IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i11p5847-d565121.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Role of Neuropsychological Factors in Perceived Threat of SARS-CoV-2 in Healthy Ageing

Author

Listed:
  • Massimo Bartoli

    (Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
    These authors have contributed equally to this work and share first authorship.)

  • Nicola Canessa

    (ICoN Center, Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
    Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory of Pavia Institute, 27100 Pavia, Italy
    These authors have contributed equally to this work and share first authorship.)

  • Giuseppina Elena Cipriani

    (Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy)

  • Stefano F. Cappa

    (ICoN Center, Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
    Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

  • Martina Amanzio

    (Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
    European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing, 1049 Brussels, Belgium)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is known to increase older adults’ vulnerability to adverse outcomes. Alongside increased physical frailty, anxiety symptoms associated with the risk of SARS-CoV-2 contagion appear to represent its most prominent ‘sequelae’. The attentional and linguistic resources required for decoding virus-related information may also influence the perceived threat of contagion. However, the possible role of neuropsychogeriatric factors on the latter dimension has never been assessed in a longitudinal study on the older population. To fill this gap, 50 healthy cognitively preserved older adults underwent a neuropsychological and physical frailty assessment before the pandemic (T0). Subsequently, they agreed to be interviewed and re-assessed during the lockdown (T1) and immediately after it (T2) through a longitudinal one-year study. Perceived threat of SARS-CoV-2 at T2 was predicted both by baseline anxiety and frailty scores, and by decreased performance in information processing speed and language comprehension tests. While confirming the joint role of frailty and anxiety, a moderation/interaction model showed that each of them was sufficient, at its highest level, to support the maximum degree of perceived threat of contagion. The contribution of neuropsychological factors to perceived threat of SARS-CoV-2 highlights their importance of tailoring information campaigns addressed to older people.

