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

Author

Listed:
  • Carmen M. Tyler

    (Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA)

  • Grace B. McKee

    (Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
    Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment, Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Central Virginia VA Health Care System, Richmond, VA 23249, USA)

  • Elisabet Alzueta

    (Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
    Department of Biological and Health Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain)

  • Paul B. Perrin

    (Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA)

  • Kristine Kingsley

    (Institute of Cognitive and Emotional Wellness, Westchester, NY 10801, USA)

  • Fiona C. Baker

    (Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
    Department of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa)

  • Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla

    (BioCruces Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
    IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
    Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, 48940 Vizcaya, Spain)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Carmen M. Tyler & Grace B. McKee & Elisabet Alzueta & Paul B. Perrin & Kristine Kingsley & Fiona C. Baker & Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla, 2021. "A Study of Older Adults’ Mental Health across 33 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5090-:d:552495
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    2. World Bank, 2017. "World Development Indicators 2017," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 26447.
    3. Ioulia Solomou & Fofi Constantinidou, 2020. "Prevalence and Predictors of Anxiety and Depression Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Compliance with Precautionary Measures: Age and Sex Matter," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-19, July.
    4. Cristina Mazza & Eleonora Ricci & Silvia Biondi & Marco Colasanti & Stefano Ferracuti & Christian Napoli & Paolo Roma, 2020. "A Nationwide Survey of Psychological Distress among Italian People during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-14, May.
    5. Pickett, Kate E. & Wilkinson, Richard G., 2015. "Income inequality and health: A causal review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 316-326.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jack D. Watson & Bradford S. Pierce & Carmen M. Tyler & Emily K. Donovan & Kritzia Merced & Margaret Mallon & Aaron Autler & Paul B. Perrin, 2023. "Barriers and Facilitators to Psychologists’ Telepsychology Uptake during the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-18, April.

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