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Age and Emotional Distress during COVID-19: Findings from Two Waves of the Norwegian Citizen Panel

Author

Listed:
  • Line I. Berge

    (Centre for Elderly and Nursing Home Medicine, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway
    Olaviken Gerontopsychiatric Hospital, 5306 Erdal, Norway)

  • Marie H. Gedde

    (Centre for Elderly and Nursing Home Medicine, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway
    Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, 5009 Bergen, Norway)

  • Bettina S. Husebo

    (Centre for Elderly and Nursing Home Medicine, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway
    Department of Nursing Home Medicine, Municipality of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway)

  • Ane Erdal

    (Centre for Elderly and Nursing Home Medicine, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway)

  • Camilla Kjellstadli

    (Centre for Elderly and Nursing Home Medicine, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway
    Department of Cancer Treatment and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
    Division of Health Registry Research and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 5808 Bergen, Norway)

  • Ipsit V. Vahia

    (Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
    Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

Abstract

Older adults face the highest risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. We investigated a one-year change in emotions and factors associated with emotional distress immediately after the onset of the pandemic, with emphasis on older age. Methods: The online Norwegian Citizen Panel includes participants drawn randomly from the Norwegian Population Registry. Emotional distress was defined as the sum score of negative (anxious, worried, sad or low, irritated, and lonely) minus positive emotions (engaged, calm and relaxed, happy). Results: Respondents to both surveys ( n = 967) reported a one-year increase in emotional distress, mainly driven by elevated anxiety and worrying, but we found no difference in change by age. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regression comparing older age, economy-, and health-related factors showed that persons in their 60s (ß −1.87 (95%CI: −3.71, −0.04)) and 70s/80s (ß: −2.58 (−5.00, −0–17)) had decreased risk of emotional distress relative to persons under 60 years. Female gender (2.81 (1.34, 4.28)), expecting much lower income (5.09 (2.00, 8.17)), uncertainty whether infected with SARS-Cov2 (2.92 (1.21, 4.63)), and high self-rated risk of infection (1.77 (1.01, 2.53)) were associated with high levels of emotional distress. Conclusions: Knowledge of national determinants of distress is crucial to tailor accurate public health interventions in future outbreaks.

Suggested Citation

  • Line I. Berge & Marie H. Gedde & Bettina S. Husebo & Ane Erdal & Camilla Kjellstadli & Ipsit V. Vahia, 2021. "Age and Emotional Distress during COVID-19: Findings from Two Waves of the Norwegian Citizen Panel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9568-:d:633225
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Netta Achdut & Tehila Refaeli, 2020. "Unemployment and Psychological Distress among Young People during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Psychological Resources and Risk Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-21, September.
    2. Yi Ding & Jie Yang & Tingting Ji & Yongyu Guo, 2021. "Women Suffered More Emotional and Life Distress than Men during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Pathogen Disgust Sensitivity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-9, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gaia Sampogna & Maurizio Pompili & Andrea Fiorillo, 2021. "Mental Health in the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Worldwide Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-5, December.
    2. Muhammad Hizri Hatta & Hatta Sidi & Chong Siew Koon & Nur Aishah Che Roos & Shalisah Sharip & Farah Deena Abdul Samad & Ong Wan Xi & Srijit Das & Suriati Mohamed Saini, 2022. "Virtual Reality (VR) Technology for Treatment of Mental Health Problems during COVID-19: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, April.

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