Age Differences in Risk and Resilience Factors in COVID-19-Related Stress

Ann Pearman, MacKenzie L Hughes, Emily L Smith, Shevaun D Neupert and Amy Fiske

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2021, vol. 76, issue 2, e38-e44

Abstract: ObjectivesOlder adults are at higher risk for death and infirmity from COVID-19 than younger and middle-aged adults. The current study examines COVID-19-specific anxiety and proactive coping as potential risk and resilience factors that may be differentially important for younger and older adults in understanding stress experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsFive hundred and fifteen adults aged 20–79 years in the United States reported on their anxiety about developing COVID-19, proactive coping, and stress related to COVID-19 in an online survey.ResultsAlthough there were no age differences in stress levels, anxiety about developing COVID-19 was associated with more COVID-19 stress for older adults relative to younger adults, but proactive coping was associated with less COVID-19 stress for older adults relative to younger adults.DiscussionOur results suggest that anxiety might function as a risk factor, whereas proactive coping may function as a resilience factor for older adults’ COVID-19 stress. We encourage future context-dependent investigations into mental health among older adults during this pandemic and beyond.

Keywords: Age differences; Anxiety; Coping; Pandemic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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The Journals of Gerontology: Series B is currently edited by Psychological Sciences - S. Duke Han, PhD and Social Sciences - Jessica A Kelley, PhD, FGSA

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