Coping strategies moderate the effect of perceived stress on sleep and health in older adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunjin Lee Tracy ◽  
Brian Chin ◽  
H. Matthew Lehrer ◽  
Lucas W. Carroll ◽  
Daniel J. Buysse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Perceived Stress

scholarly journals 649 Coping strategies moderate the effect of perceived stress on sleep and health in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A254-A254
Author(s):  
Eunjin Tracy ◽  
Brian Chin ◽  
H Matthew Lehrer ◽  
Lucas Carroll ◽  
Daniel Buysse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Perceived Health ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Sleep Health

Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic is an enormous stressor that can impact various dimensions of health, including sleep health. Older adults may be particularly vulnerable. Coping strategies to manage stress can also impact health outcomes by modifying the relationships between perceived stress and health outcomes. This study examined concurrent and longitudinal associations between perceived stress and sleep health, mental health, physical health, and overall perceived health outcomes among older adults. We also examined whether coping strategies moderate these associations. Methods Older adults (n = 115; Mage = 68.62, 58.3% female) reported perceived stress (PSS), coping strategies (Brief COPE), global sleep quality (PSQI global sleep quality score and dichotomous good/poor sleep quality), depressive symptoms (CES-D), and perceived mental, physical, and overall health (RAND-12) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results The number of individuals with poor sleep quality was greater during the COVID-19 pandemic than before (50% vs. 36.5%). Participants also reported poorer physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic than before. Hierarchical linear regression and hierarchical logistic regression revealed that higher perceived stress was cross-sectionally associated with poorer sleep (e.g., higher total PSQI score and dichotomous sleep quality category). Higher perceived stress was associated with worse depressive symptoms and global mental health concurrently and longitudinally. Coping strategies moderated the relationships between perceived stress and physical health and overall perceived health. For example, higher perceived stress was associated with poorer overall perceived health for those who have lower problem-focused coping—but not for those with higher problem-focused coping—both concurrently and longitudinally. Conclusion Perceived stress influences cross-sectional and longitudinal measures of sleep health and general health among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Coping strategies can moderate the effects of perceived stress on health outcomes. Older adults may benefit from prevention and intervention strategies targeting stress management and problem-focused coping strategies. Support (if any) This research was supported by the National Institute of Aging (R01AG047139), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (T32HL007560; T32HL082610), and the National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH019986)

Effects of Stressful Events and Perceived Stress on Cognitive Change Among Depressed Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. S29-S30
Author(s):  
John Solder ◽  
Kevin Manning ◽  
Rong Wu ◽  
Lihong Wang ◽  
David Steffens
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Stressful Events

scholarly journals Mediators and Moderators of the Association Between Perceived Stress and Episodic Memory in Diverse Older Adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Afsara B. Zaheed ◽  
Neika Sharifian ◽  
A. Zarina Kraal ◽  
Ketlyne Sol ◽  
Jennifer J. Manly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Perceived Control ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stress Memory

Abstract Objective: Stress is a risk factor for numerous negative health outcomes, including cognitive impairment in late-life. The negative association between stress and cognition may be mediated by depressive symptoms, which separate studies have identified as both a consequence of perceived stress and a risk factor for cognitive decline. Pathways linking perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and cognition may be moderated by sociodemographics and psychosocial resources. The goal of this cross-sectional study was to identify modifying factors and enhance understanding of the mechanisms underlying the stress–cognition association in a racially and ethnically diverse sample of older adults. Method: A linear regression estimated the association between perceived stress and episodic memory in 578 older adults (Mage = 74.58) in the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project. Subsequent models tested whether depressive symptoms mediated the stress–memory relationship and whether sociodemographics (gender, race, and ethnicity) or perceived control moderated these pathways. Results: Independent of sociodemographics and chronic diseases, greater perceived stress was associated with worse episodic memory. This relationship was mediated by more depressive symptoms. Higher perceived control buffered the association between stress and depressive symptoms. There was no significant moderation by gender, race, or ethnicity. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms may play a role in the negative association between perceived stress and cognition among older adults; however, longitudinal analyses and studies using experimental designs are needed. Perceived control is a modifiable psychological resource that may offset the negative impact of stress.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Reliability, Validity, and Predictive Validity of the Subscales of the Perceived Stress Scale in Older Adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 987-996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie M. Jiang ◽  
Elizabeth K. Seng ◽  
Molly E. Zimmerman ◽  
Martin Sliwinski ◽  
Mimi Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Predictive Validity ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Perceived Stress Scale ◽  
Stress Scale

Mediation effect of coping strategies on general psychological health among middle-aged and older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Nurul Fatin Malek Rivan ◽  
Suzana Shahar ◽  
Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh ◽  
Norhayati Ibrahim ◽  
Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Middle Aged

scholarly journals COVID-19 as a Stressor: Pandemic Expectations, Perceived Stress, and Negative Affect in Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda R Whitehead
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
And Coping

Abstract Objectives The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic is appraised as a stressor influences perceived stress (PS) and psychological well-being during the event. Here, the association of older adults’ expectations concerning the pandemic’s duration and impact with PS and negative affect (NA) is investigated. Based on the stress and coping framework, PS is expected to mediate the association between COVID-19 expectations and NA. Methods Seven hundred fourteen residents of the United States and aged 60 and older completed an anonymous online survey in late March 2020 reporting PS, NA, and expectations regarding the pandemic. Results Regression analyses controlling for demographic factors revealed that more dire pandemic expectations significantly predicted PS and NA directly, and the effects on NA were significantly mediated by PS. Discussion Findings provide evidence that expectations about a pandemic influence the extent to which older adults experience stress and NA in the midst of a pandemic event. Implications for mental health are discussed.

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