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COVID-19 as a Stressor: Pandemic Expectations, Perceived Stress, and Negative Affect in Older Adults

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  • Brenda R Whitehead
  • Shevaun Neupert

Abstract

ObjectivesThe extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic is appraised as a stressor influences perceived stress (PS) and psychological well-being during the event. Here, the association of older adults’ expectations concerning the pandemic’s duration and impact with PS and negative affect (NA) is investigated. Based on the stress and coping framework, PS is expected to mediate the association between COVID-19 expectations and NA.MethodsSeven hundred fourteen residents of the United States and aged 60 and older completed an anonymous online survey in late March 2020 reporting PS, NA, and expectations regarding the pandemic.ResultsRegression analyses controlling for demographic factors revealed that more dire pandemic expectations significantly predicted PS and NA directly, and the effects on NA were significantly mediated by PS.DiscussionFindings provide evidence that expectations about a pandemic influence the extent to which older adults experience stress and NA in the midst of a pandemic event. Implications for mental health are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Brenda R Whitehead & Shevaun Neupert, 2021. "COVID-19 as a Stressor: Pandemic Expectations, Perceived Stress, and Negative Affect in Older Adults," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(2), pages 59-64.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:76:y:2021:i:2:p:e59-e64.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbaa153
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    Cited by:

    1. Mina Samangooei & Ralph Saull & Netta Weinstein, 2023. "Access to Nature Fosters Well-Being in Solitude," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Ignacio Cabib & Carlos Budnevich-Portales & Ariel Azar, 2022. "Adulthood Employment Trajectories and Later Life Mental Health before and after the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-18, October.
    3. Haiqi Ma & Mengru Bu & Huimin Zhai & Bing Li & Ling Xiong, 2023. "New Insight into HIV-Related Psychological Distress: A Concept Analysis," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 32(1), pages 60-72, January.
    4. Aviad Tur-Sinai & Netta Bentur & Giovanni Lamura, 2022. "Perceived deterioration in health status among older adults in Europe and Israel following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1243-1250, December.
    5. Markus Wettstein & Hans-Werner Wahl & Anna Schlomann, 2022. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Trajectories of Well-Being of Middle-Aged and older Adults: A Multidimensional and Multidirectional Perspective," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 3577-3604, October.
    6. Lynn M Martire & Derek M Isaacowitz, 2021. "What Can We Learn About Psychological Aging By Studying Covid-19?," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(2), pages 1-3.

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    Keywords

    Appraisal; Mediation; Well-being;
    All these keywords.

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