Subjective accelerated aging moderates the association between COVID-19 health worries and peritraumatic distress among older adults. (14th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Greenblatt-Kimron, Lee; Ring, Lia; Hoffman, Yaakov; Shrira, Amit; Bodner, Ehud; Palgi, Yuval
• Is Part Of: Global mental health. Volume 8(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04-14
• Subjects: COVID-19, -- health worries, -- peritraumatic distress, -- subjective accelerated aging; Mental health -- Periodicals; Mental health care -- Periodicals; Mental health policy -- Periodicals; World health -- Periodicals; 362.19689
• DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2021.13
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2054-4251

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The present study examined whether subjective accelerated aging moderated the relationship between COVID-19 health worries and COVID-19 peritraumatic distress among older adults. Method: The sample consisted of 277 older adults (M = 69.58, s.d. = 6.73, range 60–92) who answered an online questionnaire during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in Israel. Participants completed the measures of background characteristics, exposure to COVID-19, COVID-19 health worries, subjective accelerated aging and COVID-19-based peritraumatic distress. Results: Higher levels of COVID-19 health worries were correlated with higher levels of peritraumatic distress symptoms among older adults. Moreover, those reporting accelerated aging also reported a higher level of peritraumatic distress. Finally, the interaction between COVID-19 health worries and subjective accelerated aging predicted peritraumatic distress, suggesting that COVID-19 worries were associated with peritraumatic distress to a stronger degree among older adults who felt they were aging faster. Conclusions: These findings indicate that negative views of aging may serve as an amplifying factor for traumatic distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although preliminary, the findings provide insight for potential screening and interventions of older adults at risk of developing peritraumatic distress symptoms during the global pandemic.