perceived constraints, and hopelessness were highest among individuals with less than a high school education. Over a 4-year period, this group experienced the greatest declines in psychosocial functioning, as indicated by greater increases in low mastery, perceived constraints, and hopelessness. Education differences existed net of recent negative experiences, specifically the loss of intimate social relationships and social support and increases in disease and disability. Discussion:These findings highlight the importance of education for sense of control and hopelessness in older adulthood and demonstrate the cumulative advantage of higher levels of education for psychosocial functioning.
| S-EPMC6283311 | biostudies-other
Project description:Objective: To examine the association between multidimensional sleep health and objective measures of physical functioning in older adults. Method: We conducted a secondary analysis of 158 adults ≥65 years who participated in Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) 2 and MIDUS Refresher studies. Physical functioning was assessed using gait speed during a 50-foot timed walk, lower extremity strength via chair stand test, and grip strength via hand-held dynamometers. Composite multidimensional sleep health scores were derived from 1 week of sleep diaries and wrist actigraphy. Results: Multiple linear regression was used to examine the associations between multidimensional sleep health and physical functioning measures. In adjusted regression analyses, multidimensional sleep health was significantly positively associated with gait speed but not lower extremity strength or grip strength. Discussion: These findings suggest multidimensional sleep health may contribute to physical functioning in older adults. Longitudinal examinations are needed to determine the value of multidimensional sleep health as a therapeutic target to optimize physical functioning.
| S-EPMC8142238 | biostudies-literature
Project description:OBJECTIVES:To describe aerobic physical activity among middle-aged and older adults by their self-reported cognitive decline and their receipt of informal care for declines in cognitive functioning and most common type of physical activity. DESIGN:Cross-sectional study using data from the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. SETTING:Landline and cellular telephone survey. PARTICIPANTS:93,082 respondents aged 45 years and older from 21 US states in 2011. MEASUREMENTS:Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) was defined as experiencing confusion or memory loss that was happening more often or getting worse during the past 12 months. Regular care was defined as always, usually, or sometimes receiving care from family or friends because of SCD. Using the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, respondents were classified as being inactive, insufficiently active, or sufficiently active based on their reported aerobic exercise. We calculated weighted proportions and used chi-square tests for differences across categories by SCD status and receipt of care. We estimated the prevalence ratio (PR) for being inactive, insufficiently active, and sufficiently active using separate log-binomial regression models, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS:12.3% of respondents reported SCD and 23.1% of those with SCD received regular care. 29.6% (95%CI: 28.9-30.4) of respondents without SCD were inactive compared to 37.1% (95%CI: 34.7-39.5) of those with SCD who did not receive regular care and 50.2% (95%CI: 45.2-55.1) of those with SCD who received regular care. 52.4% (95%CI: 51.6-53.2) of respondents without SCD were sufficiently active compared to 46.4% (95%CI: 43.8-49.0) of respondents with SCD and received no regular care and 30.6% (95%CI: 26.1-35.6) of respondents with SCD who received regular care. After adjusting for demographic and health status differences, people receiving regular care for SCD had a significantly lower prevalence of meeting aerobic guidelines compared to people without SCD (PR=0.80, 95%CI: 0.69-0.93, p=0.005). The most prevalent physical activity was walking for adults aged ? 45 years old (41-52%) regardless of SCD status or receipt of care. CONCLUSION:Overall, the prevalence of inactivity was high, especially among people with SCD. These findings suggest a need to increase activity among middle-aged and older adults, particularly those with SCD who receive care. Examining ways to increase walking, potentially by involving informal caregivers, could be a promising way for people with SCD to reduce inactivity and gain the health benefits associated with meeting physical activity guidelines.
| S-EPMC6149221 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The objective of this national French survey was to determine the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) semiology in seniors (n = 353; mean, 84.7 ± 7.0 years). A total of 57.8% of patients exhibited ≤3 symptoms, including thermal dysregulation (83.6%), cough (58.9%), asthenia (52.7%), polypnea (39.9%), and gastrointestinal signs (24.4%). Patients ≥80 years exhibited falls (P = .002) and asthenia (P = .002). Patients with neurocognitive disorders exhibited delirium (P < .001) and altered consciousness (P = .001). Clinical peculiarities of COVID-19 were reported in seniors.Clinical trials registrationNCT04343781.
| S-EPMC7337693 | biostudies-literature
Project description:RationaleLeisure activities have wide-ranging benefits for physical and mental health. However, previous studies have often focused on "leisure" as a homogeneous group of activities. This study was therefore designed to take a prospective and comparative approach exploring different types of leisure activities, as well as investigating whether frequency of engagement is associated with strength of benefits.MethodData from the 1970 British Cohort Study Waves 9 (age 42) and 10 (age 46) were analysed (N = 5,639). Eight domains derived from the SF-36 health survey questionnaire were used to measure health functioning (general health, vitality, bodily pain, social functioning, physical functioning, mental health, role limitations due to emotional, and role limitations due to physical problems). Leisure activities included physical activity, culture engagement, arts participation, volunteering or community engagement, and literature activities. Both ordinary least squares and logistic regressions were applied.ResultsPhysical activity was associated with greater levels of physical functioning, general health, and vitality at higher frequencies, while cultural engagement was associated with social functioning and physical functioning when engaged in several times a year. Arts participation and literature activities had a general negative association with health functioning. Engagements in volunteering/community groups showed varying associations with health functioning (both positive and negative) depending on the levels of engagements.ConclusionThis research suggests that the types of leisure activities and levels of engagement can have differential associations with health amongst middle-aged adults. This may be helpful for public health initiatives and programmes such as social prescribing schemes when formulating programmes, especially regarding 'dosage' of engagement. Further, the overall benefits of high engagement frequency suggest that increasing leisure engagement could play an important role in supporting improving health and wellbeing at a population level.
| S-EPMC9248182 | biostudies-literature