Coping During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study of Older Adults Across the United States

Abstract

Objective: Older adults may struggle with stresses and daily life challenges associated with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Yet they may also utilize emotional and behavioral coping strategies. This qualitative paper aims to identify ways of coping with worries and stress during the pandemic from the perspectives of older adults in the United States.Methods: The COVID-19 Coping Study recruited 6,938 adults aged ≥55 through online multi-frame sampling from April 2-May 31, 2020 across all 50 US states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The online questionnaire focused on the effects of COVID-19 on daily life, mental health, and well-being. This included an open-ended question regarding participants' coping strategies. We used qualitative content analysis to identify and code diverse coping strategies. Our general inductive approach enabled findings to emerge from the most frequent and dominant themes in the raw data.Results: A total of 5,180 adults [74% of the total sample; mean age 67.3 (SD 7.9); 63.8% female] responded to the question about using strategies to cope with living through the COVID-19 pandemic. Frequently-reported strategies included exercising and going outdoors, modifying routines, following public health guidelines, adjusting attitudes, and staying socially connected. Some coping strategies were health-limiting (e.g., overeating), while most strategies encouraged self-improvement, positive adjustment, and wellness.Conclusions: This study provides novel qualitative evidence on coping strategies of older adults early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings can inform community and clinical interventions to support older adults that harness positive coping strategies such as exercise, modified routines, and social strategies to improve physical and mental health, foster social support, and encourage meaningful daily activities during times of stress and trauma.

Older Adults’ Experiences and Adaptation Strategies during the Midst of COVID-19 Crisis: A Qualitative Instrumental Case Study

“…As expressed by the participants, such practices helped them manage stress, limit their fears of infection, and keep busy during the pandemic, allowing them to adapt and live normally throughout the crisis. This finding is consistent with that reported by Finlay et al 15 ) who found that older adults often used and identified coping strategies to be resilient amidst the COVID-19 crisis, including changing habits, following public health recommendations, and avoiding health-restricting behaviors (e.g., overeating), all of which encouraged them to have positive adjustments as individuals. Furthermore, Igarashi et al 34 ) reported increased self-awareness as a coping mechanism that was unique to older adults.…”

“…To produce novel insights and a more detailed understanding of complex realities, diverse lived experiences, and how older people are making sense of and coping with what is happening around them during this crisis, qualitative insights are needed, influencing their resiliency and adaptation to such difficult situations as the COVID-19 pandemic. 15 ) Moreover, understanding these factors and mechanism that drives older adult’s internal resilience during such situations could guide healthcare practitioners including nurses in providing an effective and efficient intervention approaches to such special population who have been greatly affected by this pandemic illness. 6 , 16 )…”

Stress-related emotional and behavioural impact following the first COVID-19 outbreak peak

“…4 ; Mann–Whitney U test: n = 4728; U = 0.58; p < 1e−21). Using positive coping strategies, such as exercise, was also reported for the elderly US population [ 24 ]. Intriguingly, in contrast with all other types of concern and distress, older respondents scored higher on the national-global concern scale (Fig.…”

Coronavirus-related health literacy and perceived restrictiveness of protective measures among community-dwelling older persons in Finland

“…While the protective measures were designed to protect older persons from falling ill, being confined to one’s home may pose a threat to wellbeing [ 3 ]. Some older adults adapted to sheltering at home [ 25 ], while others found ways to replace blocked out-of-home activities with alternative activities, such as physical exercise outdoors [ 26 , 27 ].…”