J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  2021 Apr;25(1):43-48. 10.47825/jkgp.2021.25.1.43.

Perception Related to Coronavirus Disease-19 Induced Anxiety in Elderly

• Lim E
• Kim BJ
• Lee CS
• Cha B
• Lee SJ
• Seo J
• Choi JW
• Lee YJ
• Lee Y
• Lee D

• KMID: 2515290
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.47825/jkgp.2021.25.1.43

Abstract

Objective
To investigate perceptions of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) associated with anxiety caused by the COVID-19 epidemic in the elderly who are vulnerable to mental health problems.
Methods
This study used data of a survey on perceptions of COVID-19 and changes in mental health of 1,000 out of residents in a province of Korea in April 2020. The survey included questions about psychological perceptions for COVID-19. Subjects were dived into two groups (<60 and ≥60). Binary logistic regression analyses were performed for evaluating the association between anxiety and perceptions about COVID-19 in each group.
Results
Results of binary logistic regression analyses revealed that only ‘fear of getting infected myself’among perceptions for COVID-19 was associated with anxiety in the elderly aged more than 60 years. However, in adults aged less than 60 years, all perceptions for COVID-19 except impairment of performance were associated with such anxiety.
Conclusion
We found that the anxiety for COVID-19 in elderly with age over 60 years was associated with ‘fear of getting infected myself’ rather than ‘fear of family or people around them’, unlike adults aged less than 60 years. These results can be applied in strategies for psychological quarantine against COVID-19 among the elderly.

Keyword

Coronavirus disease-19; Perception; Anxiety; Elderly.