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The impact of COVID‐19 on the well‐being and cognition of older adults living in the United States and Latin America
Author(s) -
Babulal Ganesh M,
Torres Valeria L,
Acosta Daisy M,
Aguero Cinthya,
AguilarNavarro Sara Gloria,
Amariglio Rebecca E,
Ussui Juliana Aya,
Baena Ana Y,
Bocanegra Yamile,
Brucki Sonia MD,
Bustin Julian,
Cabrera Diego,
Custodio Nilton,
Diaz Monica M,
Duque Lissette,
Franco Idalid,
Gatchel Jennifer R,
GarzaNaveda Ana Paola,
GonzalezLara Mariana,
Gutiérrez Lidia Antonia,
GuzmanVelez Edmarie,
Hanseeuw Bernard J,
JiménezVelazquez Ivonne Z,
Leon Tomas,
LlibreGuerra Jorge J,
Marquine Maria J,
Martinez Jairo E,
Medina Luis D,
MirandaCastillo Claudia,
Morlett Alejandra,
Munera Diana,
NuñezHerrera Alberto,
de Oliveira Maira Okada,
Cancel Santiago Palmer,
PardillaDelgado Enmanuelle,
Perales Jaime,
Pluim Celina F,
RamirezGomez Liliana A,
Rentz Dorene,
RiveraFernandez Claudia,
Rosselli Monica,
Serrano Cecilia,
Suing María Jose,
Slachevsky Andrea,
Soto Marcio,
Sperling Reisa A,
Torrente Fernando,
Thumala Daniela,
Vannini Patrizia,
VilaCastelar Clara,
Escalante Tatiana Mirella Yanez,
Quiroz Yakeel T
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.055601
Subject(s) - pandemic , loneliness , latin americans , coping (psychology) , demography , gerontology , cognition , covid-19 , medicine , young adult , psychology , clinical psychology , disease , political science , psychiatry , sociology , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law
Abstract Background In the COVID‐19 pandemic, older adults from vulnerable ethnoracial groups are at high risk of infection, hospitalization, and death. We aimed to explore the pandemic’s impact on the well‐being and cognition of older adults within and outside of the United States (US). Method 1,747 (646 White, 991 Latino, 77 Black, 33 Asian; 72% female) individuals from the US and 14 Latin American countries completed an online survey regarding well‐being and cognition during the pandemic. Outcome variables (pandemic impact, discrimination, loneliness, purpose of life, subjective cognitive concerns) were compared across four US ethnoracial groups, and Latinos living in the US and Latin America. Result Mean age was 66·5 ( SD = 7·70) years and mean education was 15·4 ( SD = 2·76) years. We found no differences in the pandemic’s overall impact across US ethnoracial groups. Compared to Whites, Latinos reported greater economic impact ( p < ·001, η p 2 = .031); while Blacks reported experiencing discrimination more often ( p < ·001, η p 2 = .050). Blacks and Latinos reported more positive coping ( p < ·001, η p 2 = 040). Latin American Latinos reported greater pandemic impact ( p < ·001, η p 2 =.013 ), more positive coping ( p =·006, η p 2 =.008 ), and less discrimination than US Latinos ( p < ·001, η p 2 = .013 ). Conclusion The COVID‐19 pandemic has differentially impacted the well‐being of older ethnically diverse individuals in the US and Latin America. Future studies should examine how mediators like income and coping skills modify the pandemic’s impact.