Suggested Citation

  • Massimo Bartoli & Nicola Canessa & Giuseppina Elena Cipriani & Stefano F. Cappa & Martina Amanzio, 2021. "The Role of Neuropsychological Factors in Perceived Threat of SARS-CoV-2 in Healthy Ageing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5847-:d:565121
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/5847/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/5847/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fakhar Shahzad & Jianguo Du & Imran Khan & Adnan Fateh & Muhammad Shahbaz & Adnan Abbas & Muhammad Umair Wattoo, 2020. "Perceived Threat of COVID-19 Contagion and Frontline Paramedics’ Agonistic Behaviour: Employing a Stressor–Strain–Outcome Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-22, July.
    2. Liliana Cori & Fabrizio Bianchi & Ennio Cadum & Carmen Anthonj, 2020. "Risk Perception and COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-6, April.
    3. Elena Commodari, 2017. "The Role of Sociodemographic and Psychological Variables on Risk Perception of the Flu," SAGE Open, , vol. 7(3), pages 21582440177, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Giuseppina Elena Cipriani & Massimo Bartoli & Martina Amanzio, 2021. "Are Sleep Problems Related to Psychological Distress in Healthy Aging during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-17, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes & María del Mar Molero Jurado & África Martos Martínez & Elena Fernández-Martínez & Raquel Franco Valenzuela & Iván Herrera-Peco & Diana Jiménez-Rodríguez & Inmaculada M, 2020. "Design and Validation of the Adaptation to Change Questionnaire: New Realities in Times of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Christoph Lindner & Ibolya Kotta & Eszter Eniko Marschalko & Kinga Szabo & Kinga Kalcza-Janosi & Jan Retelsdorf, 2022. "Increased Risk Perception, Distress Intolerance and Health Anxiety in Stricter Lockdowns: Self-Control as a Key Protective Factor in Early Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-22, April.
    3. Pierluigi Diotaiuti & Giuseppe Valente & Stefania Mancone & Lavinia Falese & Fernando Bellizzi & Daniela Anastasi & Elisa Langiano & Fábio Hech Dominski & Alexandro Andrade, 2021. "Perception of Risk, Self-Efficacy and Social Trust during the Diffusion of Covid-19 in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-17, March.
    4. Arielle Kaim & Maya Siman-Tov & Eli Jaffe & Bruria Adini, 2021. "From Isolation to Containment: Perceived Fear of Infectivity and Protective Behavioral Changes during the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-12, June.
    5. Melissa MacKay & Andrea Cimino & Samira Yousefinaghani & Jennifer E. McWhirter & Rozita Dara & Andrew Papadopoulos, 2022. "Canadian COVID-19 Crisis Communication on Twitter: Mixed Methods Research Examining Tweets from Government, Politicians, and Public Health for Crisis Communication Guiding Principles and Tweet Engagem," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-12, June.
    6. Hua Pang & Qinglong Shao, 2023. "Unpacking the Potential Influence of Life Satisfaction on Network Heterogeneity, Emotional Exhaustion and Mobile App Fatigue: A Stressor–Strain–Outcome Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-16, February.
    7. Kai Zhang & Xuejiao Chen, 2022. "Research on the Influencing Mechanism via Which Security Perception of Personal Information Affects Tourist Happiness: A Moderated Mediation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-23, November.
    8. Devika Rani Sharma & Smitha Girija & Pratima Merugu, 2022. "Mediating Role of Perceived Health Risk on Customer Experience and Customer Satisfaction: Evidence from the Airline Industry in India During COVID-19," International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 31-45, December.
    9. Shin KINOSHITA & Masayuki SATO & Takanori IDA, 2022. "Bayesian Probability Revision and Infection Prevention Behavior in Japan : A Quantitative Analysis of the First Wave of COVID-19," Discussion papers e-22-004, Graduate School of Economics , Kyoto University.
    10. Joon Woo Yoo & Junsung Park & Jong Ho Lee & Heejun Park, 2022. "Recovering from the COVID-19 shock: the role of risk perception and perceived effectiveness of protective measures on travel intention during the pandemic," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 16(3), pages 557-580, September.
    11. Zhang, Xi & Wei, Xin & Zhang, Te & Tan, Yahe & Xu, Dongming & Ordóñez de Pablos, Patricia, 2023. "How platform-based internet hospital innovation affects doctors’ active stress coping efforts: The conservation of resource theory perspective," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    12. Vieri Lastrucci & Chiara Lorini & Marco Del Riccio & Eleonora Gori & Fabrizio Chiesi & Andrea Moscadelli & Beatrice Zanella & Sara Boccalini & Angela Bechini & Francesco Puggelli & Renzo Berti & Paolo, 2021. "The Role of Health Literacy in COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors and Infection Risk Perception: Evidence from a Population-Based Sample of Essential Frontline Workers during the Lockdown in the Province o," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-14, December.
    13. Andrzej Robert Skrzypczak & Emil Andrzej Karpiński & Natalia Maja Józefacka & Robert Podstawski, 2022. "Impact of Personal Experience of COVID-19 Disease on Recreational Anglers’ Attitudes and Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-17, December.
    14. Daniel Lucheș & Despina Saghin & Maria-Magdalena Lupchian, 2021. "Public Perception of the First Major SARS-Cov-2 Outbreak in the Suceava County, Romania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-16, February.
    15. Dominic H. P. Balog-Way & Darrick Evensen & Ragnar E. Löfstedt, 2020. "Pharmaceutical Benefit–Risk Perception and Age Differences in the USA and Germany," Drug Safety, Springer, vol. 43(11), pages 1141-1156, November.
    16. Liliana Cori & Olivia Curzio & Fulvio Adorni & Federica Prinelli & Marianna Noale & Caterina Trevisan & Loredana Fortunato & Andrea Giacomelli & Fabrizio Bianchi, 2021. "Fear of COVID-19 for Individuals and Family Members: Indications from the National Cross-Sectional Study of the EPICOVID19 Web-Based Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-20, March.
    17. Yanjing Gao & Lijun Chen, 2022. "Impact of COVID-19 Risk Perception on Residents’ Behavioural Intention towards Forest Therapy Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-18, September.
    18. Katarzyna Domosławska-Żylińska & Magdalena Krysińska-Pisarek & Katarzyna Czabanowska & Giulia Sesa, 2022. "Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Risk Perceptions and Motivations for COVID-19 Preventive Measures Based on EPPM—A Polish Qualitative Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-12, October.
    19. Van de Casteele, Marlies & Waterschoot, Joachim & Anthierens, Sibyl & DeSmet, Ann & Galand, Benoit & Goossens, Herman & Morbée, Sofie & Vansteenkiste, Maarten, 2022. "Saliva testing among teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Effects on health concerns, well-being, and precautionary behavior," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 311(C).
    20. Shuyang Wang & Yun Liu & Yingying Du & Xingyuan Wang, 2021. "Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Consumers’ Impulse Buying: The Moderating Role of Moderate Thinking," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-19, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5847-:d:565121. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.