Abstract

Objectives

Among older adults, anxiety is a likely risk factor for COVID-19-related distress, whereas psychological resilience may attenuate the negative impact of the pandemic. In this longitudinal study, we hypothesized that pre-pandemic anxiety would predict higher COVID-19-related distress, whereas resiliency would predict lower distress. Further we hypothesized that resilience would moderate the association between anxiety and distress.

Methods

Pre-pandemic data (July 2018) was obtained from a community sample of older adults and included measures of anxiety and resiliency. We conducted a follow-up survey (n = 571) during the pandemic (June 2020) and evaluated COVID-19-related distress. We used OLS regression to test our hypotheses.

Results

Anxiety symptoms predicted higher COVID-19-related distress; resiliency predicted lower distress. Resiliency did not moderate the association between anxiety and distress. High levels of resiliency, compared to low levels, attenuated the influence of anxiety on COVID-19-related distress, but only among those with low-to-moderate levels of anxiety.

Conclusion

Older adults with anxiety may be more susceptible to COVID-19 related distress. Interventions that increase resilience, may mitigate distress, and promote healthy aging for those with low-to-moderate anxiety. Further research, however, is needed to help those older adults with high anxiety contend with such adverse experiences and build on psychological resources.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 相关困扰的预测：焦虑和弹性的作用

摘要

目标

在老年人中，焦虑可能是与 COVID-19 相关的痛苦的危险因素，而心理弹性可能会减弱大流行的负面影响。在这项纵向研究中，我们假设大流行前的焦虑会预示着与 COVID-19 相关的更高痛苦，而弹性则预示着较低的痛苦。此外，我们假设弹性会缓和焦虑和痛苦之间的关联。

方法

大流行前数据（2018 年 7 月）是从老年人的社区样本中获得的，包括焦虑和恢复力的测量。我们在大流行期间（2020 年 6 月）进行了一项后续调查（n  = 571），并评估了与 COVID-19 相关的痛苦。我们使用 OLS 回归来检验我们的假设。

结果

焦虑症状预示着更高的 COVID-19 相关痛苦；弹性预示着较低的痛苦。弹性并没有缓和焦虑和痛苦之间的关联。与低水平相比，高水平的弹性减弱了焦虑对 COVID-19 相关困扰的影响，但仅限于那些具有低到中度焦虑水平的人。

结论

患有焦虑症的老年人可能更容易受到与 COVID-19 相关的困扰。提高复原力的干预措施可以减轻痛苦，并促进轻度至中度焦虑症患者的健康老龄化。然而，需要进一步的研究来帮助那些高度焦虑的老年人应对这种不利经历并建立心理资源。