Abstract
Objectives
We examined sources of vulnerability and resilience among older adults early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
We surveyed 235 respondents, 51–95 years old (M = 71.35; SD = 7.39; 74% female), including two open-ended questions concerning COVID-19-related difficulties and positive experiences during the past week. Using inductive coding, we found nine final codes for difficulties and 12 for positives and grouped them into socioecological levels: personal, interpersonal, and societal.
Results
Difficulties were reported by 94% of the sample, while 63% described positives. Difficulties and positive responses were made at all socioecological levels and illustrated a dialectic between personal level constraints and opportunities, interpersonal level social isolation and integration, and societal level outrage, sorrow, and social optimism.
Discussion
Respondents described sources of vulnerabilities and resilience that supported a socioecological approach to understanding resilience during this pandemic. A notable example was resilience derived from witnessing and contributing to community and social solidarity, highlighting the potential of older adults as resources to their communities during the global pandemic.
Keywords: Qualitative Methods, Stress, Covid-19, Community