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Depression and Medicine Use among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Psychosocial Resources and COVID-19 Perceived Susceptibility

Author

Listed:
  • Lee Greenblatt-Kimron

    (School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel 4070000, Israel)

  • Shiri Shinan-Altman

    (Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel)

  • Mordechai Alperin

    (Department of Family Medicine, The Ruth & Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
    Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Tel Aviv 6209804, Israel)

  • Inbar Levkovich

    (Faculty of Graduate Studies, Oranim Academic College of Education, Kiryat Tivon 3600600, Israel)

Abstract

A relationship was found between the COVID-19 pandemic and depression among older adults and between depressed mood and increased use of antidepressant medication among older adults during the pandemic. With the aim of broadening the understanding of these relationships, the study examined whether COVID-19 perceived susceptibility mediates the relationship between psychosocial resources (optimism and perceived social support) and depressive symptoms and medication use. Participants included 383 older adults ( M = 71.75, SD = 6.77) reporting on socio-demographics, health characteristics, depression, optimism, social support, and COVID-19 perceived susceptibility. Medication use was retrieved from participants medical files. Lower optimism, lower social support, and higher COVID-19 perceived susceptibility were associated with greater depression, related with higher medication use. The findings emphasize the buffering effect of psychosocial resources on the adverse effects of depression affecting older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, and consequently, the increased use of medication in this population. Practitioners should focus interventions on enhancing optimism and expanding social support among older adults. Moreover, interventions focused on alleviating depression among older adults should aim at improving perceptions of perceived susceptibility in the older population.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee Greenblatt-Kimron & Shiri Shinan-Altman & Mordechai Alperin & Inbar Levkovich, 2023. "Depression and Medicine Use among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Psychosocial Resources and COVID-19 Perceived Susceptibility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3398-:d:1069100
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Daiva Daukantaitė & Rita Zukauskiene, 2012. "Optimism and Subjective Well-Being: Affectivity Plays a Secondary Role in the Relationship Between Optimism and Global Life Satisfaction in the Middle-Aged Women. Longitudinal and Cross-Cultural Findi," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Maayan Shacham & Lee Greenblatt-Kimron & Yaira Hamama-Raz & Leslie R. Martin & Oren Peleg & Menachem Ben-Ezra & Eitan Mijiritsky, 2021. "Increased COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy and Health Awareness amid COVID-19 Vaccinations Programs in Israel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-11, April.
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