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COVID-19 Worries Predict Aging Preparation: Culture- and Domain-Specific Perspectives
Yaeji Kim-Knauss1, Frieder R Lang1, Fiona S Rupprecht1,2
1Institute of Psychogerontology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nuremberg, Germany.
Summary
Worrying about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) drives aging preparation, especially in Germany and for end-of-life concerns. Cultural and domain-specific differences highlight pandemic impact on future planning.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened concerns about health and future well-being.
- Understanding how these worries influence proactive life planning, such as aging preparation, is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between COVID-19 worries and engagement in aging preparation.
- To examine cultural (Hong Kong vs. Germany) and domain-specific (finances, housing, care, connectedness, end-of-life) variations in this association.
Main Methods:
- A web-based study surveyed 360 adults in Hong Kong and 1,294 in Germany (aged 18-98).
- Multilevel modeling was used to analyze domain-level (Level 1) and individual-level (Level 2) data.
Main Results:
- Higher COVID-19 worries correlated with increased aging preparation.
- This association was stronger for Germans compared to individuals in Hong Kong.
- Cultural differences were more pronounced for care, connectedness, and end-of-life domains than for finances and housing.
Conclusions:
- Pandemic-related worries motivate aging preparation, particularly in cultures and domains most affected by COVID-19.
- Increased self-relevance and motivation likely drive these behaviors.
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