Abstract
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic is a major stressful life event. This pandemic is causing significant changes in older adults' daily life affecting their physical and mental health. Psychological wellbeing is a protective variable when facing adverse circumstances, like the COVID-19 pandemic. This study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on older adults' psychological wellbeing (personal growth and purpose in life) over time.Materials and MethodsOne hundred ninety-two people over 60 years old participated in a longitudinal study. Data were collected in three time points: during the lockdown on March 2020, when the lockdown finished (4 months after baseline), and during the third wave (10 months after baseline). We used latent growth curve models to assess the linear longitudinal trajectories of psychological wellbeing.ResultsOlder adults did not show worse psychological wellbeing over time. Age has a positive impact on purpose in life. Furthermore, being a male, worrying about adverse effects of COVID-19, family functioning, resilience, personal growth, and acceptance associated with purpose in life.DiscussionThese results suggest that despite the difficult circumstances experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults have used protective variables for their psychological wellbeing.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic has spread quickly in most countries and it has had incidence everywhere
A previous cross-sectional study found that the perceptions and psychological strategies that older adults use to cope with COVID-19 related difficulties are more relevant than the nature of COVID-19
Showing better perceived health, resilience, family functioning, gratitude, and acceptance were associated with higher levels of personal growth and purpose in life [4]
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has spread quickly in most countries and it has had incidence everywhere. The COVID-19 ease of transmission and the greater impact caused in the population group of older adults have the potential to affect older adult’s psychological wellbeing [1]. Life purpose (experimenting life meaning and direction) and personal growth (developing actions that improve talents and potential) are the core components of psychological wellbeing among older adults [2, 3]. The COVID-19 pandemic is a major stressful life event. This pandemic is causing significant changes in older adults’ daily life affecting their physical and mental health. This study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on older adults’ psychological wellbeing (personal growth and purpose in life) over time
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