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Depression and Anxiety in Old Age during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study of Individuals at Cardiovascular Risk and the General Population

Author

Listed:
  • Sina K. Gerhards

    (Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Melanie Luppa

    (Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Susanne Röhr

    (Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
    Health and Ageing Research Team (HART), School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand)

  • Alexander Pabst

    (Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Alexander Bauer

    (Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany)

  • Thomas Frankhänel

    (Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany)

  • Juliane Döhring

    (Institute of General Practice, University of Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany)

  • Catharina Escales

    (Institute of General Practice, University of Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany)

  • Isabel Renate Zöllinger

    (Institute of General Practice/Family Medicine, University Hospital of LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany)

  • Anke Oey

    (Institute for General Practice, Work Group Medical Statistics and IT-Infrastructure, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany)

  • Christian Brettschneider

    (Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Birgitt Wiese

    (Institute for General Practice, Work Group Medical Statistics and IT-Infrastructure, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany)

  • Wolfgang Hoffmann

    (Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
    German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany)

  • Jochen Gensichen

    (Institute of General Practice/Family Medicine, University Hospital of LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany)

  • Hans-Helmut König

    (Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Thomas Frese

    (Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany)

  • Jochen René Thyrian

    (Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
    German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany)

  • Hanna Kaduszkiewicz

    (Institute of General Practice, University of Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
    Shared Last Authorship.)

  • Steffi G. Riedel-Heller

    (Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
    Shared Last Authorship.)

Abstract

Our study aims to examine the associations of sociodemographic factors, social support, resilience, and perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic with late-life depression and anxiety symptoms in a cardiovascular risk group and a matched sample from the German general population during the beginning of the pandemic and draw a comparison regarding psychosocial characteristics. Data of n = 1236 participants (aged 64–81 years) were analyzed, with n = 618 participants showing a cardiovascular risk profile, and n = 618 participants from the general population. The cardiovascular risk sample had slightly higher levels of depressive symptoms and felt more threatened by the virus due to pre-existing conditions. In the cardiovascular risk group, social support was associated with less depressive and anxiety symptoms. In the general population, high social support was associated with less depressive symptoms. Experiencing high levels of worries due to COVID-19 was associated with more anxiety in the general population. Resilience was associated with less depressive and anxiety symptoms in both groups. Compared to the general population, the cardiovascular risk group showed slightly higher levels of depressive symptomatology even at the beginning of the pandemic and may be supported by addressing perceived social support and resilience in prevention programs targeting mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Sina K. Gerhards & Melanie Luppa & Susanne Röhr & Alexander Pabst & Alexander Bauer & Thomas Frankhänel & Juliane Döhring & Catharina Escales & Isabel Renate Zöllinger & Anke Oey & Christian Brettschn, 2023. "Depression and Anxiety in Old Age during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study of Individuals at Cardiovascular Risk and the General Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-13, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:2975-:d:1061710
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Felix Müller & Susanne Röhr & Ulrich Reininghaus & Steffi G. Riedel-Heller, 2021. "Social Isolation and Loneliness during COVID-19 Lockdown: Associations with Depressive Symptoms in the German Old-Age Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-11, March.
    2. Elena Caroline Weitzel & Margrit Löbner & Susanne Röhr & Alexander Pabst & Ulrich Reininghaus & Steffi G. Riedel-Heller, 2021. "Prevalence of High Resilience in Old Age and Association with Perceived Threat of COVID-19—Results from a Representative Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-9, July.
    3. Andrea Chmitorz & Mario Wenzel & Rolf-Dieter Stieglitz & Angela Kunzler & Christiana Bagusat & Isabella Helmreich & Anna Gerlicher & Miriam Kampa & Thomas Kubiak & Raffael Kalisch & Klaus Lieb & Olive, 2018. "Population-based validation of a German version of the Brief Resilience Scale," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Susanne Röhr & Andrea Zülke & Melanie Luppa & Christian Brettschneider & Marina Weißenborn & Flora Kühne & Isabel Zöllinger & Franziska-Antonia Zora Samos & Alexander Bauer & Juliane Döhring & Kerstin, 2021. "Recruitment and Baseline Characteristics of Participants in the AgeWell.de Study—A Pragmatic Cluster-Randomized Controlled Lifestyle Trial against Cognitive Decline," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-15, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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