Living in rural area: A protective factor for a negative experience of the lockdown and the COVID‐19 crisis in the oldest old population?

Abstract

Objectives Some factors influence the experience of the COVID‐19 pandemic (health, loneliness, digital access...), but what about the living area? The objective was to compare between rural and urban areas, the psychological and social experiences of the older individuals with regard to the COVID‐19 crisis during the first French lockdown. Methods The sample included participants of three existing population‐based cohorts on aging. Telephone interviews conducted by psychologists focused on the lockdown period. Data collected included living environment, professional assistance, social support, contacts with relatives, difficulties encountered, health, and knowledge and representations of the epidemic. The negative experience was defined by the presence of at least two of the following items: high anxiety symptomatology, depressive symptoms, worries or difficulties during the lockdown and insufficient social support. Results The sample included 467 participants, aged on average 87.5 years (5.2), 58.9% were female and 47.1% lived in rural areas. Persons living in rural area had better social support, greater family presence, a less frequent feeling of imprisonment (OR = 0.60, 95 CI% = 0.36‐0.99), 95% had a garden (vs. 56%), fewer depressive symptoms and lower anxiety scores, but also tended to lower comply with the health measures. Finally, they had an almost twofold lower risk of having a negative experience of the lockdown compared to their urban counterparts (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.33–0.92, p = 0.0223). Conclusions The oldest old living in rural area experienced the first lockdown better than the urbans. Living conditions, with access to nature, a greater social support and family presence, could have contributed to these findings.

Mental health and well-being in times of COVID-19: A mixed-methods study of the role of neighborhood parks, outdoor spaces, and nature among US older adults

“…Similarly, participants’ qualitative responses included very few explicit mentions of parks while suburban/rural dwellers expressed newfound advantages of larger private land ownership and low-density areas. Our findings support conclusions from a study of older adults in France demonstrating that rural participants were less likely to report symptoms of anxiety, depression, and feelings of imprisonment during COVID-19 lockdowns than people from urban areas ( Pérès et al, 2021 ). The differences observed by urban/rural status may be further explained by higher population density and limited opportunities to access private outdoor areas in urban settings.…”

Coping strategies and household stress/violence in remote Alaska: a longitudinal view across the COVID-19 pandemic

“…The ability to continue subsistence/traditional food-related activities may also provide a more secure access to nutritious and culturally meaningful foods. Existing studies also indicate that continued access to the outdoors can have a protective effect for mental health [ 18 ] , and other rural communities felt generally more prepared and adaptable for pandemic conditions [ 19 ] . Furthermore, historical resilience, traditional connection, and strong community may provide strength and support during the COVID-19 pandemic for Alaska Native people [ 20 ] .…”

Understanding the Effects of COVID-19 on Child Maltreatment Reporting Among Rural Versus Urban Communities in the United States

“…One explanation could be that children living in rural counties did not experience drastic changes in living conditions during the initial stay-at-home orders compared with children in urban counties. Some research findings indicate that older adults living in rural areas had more social interactions during the initial COVID-19 stay-at-home orders (Pérès et al, 2021 ). Children in rural areas could have had more social interactions than their urban counterparts as well which could have increased the opportunity for report sources to observe and report CM.…”