Mentor/s
Dr. Jonix Ownio
Participation Type
Paper Talk
Abstract
Coping During COVID-19 - Comparative Analysis Between Refugee and Non-refugee Older Adults
As the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic are still being discussed, the implications of COVID-19 among aging populations must be documented, especially underrepresented aging adults such as refugees. The overall well-being of older adults may have been impacted due to the novelty of challenges posed by the pandemic. As such, the present study examines the implications of COVID-19 among older refugee and non-refugee populations in the U.S. Interviews were conducted among older adults aged 55-69 (m=66.3), living in the Northeast of the U.S. A total of 81 interviews were conducted (35 refugees and 46 non-refugees). The participants were asked a series of questions about their life before, during, and after COVID-19. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data. Emergent themes showed that although older refugees and non-refugees experienced similar challenges, they seemed salient for aging refugee populations due to their background and experiences. Results showed that both populations adopted similar coping mechanisms such as social support. In contrast, refugees used traditional/herbal medicine and engaged in cognitive framing, whereas non-refugees coped by having a positive mindset and embracing new technology. Understanding the implications of COVID-19 among older adults is essential to developing tailored interventions.
College and Major available
College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology BS
Location
Session 10: Digital Commons & West Campus West Building Room 140
Start Day/Time
4-26-2024 10:30 AM
End Day/Time
4-26-2024 11:45 AM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Coping During Covid-19: Comparative Analysis Between Refugee and Non-Refugee Older Adults
Session 10: Digital Commons & West Campus West Building Room 140
Coping During COVID-19 - Comparative Analysis Between Refugee and Non-refugee Older Adults
As the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic are still being discussed, the implications of COVID-19 among aging populations must be documented, especially underrepresented aging adults such as refugees. The overall well-being of older adults may have been impacted due to the novelty of challenges posed by the pandemic. As such, the present study examines the implications of COVID-19 among older refugee and non-refugee populations in the U.S. Interviews were conducted among older adults aged 55-69 (m=66.3), living in the Northeast of the U.S. A total of 81 interviews were conducted (35 refugees and 46 non-refugees). The participants were asked a series of questions about their life before, during, and after COVID-19. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data. Emergent themes showed that although older refugees and non-refugees experienced similar challenges, they seemed salient for aging refugee populations due to their background and experiences. Results showed that both populations adopted similar coping mechanisms such as social support. In contrast, refugees used traditional/herbal medicine and engaged in cognitive framing, whereas non-refugees coped by having a positive mindset and embracing new technology. Understanding the implications of COVID-19 among older adults is essential to developing tailored interventions.
Students' Information
Mia Purcell 2025 Psychology
Kathleen Longobardo 2024 Psychology
Julien St. Clair 2024 Psychology
Mateo Villarreal 2024 Psychology
Honorable Mention, Dean's Prize: College of Arts and Sciences 2024 Award