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Closeness to friends explains age differences in positive emotional experience during the lockdown period of COVID-19 pandemic.
Cavallini, Elena; Rosi, Alessia; van Vugt, Floris Tijmen; Ceccato, Irene; Rapisarda, Filippo; Vallarino, Martine; Ronchi, Luca; Vecchi, Tomaso; Lecce, Serena.
  • Cavallini E; Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, 27100, Pavia, Italy. ecava@unipv.it.
  • Rosi A; Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
  • van Vugt FT; Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
  • Ceccato I; Deparment of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
  • Rapisarda F; Sociosfera ONLUS SCS, Seregno, Italy.
  • Vallarino M; Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
  • Ronchi L; Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
  • Vecchi T; Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
  • Lecce S; Cognitive Psychology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
Aging Clin Exp Res ; 33(9): 2623-2631, 2021 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1303402
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Studies on age differences in emotional states during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that older adults experienced greater emotional wellbeing compared to younger adults. We hypothesized these age differences to be related to the perception of closeness to family/friends or the engagement in daily activities during the pandemic.

AIM:

To investigate age differences in positive and negative emotional experiences and whether the perception of closeness to family/friends and the engagement in daily activities during pandemic explained such age-related differences.

METHODS:

Through a cross-sectional study, 1,457 adults aged 18-87 years old completed an online survey assessing positive and negative emotional experiences, the perception of more closeness to family/friends, and daily activities that participants started/re-started during the pandemic.

RESULTS:

Increasing age was associated with more positive and less negative emotional experiences. Age differences in positive emotional experience were explained by the perception of more closeness to friends and not by the engagement in daily activities. For negative emotional experience age, differences remained significant even after accounting for the perception of closeness to family/friends and engagements in daily activities.

DISCUSSION:

Older adults' greater overall level of positive emotional experience was explained by their greater perception of more closeness to friends. We speculate that social closeness provides a coping mechanism to increase emotional wellbeing employed especially in older adults.

CONCLUSION:

Our findings reinforce the link between perceived social closeness and emotional wellbeing especially in older adults. To cope with stressful situation, it is important to encourage older adults to increase the closeness to their social network.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pandemics / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Aged / Humans Language: English Journal: Aging Clin Exp Res Journal subject: Geriatrics Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S40520-021-01927-7

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pandemics / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Aged / Humans Language: English Journal: Aging Clin Exp Res Journal subject: Geriatrics Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S40520-021-01927-7