Browsing by Author "Gao, Zhiwei"
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- Factors associated with older people’s anxiety symptom positioning after COVID-19: Cross-sectional findings from a Canadian SamplePublication . Low, Gail; AliSher, Anila Naz; Morero, Juceli Andrade Paiva; Gao, Zhiwei; M Gutman, Gloria; Bacadini França, Alex; von Humboldt, SofiaThis study sheds light on the personal characteristics of older Canadians self-identifying as severely anxious and the coping strategies that they gravitated to mitigate their anxiety. Our studied sample consisted of 606 Canadians aged 60 and above who took part in an e-survey across all 10 of Canada’s provinces, launched in July 2022, when social distancing was lifted across the country. Participants completed a personal characteristics questionnaire, the Geriatric Anxiety Scale or GAS-10, and a checklist of everyday coping strategies for mitigating anxiety. A seemingly greater number of severely anxious Canadians were born female, self-identified as a cisgender woman, and were in their 60s and in poor to fair health. A univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that all such personal characteristics were associated with statistically significantly greater odds of experiencing severe anxiety. In our multivariate logistic regression analysis, no significant differences were observed between the sexes (AOR = 0.590, p = 0.404), and non-binary and cisgender men (AOR = 0.689, p = 0.441) and women (AOR = 0.657, p = 0.397). Nor were there statistically significant differences in the odds of experiencing severe anxiety for those living with versus without a life partner and chronic illnesses. Older Canadians experiencing severe anxiety were far more likely to normalize their fear and anxiety (AOR = 4.76, p < 0.001), challenge their worries (AOR = 5.21, p < 0.001), and to relax or meditate (AOR = 2.36, p = < 0.001). They were less inclined to decrease other sources of stress in their lives, to stay active, and to get enough sleep. We offer anticipatory guidance for mental health program planners and practitioners, and fruitful avenues of inquiry for researchers.
- Mentally healthy living after pandemic social distancing: a study of older Canadians reveals helpful anxiety reduction strategiesPublication . Low, Gail; Gutman, Gloria M; Gao, Zhiwei; Bacadini França, Alex; von Humboldt, Sofia; VITORINO, LUCIANO; Wilson, Donna M.; Allana, HunainaBackground: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, older Canadians werethe most at risk of severe physical harm, including death, and their return topost-COVID life was expected to be especially anxiety-provoking. A studywas conducted to obtain nationally representative evidence of older Cana-dians’ self-perceived anxiety levels and their strategies to manage or miti-gate it as public health restrictions were lifting.Materials and Methods: This study had a cross-sectional descriptivedesign. An e-survey was used to collect data from 1327 Canadians aged60+ stratified by age, sex, and education to resemble the larger generalpopulation. Participants completed the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS-10)and indicated which of the 16 Centre for Addictions and Mental Health’s(2022) Coping with Stress and Anxiety strategies they were using to man-age or mitigate their anxiety when social distancing was lifting. Descriptivestatistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis were usedto explore the data.Results: While, on average, older Canadians were mildly anxious, nearlyone-quarter of responders rated their anxiety as severe. Age, sex, perceivedhealth, were statistically significant correlates of anxiety. Six coping strate-gies were associated with significantly lower anxiety scores. Moreover,accepting some fear and anxiety as normal, challenging worries and anx-ious thoughts, and practising relaxation/meditation appeared to increaseanxiety.Conclusion: Older Canadians used multiple strategies to manage or miti-gate their anxiety, and seemingly, with more successful than detrimentaltries. Practitioners have much to learn and understand about older people’smental health promotion efforts after social distancing, now and for futurepandemics
- Mitigating social isolation following the covid-19 pandemic: Remedy messages shared by older peoplePublication . Low, Gail; von Humboldt, Sofia; Gutman, Gloria M; Gao, Zhiwei; Allana, Hunaina; Naz, Anila; Wilson, Donna; Vastani, MuneerahAt the beginning of July 2022, when public health restrictions were lifted, we deployed a country-wide e-survey about how older people were managing now after COVID-19 pandemic-related anxiety. Our responder sample was stratified by age, sex, and education to approximate the Canadian population. E-survey responders were asked to share open-text messages about what contemporaries could do to live less socially isolated lives at this tenuous turning point following the pandemic as the COVID-19 virus still lingered. Contracting COVID-19 enhanced older Canadians’ risk for being hospitalized and/or mortality risk. Messages were shared by 1189 of our 1327 e-survey responders. Content analysis revealed the following four calls to action: (1) cultivating community; (2) making room for what is good; (3) not letting your guard down; and (4) voicing out challenges. Responders with no chronic illnesses were more likely to endorse making room for what is good. Those with no diploma, degree, or certificate least frequently instructed others to not let their guard down. While COVID-19 is no longer a major public health risk, a worrisome proportion of older people across the globe are still living socially isolated. We encourage health and social care practitioners and older people to share messages identified in this study with more isolated persons.