ABSTRACT
Objectives In addition to physical damage, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause psychological problems in people. The present study aims to assess the prevalence of anxiety and obsession caused by the COVID-19 in the elderly and their relationship with depression and the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL). Methods & Materials This descriptive-analytical study with a cross-sectional design was conducted on 300 older adults aged =60 years in Maneh and Samalghan county who were selected by a simple random sampling method. Data were collected by using a demographic form, the coronavirus anxiety scale (CAS), obsession with COVID-19 scale (OCS), ADL scale, Instrumental ADL scale, and geriatric depression scale (GDS). Data analysis was performed in SPSS v. 18 using Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman's correlation tests. Results Among participants, 214 (71.2%) had age <70 years. The prevalence of OCS and CAS in the elderly was 5.3% and 9%, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that the scores of OCD (r=0.220, P<0.001) and CAS (r=0.322, P<0.001) had a significant correlation with depression. The CAS score had a significant negative correlation with ADL (r=-0.114, P<0.05) Conclusion The prevalence of obsession and anxiety caused by the COVID-19 in the elderly is not different from that in other age groups. However, there is significant increase in them during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to their pre-pandemic levels. it seems necessary to pay attention to screening, referral, and more detailed follow-up of mental health services in clinics and health centers for the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: In addition to physical damage, the Covid-19 epidemic can cause psychological problems and anxiety in public. Because the elderly is one of the most vulnerable groups in society, the present study aimed to assess the level of anxiety and obsession caused by the Covid-19 epidemic in the elderly and the relationship of those with the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) and Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in Iran in 2021. Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional study was performed on 300 older adults aged ≥60 years who were selected by a simple random sampling method. Data were collected by using a demographic questionnaire and Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), Obsessive Coronavirus Scale (OCS), ADL, IADL, and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using SPSS18 and Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Results: Participants were 214 (71.2%) under 70 years old. The prevalence of OCS and CAS in the elderly was 5.3% and 9%, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that OCD (r=0.220, p ≤ 0.001) and CAS (r= 0.322, p ≤ 0.001) have a significant correlation with depression. Also, CAS has a significant correlation with ADL (r=-0.114, p <0.05) Conclusions: The rate of OCS and CAS in the study didn’t significantly increase compared to the other age groups. But those scales significantly increased during the Covid-19 epidemic compared to before. Because of this, screening, referral, and more accurate follow-up of mental health services are necessary for clinics and health centers during the Covid-19 epidemic © 2022. Iranian Journal of Ageing.All Rights Reserved
ABSTRACT
Objectives Low media literacy and exposure to media-produced content during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can affect the health of people in the community. This study aims to investigate the psychological effects of media use on the mental health of community-dwelling older adults. Methods & Materials In this descriptive-analytical study with a cross-sectional design, 200 elderly people aged >= 60 years participated who were selected from daycare rehabilitation centers and retirement centers in Kerman, Iran in 2020 using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic form (Surveying age, gender, education, occupation, marital status, income, and media use), and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. Results The mean age of participants was 66.60 +/- 5.08 years. More than three-quarters of them were following the latest COVID-19 news via media (Local radio and television). Most of them (77.4%) had poor mental health status. Higher educational level (P<0.001), employment (p=0.003), and low frequency of media use (P<0.001) were the protective factors against poor mental health. High-frequency media use was a risk factor for the mental health of older adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. Conclusion The mental health of community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic is affected by media use and its frequency. It is recommended that older adults should avoid following the latest COVID-19 news, especially those from unreliable sources. Moreover, media managers should have more control over the news related to the COVID-19.