Title
The impact of COVID-19 on the well-being and cognition of older adults living in the United States and Latin America
Date Issued
01 May 2021
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Babulal G.M.
Torres V.L.
Acosta D.
Agüero C.
Aguilar-Navarro S.
Amariglio R.
Ussui J.A.
Baena A.
Bocanegra Y.
Brucki S.M.D.
Bustin J.
Cabrera D.M.
Diaz M.M.
Peñailillo L.D.
Franco I.
Gatchel J.R.
Garza-Naveda A.P.
González Lara M.
Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez L.
Guzmán-Vélez E.
Hanseeuw B.J.
Jimenez-Velazquez I.Z.
Rodríguez T.L.
Llibre-Guerra J.
Marquine M.J.
Martinez J.
Medina L.D.
Miranda-Castillo C.
Morlett Paredes A.
Munera D.
Nuñez-Herrera A.
de Oliveira M.O.
Palmer-Cancel S.J.
Pardilla-Delgado E.
Perales-Puchalt J.
Pluim C.
Ramirez-Gomez L.
Rentz D.M.
Rivera-Fernández C.
Rosselli M.
Serrano C.M.
Suing-Ortega M.J.
Slachevsky A.
Sperling R.A.
Torrente F.
Thumala D.
Vannini P.
Vila-Castelar C.
Yañez-Escalante T.
Quiroz Y.T.
Publisher(s)
Lancet Publishing Group
Abstract
Background: In the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults from vulnerable ethnoracial groups are at high risk of infection, hospitalization, and death. We aimed to explore the pandemic's impact on the well-being and cognition of older adults living in the United States (US), Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Peru. Methods: 1,608 (646 White, 852 Latino, 77 Black, 33 Asian; 72% female) individuals from the US and four Latin American countries aged ≥ 55 years completed an online survey regarding well-being and cognition during the pandemic between May and September 2020. Outcome variables (pandemic impact, discrimination, loneliness, purpose of life, subjective cognitive concerns) were compared across four US ethnoracial groups and older adults living in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Peru. Findings: Mean age for all participants was 66.7 (SD = 7.7) years and mean education was 15.4 (SD = 2.7) years. Compared to Whites, Latinos living in the US reported greater economic impact (p < .001, ηp2 = 0.031); while Blacks reported experiencing discrimination more often (p < .001, ηp2 = 0.050). Blacks and Latinos reported more positive coping (p < .001, ηp2 = 0.040). Compared to Latinos living in the US, Latinos in Chile, Mexico, and Peru reported greater pandemic impact, Latinos in Mexico and Peru reported more positive coping, Latinos in Argentina, Mexico, and Peru had greater economic impact, and Latinos in Argentina, Chile, and Peru reported less discrimination. Interpretation: The COVID-19 pandemic has differentially impacted the well-being of older ethnically diverse individuals in the US and Latin America. Future studies should examine how mediators like income and coping skills modify the pandemic's impact. Funding: Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry.
Volume
35
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Geriatría, Gerontología
Salud pública, Salud ambiental
Epidemiología
Enfermedades infecciosas
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85103930665
Source
EClinicalMedicine
ISSN of the container
25895370
Sponsor(s)
GMB was supported by the NIH National Institute on Aging- NIA ( R01AG056466 , R01AG067428 , R01AG068183 ), DT was supported by ANID/FONDAP/15150012, CV-C is supported by a grant from the Alzheimer's Association ( 2019A005859 ), EG-V was supported by the NIA K23AG061276, YTQ was supported by grants from the NIH NIA ( R01 AG054671 ), the Alzheimer's Association, and Massachusetts General Hospital ECOR.
National Institute on Aging ANID/FONDAP/15150012, R01AG056466, R01AG067428, R01AG068183
Alzheimer's Association 2019A005859, K23AG061276
Massachusetts General Hospital
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus