Coping with the post-COVID-19 pandemic: perceived changes of older adults in their life satisfaction, depression, and quality of life
Quality in Ageing and Older Adults
ISSN: 1471-7794
Article publication date: 29 September 2023
Issue publication date: 30 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have implemented preventive measures that may negatively affect the physical and mental health of older adults. This study aims to investigate the changes in life satisfaction, depressive symptoms and quality-of-life (QoL) of older adults during the post-COVID-19 pandemic in Oman.
Design/methodology/approach
A prospective four-week follow-up study was conducted in one health-care center in Muscat, Oman. Convenience sampling was used, and the recruitment was from November 2021 to October 2022, with 38 participants aged 60–81, of whom 36 completed the study. The study evaluated changes in psychological well-being over time and analyzed gender differences.
Findings
The study revealed a positive impact of the preventive measures on the QoL (F = 3.08, p = 0.032) and a reduction in depressive symptoms (F = 3.09, p = 0.045). However, there was no significant change in life satisfaction (F = 1.90, p = 0.165). In particular, older women reported decreased depression (F = 5.31, p = 0.006), while older men reported improved QoL (F = 4.27, p = 0.025).
Practical implications
Few studies have reported on the well-being issues of older adults in Oman during the pandemic. Thus, the findings of this study can contribute to the international understanding of the impact of pandemics on the well-being of older adults in Oman and help health-care professionals tailor health-care programs for older adults in the community setting.
Originality/value
This study provides valuable insights into the well-being of older adults in Oman during the pandemic. Understanding the effects of long-term health hazards is crucial for developing community-level intervention plans and strategies for older adults in the community setting.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank you for the participation of the older adults.
Funding: This study was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation Grant, Oman (RC/RG-MED/FMCO/21/01).
Data availability: The data set used in this research can be made available with a reasonable request from the corresponding author.
Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest to this study, authorship, and/or publication.
Author’s contributions: MFC, HS, AM, ZBG, AMH and YS contributed to the study conception and design. BRG and MQN performed material preparation; BRG and MQN performed data collection; MQN, BRG and MFC on data analysis. The manuscript was written and approved by all authors.
Ethical approval: Ethical approval was obtained by the Sultan Qaboos University Medical Research Ethics Committee (MREC: #2028).
Citation
Al-Ghafri, B.R., Al Nabhani, M.Q., Al-Sinawi, H., Al-Mahrezi, A., Al Ghusaini, Z.B., Al-Harrasi, A.M., Al-Saidi, Y. and Chan, M.F. (2023), "Coping with the post-COVID-19 pandemic: perceived changes of older adults in their life satisfaction, depression, and quality of life", Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Vol. 24 No. 3, pp. 83-96. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAOA-02-2023-0007
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited