Age Differences in Psychological Distress After Multiple Disaster Exposures: The Effect of Multidimensional Negative COVID-19 Impacts

Abstract

Objective: This study examined how the multidimensional negative coronavirus disease (COVID-19) impacts contextualized the age differences in psychological distress following exposures to tornadoes and the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data were from a 2-wave panel study conducted at T1 (October 2020–August 2021) and T2 (May–August 2022). Latent class analysis was conducted to explore the patterns of negative COVID-19 impacts based on a sample of 1134 at T1. Negative binomial regressions were performed to examine the age differences in psychological distress at T2, based on the working sample (N = 554), as well as the moderating effect of identified class membership, with baseline psychological distress controlled. Results: Three latent classes were identified: class 1 “low overall impacts,” class 2 “moderate overall impacts with high emotional distress,” and class 3 “severe overall impacts.” Individuals ages 65 and over reported lower psychological distress at T2 relative to those ages 18–34 and 35–49. However, compared to people ages 18–34, 35–49, and 50–64, those ages 65 and over reported the greatest increases in T2 psychological distress if they had experienced moderate or severe overall COVID-19 impacts at T1. Conclusion: There is a pressing need for mental health interventions that are tailored to multi-disaster scenarios and age-related differences in long-term disaster recovery.

Unveiling the Recipe for Disaster Vulnerability: A Multidimensional Analysis in Dumaguete City, Philippines

“…This depicts that the respondents are vulnerable to environmental hazardbearing young and middle adults as the majority age group would have higher levels of coping capacity as this age group adapts more quickly to stressors and could be able to help several households recover immediately in disaster events . A recent study by Chen and Cong (2023) explored psychological distress experienced by different age groups after multiple disaster exposures. Results show that older age groups (65 years and over) reported lower psychological distress compared to people ages 18-34, 35-49, and 50-64. This implies that although younger age groups tend to adapt quickly, they may experience psychological distress when exposed to disasters repeatedly.…”