Date of Conferral

5-25-2024

Date of Award

May 2024

Degree

Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

School

Social Work

Advisor

Yvonne Chase

Abstract

Few studies have focused on the experiences of people aged 60 and older during the COVID-19 pandemic. The extent to which COVID-19 affects people 60 or older and their mental and physical health and overall well-being was the focus of this project. This project’s framework and research design was the theoretical framework of gerotranscendence developed by Tornstam and qualitative research methods with 20 open-ended interview questions. The questions focused on different aspects of life to determine the participants’ perceptions of the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has on mental health and well-being. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded to identify the themes of the participants. The results of this project indicated that women were more likely to report feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. In addition, the participants reported continued feelings of anxiety when in a group or public setting. The results of this project may influence positive social change by providing additional information to help other medical and mental health professionals understand what factors are contributing to the mental health and well-being challenges for people aged 60 and above. Findings may also guide practitioners and policymakers about resources for treatment or create new policies to develop and fund appropriate resources.

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