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Distress Signals: Age Differences in Psychological Distress before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Sandra Hale1, Joel Myerson1, Michael J Strube1
1Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|February 25, 2023
Summary
Psychological distress and age differences were increasing before 2020. Lockdowns exacerbated distress via social deprivation and infection fears, with emotional stability explaining age-related variations in distress.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Psychological distress surged in 2020, showing significant age disparities.
- Pre-existing upward trends in distress and age differences were observed prior to the pandemic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the drivers of increased psychological distress and age differences in 2020.
- To analyze the impact of lockdowns and personality traits on distress levels.
Main Methods:
- Updated national survey analyses from the US and Australia (through 2017).
- Re-analyzed UK data comparing pre-lockdown and lockdown periods.
- Examined age and personality effects on US distress during the pandemic.
Main Results:
- Distress and age differences in distress continued to rise through 2019 in the US, UK, and Australia.
- Lockdowns in 2020 highlighted the roles of social deprivation and fear of infection.
- Age-related differences in emotional stability explained observed age disparities in distress.
Conclusions:
- Analyses must account for pre-existing trends, not just pre-pandemic vs. pandemic comparisons.
- Personality traits, particularly emotional stability, significantly modulate individual responses to stressors.
- Emotional stability differences may explain age and individual variations in distress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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