Depression and Medicine Use among Older Adults during the Covid-19 Pandemic

The Role of Psychosocial Resources and Covid-19 Perceived Susceptibility

Bibliographic Data

ID15480354
AuthorsLee Greenblatt-Kimron (0000-0003-1039-3736, Ariel University, corresponding author), Shiri Shinan-Altman (0000-0003-1340-2909, Bar-Ilan University), Mordechai Alperin (Technion – Israel Institute of Technology), Inbar Levkovich (0000-0003-1582-3889, Oranim Academic College of Education)
Year2023
Volume20
Issue4
Pages3398-3398
Publication date2023-02-15
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph20043398
PMID36834090
OpenAlexW4320919883
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited20

A relationship was found between the COVID-19 pandemic and depression among older adults and between depressed mood and increased use of antidepressant medication among older adults during the pandemic. With the aim of broadening the understanding of these relationships, the study examined whether COVID-19 perceived susceptibility mediates the relationship between psychosocial resources (optimism and perceived social support) and depressive symptoms and medication use. Participants included 383 older adults ( M = 71.75, SD = 6.77) reporting on socio-demographics, health characteristics, depression, optimism, social support, and COVID-19 perceived susceptibility. Medication use was retrieved from participants medical files. Lower optimism, lower social support, and higher COVID-19 perceived susceptibility were associated with greater depression, related with higher medication use. The findings emphasize the buffering effect of psychosocial resources on the adverse effects of depression affecting older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, and consequently, the increased use of medication in this population. Practitioners should focus interventions on enhancing optimism and expanding social support among older adults. Moreover, interventions focused on alleviating depression among older adults should aim at improving perceptions of perceived susceptibility in the older population

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Depression (economics · Disease · Environmental health · MEDLINE · Mental health · Mood · Optimism · Pandemic · Pessimism · Population · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychosocial · PsycINFO · Social support · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units · Medicine · Optimism, Hope, and Well-being · Psychology · Gerontology · Internal Medicine

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