Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.
Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment, Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Central Virginia VA Health Care System, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 May 11;18(10):5090. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18105090.
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.
尽管老年人极易受到 COVID-19 并发症和死亡的影响，但很少有研究探讨个人特征和 COVID-19 大流行如何在全球范围内影响老年人的心理健康。本研究旨在探讨来自 33 个国家的 60 岁及以上成年人的人口统计学特征、COVID-19 对生活的影响以及抑郁和焦虑之间的关系。通过从邮件列表和社交媒体招募，对 33 个国家的 823 名 60-94 岁的老年人进行了一项 10 分钟的在线调查。与亲人分离和发生冲突会预测焦虑和抑郁，而居住在收入较高的国家也会预测焦虑和抑郁。因 COVID-19 严重症状接受治疗和工作责任减少会预测抑郁，但适应在家工作和年龄较小会预测抑郁和焦虑。来自欧洲和中亚的参与者报告的抑郁程度高于来自其他所有地区的参与者，焦虑程度高于来自拉丁美洲和加勒比地区的参与者。COVID-19 大流行对全球老年人的心理健康产生了严重的有害影响。这些发现对可能提供给老年人的心理健康服务具有直接影响，有助于促进健康的心理调整。
