Protective personality factors for stress in the elderly during COVID-19 Pandemic: a cross-sectional study

  • Tatjana Kilibarda The Academy of Applied Preschool Teaching and Health Studies Kruševac – Department in Ćuprija
  • Šćepan Sinanović College for Health Studies “Milutin Milanković”, Belgrade
  • Saša Bubanj Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, Niš
  • Sanja Trgovčević The Academy of Applied Preschool Teaching and Health Studies Kruševac – Department in Ćuprija, Ćuprija, Serbia
  • Sunčica Ivanović The Academy of Applied Preschool Teaching and Health Studies Kruševac – Department in Ćuprija, Ćuprija, Serbia
  • Suzana Milutinović The Academy of Applied Preschool Teaching and Health Studies Kruševac – Department in Ćuprija, Ćuprija, Serbia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/afmnai39-35292
Keywords: COVID-19, stress, protective personality factors for health

Abstract


Background/Aim. One of the anti-epidemic measures in the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia in 2020 was a mandatory complete restriction of people over 65 years of age. Two main stress factors affecting them: intensive media coverage of the new disease, and a total physical and social isolation of the elderly. The aim of this study was to assess the immediate impact of those anti-epidemic measures on the health of people over 65 years old, and to recognize the protective factors for their health in the conditions of their obligatory isolation.

Methods. A total of 20‰ inhabitants older than 65 years (184) of the urban part of Kruševac, the city in central part of Serbia, participated in this cross-sectional study during April and May 2020.

Results: In a significantly large proportion in the sample (about 84%) the anti-COVID-19 pandemic measures were associated with the deterioration of health, such as: causeless tiredness, tension, difficulties performing routine activities, concern, sleeping disorders and hypertensive episodes. Gender, higher education and material status were not associated with protection and emotional well-being, but some personality factors are in correlation with resilience to stress.

Conclusion: The protective personality factors for health are the respondents’ inclination towards hope, having a purpose in life, faith, optimism, interest, as well as the highly valuing and having a developed emotional life or positive emotions in the respondent’s life (love, joy, enthusiasm, the feeling of closeness and belonging).

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Published
2025/12/19
Issue
Vol. 39 No. 1 (2022): Acta facultatis medicae Naissensis
Section
Originalni rad / Original article