Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a state-imposed lockdown in the UK; there are many psychosocial consequences of pandemics, with older adults potentially at an increased risk. The current study assessed psychosocial functioning in a sample of older adults in the UK with baseline data collected pre-lockdown and follow-up 12 weeks later during lockdown. Thus, allowing investigation of the effect of COVID-19 and associated lockdown on psychosocial well-being. Thirty-five older adults (Mean age = 76.06, sex = 12 males) participated in this repeated measures study. A final follow-up was then conducted post-lockdown to capture any factors that were viewed as helpful to well-being during lockdown. From pre- to during lockdown, perceived stress, well-being, depressive symptoms, mood disturbance and memory were all significantly worsened. There were significant improvements in self-reported physical health symptoms, social interaction, time spent engaging in physical activity and certain aspects of relationship quality. Follow-up showed that well-being, depression and mood were still negatively affected post-lockdown. Given the sample were all ‘healthy’ at baseline in comparison to established norms, there may be greater impairment in more vulnerable populations. Support for older populations is needed to mitigate the negative effects shown, particularly in light of the endurance of some of these effects post-lockdown.

Highlights

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in March 2020; there have been in excess of 92 million confirmed cases worldwide (World Health Organization, 2020a), and in the UK, in excess of 3.2 million cases and more than 90,000 deaths (UK, GOV 2020)

  • There is an urgency to study the mental health impact of COVID-19 in real time so that the adverse impact can be anticipated and minimised (Vahia et al, 2020). These findings address this need and help to understand the impact of the pandemic on mental health and well-being which will prepare for future pandemics, as well as ongoing national and local lockdowns and identify where support is needed

  • The findings from the current study provide evidence of both negative and positive consequences of lockdown

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Summary

Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in March 2020; there have been in excess of 92 million confirmed cases worldwide (World Health Organization, 2020a), and in the UK, in excess of 3.2 million cases and more than 90,000 deaths (UK, GOV 2020). International responses were implemented to contain the spread of the virus, with various states of imposed lockdown applied in most European countries (Brodeur et al, 2020). There are many psychosocial consequences of pandemics, with research showing that individuals’ mental health has been severely affected by COVID-19 and the associated lockdown (Brodeur et al, 2020). In a sample of 775 adults in the United States, 55% reported that COVID-19 had negative effects on their mental well-being (World Health Organization, 2020b). Research has shown higher rates of mental distress during lockdown (Sibley et al, 2020) and it has been hypothesised that frustration, boredom, low mood and potentially depression are likely consequences (Venkatesh & Edirappuli, 2020).

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