COVID-19 stress and coping strategies among older adults: a systematic review of qualitative evidences
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about far more stressful conditions for people worldwide. As a vulnerable group, older adults have suffered various psychological problems, such as stress, because of this pandemic and have applied various strategies to cope with the dire consequ...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01382-1 |
| _version_ | 1797555614189092864 |
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| author | Amir Ahmadi Hamid Allahverdipour Sina Valiee Fariba Pashazadeh Nafiseh Ghassab-Abdollahi Faranak Abdoli Hossein Matlabi |
| author_facet | Amir Ahmadi Hamid Allahverdipour Sina Valiee Fariba Pashazadeh Nafiseh Ghassab-Abdollahi Faranak Abdoli Hossein Matlabi |
| author_sort | Amir Ahmadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about far more stressful conditions for people worldwide. As a vulnerable group, older adults have suffered various psychological problems, such as stress, because of this pandemic and have applied various strategies to cope with the dire consequences. This study aimed to synthesize qualitative evidence regarding coping strategies for stressful situations among older adults throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We searched electronic databases, including Scopus, Embase, PubMed, ProQuest, and the Cochrane Library, based on PRISMA standards. The protocol of this systematic review was registered on the PROSPERO (registration code: CRD42022364831). All relevant English-language articles published between 2019 and November 10, 2022, were searched. We reviewed the reference lists for all the included studies and key references. Two reviewers conducted screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal independently, with disagreements resolved by consensus with all team members. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist was used to assess the quality of studies. A thematic synthesis of the selected studies was conducted. Results We included 13 studies in our review. Most studies were conducted in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic was classified into six categories: health management challenges, stress caused by quarantine, economic challenges, media and bad news stress, virus threats, and challenges related to the use of communication technologies. The strategies used by older adults to cope with these challenges were categorized into five categories: protective strategies, avoidance strategies, maintaining social connections, meaning-based strategies, and fun strategies. This research showed that depending on the situation and conditions, older adults use various strategies to cope with COVID-19. Conclusion Older adults experience much stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. In most cases, older adults can cope with these challenges with simple strategies from previous experiences and learnings. Older people require educational interventions in some cases, such as those involving communication skills. A better understanding of older adults coping strategies may enable policymakers to develop more effective policies and manage the problems of older adults in post-COVID situations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:49:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-97d2f2f5b22942a69f3ab064e97af3b9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:49:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-97d2f2f5b22942a69f3ab064e97af3b92023-11-20T11:20:38ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832023-10-0111111210.1186/s40359-023-01382-1COVID-19 stress and coping strategies among older adults: a systematic review of qualitative evidencesAmir Ahmadi0Hamid Allahverdipour1Sina Valiee2Fariba Pashazadeh3Nafiseh Ghassab-Abdollahi4Faranak Abdoli5Hossein Matlabi6Department of Geriatric Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Health Education and Promotion, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesClinical Care Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical SciencesResearch Center of Evidence-Based Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Geriatric Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation SciencesDepartment of Geriatric Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about far more stressful conditions for people worldwide. As a vulnerable group, older adults have suffered various psychological problems, such as stress, because of this pandemic and have applied various strategies to cope with the dire consequences. This study aimed to synthesize qualitative evidence regarding coping strategies for stressful situations among older adults throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We searched electronic databases, including Scopus, Embase, PubMed, ProQuest, and the Cochrane Library, based on PRISMA standards. The protocol of this systematic review was registered on the PROSPERO (registration code: CRD42022364831). All relevant English-language articles published between 2019 and November 10, 2022, were searched. We reviewed the reference lists for all the included studies and key references. Two reviewers conducted screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal independently, with disagreements resolved by consensus with all team members. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist was used to assess the quality of studies. A thematic synthesis of the selected studies was conducted. Results We included 13 studies in our review. Most studies were conducted in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic was classified into six categories: health management challenges, stress caused by quarantine, economic challenges, media and bad news stress, virus threats, and challenges related to the use of communication technologies. The strategies used by older adults to cope with these challenges were categorized into five categories: protective strategies, avoidance strategies, maintaining social connections, meaning-based strategies, and fun strategies. This research showed that depending on the situation and conditions, older adults use various strategies to cope with COVID-19. Conclusion Older adults experience much stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. In most cases, older adults can cope with these challenges with simple strategies from previous experiences and learnings. Older people require educational interventions in some cases, such as those involving communication skills. A better understanding of older adults coping strategies may enable policymakers to develop more effective policies and manage the problems of older adults in post-COVID situations.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01382-1Older adultsCOVID-19Coping strategiesSystematic review |
| spellingShingle | Amir Ahmadi Hamid Allahverdipour Sina Valiee Fariba Pashazadeh Nafiseh Ghassab-Abdollahi Faranak Abdoli Hossein Matlabi COVID-19 stress and coping strategies among older adults: a systematic review of qualitative evidences BMC Psychology Older adults COVID-19 Coping strategies Systematic review |
| title | COVID-19 stress and coping strategies among older adults: a systematic review of qualitative evidences |
| title_full | COVID-19 stress and coping strategies among older adults: a systematic review of qualitative evidences |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 stress and coping strategies among older adults: a systematic review of qualitative evidences |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 stress and coping strategies among older adults: a systematic review of qualitative evidences |
| title_short | COVID-19 stress and coping strategies among older adults: a systematic review of qualitative evidences |
| title_sort | covid 19 stress and coping strategies among older adults a systematic review of qualitative evidences |
| topic | Older adults COVID-19 Coping strategies Systematic review |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01382-1 |
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