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

doi:10.1002/ijop.12798

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

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

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, …

International journal of psychology, Vol.57(1), pp.127-135

02/2022

DOI: 10.1002/ijop.12798

PMCID: PMC8426980

PMID: 34398454

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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.

Details

Title: Subtitle: Resource loss and mental health during COVID ‐19: Psychosocial protective factors among U.S. older adults and those with chronic disease
Creators: Stacey E. McElroy-Heltzel - University of Iowa
Laura R. Shannonhouse - Georgia State University
Edward B. Davis - School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy, Wheaton College Chicago IL USA
Austin W. Lemke - Wheaton College - Illinois
Mary Chase Mize - Georgia State University
Jamie Aten - Wheaton College - Illinois
Matthew C. Fullen - Virginia Tech
Joshua N. Hook - University of North Texas
Daryl R. Van Tongeren - Hope College
Don E. Davis - Georgia State University
Constantinos Miskis - Administration for Community Living
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: International journal of psychology, Vol.57(1), pp.127-135
DOI: 10.1002/ijop.12798
PMID: 34398454
PMCID: PMC8426980
NLM abbreviation: Int J Psychol
ISSN: 0020-7594
eISSN: 1464-066X
Language: English
Date published: 02/2022
Academic Unit: Psychological and Quantitative Foundations
Record Identifier: 9984371113902771

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