Older adults’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative systematic literature review

BMC Geriatrics

Research

Louise Roper¹  Maria-Fernanda Reyes-Rodriguez²  Elfriede Derrer-Merk³  Laura K. Soulsby³  Kate M. Bennett³ 

[1] Principal Health Psychologist, Resilience Hub, Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Hospital, Chorley, UK;Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 1 No. 18A-12, Bogotá, Colombia;University of Liverpool, Eleanor Rathbone Building, Bedford Street South, L697ZA, Liverpool, UK;

关键词: Covid-19;    Older adults;    Risk communication;    Social connectivity;    Discrimination;    Well-being;    Coping;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12877-023-04282-6

 received in 2022-11-16, accepted in 2023-09-05,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

ObjectivesRelatively little is known about the lived experiences of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. We systematically review the international literature to understand the lived experiences of older adult’s experiences during the pandemic.Design and methodologyThis study uses a meta-ethnographical approach to investigate the included studies. The analyses were undertaken with constructivist grounded theory.ResultsThirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria and only five papers were of low quality. Most, but not all studies, were from the global north. We identified three themes: desired and challenged wellbeing; coping and adaptation; and discrimination and intersectionality.Overall, the studies’ findings were varied and reflected different times during the pandemic. Studies reported the impact of mass media messaging and its mostly negative impact on older adults. Many studies highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants' social connectivity and well-being including missing the proximity of loved ones and in consequence experienced an increase in anxiety, feeling of depression, or loneliness. However, many studies reported how participants adapted to the change of lifestyle including new ways of communication, and social distancing. Some studies focused on discrimination and the experiences of sexual and gender minority and ethnic minority participants. Studies found that the pandemic impacted the participants’ well-being including suicidal risk behaviour, friendship loss, and increased mental health issues.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted and impacted older adults’ well-being worldwide. Despite the cultural and socio-economic differences many commonalities were found. Studies described the impact of mass media reporting, social connectivity, impact of confinement on well-being, coping, and on discrimination. The authors suggest that these findings need to be acknowledged for future pandemic strategies. Additionally, policy-making processes need to include older adults to address their needs. PROSPERO record [CRD42022331714], (Derrer-Merk et al., Older adults’ lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review, 2022).

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

【 图 表 】

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Fig. 7