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Up and About: Older Adults’ Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Swedish Longitudinal Study

Author

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  • Marie Kivi
  • Isabelle Hansson
  • Pär Bjälkebring
  • Derek M Isaacowitz

Abstract

ObjectivesTo investigate early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic related to (a) levels of worry, risk perception, and social distancing; (b) longitudinal effects on well-being; and (c) effects of worry, risk perception, and social distancing on well-being.MethodsWe analyzed annual changes in four aspects of well-being over 5 years (2015–2020): life satisfaction, financial satisfaction, self-rated health, and loneliness in a subsample (n = 1,071, aged 65–71) from a larger survey of Swedish older adults. The 2020 wave, collected March 26–April 2, included measures of worry, risk perception, and social distancing in response to COVID-19.Results(a) In relation to COVID-19: 44.9% worried about health, 69.5% about societal consequences, 25.1% about financial consequences; 86.4% perceived a high societal risk, 42.3% a high risk of infection, and 71.2% reported high levels of social distancing. (b) Well-being remained stable (life satisfaction and loneliness) or even increased (self-rated health and financial satisfaction) in 2020 compared to previous years. (c) More worry about health and financial consequences was related to lower scores in all four well-being measures. Higher societal worry and more social distancing were related to higher well-being.DiscussionIn the early stage of the pandemic, Swedish older adults on average rated their well-being as high as, or even higher than, previous years. However, those who worried more reported lower well-being. Our findings speak to the resilience, but also heterogeneity, among older adults during the pandemic. Further research, on a broad range of health factors and long-term psychological consequences, is needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Marie Kivi & Isabelle Hansson & Pär Bjälkebring & Derek M Isaacowitz, 2021. "Up and About: Older Adults’ Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Swedish Longitudinal Study," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(2), pages 4-9.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:76:y:2021:i:2:p:e4-e9.
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bates, Douglas & Mächler, Martin & Bolker, Ben & Walker, Steve, 2015. "Fitting Linear Mixed-Effects Models Using lme4," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 67(i01).
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    1. Jong Hyun Jung & Kyung Won Choi & Harris Hyun-soo Kim, 2022. "Examining the Complex (Curvilinear and Contingent) Associations between Social Distancing Compliance and Subjective Health during a Global Health Crisis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Gustafsson, Per E. & Fonseca-Rodríguez, Osvaldo & Nilsson, Ingeborg & San Sebastián, Miguel, 2022. "Intersectional inequalities in loneliness among older adults before and during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: A total population survey in the Swedish eldercare setting," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    3. Branko Vermote & Sofie Morbée & Bart Soenens & Maarten Vansteenkiste & Joachim Waterschoot & Wim Beyers & Jolene Kaap-Deeder, 2023. "How Do Late Adults Experience Meaning During the COVID-19 Lockdown? The Role of Intrinsic Goals," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 1759-1780, June.
    4. Philipp Handschuh & Jacqueline Kroh & Markus Nester, 2024. "The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Life Satisfaction: Does Social Belonging Matter as a Mechanism and are There Differences by Age?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 1-43, December.
    5. Andrea D. Y. Lee & Peizhong Peter Wang & Weiguo Zhang & Lixia Yang, 2022. "COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress and Loneliness in Chinese Residents in North America: The Role of Contraction Worry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-15, June.
    6. Grace Achepohl & Catherine Heaney & Lisa G. Rosas & Jessie Moore & Tia Rich & Sandra J. Winter, 2022. "The Value of Contemplative Practices: A Mixed Methods Approach Exploring Associations between Resilience and Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-13, August.
    7. Eugenie Sin Sing Tan & Shaun Ashley Fung Xian Chin & Manimeyapan S. Palaniappan Sathapan & Astrid Disimond Dewi & Farahnaz Amini & Normina Ahmad Bustami & Pui Yee Tan & Yu Bin Ho & Chung Keat Tan, 2023. "Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observational Evidence from Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, February.
    8. Miki Tanikaga & Jun-ichi Uemura & Fumiko Hori & Tomomi Hamada & Masahiro Tanaka, 2023. "Changes in Community-Dwelling Elderly’s Activity and Participation Affecting Depression during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-18, February.
    9. Christina Brogårdh & Catharina Sjödahl Hammarlund & Frida Eek & Kjerstin Stigmar & Ingrid Lindgren & Anna Trulsson Schouenborg & Eva Ekvall Hansson, 2021. "Self-Perceived Life Satisfaction during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sweden: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-14, June.
    10. Gerrath, Maximilian H.E.E. & Mafael, Alexander & Ulqinaku, Aulona & Biraglia, Alessandro, 2023. "Service failures in times of crisis: An analysis of eWOM emotionality," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    11. Thomas Hansen & Thomas Sevenius Nilsen & Marit Knapstad & Vegard Skirbekk & Jens Skogen & Øystein Vedaa & Ragnhild Bang Nes, 2022. "Covid-fatigued? A longitudinal study of Norwegian older adults’ psychosocial well-being before and during early and later stages of the COVID-19 pandemic," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 463-473, September.
    12. Sacramento Pinazo-Hernandis & Mauricio Blanco-Molina & Raúl Ortega-Moreno, 2022. "Aging in Place: Connections, Relationships, Social Participation and Social Support in the Face of Crisis Situations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-14, December.

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