Psychosocial Factors and Quality of Life in Older Adults Discharged After Isolation Due to COVID-19 Infection

• Published in: Journal of gerontological nursing Vol. 50; no. 8; pp. 29 - 36
• Main Authors: Choi, Joo Young, Kim, Kisook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thorofare Slack, Inc 01.08.2024; SLACK INCORPORATED
• Subjects: Aged; Analysis; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cronbach's alpha; Disease control; Health aspects; Hospital patients; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Infections; Likert scale; Medical research; Mental disorders; Mental health; Mortality; Older people; Pandemics; Post traumatic stress disorder; Psychological aspects; Quality of life; Quarantine; Questionnaires; Stigma; South Korea; Seoul South Korea
• ISSN: 0098-9134; 1938-243X
• DOI: 10.3928/00989134-20240703-03

Purpose: To identify the impact of psychosocial factors on quality of life (QoL) of older adults hospitalized and isolated after contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Method: Data were collected between April 30 and June 18, 2022, from 117 discharged older adults who were in isolation for COVID-19 treatment in a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Results: Of participants, 33.3% were at high risk for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and 21.4% of participants were identified as having severe depressive symptoms. Participants' QoL negatively correlated with PTSS, depressive symptoms, and fear of social stigma. Depressive symptoms were the primary psychosocial factor identified as significantly affecting QoL (β = −0.682, p < 0.001), and the explanatory power of the regression model was 41.2%. Conclusion: To enhance QoL of older adults who have experienced hospitalization and isolation due to COVID-19, identifying pertinent psychosocial factors, especially depressive symptoms, is necessary. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(8), 29–36.]