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ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives
To explore coping processes used by adults aged 60 and above (defined as high age-related risk group) in reaction to the COVID-19 threat, and the associations between these processes and state anxiety.
Design and Methods
A cross-sectional study with 498 respondents of an online survey, 72 (15%) in the high age-related risk group. Questionnaires measured: background variables, state anxiety, and COVID-19 related perceptions.
Results
The high age-related risk group perceived the coronavirus as more severe, their belongingness to a risk group as higher, and the behavioral recommendations as more effective compared to the low age-related risk group. The part of perceived vulnerability that is not explained by belonging to an age-related risk group (defined as residual perceived vulnerability) was lower in the high age-related risk group. Mediation analysis indicated that the high (compared to the low) age-related risk group had lower anxiety levels, and that this effect was mediated by lower residual perceived vulnerability and higher perceived disease severity levels.
Conclusions
The higher age-related risk group maintains a relatively moderate level of anxiety without denying their belonging to a high risk group. This can be explained by defensive processing of COVID-19 related information and by developmental processes.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 The present study was part of a larger research project, that investigated individuals’ cognitions, emotions, and behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey included other measures that were not part of this study (e.g., work status, trust in authorities, health behaviors and trait measures).