Abstract

JESUS, Filipe  and  HUMBOLDT, Sofia von. Psychological impact of covid-19: relationship with stress and anxiety of the elderly. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2022, vol.23, n.2, pp.495-501.  Epub Sep 30, 2022. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/22psd230219.

This exploratory study aims to assess the relationship between the psychological impact of COVID-19 and the stress and anxiety levels experienced by a sample of Portuguese elderly. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic has become a real public health emergency, with changes not only in individual routines but also in society itself. The literature reports a relationship between the psychological impact of COVID-19 and symptoms associated with anxiety and stress. A non-random sample of 10 participants with a mean age of 68 years (SD= 5.203) was used. These participants filled the Anxiety, Depression and Stress Scale (EADS-21) and the Impact Scale of a Revised Event (IES-R). Linear regression was used for both descriptive and relational analysis of the data. The results reveal a significant relation between the subscales Intrusion and Stress (β=.637, t(7)=2.810; p=.026) and a weak relationship between the subscales Avoidance and Stress (β=.551, t(7)=2.147; p=.069). There seems to be a positive relationship between the psychological impact and stress levels experienced by our sample of elderly people. Thus, it is evident the need to elaborate care plans and specific interventions for the elderly population in the face of new demands resulting from the pandemic crisis.

Keywords : Stress, Elderly; Psychological Impact; Pandemic, COVID-19.

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