Factors Associated With Fear of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Stigmatization in the Elderly

ABSTRACT

Objective@#The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors associated with the fear of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) stigmatization in the elderly in Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. @*Methods@#This study used data of a survey on depression, loneliness, social support, and fear of COVID-19 of the elderly in a province of Korea in July to November, 2020. The sample consisted of 1,485 (female 1,117); mean age 78.3 (6.5) years old. We administered Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form, 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey and experience about COVID-19 infection or fear of stigmatization. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed for evaluating the association between fear of COVID-19 stigmatization and the factors; gender, education level, living with spouse, socioeconomic status, depression, loneliness, and social support. @*Results@#Socioeconomic status and loneliness are associated with the fear of COVID-19 disease stigmatization, and gender and socioeconomic status are associated with the fear of COVID-19 territorial stigmatization. @*Conclusion@#Gender, socioeconomic status and loneliness are the factors for COVID-19 stigmatization in the elderly in Chungcheongnam-do, Korea.