The Association of Age With Depression, Anxiety, and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain: The Role of Loneliness and Prepandemic Mental Disorder

ObjectiveOlder adults may be at lower risk of common mental disorders than younger adults during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Previous research has shown shown differences by age in psychosocial well-being during the pandemic and have highlighted the moderating effect of prepandemic mental disorders on that association. In this line, we examined the association of age with self-reported symptoms of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress, as well as potential roles of loneliness symptoms and prepandemic mental disorders on the association between age and mental disorder symptoms.MethodsCross-sectional data of 2000 adults in Spain interviewed by telephone during the COVID-19 pandemic (February-March 2021) were analyzed. Depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress were measured with the eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire, the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and the four-item checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition), respectively. Loneliness was measured with the three-item University of California at Los Angeles Loneliness Scale. Several regression models were constructed to assess factors related to loneliness and mental disorders.ResultsAccording to cutoff points used, 12.4% of participants revealed depression, 11.9% revealed anxiety, and 11.6% revealed posttraumatic stress. Age was negatively related to mental disorder symptoms and loneliness. Loneliness was associated with higher levels of mental disorder symptoms. This association was stronger in younger adults without prepandemic mental disorders and in older adults with them. The association between age and loneliness was stronger in those with prepandemic mental disorders. Loneliness mediated the association of age with mental disorder symptoms.ConclusionsInterventions focused on loneliness could alleviate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health.

Automated summary

During the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults may have a lower risk of common mental disorders compared to younger adults. Age is negatively related to mental disorder symptoms and loneliness. Interventions targeting loneliness could help mitigate the impact of the pandemic on mental health.