“I just can't go back”: challenging places for older Americans since the COVID-19 pandemic onset
During the pandemic, many older adults felt ‘out of place’ in their home, work, and community spaces with potentially long-term consequences for health and wellbeing. Using national data from the COVID-19 Coping Study, thematic analysis of online long-answer responses (n = 1171; mean age 68 years; 71% female; 93% non-Hispanic White; 86% with at least a 4-year college degree; data collected April–June 2022) identified four themes regarding why particular places are challenging since the pandemic onset: (1) viral exposure fears, (2) frustrating regulations, (3) uncomfortable and hostile social dynamics, and (4) ‘out of place’ negative emotions. Participants also shared how they continuously address or adapt to place-based challenges through lifestyle adjustments and coping strategies. Novel findings may inform multi-scalar policymaking and interventions to support wellbeing in later life in times of stress and instability.
Funding
National Institute on Aging (NIA) Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32 AG064815-01)
NIA Pathway to Independence Award (K99 AG075152 and R00 AG05152)
Health Research Board (SPHeRE-2019-1)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (5T32ES007322-21)
History
Comments
The original article is available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/Published Citation
Finlay J, Guzman V, Meltzer G, O'Shea B, Yeh J. “I just can't go back”: challenging places for older Americans since the COVID-19 pandemic onset. SSM - Qualitative Research in Health. 2023;5:100381.Publication Date
16 December 2023External DOI
Department/Unit
- Health Psychology
- School of Population Health
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.,Version
- Published Version (Version of Record)