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. 2022 Oct 28;10(11):2159.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare10112159.

Older Adults and Positive Mental Health during the Second and Sixth COVID-19 Waves in Spain

Carmen Moret-Tatay  1   2 , Alexis Cloquell-Lozano  1 , Marcelino Pérez-Bermejo  3 , Francisco Javier Arteaga-Moreno  1
Affiliations

Older Adults and Positive Mental Health during the Second and Sixth COVID-19 Waves in Spain

Carmen Moret-Tatay et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

The spread of the COVID-19 virus was a worldwide phenomenon, which was unprecedented in modern times. The restriction measures can be perceived as a heavy burden for mental health during this period, particularly for some groups. The aim of this study is to examine a positive mental health model across ages, where a moderated mediation model is proposed involving sex differences and confidence in coping with COVID-19. Two independent samples were studied during the second and sixth waves in Spain: n = 2861 and n = 2462, respectively. The main conclusions can be described as follows: (i) while age was not related to mental health during the second wave, a positive relationship was found between it and the sixth one; (ii) age was positively related to the confidence in coping with COVID-19 during both of the waves; (iii) women showed worse scores for the variables in the study than the men did during the second wave, but this pattern was reversed in the sixth one; (iv) after a moderated mediation model on the relationship between age and positive mental health in terms of confidence in coping with COVID-19 and sex, an interaction was found for the second wave but not for the sixth one. These results suggest that older adults and women would develop more strategies and resources for a positive mental health across time.

Keywords: COVID-19; ageing; coping; positive mental health; sex differences.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
On the top: cases and death data that were adapted from JHU CSSE; testing and vaccine data from JHU CCI; hospitalization data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. On the bottom: cumulative peak incidence across COVID-19 waves in Spain. Author’s own elaboration based on data that were obtained from the Red Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica (RENAVE).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Theoretical model tested. Variables under study: age, sex, confidence on coping with COVID-19 and positive mental health.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pearson’s coefficient correlation heat map across the 2nd and 6th waves in Spain. Note; *** p < 0.0001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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