Assessment of anxiety in elderly population during the COVID‐19 pandemic and the impact of compulsory home‐stay in the central districts of Ankara, Turkey: A quantitative, qualitative mixed method study

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to determine the level of anxiety in elderly individuals during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Ankara province of Turkey and determine its associated factors. Methods A quantitative, qualitative mixed‐method study performed in 1–10 June 2020 during the compulsory home‐stay for elderly people in Turkey. The quantitative study was conducted using a structured online questionnaire with 278 participants aged 65 or older. The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) was used to assess the anxiety. An in‐depth interview with 20 participants was used to fill the gap of face‐to‐face interview due to pandemic situation and strengthen the results of quantitative survey. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed separately. Results Of all participants, 88 (31.7%) had a score above the cut‐off point for GAI. The prevalence of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) was significantly higher in female (37.8%) than in male (23.8%). Female gender, economic loss, uncertainty, and the time participants expend to follow news about COVID‐19 pandemic were risk factors of GAD. On the other hand, higher education level, hobbies, and regular physical activity were protective factors against GAD. Conclusion During the pandemic, social isolation and lockdown for elderly people make serious risk factor for their mental well‐being. Measures must be taken to support the psychological well‐being of elderly by promoting physical activity and hobbies at home, and reducing their economic concerns.

Aging and the COVID-19 pandemic: The inter-related roles of biology, physical wellbeing, social norms and global health systems

“…Increased sedentary behavior is also associated with high blood pressure, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases [33] , among others. Several other studies from the Netherlands [34] , France [35] , Turkey [25] , China [36] , and Japan [37] also reported a sharp decline in physical activity among the elderly during the COVID-19 confinement. The elderly are prone to developing sarcopenia, cardiometabolic disorders, and other comorbidities [38] .…”

“…When the generalized lockdown started, many elderly people suddenly found themselves in a far more isolated circumstance than what they were already experiencing. Overwhelming evidence soon emerged from numerous studies based on middle and high-income countries worldwide indicating a deterioration of mental health, physical health, quality of life, and general wellbeing among the elderly amidst strict lockdown [25] , [29] . The inability of the immediate family members to visit led to alienation and psychological breakdown [25] , [26] , [29] , and in some cases, suicide [30] , [31] .…”

“…A mixed-methods study from Turkey revealed that the average time the elderly spent following news regarding COVID-19 on TV or social media was 2.74 hours/day. It increased the odds of generalized anxiety disorder by a factor of 1.188 [25]. The news of their being at higher risk of getting infected was interpreted differently by their family members.…”

Elderly Problems During COVID-19: A Narrative Review

“…In a study on anxiety in the elderly (>65-yearsold) from Turkey (N=278), 32% scored above the cutpoint on the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (Sirin et al, 2021). The risk factors were not only age but also female gender (38% in females versus 24% in males), economic loss, uncertainty and time watching news on COVID.…”

COVID-19 Stress Moderates the Mediational Pathway of Fandom Identification on Well-Being through Problem-Focused Coping

“…The general population has been shown to experience a wide range of symptoms associated with the fear of the pandemic, with the lockdown, and with the uncertainty associated with these changes (e.g., Ruppanner et al, 2021), including anxiety (Cheng et al, 2021), disordered eating (Wang et al, 2021), loneliness and depression (Allen et al, 2021), decreased satisfaction of basic needs (Avsec et al, 2021), and even reductions in brain volume (Salomon et al, 2021). Aversive outcomes have been noted in the young (Varma et al, 2021) as well as in the elderly (Sirin et al, 2021), in parents and in children (Martiny et al, 2021), in undergraduate students (Zinchenko et al, 2021), and in people with disabilities (Sakiz, 2021). In short, there is evidence that nearly everyone has been adversely affected in some way, directly or indirectly, by the pandemic.…”