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Subjective psychological impacts during COVID‐19 lockdown on older people, risk profiles and coping strategies: Results of an online survey in Spain
Author(s) -
Doménech Sara,
BlancafortAlias Sergi,
Rojano Xavier,
Salvà Antoni,
Roqué Marta,
CollPlanas Laura
Publication year - 2023
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.22833
Subject(s) - loneliness , sadness , psychology , snowball sampling , coping (psychology) , cognition , distress , social isolation , clinical psychology , psychological distress , anxiety , anger , medicine , psychiatry , pathology
This study explores the psychological impacts of lockdown among older people during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Spain, and identifies risk profiles and adaptative behaviors. A cross‐sectional online survey was disseminated by social networks through snowball sampling (April–June 2020). The survey included ad‐hoc questions about psychological impacts on subjective cognitive functioning, emotional distress, and loneliness. Open end‐questions were coded according to Lazarus and Folkman's coping strategies framework. Of the 2010 respondents, 76% experienced impact in at least one cognitive function (11% reporting severe effects), 78% frequent sadness and 13% frequent loneliness. Age 80+, women and low education increased the risk of loneliness and severe impact in memory and processing speed. Living alone was an additional risk factor for loneliness and sadness. Lockdown is associated with cognitive impacts, emotional distress, and loneliness being risk profiles related to inequality axes. Coping strategies should inform aging policies to prevent psychological impacts during the lockdown.