Lessons in Resilience: Initial Coping Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Lessons in Resilience: Initial Coping Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
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DOI：
10.1093/geront/gnaa170
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发表时间：
2021-02-01
期刊：
影响因子：
5.7
通讯作者：
Huseth-Zosel, Andrea
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Fuller, Heather R.;Huseth-Zosel, Andrea
背景和目标：除了身体健康风险增加外，老年人还可能因2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）而面临心理健康和社会福祉的风险。然而，鉴于老年人的生活经验和应对机制，他们可能具有独特的科普能力。这项研究探讨了老年人在COVID-19大流行最初几周的应对经验和策略。研究设计和方法：中西部76名年龄在70-97岁之间的老年人完成了一项电话采访，讲述了他们因COVID-19而产生的社交距离的经历。在区域社交距离的最初几周（2020年3月28日至4月20日）进行了采访。参与者评价他们的感知应对水平，并回答开放式的问题，他们的日常生活和copying.Results：平均感知应对水平（规模从1到10）为7.9，87%的参与者评价他们的应对积极。出现的主要主题包括（a）保持忙碌，（B）寻求社会支持，（c）拥有积极的心态。这些以情绪为中心的应对策略在大流行的最初几周对大多数老年人来说似乎是适应性的。讨论和影响：与关于老年人脆弱性的主要信息相反，这些发现突出了老年人在COVID-19期间心理应对和适应能力方面的弹性。未来的研究应该建立在这些发现的基础上，以更好地理解和促进危机期间的晚年应对。从业人员应努力支持老年人参与这种积极应对，并应制定社会政策，承认老年人的各种需求。
Background and Objectives: In addition to increased physical health risks, older adults may also experience risks to their mental health and social well-being due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Yet, older adults may be uniquely able to cope given their life experiences and coping mechanisms. This study explores older adults' coping experiences and strategies during the initial weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.Research Design and Methods: A Midwestern sample of 76 older adults aged 70-97 years completed a phone interview about their experiences with social distancing due to COVID-19. Interviews were conducted during the early weeks of regional social distancing (March 28-April 20, 2020). Participants rated their level of perceived coping and responded to open-ended questions about their daily life and coping.Results: Mean perceived coping level (on a scale from 1 to 10) was 7.9, with 87% of participants rating their coping positively. Primary themes that emerged included (a) staying busy, (b) seeking social support, and (c) having a positive mindset. These emotion-focused coping strategies appeared adaptive in the early weeks of the pandemic for most older adults.Discussion and Implications: Contrary to predominant messaging about the vulnerability of older adults, these findings highlight the resilient nature of older adults in terms of their psychological coping and adaptability during COVID-19. Future research should build upon these findings to better understand and promote late-life coping during crises. Practitioners should seek to support older adults' engagement in such proactive coping, and social policies should be developed to acknowledge the variable needs of older adults.