Experiences of older adults with anxiety and depression of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions

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dc.availability.bitstreamembargoed
dc.check.date2023-10-31
dc.contributor.advisorMurphy, Mikeen
dc.contributor.advisorexternalWall, Judyen
dc.contributor.authorCashman, Alice
dc.date.accessioned2022-10-03T13:28:26Z
dc.date.available2022-10-03T13:28:26Z
dc.date.issued2022-05
dc.date.submitted2022-05
dc.description.abstractBackground: Research indicates that older adults and individuals with pre-existing mental health difficulties were among the groups particularly at risk of experiencing increased mental health difficulties due to the lockdown restrictions introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Older adults experiencing anxiety and depression may have been particularly vulnerable. Researchers have warned of potential long-term mental health consequences for these older adults and pointed out that the field of geriatric psychiatry is in uncharted territory given the confluence of a global viral pandemic and increased life expectancy. Aims: The aim of the current study is to explore how older adults with pre-existing anxiety and depression experienced and understood the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Participants and setting: Nine older adults, aged 65 years and over, with pre-existing anxiety and depression were recruited from the Older Adult Mental Health Services of the Irish Health Service Executive. Methods: Data were collected via semi-structured interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: Six themes were generated, organised under two super-ordinate themes: ‘Sent to the Sidelines’ and ‘The End, or a New Beginning?’ Participants experienced a sense of lost purpose and belonging in society, and experienced feeling no longer needed by society. For some, there was a sense of hopelessness, and that this new way of life was permanent. While for others there remained hope that brighter days would follow. Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of social connection and belongingness, purpose and meaning, and a sense of agency in the lives of participants.en
dc.description.statusNot peer revieweden
dc.description.versionAccepted Versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.citationCashman, A. 2022. Experiences of older adults with anxiety and depression of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. DClinPsych Thesis, University College Cork.en
dc.identifier.endpage172en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/13725
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherUniversity College Corken
dc.rights© 2022, Alice Cashman.en
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/en
dc.subjectCoronavirusen
dc.subjectCOVIDen
dc.subjectOlder adulten
dc.subjectPsychological distressen
dc.titleExperiences of older adults with anxiety and depression of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictionsen
dc.title.alternativeStudy 1: Factors associated with psychological distress in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and narrative synthesisen
dc.title.alternativeStudy 2: A cocoon or a prison: older adults with mental health difficulties and the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions - an interpretative phenomenological analysisen
dc.typeDoctoral thesisen
dc.type.qualificationlevelPractitioner Doctorateen
dc.type.qualificationnameDClinPsych - Doctor of Clinical Psychologyen
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