A Qualitative Analysis of Older Adults’ Cognitive Appraisal in Coping during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Social Capital

Abstract

The ability to adaptively cope with the challenges of stressful events such as the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial for healthy aging. One effective coping strategy is social coping in which social networks are tapped for support. However, our review of the current literature on older adults’ coping abilities reveals two shortcomings: (1) a lack of consideration of a specific context and (2) an inadequate amount of attention paid to the different types of social networks in the cognitive appraisal process. As coping is a process in which older adults undergo the cognitive appraisal process to identify appropriate coping strategies, the shortcomings result in an incomplete understanding of older adults’ coping efforts and impair the development of effective community and intervention programs to improve older adults’ well-being. To fill this gap, drawing on the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping and the Social Capital Theory, we conducted 22 interviews with older adults who experienced lockdown measures during COVID-19. Our in-depth qualitative analysis shows the different roles played by bonding and bridging social capital in the cognitive appraisal process and illustrates the influence of a specific context on cognitive appraisals and subsequent coping efforts. Our findings provide significant contributions to theories regarding coping and social capital, as well as practices and policies for improving the well-being of older adults.

Peritraumatic Distress among Chinese Canadians during the Early Lockdown Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Sociodemographic and Pandemic-Related Predictors

“…For instance, a study among older adults in Canada examined how the effects of social media on anxiety varied according to their perceived purpose of online social engagement (i.e., to bond with family/friends or to bridge and to broaden casual social networks and share information). Bonding social engagement had a protective effect and bridging social engagement had a detrimental effect on anxiety levels [37]. As such, understanding COVID-19-related perceptions may provide a more reliable model to identify and understand those at risk.…”

“…For example, coping behaviours that are more action-oriented such as seeking out social support were found to decrease the level of stress and burnout experienced by healthcare workers [41][42][43]. A wide range of behaviours may facilitate coping, where engagement in activities such as exercising, exploring online activities, and talking to friends and family are found to reduce depressive and anxiety symptom endorsement in the context of the pandemic [37,44]. Similarly, life satisfaction may also play a buffering role in COVID-19-related psychological distress.…”