The Mental Health of the Peruvian Older Adult during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jack Roberto Silva Fhon (), Maritza Evangelina Villanueva-Benites, Maria del Pilar Goméz-Luján, Maria Rosario Mocarro-Aguilar, Orfelina Arpasi-Quispe, Reyna Ysmelia Peralta-Gómez, Sofia Sabina Lavado-Huarcaya and Zoila Esperanza Leitón-Espinoza
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Jack Roberto Silva Fhon: Medical-Surgical Department, Nursing School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05403, Brazil
Maritza Evangelina Villanueva-Benites: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Nursing, National University of the Peruvian Amazon, Maynas 16001, Peru
Maria del Pilar Goméz-Luján: Faculty of Nursing, National University of Trujillo, Juan Pablo II Av, Trujillo 13001, Peru
Maria Rosario Mocarro-Aguilar: Professional School of Nursing, Norbert Wiener University, Lima 15046, Peru
Orfelina Arpasi-Quispe: Postgradute School, Peruvian Union University, Lima 15464, Peru
Reyna Ysmelia Peralta-Gómez: Faculty of Nursing, National University of San Agustin of Arequipa, Arequipa 04001, Peru
Sofia Sabina Lavado-Huarcaya: University Social Responsibility Network of the Organization, Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo Catholic University, Chiclayo 14001, Peru
Zoila Esperanza Leitón-Espinoza: Faculty of Nursing, National University of Trujillo, Juan Pablo II Av, Trujillo 13001, Peru

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 24, 1-12

Abstract: During the pandemic, the elderly population was the most exposed to disease and changes in their daily lives. The objective was to determine the association between demographic factors, access to health services, sources of information, and physical symptoms in the mental health of the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic—a study with 3828 older adults residing in nine cities in Peru. The data was collected using a web-based survey, and the instruments of demographic data; exposure to information (radio, television, and internet); and presence of physical symptoms, anxiety, and perceived stress were used. Descriptive and analytical analysis was performed. Female sex, those aged between 60 and 79 years old, those with secondary education, those in their own home, those residing in an urban area, and those using public services of health predominated in this study. Likewise, 62.9% presented depressive symptoms; on the stress scale, an average of 27.81 (SD = 8.71), and on the anxiety scale, an average of 27.24 (SD = 6.04). Moreover, 65.1% reported fatigue, 62.2% had a headache, and 61.2% lack of energy. There is an association between demographic variables and the physical and psychological symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in the elderly during the pandemic.

Keywords: elderly; mental health; pandemics; Peru; geriatrics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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