THE CORONAVIRUS JOB RETENTION SCHEME AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG OLDER WORKERS: EVIDENCE FROM ENGLAND

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to major economic disruptions. In March 2020, the UK implemented the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme –known as furlough –to minimize the impact of job losses. So far, little is known on the mental health impact of this scheme on older workers, and on whether this varies by job characteristics. Exploiting longitudinal data from Wave 9 (2018/19) and two COVID-19 sub-studies (June/July 2020;November/December 2020) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing we use logistic and linear regression models to investigate associations between changes of employment and mental health during the pandemic. About 10% of respondents aged 52-67 were furloughed in the initial phase of the pandemic. Overall, employment disruption was associated with changes in mental health, although results suggest differences by pre-pandemic job characteristics (i.e. hours worked, physical effort, social class, and stress measured by the effort-reward imbalance model).

ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH BEHAVIORS WITH WEIGHT AND OBESITY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AMONG THE UK OLDER POPULATION

Using a sample of 4,182 UK adults aged 50 and above, this study explored the association of changes in health behaviours with weight and obesity during UK lockdown in Jun/Jul and Nov/Dec 2020. Over 30% adults reported more sitting, more TV watching or less exercise. Around 20% adults were engaged in eating more or sleeping less. More alcohol drinking happened in 12.3% adults. Results suggested that more sedentariness, more TV watching, less exercise, more eating and more alcohol drinking were associated with a significant increase in weight. Meanwhile, less sedentariness or less eating significantly reduced weight in Nov/Dec 2020. A higher risk of obesity was found in adults sitting, eating, or sleeping more than usual. Considering potential health risks associated with obesity in older population, weight management is necessary nationwide.

THE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN ENGLAND

The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges that may have impacted people with cognitive impairment in disproportionate ways. Using the ELSA COVID-19 sub-study collected in 2020, we examined the experiences of people across three cognitive function groups (no impairment, mild impairment, and dementia) with respect to a range of social and health outcomes, including: shielding and self-isolation;access to health and care services;changes in lifestyle behaviours during the pandemic, and the impacts on mental health, wellbeing, and other psychosocial measures. Differences among cognitive function groups varied according to both outcomes and time. For example, people with dementia were around 2.4 times more likely to be shielding in June/July than those with no impairment, but no difference was found for November/December. On many measures, people with dementia fared similarly to those with no impairment once controlling for other factors.

MENTAL HEALTH AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AMONG OLDER ADULTS WITH PROBABLE COVID-19 INFECTION

We investigated the immediate and longer-term impact of probable COVID-19 infection on mental health, wellbeing, and financial hardship among older people living in England. Data were analysed from 5146 older adults participating in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing who provided data before the pandemic (2018-19) and at two COVID-19 assessments in 2020 (June-July and November-December). The associations of probable COVID-19 infection (first COVID-19 assessment) with depression, anxiety, poor quality of life (QoL), loneliness, and financial hardship at the first and second COVID-19 assessments were tested using linear/logistic regression and were adjusted for pre-pandemic outcome measures. Participants with probable infection had higher levels of depression and anxiety, poorer QoL, and greater loneliness scores compared with those without probable infection at both the first (ORdepression=1·62[95%CI:1·16,2·26];ORanxiety=1·59[95%CI:1·00,2·51];bpoorQoL=1·34[95%CI:0·66,2·02];bloneliness=0·49[95%CI:0·25,0·74]) and second (ORdepression =1·56[95%CI:1·17,2·09];ORanxiety=1·55[95%CI:1·02,2·37];bpoorQoL=1·38[95%CI:0·74,2 ·03];bloneliness=0·31[95%CI:0·04;0·58]) assessments. Participants with probable infection also experienced greater financial difficulties than those without infection at the first assessment (OR=1·50[95%CI:1·10,2·05]).

THE EXPERIENCES OF OLDER PEOPLE IN ENGLAND DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: EVIDENCE FROM ELSA

In this session we will present results from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) Covid-19 substudy. Data were collected during the pandemic at two separate occasions to capture the experiences of older people and to compare them to pre-covid periods. The session will include results among people with cognitive impairment, people who contracted infections and explore the consequences on their mental health, well-being and health in general

MENTAL HEALTH, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AMONG OLDER ADULTS WITH PROBABLE COVID-19 INFECTION: A LONGITUDINAL COHORT STUDY

Background: Despite a large body of research documenting the adverse psychosocial consequences of infectious diseases, little is currently known regarding the impact that contracting COVID-19 may have on the individual's mental health, personal finances, and social relationships. We investigated the immediate and longer-term impact (over 4-6 months) of probable COVID-19 infection on mental health (depression and anxiety), wellbeing (quality of life and loneliness), financial hardship, and social interactions among older people living in England. Methods: Data were analysed from 5,146 older adults participating in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing who provided data before the pandemic (2018-19) and at two COVID-19 assessments in 2020 (June-July and November-December). The associations of probable COVID-19 infection at the first COVID-19 assessment with depression, anxiety, poor quality of life (QoL), loneliness, financial hardship, and amount of real-time/written social contact with family and friends at the first and second COVID-19 assessments were tested using linear/logistic regression and were adjusted for pre-pandemic outcome measures and other confounding factors. Results: Participants with probable COVID-19 infection had higher levels of depression and anxiety, poorer QoL, and greater loneliness scores compared with those without probable infection at both the first (ORdepression=1.62[95%CI:1.16,2.26];ORanxiety=1.59[95%CI:1.00,2.51];bpoorQoL=1.34[95%CI:0.66,2.02];bloneliness=0.49[95%CI:0.25,0.74]) and second (ORdepression=1.56[95%CI:1.17,2.09];ORanxiety=1.55[95%CI:1.02,2.37];bpoorQoL=1.38[95%CI:0.74,2.03];bloneliness=0.31[95%CI:0.04;0.58]) assessments. Participants with probable infection also experienced greater financial difficulties than those without infection at the first assessment (OR=1.50[95%CI:1.10,2.05]). In contrast, the levels of social contact were similar in participants with and without probable infection. Similar results were observed when propensity score weighting was used to account for confounding. Conclusion: Probable COVID-19 infection is associated with longer-term deterioration of mental health and wellbeing and short-term increases in financial hardship among older adults.The mental health and wellbeing of older people affected by COVID-19 should be monitored both in the acute and recovery phases of the disease.