Older Adults with Higher Community Participation Impacted More by COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced a devastating range of negative impacts for older adults. Due to their increased vulnerability, older adults were advised to practice physical distancing, which impacted their community participation. This is a cross-sectional study using survey data to characterize the perspectives of older adults and the impact of COVID-19 on their lives, describe their participation in activities that were important to them during the pandemic, and examine the associations between community participation and COVID-19 impact. COVID-19 impact was reported using the Coronavirus Impact Scale. Community participation was examined using the Community Participation Indicators. Participants reported that COVID-19 most impacted their routines, including their work and social life. A multiple linear regression showed that community participation was a significant predictor of COVID-19 impact, but age was not. This suggests that higher levels of community participation influence increased levels of perceived negative COVID-19 impact, meaning those who participated most during the pandemic were vulnerable to feeling the negative impact of the pandemic's interruptions. This adds to the understanding of the differential effects of community participation during a pandemic on elevated levels of stress of a global crisis. To combat those stressors, person directed supports may be beneficial for community-dwelling older adults who continue to feel the impacts of the pandemic.