The impact of confinement on older Jordanian adults' mental distress during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A web‐based cross‐sectional study

Abu Kamel, Andaleeb K.; Alnazly, Eman K.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the impact of Coronavirus disease, 2019 (COVID‐19) confinement on older Jordanian adults' mental distress and to assess which study variables that predict Posttraumatic Stress disorder. DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross‐sectional study was conducted on 315 older Jordanian adults using an online survey in Amman, Jordan between May 28 and June 12. FINDINGS: The assessment revealed a moderate level of avoidance (M = 1.97, SD = 0.7), a higher effect of intrusion (M = 2.08, SD = 0.9), an above midpoint level of fear 18.50 ± 8.6, and mild depression (M = 6.96, SD = 7.3). Hierarchical Multiple Regression model revealed that 77.8% of the Impact of Event Scale‐Revised was explained by both Fear of COVID‐19 Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 (R change = 0.66, SE = 8.4, p < 0.001). PRACTICE IMPLICATION: This suggests that confinement affects different aspects of the psychological well‐being of older Jordanian adults. An early assessment and intervention can make confinement as tolerable as possible.