A1 Journal article (refereed)
Maintenance of high quality of life as an indicator of resilience during COVID-19 social distancing among community-dwelling older adults in Finland (2022)
Koivunen, K., Portegijs, E., Sillanpää, E., Eronen, J., Kokko, K., & Rantanen, T. (2022). Maintenance of high quality of life as an indicator of resilience during COVID-19 social distancing among community-dwelling older adults in Finland. Quality of Life Research, 31(3), 713-722. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-021-03002-0
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Koivunen, Kaisa; Portegijs, Erja; Sillanpää, Elina; Eronen, Johanna; Kokko, Katja; Rantanen, Taina
Journal or series: Quality of Life Research
ISSN: 0962-9343
eISSN: 1573-2649
Publication year: 2022
Publication date: 27/09/2021
Volume: 31
Issue number: 3
Pages range: 713-722
Publisher: Springer
Publication country: Netherlands
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-021-03002-0
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/77973
Abstract
Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced possibilities for activities of choice potentially threatening quality of life (QoL). We defined QoL resilience as maintaining high quality of life and studied whether walking speed, absence of loneliness, living arrangement, and stress-coping ability predict QoL resilience among older people.
Methods
Community-dwelling 75-, 80-, and 85-year-old persons (n = 685) were interviewed and examined in 2017–2018 and were followed up during COVID-19 social distancing in 2020. We assessed QoL using the OPQOL-brief scale and set a cut-off for ‘constant high’ based on staying in the highest baseline quartile over the follow-up and categorized all others as having ‘low/moderate’. Perceived restrictiveness of the social distancing recommendations was examined with one item and was categorized as ‘yes’ or ‘no’ restrictiveness.
Results
Better stress-coping ability (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.14–1.28) and not being lonely (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.48–4.63) increased the odds for constant high QoL from before to amid social distancing, and the odds did not differ according to the perceived restrictiveness of the social distancing recommendations. Higher walking speed predicted constant high QoL only among those perceiving restrictiveness (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.07–1.27). Living arrangement did not predict constant high QoL.
Conclusion
During social distancing, psychosocial resources helped to maintain good QoL regardless how restrictive the social distancing recommendations were perceived to be. Better physical capacity was important for constant high QoL only among those perceiving restrictiveness presumably because it enabled replacing blocked activities with open outdoor physical activities.
Keywords: older people; quality of life; physical functioning; psychosocial factors; unusual conditions; pandemics; COVID-19; adaptation (change)
Free keywords: physical function; psychosocial resources; adversity; adaptation
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- Active ageing - resilience and external support as modifiers of the disablement outcome
- Rantanen, Taina
- European Commission
- Are older people becoming younger?
Cohort differences in perceived age and functional capacity among 75- and 80-year-old people assessed 28 years apart (The Evergreen 2)- Rantanen, Taina
- Academy of Finland
- Developmental Psychological Perspectives on Transitions at Age 60: Individuals Navigating Across the Lifespan
- Kokko, Katja
- Academy of Finland
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2022
Preliminary JUFO rating: 2
