Mental Health Struggles Among Older Adults During the Pandemic

Older adults experienced fewer mental health challenges than younger adults during the COVID-19 pandemic but new research shows anxiety and depression levels among those 65 and older varied depending on their demographic characteristics and economic well-being.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

For example, older women were more likely than older men to struggle with mental health, according to an analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey. Although non-Hispanic White and Asian older adults in 2020 reported lower levels of mental health challenges than other groups, the differences essentially disappeared by 2023.

Over the course of the pandemic, older adults reported fewer mental health issues than younger adults, regardless of living arrangements or sexual orientation and gender identity.

This new research examines differences among the 65 and older population to better understand their mental health experiences during the pandemic.

Continue reading to learn more about:

The Household Pulse Survey and insights on mental health
Measuring anxiety and depression symptoms
Sociodemographic differences among older adults
Economic stress

Article posted by:

Levi Gwaltney

Levi Gwaltney is the Editor In Chief of Las Cruces Digest. The Editor makes editorial and posting decisions regarding content published on this site. In most cases, the Editor makes little if any contribution to content published, and takes no credit for the content of republished posts. If available, the source or author of posts is provided at the top of the article.