Abstract
Objective: The social incidents between June and December 2019 in Hong Kong have impacted the mental health of older adults. This study examined the factors that affect the mental health of older people during these social incidents.
Method: A representative sample of 1,203 Chinese aged 65 and above was randomly selected to complete the telephone survey. The questionnaire contained items measuring exposure and disruptions due to social unrest, mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and demographic variables.
Results: The results showed that male participants were 3.55 times more likely to suffer from PTSD and 1.43 times more likely to suffer from anxiety compared with females. Married participants are 81% more likely to suffer from PTSD and 47% more likely to suffer from anxiety. The better the participants’ finances, the lower the risk of having PTSD and anxiety. The prevalence of anxiety among currently employed participants increased by 88%. The likelihood of suffering from PTSD or anxiety was higher among participants who received more information about social unrest and experienced more disruption to relationships. For every unit increase in the level of disruption to relationship, the chance of having PTSD increased by 1.46 times and that of having anxiety increased by 1.9 times.
Conclusions: There is a strong relationship between the level of exposure to information and disruption to family and interpersonal relationships and older adults’ mental health. Intervention could focus on support services to facilitate older people to process and digest information received and strengthen family and interpersonal relationships.
Method: A representative sample of 1,203 Chinese aged 65 and above was randomly selected to complete the telephone survey. The questionnaire contained items measuring exposure and disruptions due to social unrest, mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and demographic variables.
Results: The results showed that male participants were 3.55 times more likely to suffer from PTSD and 1.43 times more likely to suffer from anxiety compared with females. Married participants are 81% more likely to suffer from PTSD and 47% more likely to suffer from anxiety. The better the participants’ finances, the lower the risk of having PTSD and anxiety. The prevalence of anxiety among currently employed participants increased by 88%. The likelihood of suffering from PTSD or anxiety was higher among participants who received more information about social unrest and experienced more disruption to relationships. For every unit increase in the level of disruption to relationship, the chance of having PTSD increased by 1.46 times and that of having anxiety increased by 1.9 times.
Conclusions: There is a strong relationship between the level of exposure to information and disruption to family and interpersonal relationships and older adults’ mental health. Intervention could focus on support services to facilitate older people to process and digest information received and strengthen family and interpersonal relationships.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - 21 Oct 2021 |
| Event | The 50th Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting - Virtual Duration: 20 Oct 2021 → 23 Oct 2021 https://cag2021.ca/ https://virtual.oxfordabstracts.com/#/event/public/1486/program |
Conference
| Conference | The 50th Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting |
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| Period | 20/10/21 → 23/10/21 |
| Internet address |
