Mental and social health in the German old age population largely unaltered during COVID-19 lockdown: results of a representative survey

Abstract

Background: Older individuals are at increased risk of a severe and lethal course of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. During lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus, older individuals have typically been advised to practice particularly restrictive social distancing, often referred to as ‘cocooning’. Whether the COVID-19 vulnerability and cocooning impact the mental and social health of older individuals has sparked much debate. We aim to provide data-based evidence. Methods: Computer-assisted standardized telephone interviews were conducted in a randomly selected, representative sample of the German old age population (n = 1,005; age ≥ 65 years) during lockdown in April 2020. Assessments included sociodemographic factors, aspects of the personal life situation during lockdown, attitudes towards COVID-19, and standardized screening instruments for depression, anxiety, somatization, posttraumatic stress, perceived stress, loneliness and social support as well as indicators of social isolation. Sampling-weighted descriptive statistics and multiple multivariable regression analyses were conducted. Results: Participants were M = 75.5 (SD = 7.1, range = 65-94) years old; 56.3% were women. At time of data collection, COVID-19 lockdown had been in force for M = 28.0 (SD = 4.8) days. Overall, older individuals were worried about COVID-19, but understanding and supportive of the COVID-19 lockdown. Mean scores and prevalences of measured mental and social health variables were comparable to figures reported before the pandemic, except slightly higher perceived stress und higher perceived social support. There were only few significant associations of aspects of the personal life situation during lockdown and attitudes towards COVID-19 with mental and social health variables, with resilience explaining a large amount of variance. Conclusions: In the short-term, the mental and social health of the German old age population was largely unaltered during COVID-19 lockdown, suggesting resilience against the challenging pandemic situation. Our results refute common ageist stereotypes of “the weak and vulnerable elderly” that were present during the pandemic. Long-term observations over the course of the pandemic and post-pandemic are needed to provide robust evidence.

A longitudinal study on the COVID-19 pandemic and its divergent effects on social participation and mental health across different study groups with and without mental disorders

“…Our results of resilience are therefore in concordance with other studies from Germany [6,7] and New Zealand [5], but in discordance with findings from the UK [3], Italy [1], China [2] and Spain [4]. One reason for this could be that the population of Germany, and especially Dresden, has so far been less affected by the pandemic than other countries, e.g.…”

“…Likewise, data from a panel in Germany showed unchanged levels of well-being in April 2020 compared to previous surveys completed between 2016 and 2019 [6]. Similar results suggesting resilience were found in a survey examining the mental and social health in the older German population [7], as well as a sample of the general population in Dresden before and four weeks after lockdown restrictions [8].…”

COVID-19-Pandemie trifft auf Psyche der Bevölkerung: Gibt es einen Tsunami psychischer Störungen?

“…Die Psychiatrie kann mit einer informierten Kommunikationsstrategie und z. B. dem Angebot von evidenzbasierten niederschwelligen onlinebasierten Selbstmanagementtools auch initial Wesentliches zur Bekämpfung der Pandemiefolgen beitragen [10]. Eine rezessionsbedingte Zunahme psychischer Störungen wird erwartet.…”

Gesundheitliche Folgen sozialer Isolation: Qualitative Studie zu psychosozialen Belastungen und Ressourcen älterer Menschen im Zusammenhang mit der COVID-19-Pandemie

“…Mittlerweile liegen erste Ergebnisse zur psychischen Gesundheit älterer Menschen im Zusammenhang mit der COVID-19-Pandemie vor. In einer repräsentativen Studie der Universität Leipzig wurden Personen im Alter zwischen 65 bis 94 Jahren zu ihren Einstellungen zur COVID-19-Pandemie, zu Gesundheitsschutzmaßnahmen und ihrer psychosozialen Gesundheit befragt [ 10 ]. Ein Großteil der befragten Senioren äußerte Besorgnis über die COVID-19-Pandemie und zeigte Verständnis für die einschränkenden Maßnahmen.…”

“…Psychische Belastungen waren dagegen in spezifischen Subgruppen älterer Menschen erhöht (z. B. bei fehlender sozialer Unterstützung; [ 10 ]). Im COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring (COSMO), einer wiederholten querschnittlichen Erfassung einer repräsentativen Stichprobe der deutschen Bevölkerung während des COVID-19-Geschehens, zeigten sich tendenziell höhere Werte in der allgemeinen Lebenszufriedenheit sowie ein geringeres situatives Belastungserleben unter den 65- bis 74-Jährigen im Vergleich zu jüngeren Altersgruppen [ 11 ].…”