Fear of COVID-19 is demonstrably worsening mental health for older adults and ethnic minorities, among others. That finding comes from a recent study published in the Journal of Health Psychology.
Researchers at Swansea University in Wales examined the impact of COVID-19 fear on aspects of psychological wellbeing. Participants were surveyed online in February of 2021 when hospitalizations and deaths were highest during the pandemic and vaccinations were just underway. A follow-up survey was conducted the following June when hospitalizations and deaths were declining as more people were being vaccinated.
Although the level of fear over COVID-19 decreased during the summer of 2021, fear of the virus was still inspiring fear and disrupting sleep for some, particularly older adults and ethnic minorities.
“This research demonstrates the significant toll of the pandemic on the psychological wellbeing of many people, especially at the most challenging times during the pandemic,” study leader Martyn Quigley, PhD, lecturer in Psychology at Swansea University, said in a statement. “What is particularly striking though is that COVID-19 fear continued to have an impact on people’s wellbeing when circumstances had appeared to considerably improve, thus demonstrating the long-term impact of the pandemic on wellbeing.”
Other research supports the Swansea University survey. A study by aging resources platform Homecare.org in June of 2021 found one-third of respondents surveyed noticed increased signs of anxiety and depression in their parents. Anxiety can be especially dangerous in older adults as some research has found increased levels of it can lead to cognitive decline in older adults.
The COVID-19 pandemic has killed 6.6 million people globally, according to the World Health Organization. The virus has claimed more than 1 million lives in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People 65 and older accounted for roughly three-quarters of those deaths.
