LU study finds older adults show greater resilience during COVID-19 pandemic

A recent study conducted by Lingnan University (LU) reveals that Japanese older adults’ life satisfaction, as compared with their younger counterparts, had substantially improved during the pandemic, indicating their resilience on average.

 

This research, led by Prof Satoshi Araki, Assistant Professor of the Department of Sociology and Social Policy, analysed the data from a nationwide panel survey “Changes in Attitudes and Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic” conducted by the Cabinet Office of the Government of Japan between May 2020 and October 2021 for 3,725 respondents aged 25 and over. Participants had been asked how satisfied with their life by using the Cantril Ladder, with 0 being the worst (i.e., not satisfied at all) and 10 being the best (i.e., extremely satisfied). The shift in life satisfaction was compared across three age groups: 25 to 44; 45 to 64; and 65 and above.

 

The results showed that the average life satisfaction had not declined but improved regardless of age during the period. In particular, older adults aged 65 and above showed a substantial gain in life satisfaction throughout the period (mean score raised from 4.56 to 5.57).

 

The results also revealed that older adults’ life satisfaction was significantly associated with their socio-economic attributes such as gender, income, health and family/social relationships. It is particularly noteworthy that, while better health and social ties largely demonstrated positive signs for preferable life satisfaction shifts during the two waves of studies (e.g., from low to high and from mid to high) and negative ones for unfavourable combinations (e.g., from low to low and from mid to low), the top income group showed a high probability of obtaining high life satisfaction in both waves (i.e., from high to high). This suggested the possession of financial resources played an essential role in dividing older adults into those who could and who could not retain positive feelings during the pandemic. Meanwhile, it was also found that women were more likely to report the “low to low” combination, implying that older women had been penalised in terms of life satisfaction under COVID-19 despite the observed resilience on average in the same age group.

 

Click here for the research details.