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Context Matters: Health Sensitivity in the Daily Lives of Older Adults Living Through the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Sophie Potter
  • Sandra Duezel
  • Ilja Demuth
  • Denis Gerstorf
  • Johanna Drewelies
  • Shevaun Neupert

Abstract

ObjectivesThroughout 2021, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused renewed restrictions across Germany. Given the growing evidence that the pandemic negatively affects older adults’ health and well-being, this study investigated health sensitivity (emotional reactions to momentary health challenges) and its moderators (age, morbidity, perceived COVID-19 risks and worries) among older adults in their everyday lives during the second and third waves of the pandemic.MethodsMultilevel models were applied to self-reported momentary health and affect data, collected 6 times per day across 7 consecutive days in 104 participants (Mage = 76.35; range: 67–88 years), assessed between April and June 2021 (~300,000 COVID-19 cases in Germany at the time).ResultsHealth sensitivity was unrelated to age and lower with higher morbidity. Importantly, older adults showed higher health sensitivity in moments when they also perceived a greater risk of contracting COVID-19.DiscussionFindings suggest that sociocontextual factors related to the pandemic modulate emotional reactions to momentary health challenges, thereby underscoring the consequences of COVID-19 for older adults’ emotional experiences.

Suggested Citation

  • Sophie Potter & Sandra Duezel & Ilja Demuth & Denis Gerstorf & Johanna Drewelies & Shevaun Neupert, 2023. "Context Matters: Health Sensitivity in the Daily Lives of Older Adults Living Through the COVID-19 Pandemic," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 78(6), pages 1018-1024.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:78:y:2023:i:6:p:1018-1024.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbad006
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