IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i8p4513-d789827.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

COVID-19 and the Elderly’s Mental Illness: The Role of Risk Perception, Social Isolation, Loneliness and Ageism

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Rosa Donizzetti

    (Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, 80133 Naples, Italy)

  • Martine Lagacé

    (Department of Communication, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada)

Abstract

For almost two years, populations around the globe faced precariousness and uncertainty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Older adults were highly affected by the virus, and the policies meant to protect them have often resulted in ageist stereotypes and discrimination. For example, the public discourse around older adults had a paternalistic tone framing all older adults as “vulnerable”. This study aimed to measure the extent to which perceived age discrimination in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the sense of loneliness and social isolation, fear and perception of COVID-19 risks, had a negative effect on older adults’ mental illness. To do so, a self-report questionnaire was administered to 1301 participants (average age: 77.25 years old, SD = 5.46; 56.10% females, 43.90% males). Descriptive and correlational analyses were performed, along with structural equation modelling. Results showed that perceived age discrimination in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic positively predicts loneliness and also indirectly predicts mental illness. In addition, loneliness is the strongest predictor of mental illness together with fear of COVID-19 and social isolation. Such results highlight the importance of implementing public policies and discourses that are non-discriminating, and that favour the inclusion of older people.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Rosa Donizzetti & Martine Lagacé, 2022. "COVID-19 and the Elderly’s Mental Illness: The Role of Risk Perception, Social Isolation, Loneliness and Ageism," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:8:p:4513-:d:789827
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/8/4513/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/8/4513/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anna Rosa Donizzetti, 2019. "Ageism in an Aging Society: The Role of Knowledge, Anxiety about Aging, and Stereotypes in Young People and Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-11, April.
    2. Sarah Dryhurst & Claudia R. Schneider & John Kerr & Alexandra L. J. Freeman & Gabriel Recchia & Anne Marthe van der Bles & David Spiegelhalter & Sander van der Linden, 2020. "Risk perceptions of COVID-19 around the world," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(7-8), pages 994-1006, August.
    3. Paolo Roma & Merylin Monaro & Marco Colasanti & Eleonora Ricci & Silvia Biondi & Alberto Di Domenico & Maria Cristina Verrocchio & Christian Napoli & Stefano Ferracuti & Cristina Mazza, 2020. "A 2-Month Follow-Up Study of Psychological Distress among Italian People during the COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-12, November.
    4. Julianne Holt-Lunstad & Timothy B Smith & J Bradley Layton, 2010. "Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(7), pages 1-1, July.
    5. Frances K. Barg & Rebecca Huss-Ashmore & Marsha N. Wittink & Genevra F. Murray & Hillary R. Bogner & Joseph J. Gallo, 2006. "A Mixed-Methods Approach to Understanding Loneliness and Depression in Older Adults," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 61(6), pages 329-339.
    6. Peggy Voss & Julia K. Wolff & Klaus Rothermund, 2017. "Relations between views on ageing and perceived age discrimination: a domain-specific perspective," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 5-15, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yongchuan Li & Raja Ariffin Raja Ghazilla & Salwa Hanim Abdul-Rashid, 2022. "QFD-Based Research on Sustainable User Experience Optimization Design of Smart Home Products for the Elderly: A Case Study of Smart Refrigerators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-22, October.
    2. Peggy Palsgaard & Christian A. Maino Vieytes & Natasha Peterson & Sarah L. Francis & Lillie Monroe-Lord & Nadine R. Sahyoun & Melissa Ventura-Marra & Lee Weidauer & Furong Xu & Anna E. Arthur, 2022. "Healthcare Professionals’ Views and Perspectives towards Aging," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-13, November.
    3. Chengmin Zhou & Fangfang Yuan & Ting Huang & Yurong Zhang & Jake Kaner, 2022. "The Impact of Interface Design Element Features on Task Performance in Older Adults: Evidence from Eye-Tracking and EEG Signals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-24, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lotte P. Brinkhof & Sanne de Wit & Jaap M. J. Murre & Harm J. Krugers & K. Richard Ridderinkhof, 2022. "The Subjective Experience of Ageism: The Perceived Ageism Questionnaire (PAQ)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-21, July.
