Risk Predictors and Cognitive Outcomes of the Psychosocial Functionings of Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The negative psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been well researched. However, less is known about what factors predict the psychosocial and associated cognitive functions of older adults during the pandemic. Two research questions were explored: 1) what sociodemographic and COVID-19 related variables predict psychosocial functions of older adults in light of the pandemic? 2) Does psychosocial functioning predict cognitive performance on inhibition and processing speed in older adults, and is this relationship moderated by coping strategies? An online study was conducted with North American older adults, and hierarchical multiple regression models were employed to understand the relationship between the variables. The results identified health status, martial status, age, and factors associated with socioeconomic status as significant predictors for psychosocial functioning. Increased psychological distress significantly predicted decreased accuracy on no-go trials, but this was not moderated by coping strategies, and age-related decline in all cognitive outcome variables was found.