Depression and Anxiety in Old Age during the COVID-19 Pandemic : A Comparative Study of Individuals at Cardiovascular Risk and the General Population

Our study aims to examine the associations of sociodemographic factors, social support, resilience, and perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic with late-life depression and anxiety symptoms in a cardiovascular risk group and a matched sample from the German general population during the beginning of the pandemic and draw a comparison regarding psychosocial characteristics. Data of n = 1236 participants (aged 64-81 years) were analyzed, with n = 618 participants showing a cardiovascular risk profile, and n = 618 participants from the general population. The cardiovascular risk sample had slightly higher levels of depressive symptoms and felt more threatened by the virus due to pre-existing conditions. In the cardiovascular risk group, social support was associated with less depressive and anxiety symptoms. In the general population, high social support was associated with less depressive symptoms. Experiencing high levels of worries due to COVID-19 was associated with more anxiety in the general population. Resilience was associated with less depressive and anxiety symptoms in both groups. Compared to the general population, the cardiovascular risk group showed slightly higher levels of depressive symptomatology even at the beginning of the pandemic and may be supported by addressing perceived social support and resilience in prevention programs targeting mental health.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2023

Erschienen:

2023

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:20

Enthalten in:

International journal of environmental research and public health - 20(2023), 4 vom: 08. Feb.

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Gerhards, Sina K [VerfasserIn]
Luppa, Melanie [VerfasserIn]
Röhr, Susanne [VerfasserIn]
Pabst, Alexander [VerfasserIn]
Bauer, Alexander [VerfasserIn]
Frankhänel, Thomas [VerfasserIn]
Döhring, Juliane [VerfasserIn]
Escales, Catharina [VerfasserIn]
Zöllinger, Isabel Renate [VerfasserIn]
Oey, Anke [VerfasserIn]
Brettschneider, Christian [VerfasserIn]
Wiese, Birgitt [VerfasserIn]
Hoffmann, Wolfgang [VerfasserIn]
Gensichen, Jochen [VerfasserIn]
König, Hans-Helmut [VerfasserIn]
Frese, Thomas [VerfasserIn]
Thyrian, Jochen René [VerfasserIn]
Kaduszkiewicz, Hanna [VerfasserIn]
Riedel-Heller, Steffi G [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Anxiety
COVID-19 pandemic
Cardiovascular risk
Depressive symptoms
Journal Article
Old age
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 28.02.2023

Date Revised 20.11.2023

published: Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.3390/ijerph20042975

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM353398071