Anxiety during COVID-19 : the lived experience of older adults

Abstract

This study explored the lived experience of Maltese older adults with symptoms of anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research related to mental health in older adults is considered to be lacking locally. This qualitative study was carried out through an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach. 7 Maltese older adults (5 females and 2 males) were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling, and semi-structured interviews were utilised to collect data. The elicited themes highlighted the high levels of fear, as well as the different cognitive processes and attitudes that led to and maintained the experience of anxiety among participants. The challenges of living through the pandemic were also illustrated. This included isolation, the need to implement safety measures, the long-term living outcomes of the pandemic, as well as reflections on vulnerability. The resilience, coping strategies, and support systems of the participants were also highlighted. These results were framed within a Dynamic Biopsychosocial Model. The results indicated that biological, psychological and social factors were implicated in the experience of anxiety among the participants. However, these factors were not static but fluctuated as the pandemic progressed. This in turn impacted the experience of anxiety, and subsequently the participant’s perceptions and attitudes towards anxiety as well as the pandemic. Recommendations for future research, clinical practice, and policymakers are also provided.