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Older Adults Report Better Mental Health Than Younger Ones During Pandemic

Age can offer perspective wisdom and resilience during difficult times experts say

Getty Images Older adults have been particularly hard hit by the . They’re at a far higher risk of experiencing complications from the virus, and many have suffered from the from families and friends. About 25 percent of people in their 60s reported having in the previous seven days, for instance, in a February Household Pulse survey by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the Census Bureau. But the older population has held up remarkably well compared with the population at large, experts say. In fact, adults ages 18 to 29 were far in the survey: Almost half — 47 percent — did so. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. “You would think that older people would do worse than younger people mentally,” says Dilip Jeste, M.D., director of the University of California San Diego Center for Healthy Aging. “But research has shown the exact opposite.” A separate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of 5,470 community-dwelling adults across the U.S. found that those age 65 and older were significantly less likely to report symptoms of anxiety (6.2 percent) and (5.8 percent) than adults ages 18 to 24 (49.1 percent and 52.3 percent, respectively). Older adults were also less likely to report having had in the 30 days before completing the survey — 2 percent of those 65 and up versus 25.5 percent of the youngest group. Ipsit Vahia, M.D., medical director of Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Services at McLean Hospital and of the McLean Institute for Technology in Psychiatry in Belmont, Massachusetts, has reviewed a number of studies from around the world — including the aforementioned CDC report — and found “an uncannily consistent finding”: Older adults seem to have experienced the lowest rates of negative mental health impact, at least during the early stages of the pandemic.

Why resilience may come with age br

What is behind this psychological strength? It may be that as years go by, we learn coping strategies, says Erin Emery-Tiburcio, Ph.D., codirector of the Center for Excellence in Aging at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. “These are folks who have lived many more decades and seen and experienced a lot of things, and have figured out how to get through difficult times,” she surmises. “They are able to get less frustrated with the day-to-day, because they have a bigger picture of life to look at: ‘Yeah, I remember having gone through this before, and it’s going to be okay.’ ” Wisdom also may grow with age, says Jeste, who believes that wisdom can manifest itself as qualities associated with resilience, such as control over one’s emotions, the ability to self-reflect, and the ability to accept different perspectives. There’s also compassion, notes Jeste: “If I see somebody who is sad and help that person, that is compassion.” Indeed, research that Jeste has conducted, published in a 2020 issue of Aging and Mental Health, has found that wisdom and loneliness trend in opposite directions. “People who have wisdom aren’t lonely — and that’s especially true for the compassion component,” he says. “If you call somebody and reach out to them, the other person is grateful and you, in turn, feel good about that. You’re also establishing a stronger social connection and don’t feel , so you’re getting a psychological benefit.” AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. .)

2 Stay active — and engaged br

“The importance of physical activity in maintaining a positive mood has been well-established,” says Vahia. He adds that studies during the pandemic found that “those who were able to be more physically active did better, especially during the summer months, when it is possible to go outside easily in most parts of the country.” (It can even be as easy as while you watch your favorite TV show.) Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers >

3 Keep a routine br

Self-determination is also important when it comes to coping, notes Camille Vaughan, M.D., associate professor of medicine and division director of Geriatrics & Gerontology at Emory University School of Medicine. “The ability to create a daily routine, with regularly scheduled activities, can help people in these uncertain times,” she says. “It’s something that you feel you can control in the midst of it all.”

4 Get spiritual br

Spirituality, doesn’t need to be about religion. It’s about feeling constantly connected to something or someone, says Jeste. “It can be God or nature or your soul. Even if you’re not surrounded by other people, you can still feel connected — and if you feel connected, you’re never lonely.” Meditation, yoga, tai chi and other types of mindfulness can help manage mild depression. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. can sometimes be difficult, due to surging demand.

10 Get the COVID-19 vaccine

“The weight of the pandemic is something we all carry with us all the time,” says Emery-Tiburcio. But can help lighten the emotional load. “I’ve heard people say, ‘Now that I’ve been vaccinated, I don’t have to move around my community in constant fear that I could be the next one in the ICU,’ ” says Emery-Tiburcio. What’s more, as Anthony Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has noted, if you are vaccinated, you can who’ve been vaccinated (and in some cases, unvaccinated people).
But take it slow: “After folks get vaccinated, there may be this kind of ‘kid in a candy store’ idea of ‘I can go out and do all these things now,’ ” says Emery-Tiburcio, “Trying to do everything can wear you out. Take a measured approach to reentry. Think about what is most important and what will create the most meaning, and engage in those activities.” More on health AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS