COVID-19 lockdowns’ effects on the quality of life, perceived health and well-being of healthy elderly individuals: A longitudinal comparison of pre-lockdown and lockdown states of well-being

Abstract

Purpose. The concept of lockdown in relation to COVID-19 is thought to have an indirect impact on the quality of life and well-being of the elderly due to its consequences on the physical, psychological, and cognitive health of individuals. However, previous published studies on this subject are limited in terms of methodological approach used, including the absence of pre-confinement status and the type of experimental design, which is often cross-sectional. The present study proposes a longitudinal design with pre-confinement measures. It assesses changes in quality of life, perceived health, and well-being by comparing the period before lockdown (T1 = December 2019), three months after the start of the first lockdown (T2 = June 2020), and during the second lockdown (T3 = January 2021) due to COVID-19. Materials and Methods. This study is conducted with a group of 72 healthy elderly persons. They completed an electronic (online) survey assessing personal factors, activities, and participation as well as responding to the EuroQol-5D and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. Results. A decrease in quality of life, perceived health and well-being was observed between T1 and T2 and between T1 and T3, but no difference was reported between the two lockdown periods. The variables associated with these changes included energy level, level of happiness, physical activity, change in medical condition, memory difficulties, level of perceived isolation and age. Conclusion. This study will help to target variables that may have a deleterious effect on older adults for consideration in future confinement settings and for preventive purposes.

The long-tail effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on Italians’ quality of life, sleep and physical activity

“…A decrease in the perceived quality of life, mental health and well-being was observed in previous studies during the lockdown in healthy elderly persons 12 , Brazilian population 25 , and Italian adults 14 , 26 . Actually, Bordeur and colleagues 13 reported a substantial increase in the online search intensity for topics related to boredom, loneliness, worry, and sadness, and a substantial reduction of users’ interest about stress, suicide, and divorce topics in Europe and the US.…”

“…Besides the serious economic damages, social and psychological negative effects of social distancing and isolation have been quickly recognised by the scientific community 4 , 5 and government itself. Since the COVID-19 diffusion, several studies demonstrated that the lockdown periods negatively affected mental health 6 , sleep- 7 – 10 and physical activity-related behaviors 11 , overall contributing to reduced well-being and quality of life 12 – 14 . This picture illustrates the immediate dramatic consequence of home-confinement, that Italian and other governments worldwide adopted to limit the COVID-19 diffusion and preserve citizens’ health.…”

Assessment of Subjective Well-Being in a Cohort of University Students and Staff Members: Association with Physical Activity and Outdoor Leisure Time during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…In addition, both perceived energy and fatigue are recognized as prominent symptoms of various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and insomnia [84]. More pertinently to the COVID-19 outbreak and associated lockdowns, it has been recently reported that pre-lockdown energy levels represented a negative predictor for quality of life in a cohort of physically active elderly people and that lower energy levels during lockdowns correlated with lower well-being perceptions [85].…”

Longitudinal Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adults' Wellbeing

“…Another study conducted in Canada found that quality of life and wellbeing worsened over time in the period between before lockdown and 3 months after the first lockdown began and between the period before lockdown and the second lockdown. In contrast, they did not find any difference between the two lockdown periods (9).…”