BACKGROUND: Social distancing, that is, avoiding places with other people and staying at home, was recommended to prevent viral transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic. Potentially, reduced out-of-home mobility and lower activity levels among older people may lower their quality of life (QOL). We studied cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of and changes in life-space mobility, active aging, and QOL during COVID-19 social distancing compared to 2 years before. METHODS: Altogether 809 community-living participants initially aged 75, 80, or 85 years of our active aging study (AGNES) conducted in 2017-2018 took part in the current AGNES-COVID-19 survey in May and June 2020. Outdoor mobility was assessed with the Life-Space Assessment (range 0-120). Active approach to life was assessed with the University of Jyväskylä Active Aging Scale (range 0-272), and QOL with the shortened Older People's Quality of Life Questionnaire (range13-65; higher scores better for all). Data were analyzed with General Estimating Equations, General Linear Models, and One-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: Life-space mobility (B -10.8, SE 0.75, p < .001), the active aging score (B -24.1, SE 0.88, p < .001), and the QOL score (B -1.65, SE 0.21, p < .001) were lower during COVID-19 social distancing versus 2 years before. Concurrent life-space mobility and active aging scores, age, and sex explained 48% of QOL at the baseline and 42% during social distancing. Longitudinally, steeper declines in all 3 variables coincided. CONCLUSION: The observed declines indicate compliance with social distancing recommendation, but underline the importance of participation in meaningful life situations as a factor underlying good QOL also during the COVID-19 pandemic.
BACKGROUND: Social distancing, that is, avoiding places with other people and staying at home, was recommended to prevent viral transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic. Potentially, reduced out-of-home mobility and lower activity levels among older people may lower their quality of life (QOL). We studied cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of and changes in life-space mobility, active aging, and QOL during COVID-19 social distancing compared to 2 years before. METHODS: Altogether 809 community-living participants initially aged 75, 80, or 85 years of our active aging study (AGNES) conducted in 2017-2018 took part in the current AGNES-COVID-19 survey in May and June 2020. Outdoor mobility was assessed with the Life-Space Assessment (range 0-120). Active approach to life was assessed with the University of Jyväskylä Active Aging Scale (range 0-272), and QOL with the shortened Older People's Quality of Life Questionnaire (range13-65; higher scores better for all). Data were analyzed with General Estimating Equations, General Linear Models, and One-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: Life-space mobility (B -10.8, SE 0.75, p < .001), the active aging score (B -24.1, SE 0.88, p < .001), and the QOL score (B -1.65, SE 0.21, p < .001) were lower during COVID-19 social distancing versus 2 years before. Concurrent life-space mobility and active aging scores, age, and sex explained 48% of QOL at the baseline and 42% during social distancing. Longitudinally, steeper declines in all 3 variables coincided. CONCLUSION: The observed declines indicate compliance with social distancing recommendation, but underline the importance of participation in meaningful life situations as a factor underlying good QOL also during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Authors: Marian E Betz; Nicole R Fowler; S Duke Han; Linda L Hill; Rachel L Johnson; Lauren Meador; Faris Omeragic; Ryan A Peterson; Carolyn DiGuiseppi Journal: J Appl Gerontol Date: 2022-05-18
Authors: Emily J Smail; Christopher N Kaufmann; Kira E Riehm; Mamoun T Mardini; Erta Cenko; Chen Bai; Todd M Manini Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2022-05-26 Impact factor: 7.538
Authors: Laura C Plantinga; Courtney Hoge; Charmayne Dunlop-Thomas; Brad D Pearce; S Sam Lim; Cristina Drenkard; C Barrett Bowling Journal: Lupus Sci Med Date: 2022-02
Authors: Rick Yiu Cho Kwan; Justina Yat Wa Liu; Yue-Heng Yin; Paul Hong Lee; Siu Ying Ng; Daphne Sze Ki Cheung; Patrick Pui Kin Kor; Simon Ching Lam; Shirley Ka Lai Lo; Lin Yang; Siu Kay Chan; Vico Chung Lim Chiang Journal: BMC Geriatr Date: 2022-03-25 Impact factor: 3.921