American Older Adults in COVID-19 Times: Vulnerability Types, Aging Attitudes and Emotional Responses

Abstract

Background: The Coronavirus disease aroused challenges to the emotional well-being of vulnerable older adults in hard-hit areas. This study investigates different vulnerability types among American older adults and how modes of vulnerability are associated with aging attitudes and emotional responses. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 2003 American respondents aged over 50 from the Health and Retirement survey. Emotional responses and aging attitudes were assessed with I-PANAS-SF and ATOT. The vulnerability was evaluated by 16 kinds of difficulties people had during the pandemic. We used Latent class analysis to identify the vulnerability pattern of individuals. Hierarchical linear regressions were further used to examine the relationship between vulnerability type and positive aging attitudes with positive and negative emotional responses. Results: We detected three vulnerability types among American older adults: the slight vulnerability (72%), the healthcare use vulnerability (19%), and the dual vulnerabilities (9%). No significant difference in positive emotions was found between vulnerability types. However, more negative emotions were found among older adults with healthcare use vulnerability (B=0.746, SE=0.759) and dual vulnerabilities (B=1.186, SE=0.274) than those with slight vulnerability. Positive aging attitudes associate with more positive emotions (B=0.266, SE=0.017) but less negative emotions (B=-0.183, SE=0.016) and had significant moderation effects on the relationship between vulnerability types and negative emotional responses (B=-0.118, SE=0.045). Conclusion: Older adults' emotional well-being should not be neglected as they deserve the support of prevention and intervention strategies, in particular when they have vulnerabilities in healthcare use and financial sustainment. Female, non-white races, and those aged below 65, been uncoupled, less educated, and with ADL difficulties should prioritize.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of new mothers in China: A qualitative study of mothers with infants aged 0–1 year old

“…In other words, if there is a positive or suspected case, the person or community with whom the patient is in contact has to be isolated or shut down. As a result, following this strict ECP for 3 years, many families have experienced psychological changes due to the severe impact on their living conditions ( 6 ). Mothers of newborns during the epidemic were faced with the dual challenges of ECP and childcare, which brought them great psychological stress.…”