COVID-19 as a Stressor: Pandemic Expectations, Perceived Stress, and Negative Affect in Older Adults

Abstract

Objective

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic is appraised as a stressor influences perceived stress and psychological well-being during the event. Here, the association of older adults’ expectations concerning the pandemic’s duration and impact with perceived stress (PS) and negative affect (NA) are investigated. Based on the stress and coping framework, PS is expected to mediate the association between COVID-19 expectations and NA

Method

714 residents of the US and aged 60 and older completed an anonymous online survey in late March 2020 reporting PS, NA, and expectations regarding the pandemic

Results

Regression analyses controlling for demographic factors revealed that more dire pandemic expectations significantly predicted PS and NA directly, and the effects on NA were significantly mediated by PS

Discussion

Findings provide evidence that expectations about a pandemic influence the extent to which older adults experience stress and NA in the midst of a pandemic event. Implications for mental health are discussed