Mentally healthy living after pandemic social distancing: a study of older Canadians reveals helpful anxiety reduction strategies

Abstract

BackgroundThroughout the COVID‐19 pandemic, older Canadians were the most at risk of severe physical harm, including death, and their return to post‐COVID life was expected to be especially anxiety‐provoking. A study was conducted to obtain nationally representative evidence of older Canadians' self‐perceived anxiety levels and their strategies to manage or mitigate it as public health restrictions were lifting.Materials and MethodsThis study had a cross‐sectional descriptive design. An e‐survey was used to collect data from 1327 Canadians aged 60+ stratified by age, sex, and education to resemble the larger general population. Participants completed the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS‐10) and indicated which of the 16 Centre for Addictions and Mental Health's (2022) Coping with Stress and Anxiety strategies they were using to manage or mitigate their anxiety when social distancing was lifting. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis were used to explore the data.ResultsWhile, on average, older Canadians were mildly anxious, nearly one‐quarter of responders rated their anxiety as severe. Age, sex, perceived health, were statistically significant correlates of anxiety. Six coping strategies were associated with significantly lower anxiety scores. Moreover, accepting some fear and anxiety as normal, challenging worries and anxious thoughts, and practising relaxation/meditation appeared to increase anxiety.ConclusionOlder Canadians used multiple strategies to manage or mitigate their anxiety, and seemingly, with more successful than detrimental tries. Practitioners have much to learn and understand about older people's mental health promotion efforts after social distancing, now and for future pandemics.

Mitigating Social Isolation Following the COVID-19 Pandemic: Remedy Messages Shared by Older People

“…The overarching project where this research is placed had two aims, the first being to learn from older people in any of Canada's 10 provinces about coping behaviors statistically significantly associated with mitigating their pandemic-related anxiety [38]. This study fulfills a different aim, namely to gather and share later-life Canadians' recommended strategies to mitigate pandemic-related social isolation.…”

“…The first week of July 2022, after social distancing requirements were lifted across Canada, older people were transitioning into open spaces, although COVID-19 lingered. At this time, the principal investigator and team co-designed a 36-item e-survey for the overarching project with Qualtrics, a survey research company with expertise in nationwide health and social surveys [38]. Qualtrics sent a study advertisement about our esurvey to its survey panel members across all 10 Canadian provinces.…”