A Study of Older Adults’ Mental Health across 33 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Carmen M. Tyler, Grace B. McKee, Elisabet Alzueta, Paul B. Perrin, Kristine Kingsley, Fiona C. Baker and Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla
Additional contact information
Carmen M. Tyler: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
Grace B. McKee: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
Elisabet Alzueta: Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
Paul B. Perrin: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
Kristine Kingsley: Institute of Cognitive and Emotional Wellness, Westchester, NY 10801, USA
Fiona C. Baker: Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla: BioCruces Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: Despite older adults’ extremely high vulnerability to COVID-19 complications and death, few studies have examined how personal characteristics and the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the mental health of older adults at the global level. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among demographics, COVID-19 life impacts, and depression and anxiety in adults aged 60 and older from 33 countries. A sample of 823 older adults aged 60–94 and residing in 33 countries completed a 10-min online survey following recruitment from mailing lists and social media. Being separated from and having conflicts with loved ones predicted both anxiety and depression, as did residing in a country with higher income. Getting medical treatment for severe symptoms of COVID-19 and having decreased work responsibilities predicted depression, but adjustment to working from home and younger age predicted both depression and anxiety. Participants from Europe and Central Asia reported higher depression than those from all other regions and higher anxiety than those from Latin America and the Caribbean. The COVID-19 pandemic has had serious deleterious effects on the mental health of older adults worldwide. The current findings have direct implications for mental health services that may be delivered to older adults to help facilitate healthy psychological adjustment.

Keywords: older adults; COVID-19; coronavirus; pandemic; depression; anxiety; mental health; international (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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