Health Behaviors, Financial Difficulties, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults Across Gender and Race During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Background: COVID-19 deeply affected the health and well-being of older adults. This study examines health behavior change and the interrelationships between health behaviors, financial difficulties, and depressive symptoms among older adults across gender and race during the pandemic. Methods: Usin...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214231192820 |
| _version_ | 1827871828696104960 |
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| author | Yujun Liu PhD, MPH, MSW Heng Wang PhD M. Courtney Hughes PhD, MS |
| author_facet | Yujun Liu PhD, MPH, MSW Heng Wang PhD M. Courtney Hughes PhD, MS |
| author_sort | Yujun Liu PhD, MPH, MSW |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: COVID-19 deeply affected the health and well-being of older adults. This study examines health behavior change and the interrelationships between health behaviors, financial difficulties, and depressive symptoms among older adults across gender and race during the pandemic. Methods: Using Rounds 1, 5, and 10 of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) linked with the NHATS COVID-19 dataset, our sample included Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 or older in the U.S. ( N = 3,118). We modeled the interrelationships between health behaviors, financial difficulties, and depressive symptoms using a structural equation model. Results: Female participants reported less walking, more changes in eating habits, less sleeping, and less alcohol consumption during the pandemic than before the pandemic compared to male participants. Compared to White, Non-White participants showed higher proportions of experiencing financial difficulties, less walking, less vigorous activity, and changes in time spent eating and sleeping during than before the pandemic. Financial difficulties was positively associated with depressive symptoms and sedentary behavior. Active behavior was negatively associated with depressive symptoms, while sedentary behavior was positively associated with more depressive symptoms. Discussion: Health professionals should consider health behaviors and financial difficulties when intervening on depressive symptoms experienced by older adults since the pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:16:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-71d6c6fa4f404aa49a284bdc11750004 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2333-7214 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:16:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-71d6c6fa4f404aa49a284bdc117500042023-08-09T01:03:27ZengSAGE PublishingGerontology and Geriatric Medicine2333-72142023-08-01910.1177/23337214231192820Health Behaviors, Financial Difficulties, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults Across Gender and Race During the COVID-19 PandemicYujun Liu PhD, MPH, MSW0Heng Wang PhD1M. Courtney Hughes PhD, MS2Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, USARush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USANorthern Illinois University, DeKalb, USABackground: COVID-19 deeply affected the health and well-being of older adults. This study examines health behavior change and the interrelationships between health behaviors, financial difficulties, and depressive symptoms among older adults across gender and race during the pandemic. Methods: Using Rounds 1, 5, and 10 of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) linked with the NHATS COVID-19 dataset, our sample included Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 or older in the U.S. ( N = 3,118). We modeled the interrelationships between health behaviors, financial difficulties, and depressive symptoms using a structural equation model. Results: Female participants reported less walking, more changes in eating habits, less sleeping, and less alcohol consumption during the pandemic than before the pandemic compared to male participants. Compared to White, Non-White participants showed higher proportions of experiencing financial difficulties, less walking, less vigorous activity, and changes in time spent eating and sleeping during than before the pandemic. Financial difficulties was positively associated with depressive symptoms and sedentary behavior. Active behavior was negatively associated with depressive symptoms, while sedentary behavior was positively associated with more depressive symptoms. Discussion: Health professionals should consider health behaviors and financial difficulties when intervening on depressive symptoms experienced by older adults since the pandemic.https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214231192820 |
| spellingShingle | Yujun Liu PhD, MPH, MSW Heng Wang PhD M. Courtney Hughes PhD, MS Health Behaviors, Financial Difficulties, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults Across Gender and Race During the COVID-19 Pandemic Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine |
| title | Health Behaviors, Financial Difficulties, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults Across Gender and Race During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full | Health Behaviors, Financial Difficulties, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults Across Gender and Race During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Health Behaviors, Financial Difficulties, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults Across Gender and Race During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health Behaviors, Financial Difficulties, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults Across Gender and Race During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_short | Health Behaviors, Financial Difficulties, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults Across Gender and Race During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | health behaviors financial difficulties and depressive symptoms among older adults across gender and race during the covid 19 pandemic |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214231192820 |
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