Few would disagree that the covid pandemic and the lockdowns changed the world, but the emotional rebound has been rather remarkable.
Many of our lives look quite different now than they would if the health crisis hadn’t hit five years ago. But a new study - published in the peer-reviewed journal, Aging and Mental Health - made a surprising, and hopeful, finding about humans’ ability to bounce back: Older adults in England are happier and more fulfilled today than they were before 2020.
For 11 years, researchers tracked nearly 4,000 people over the age of 50 with three types of well-being in mind: affective (feelings of happiness), eudemonic (meaning and purpose), and evaluative (life satisfaction).
While it's no surprise that all aspects of psychological well-being declined in 2020, well-being levels “remarkably” rebounded in the years following. “Overall, older people are now happier, more satisfied, and have a greater sense of purpose than before the pandemic,” says lead author Paola Zaninotto, from University College London.
Commenting on the team’s findings, Professor Zaninotto says: “Our research showed that the pandemic had a profound effect on the well-being of older people in England. As many would expect, we found that well-being declined during the pandemic, and instances of depression rose. While depression is still slightly more prevalent than before 2020, remarkably, overall older people are now happier, more satisfied and have a greater sense of purpose than before the pandemic."
“We can only speculate on the reasons for this. It perhaps could reflect a renewed appreciation for social connections and meaningful activities, as well as increased psychological resilience after a period of adversity. Improved health security following widespread vaccinations could also have contributed to this positive shift."