Abstract
We explored post-traumatic growth (PTG) in older adults immediately after the forced lockdown in Spain during March to April, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also tried to identify the variables that predict PTG, focusing on the experience of COVID, sociodemographic variables, and social resources. In total 1,009 people aged 55 years and older participated in the study and completed an online questionnaire comprising the following elements: The short form of the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-SF), sociodemographic and social resources questions, and their experiences of COVID-19 (if they had been infected themselves or if they had experienced the loss of someone close). Results showed that only a quarter of the participants experienced higher PTG after the forced lockdown, with only age and social resources being correlated with scores on the PTGI-SF. Looking at the strengths that older adults put into action to combat the pandemic and its social and health consequences could be an important consideration when planning future social policies for this and other pandemics.
Highlights
The SARS CoV–2 outbreak in 2019, which led to the COVID–19 pandemic, has had an impact on the daily lives of people of all ages that is unprecedented in the modern era
It is important that we study the experiences and challenges of older people during the COVID–19 pandemic given that this group has arguably suffered most from the disease and its consequences (Verity et al, 2020)
Post-traumatic growth was significant associated with the experience of COVID–19, but only those who had been infected by it scored significantly higher on the PTGI-SF, t(983) = 2.302, p = .022, with no significant differences for participants who had experienced the death of a close relative because of COVID–19
Summary
The SARS CoV–2 outbreak in 2019, which led to the COVID–19 pandemic, has had an impact on the daily lives of people of all ages that is unprecedented in the modern era. COVID–19 remains a worldwide emergency that is challenging all sectors of society (World Health Organization [WHO] 2020), including increased numbers of deaths and hospitalizations (Adhikari et al, 2020), adverse effects on the mental health of healthcare workers (Greenberg et al, 2020), and a greater burden of grief and bereavement (Mayland et al, 2020). Perhaps unsurprisingly, these consequences have attracted their own research interest.
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