Resource loss and mental health during COVID-19: Psychosocial protective factors among U.S. older adults and those with chronic disease

Stacey E. McElroy-Heltzel, Laura R. Shannonhouse, Edward B. Davis, Austin W. Lemke, Mary Chase Mize, Jamie Aten, Matthew C. Fullen, Joshua N. Hook, Daryl R. Van Tongeren, Don E. Davis, Constantinos Miskis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Across the globe, COVID-19 has disproportionately affected the physical and mental health of several vulnerable groups. In a series of two cross-sectional studies conducted April to July 2020, we examined its acute mental health effects on two vulnerable U.S. community samples—home-bound older adults who were at or below the poverty line (Study 1, N = 293, Mage = 76.94, SD = 8.64; 75.1% female, 67.9% Black) and adults with chronic disease (Study 2, N = 322, Mage = 62.20, SD = 12.22; 46.3% female, 28.3% racial/ethnic minorities). Based on the conservation of resources theory, we hypothesised that pandemic-related resource loss would be associated with greater mental distress, but perceived social support and positive psychological characteristics (trait resilience and optimism) would buffer against this adverse effect. Across both samples of vulnerable adults, pandemic-related resource loss was related to mental distress. Perceived social support was related to lower mental distress but did not consistently buffer the effect of resource loss on mental health. However, in Study 2, both trait resilience and optimism buffered this relationship. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the conservation of resources theory.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)127-135
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Psychology
Volume57
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2022
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • General Psychology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Resource loss and mental health during COVID-19: Psychosocial protective factors among U.S. older adults and those with chronic disease'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this