How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect older adults? Investigation in terms of disability, state-trait anxiety and life satisfaction: Samsun, Turkey example

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the physical and mental health of individuals. The elderly are a special group that is affected by this condition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults in terms of disability, state–trait anxiety and life satisfaction. Methods: The population of this cross-sectional study consisted of individuals aged 65 and over who presented to a family health centre in Samsun a province of Turkey on the Black Sea coast (N = 3950). The study data were collected with the following five forms: Personal Information Form, Quality of Life Questionnaire, State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, Brief Disability Questionnaire and Life Satisfaction Scale. In the analysis of the study data, descriptive statistics, Student’s t-test, paired t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis were used. Results: The mean age of the participants was 70.88 4.818 years. There was a significant difference between the participants’ pre- and postpandemic health status and quality of life levels. In the study, a significant relationship was determined between the scores obtained from the State– Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Brief Disability Questionnaire and between the scores obtained from the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory and the variables such as income and marital status (P < 0.05). Conclusion: A significant result of the study is that the older adults’ perceptions of health status and quality of life were adversely affected by the pandemic. Another significant result is that disability increased the level of anxiety. The other significant result of the study is that socioeconomic status was an important determinant of anxiety.