Prediction of COVID-19-related distress: the role of anxiety and resiliency

Abstract

Objectives

Among older adults, anxiety is a likely risk factor for COVID-19-related distress, whereas psychological resilience may attenuate the negative impact of the pandemic. In this longitudinal study, we hypothesized that pre-pandemic anxiety would predict higher COVID-19-related distress, whereas resiliency would predict lower distress. Further we hypothesized that resilience would moderate the association between anxiety and distress.

Methods

Pre-pandemic data (July 2018) was obtained from a community sample of older adults and included measures of anxiety and resiliency. We conducted a follow-up survey (n = 571) during the pandemic (June 2020) and evaluated COVID-19-related distress. We used OLS regression to test our hypotheses.

Results

Anxiety symptoms predicted higher COVID-19-related distress; resiliency predicted lower distress. Resiliency did not moderate the association between anxiety and distress. High levels of resiliency, compared to low levels, attenuated the influence of anxiety on COVID-19-related distress, but only among those with low-to-moderate levels of anxiety.

Conclusion

Older adults with anxiety may be more susceptible to COVID-19 related distress. Interventions that increase resilience, may mitigate distress, and promote healthy aging for those with low-to-moderate anxiety. Further research, however, is needed to help those older adults with high anxiety contend with such adverse experiences and build on psychological resources.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• distress stress
• anxiety
• resilience
• older adults

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Completion of this study was funded through the Institute for Successful Longevity Planning Grant (000473-ISL), National Institute of Health Integrated Clinical Neuroscience Training for Translational Research (5T32 MH093311-09).