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Precautionary Behavior and Depression in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Cross-Sectional Study in Hubei, China

Author

Listed:
  • Wei Liang

    (Center for Health and Exercise Science Research, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
    Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China)

  • Yanping Duan

    (Center for Health and Exercise Science Research, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
    Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
    Wuhan Institute of Physical Education, College of Health Sciences, Wuhan 430000, China)

  • Borui Shang

    (Department of Kinesiology, Hebei Institute of Physical Education, Shijiazhuang 050000, China)

  • Chun Hu

    (Student Mental Health Education Center, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710000, China)

  • Julien Steven Baker

    (Center for Health and Exercise Science Research, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
    Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China)

  • Zhihua Lin

    (Sport Section, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430000, China)

  • Jiali He

    (Wuhan Institute of Physical Education, College of Health Sciences, Wuhan 430000, China)

  • Yanping Wang

    (The National Physical Fitness Lab, Hubei Institute of Sport Sciences, Wuhan 430000, China)

Abstract

The large-scale COVID-19 pandemic has not only resulted in the risk of death but also augmented the levels of depression in community-dwelling older adults. The present study aimed to investigate the characteristics of depression in Chinese older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, to examine the association of individual precautionary behavior with older adults’ depression levels, and to identify the moderating role of socioeconomic indicators in the aforementioned association. Five hundred and sixteen older adults were recruited from five cities of Hubei province in China. They were asked to complete an online questionnaire survey. Results showed that 30.8% of participants indicated a significant depressive symptom during the pandemic. Older adults’ depression levels differed significantly in marital status, living situation, education level, household income, subjective health status, and infected cases of acquaintances. Precautionary behavior change showed significant inverse associations with older adults’ depression levels, where household income moderated this relationship. This is the first study to investigate the characteristics, behavioral correlates, and moderators of depression among Chinese older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research findings may provide new insights into interventions and policy-making on individual precautionary behavior and mental health among older adults for future pandemics.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Liang & Yanping Duan & Borui Shang & Chun Hu & Julien Steven Baker & Zhihua Lin & Jiali He & Yanping Wang, 2021. "Precautionary Behavior and Depression in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Cross-Sectional Study in Hubei, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-13, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1853-:d:499272
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    2. Felice N Jacka & Nicolas Cherbuin & Kaarin J Anstey & Peter Butterworth, 2014. "Dietary Patterns and Depressive Symptoms over Time: Examining the Relationships with Socioeconomic Position, Health Behaviours and Cardiovascular Risk," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, January.
    3. Maheen M. Adamson & Angela Phillips & Srija Seenivasan & Julian Martinez & Harlene Grewal & Xiaojian Kang & John Coetzee & Ines Luttenbacher & Ashley Jester & Odette A. Harris & David Spiegel, 2020. "International Prevalence and Correlates of Psychological Stress during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-16, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Linke Yu & Mariah Lecompte & Weiguo Zhang & Peizhong Wang & Lixia Yang, 2021. "Sociodemographic and COVID-Related Predictors for Mental Health Condition of Mainland Chinese in Canada Amidst the Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Jingyuan Liu & Crystal Kwan & Jie Deng & Yuxi Hu, 2022. "The Mental Health Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adults in China: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-19, November.

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