Average or extraordinary? A tale of two studied samples' anxiety related recovery work after COVID-19

A global pandemic is a hardship and mentally distressing event for any of us, and particularly for people living at a greater risk of post-infectious health harms. Public discourse about COVID-19 largely characterizes older people as a physically and mentally vulnerable demographic. Research findings largely now to the contrary consider age an asset, a perspective in keeping with Seligman's idea that everyday people can also see the positive side of life and act accordingly when faced with events that are neither positive nor within their control. With this in mind, we explore how average older people were managing pandemic-related anxiety when mandated COVID-19 public health measures were lifted.

Our primary study sample was a national census-based quota sample (N = 1,327) of average older Canadian people. A second study sample was recruited by convenience (N = 1,200) for comparison purposes. Both groups responded to an e-survey launched between July 1st and up to August 16th, 2022, about how anxious they felt and how they were managing at this key turning point.

Convenience sample responders were largely residing in Ontario (Z = 781.667, p < 0.001), in very good to excellent health (Z = 180.534, p < 0.001), and university educated (Z = 1285.255, p < 0.001). Far fewer were in their 60s (Z = 124.898, p < 0.001; Z = 22.349, p < 0.001). Descriptive network analyses revealed that the two studied samples had in common a diverse and purposive network of coping strategies for managing pandemic-related anxiety.

Average older Canadians managed their anxiety as capably as healthier, better educated, and generally older peers. Our findings are explored through a lens of positivity, not vulnerability. Methodological provocations are offered for future research, including post-pandemic between-sampling comparisons.