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COVID-19 worry, mental health indicators, and preparedness for future care needs across the adult lifespan
- Authors:
- MAXFIELD Molly, PITUCH Keenan A.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 25(7), 2021, pp.1273-1280.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a source of worry for many, but older adults have been identified as more vulnerable to serious cases and may therefore feel more concerned about the virus. We assessed whether COVID-19 worry was related to indicators of mental health and preparedness for future care, in an adult lifespan sample. Method: An online study (n = 485; age 18–82, M = 49.31, SD = 15.39) included measures of COVID-19 worry, depression, general anxiety, health anxiety, hostile and benevolent ageism, preparedness for future care, and demographic information. Results: Age and living alone were positively associated with greater COVID-19 worry, as were health anxiety, general anxiety, benevolent ageism, and preparedness for future care needs via gathering information. A significant interaction indicated that among individuals reporting lower health anxiety, greater preference for gathering information was positively associated with greater COVID-19 worry; however, for individuals having high health anxiety, gathering information about future care was not related to COVID-19 worry, as their COVID-19 worry levels were moderately high. Conclusion: Older age was associated with greater COVID-19 worry, perhaps in response to the much publicized greater risk for negative outcomes in this population. In spite of this specific concern, indicators of older adults’ continued mental health emerged. Preparedness for future care is also highlighted, as well as clinical implications. (Edited publisher abstract)
The influence of Hurricane exposure and anxiety sensitivity on panic symptoms
- Authors:
- MALONEY Lauren Hensley, VARELA R. Enrique
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Youth Care Forum, 38(3), June 2009, pp.135-149.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Trauma exposure has been associated with panic symptoms in adult samples, but little is known about the relationship between trauma and panic in children. Anxiety sensitivity (AS), or the fear of anxiety-related bodily sensations, may help explain the relationship between trauma and panic. To examine relationships among trauma, anxiety sensitivity, and panic symptoms, data were collected from youth in the New Orleans area 5–8 months after Hurricane Katrina (N = 302) and again 17–18 months after the hurricane (N = 110). At time one, AS predicted panic symptoms beyond hurricane exposure. At time two, AS measured at time two predicted panic symptoms beyond AS measured at time one. Clinical implications of the present findings are discussed.
The association between depression, anxiety, and cognitive function in the elderly general population - the Hordaland Health Study
- Authors:
- BIRINGER Eva, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(10), October 2005, pp.989-997.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The participants in this study were 1,930 non-demented participants from the general population aged 72-74 years. Symptoms and caseness of depression and anxiety disorder were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Cognitive function was assessed by the Digit Symbol Test (modified version), the Kendrick Object Learning Test, and the S-task from the Controlled Oral Word Association Test. The results found a significant association between depression and reduced cognitive function. The inverse association between anxiety and reduced cognitive performance was explained by adjustment for co-morbid depression. The inverse association between depressive symptoms and cognitive function was found to be close to linear, and was also present in the sub-clinical symptom range. Males were more affected cognitively by depressive symptoms than females. The inverse association between depression and cognitive function is not only a finding restricted to severely ill patient samples, but it can also be found in the elderly general population.
Nourishing the mind
- Author:
- HOLFORD Patrick
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, December 2002, pp.26-28.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Looks at the connection between nutrition and mental health.
Worry content reported by older adults with and without generalized anxiety disorder
- Authors:
- DIEFENBACH G.J., STANLEY M.A., BECK J.G.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 5(3), August 2001, pp.269-274.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study investigated worry content in older adults with and without generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). This is an important topic of research, where findings may promote improved recognition and treatment of this disorder in late-life, as well as provide information about the nature of worry across the lifespan. Worry content was compared for 44 older adults diagnosed with GAD and 44 normal control (NC) volunteers matched for age, gender, and ethnicity. Results indicated that older adults with GAD reported a wider variety of worry topics than did NC participants. However, there were no differences in worry content patterns between older adults with and without GAD. These results suggest that pathological worry in later life is not uniquely defined by content, and implications of these findings for assessment and treatment of GAD in older adults are discussed. Worry content reported by older adults also was compared with previously published younger adult worry content data. Age differences in worry content were found in both the clinical and non-clinical groups in patterns that were generally consistent with common age-related developmental changes. Directions for future research of worry across the lifespan are proposed.
Coping with anxiety and panic: a factor analytical study
- Authors:
- HUGHES Ian, BUDD Rick, GREENAWAY Sharon
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 38(3), September 1999, pp.295-304.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study aimed to explore the coping styles that agoraphobia sufferers adopt when attempting to cope with symptoms of anxiety and panic. Three coping styles were identified, which were labelled Effective Coping, Avoidant Coping and Self Vigilance. The results support the previous research on coping tactics in anxiety and are compatible with cognitive therapy accounts of the role of self vigilance in anxiety disorders.
Mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in two longitudinal UK population cohorts
- Authors:
- KWONG Alex S. F., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 218(6), 2021, pp.334-343.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and mitigation measures are likely to have a marked effect on mental health. It is important to use longitudinal data to improve inferences. Aims: To quantify the prevalence of depression, anxiety and mental well-being before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, to identify groups at risk of depression and/or anxiety during the pandemic. Method: Data were from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) index generation (n = 2850, mean age 28 years) and parent generation (n = 3720, mean age 59 years), and Generation Scotland (n = 4233, mean age 59 years). Depression was measured with the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire in ALSPAC and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 in Generation Scotland. Anxiety and mental well-being were measured with the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment-7 and the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. Results: Depression during the pandemic was similar to pre-pandemic levels in the ALSPAC index generation, but those experiencing anxiety had almost doubled, at 24% (95% CI 23–26%) compared with a pre-pandemic level of 13% (95% CI 12–14%). In both studies, anxiety and depression during the pandemic was greater in younger members, women, those with pre-existing mental/physical health conditions and individuals in socioeconomic adversity, even when controlling for pre-pandemic anxiety and depression. Conclusions: These results provide evidence for increased anxiety in young people that is coincident with the pandemic. Specific groups are at elevated risk of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is important for planning current mental health provisions and for long-term impact beyond this pandemic. (Edited publisher abstract)
The mediating role of sense of coherence on mental health outcomes in carers of older dependent relatives: a longitudinal study
- Authors:
- LOPEZ-MARTINEZ Catalina, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 36(5), 2021, pp.722-730.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Sense of coherence (SOC) is an important protective factor for carer well‐being but research to date remains cross‐sectional, focusing primarily on the direct effects of SOC on carers' mental health. The study's aim was to investigate the mediating role of SOC in the longitudinal relationship between caregiver strain and carers' psychological health, and its stability over time. Methods: Prospective longitudinal study conducted in Jaén (Spain) with a probabilistic sample of 132 carers of older people, with data collected at baseline and at 1‐year follow‐up. We measured SOC, caregiver strain, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and several care‐recipient characteristics and intensity of care provided. We used multiple linear regression modelling and the Sobel test to analyse mediation effects. Results: SOC was significantly negatively longitudinally associated with both anxiety (β = −0.38, p = 0.001) and depressive symptoms (β = −0.28, p = 0.023), after controlling for several confounders. SOC mediated both the relationship between caregiver strain and anxiety, and caregiver strain and depressive symptoms (Sobel test: p < 0.001 for anxiety and p < 0.001 for depressive symptoms). Differences between baseline and 1‐year follow‐up SOC scores were not statistically significant (p = 0.617). Conclusions: SOC appears to buffer the impact of caregiver strain on symptoms of depression and anxiety in informal carers of older people. Our data showed that SOC is an important psychological resource for carers that remained relatively stable under non‐experimental conditions over a period of 1 year in this sample. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at strengthening SOC may protect carer psychological well‐being. (Edited publisher abstract)
Social isolation and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-national analysis
- Authors:
- KIM Harris Hyun-soo, JUNG Jong Hyun
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 61(1), 2021, pp.103-113.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Background and Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in social isolation globally, creating heightened levels of stress and anxiety. This study investigates the link between social isolation and mental well-being in later life, and how it varies across countries. Research Design and Methods: We draw on a subset of older adults from Global Behaviors and Perceptions in the COVID-19 Pandemic, a unique global online survey of 13,660 participants from 62 countries. We use mixed-effects models to analyze the data. Results: Social isolation (distancing) significantly predicts poor mental health operationalized as coronavirus-induced distress (p < .01). At the aggregate level, average distress varies positively across countries with higher numbers of coronavirus-related deaths (p < .10) and more fragile state capacity (p < .05), while varying negatively across those with more stringent anticoronavirus policies (p < .05). Finally, we report several cross-level interactions between social isolation and the total number of deaths (p = .025), policy stringency (p = .065), state fragility (p = .061), and globalization index (p = .071). Discussion and Implications: Our study shows that a proper understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on the mental well-being of older adults should consider the moderating role of national context. (Edited publisher abstract)
Mental health in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional analyses from a community cohort study
- Authors:
- JIA Ru, et al
- Journal article citation:
- BMJ Open, 10(9), 2020, p.e040620. Online only
- Publisher:
- BMJ Publishing Group
Objectives Previous pandemics have resulted in significant consequences for mental health. Here, we report the mental health sequelae of the COVID-19 pandemic in a UK cohort and examine modifiable and non-modifiable explanatory factors associated with mental health outcomes. We focus on the first wave of data collection, which examined short-term consequences for mental health, as reported during the first 4–6 weeks of social distancing measures being introduced. Design Cross-sectional online survey. Setting Community cohort study. Participants N=3097 adults aged ≥18 years were recruited through a mainstream and social media campaign between 3 April 2020 and 30 April 2020. The cohort was predominantly female (n=2618); mean age 44 years; 10% (n=296) from minority ethnic groups; 50% (n=1559) described themselves as key workers and 20% (n=649) identified as having clinical risk factors putting them at increased risk of COVID-19. Main outcome measures Depression, anxiety and stress scores. Results Mean scores for depression (Embedded Image =7.69, SD=6.0), stress (Embedded Image =6.48, SD=3.3) and anxiety (Embedded Image = 6.48, SD=3.3) significantly exceeded population norms (all p<0.0001). Analysis of non-modifiable factors hypothesised to be associated with mental health outcomes indicated that being younger, female and in a recognised COVID-19 risk group were associated with increased stress, anxiety and depression, with the final multivariable models accounting for 7%–14% of variance. When adding modifiable factors, significant independent effects emerged for positive mood, perceived loneliness and worry about getting COVID-19 for all outcomes, with the final multivariable models accounting for 54%–57% of total variance. Conclusions Increased psychological morbidity was evident in this UK sample and found to be more common in younger people, women and in individuals who identified as being in recognised COVID-19 risk groups. Public health and mental health interventions able to ameliorate perceptions of risk of COVID-19, worry about COVID-19 loneliness and boost positive mood may be effective. (Edited publisher abstract)