    2. Foliano, Francesca & Tonei, Valentina & Sevilla, Almudena, 2024. "Social restrictions, leisure and well-being," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    3. Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis & Helder Fernando Pedrosa Sousa & Andreia de Moura & Lilian M. F. Viterbo & Ricardo J. Pinto, 2019. "Health Behaviors as a Mediator of the Association Between Interpersonal Relationships and Physical Health in a Workplace Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-9, July.
    4. Ali Zackery & Joseph Amankwah-Amoah & Zahra Heidari Darani & Shiva Ghasemi, 2022. "COVID-19 Research in Business and Management: A Review and Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-32, August.
    5. Garaus, Marion & Hudáková, Melánia, 2022. "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourists’ air travel intentions: The role of perceived health risk and trust in the airline," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    6. Santini, Ziggi Ivan & Jose, Paul E. & Koyanagi, Ai & Meilstrup, Charlotte & Nielsen, Line & Madsen, Katrine R. & Koushede, Vibeke, 2020. "Formal social participation protects physical health through enhanced mental health: A longitudinal mediation analysis using three consecutive waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in E," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    7. Enzo Cumbo & Giuseppe Gallina & Pietro Messina & Giuseppe Alessandro Scardina, 2023. "Filter Masks during the Second Phase of SARS-CoV-2: Study on Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-7, January.
    8. Fernando L Vázquez & Patricia Otero & J Antonio García-Casal & Vanessa Blanco & Ángela J Torres & Manuel Arrojo, 2018. "Efficacy of video game-based interventions for active aging. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-24, December.
    9. Aida El-Far Cardo & Thomas Kraus & Andrea Kaifie, 2021. "Factors That Shape People’s Attitudes towards the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany—The Influence of MEDIA, Politics and Personal Characteristics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-14, July.
    10. Regina Kuppen & Mirjam de Leede & Jolanda Lindenberg & David van Bodegom, 2023. "Collective Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases in an Ageing Population with Community Care," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-14, February.
    11. Joanne Brooke & Maria Clark, 2020. "Older people’s early experience of household isolation and social distancing during COVID‐19," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(21-22), pages 4387-4402, November.
    12. Jiyeon Ha & Juah Kim, 2021. "Ageism and the Factors Affecting Ageism among Korean Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-10, February.
    13. Clément Meier & Jürgen Maurer, 2022. "Buddy or burden? Patterns, perceptions, and experiences of pet ownership among older adults in Switzerland," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1201-1212, December.
    14. Jintao Li & Yan Dai & Cynthia Changxin Wang & Jun Sun, 2022. "Assessment of Environmental Demands of Age-Friendly Communities from Perspectives of Different Residential Groups: A Case of Wuhan, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-20, July.
    15. Patricia Carral & Carlos-María Alcover, 2019. "Measuring Age Discrimination at Work: Spanish Adaptation and Preliminary Validation of the Nordic Age Discrimination Scale (NADS)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-14, April.
    16. Nakagomi, Atsushi & Tsuji, Taishi & Saito, Masashige & Ide, Kazushige & Kondo, Katsunori & Shiba, Koichiro, 2023. "Social isolation and subsequent health and well-being in older adults: A longitudinal outcome-wide analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 327(C).
    17. Haywantee Ramkissoon, 2021. "Social Bonding and Public Trust/Distrust in COVID-19 Vaccines," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-6, September.
    18. Mariam Tsaava & Nikoloz Oniani & Marine Eliozishvili & Irine Sakhelashvili & Nino Tkemaladze & Tamar Aladashvili & Tamar Basishvili & Nato Darchia, 2022. "Age-Based Differences in Sleep Quality, Pre-Sleep Arousal, and Psychosocial Factors during the Second Wave Lockdown of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Georgia—A Higher Vulnerability of Younger People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-13, December.
    19. Paulette M. Yamada & Joe Priest, 2022. "Utilizing a Team Kinesiology Model to Support Rehabilitative Care in Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-13, February.
    20. Alexander Langenkamp, 2021. "Lonely Hearts, Empty Booths? The Relationship between Loneliness, Reported Voting Behavior and Voting as Civic Duty," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 102(4), pages 1239-1254, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:8:p:4513-:d:789827. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.