Age and resilience amid COVID-19 pandemic adversity: the mediating roles of quality of life, spirituality, and depressive symptoms

IntroductionResilience scores are usually higher among older adults, but the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated social isolation in this risk group necessitate a reevaluation of this characteristic.ObjectivesTo investigate the differences in resilience among young, middle-aged, and elderly individ...

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Main Authors: Leonardo Gonçalves, Lorenzo Casagrande Reggiani, Josiane Maliuk, Gianfranco Rizzotto de Souza, Renato Gorga Bandeira de Mello, Bruno Perosa Carniel, Neusa Sica da Rocha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1576150/full
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author Leonardo Gonçalves
Leonardo Gonçalves
Leonardo Gonçalves
Lorenzo Casagrande Reggiani
Lorenzo Casagrande Reggiani
Lorenzo Casagrande Reggiani
Josiane Maliuk
Gianfranco Rizzotto de Souza
Renato Gorga Bandeira de Mello
Bruno Perosa Carniel
Bruno Perosa Carniel
Bruno Perosa Carniel
Neusa Sica da Rocha
Neusa Sica da Rocha
Neusa Sica da Rocha
Neusa Sica da Rocha
author_facet Leonardo Gonçalves
Leonardo Gonçalves
Leonardo Gonçalves
Lorenzo Casagrande Reggiani
Lorenzo Casagrande Reggiani
Lorenzo Casagrande Reggiani
Josiane Maliuk
Gianfranco Rizzotto de Souza
Renato Gorga Bandeira de Mello
Bruno Perosa Carniel
Bruno Perosa Carniel
Bruno Perosa Carniel
Neusa Sica da Rocha
Neusa Sica da Rocha
Neusa Sica da Rocha
Neusa Sica da Rocha
author_sort Leonardo Gonçalves
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionResilience scores are usually higher among older adults, but the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated social isolation in this risk group necessitate a reevaluation of this characteristic.ObjectivesTo investigate the differences in resilience among young, middle-aged, and elderly individuals and to explore the mediating factors (quality of life, spirituality, social support, depressive symptoms) in the relationship between age and resilience.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2020 through online collection using the snowball method, enrolling 3,278 participants. They were divided into three age groups (18–36, 37–59, 60+), and resilience was assessed using the CD-RISC-10 scale. Mediation analyses examined the roles of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), quality of life (EUROHIS-QOL-8), spirituality (WHOQOL-SRPB), and social support (MOS).ResultsThe sample comprised 1,207 young, 1,680 middle-aged, and 391 older adults. Resilience scores were significantly higher in the elderly population compared to middle-aged and young adults [F(2,3251) = 81.12; p = 0.001]. Quality of life (β = 0.23; p = 0.001) and spirituality (β = 0.28; p = 0.001) showed positive mediating effects, while depressive symptoms (β = −0.18; p = 0.001) had a negative effect. Social support did not show a statistically significant mediating effect.ConclusionOlder age was associated with higher resilience scores, even during COVID-19 pandemic. Spirituality and quality of life were identified as mediators of this relationship. These findings underscore the need for longitudinal research to confirm whether these factors predict resilience and to guide mental health interventions.
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spelling doaj-art-48d5c3a144db4edbaa16a1572e8967df2025-08-20T03:41:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-08-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15761501576150Age and resilience amid COVID-19 pandemic adversity: the mediating roles of quality of life, spirituality, and depressive symptomsLeonardo Gonçalves0Leonardo Gonçalves1Leonardo Gonçalves2Lorenzo Casagrande Reggiani3Lorenzo Casagrande Reggiani4Lorenzo Casagrande Reggiani5Josiane Maliuk6Gianfranco Rizzotto de Souza7Renato Gorga Bandeira de Mello8Bruno Perosa Carniel9Bruno Perosa Carniel10Bruno Perosa Carniel11Neusa Sica da Rocha12Neusa Sica da Rocha13Neusa Sica da Rocha14Neusa Sica da Rocha15Clinical Research Center, Hospital De Clínicas De Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilGraduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavior Science, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, BrazilInnovations and Interventions in Quality of Life Research Group, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, BrazilClinical Research Center, Hospital De Clínicas De Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilGraduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavior Science, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, BrazilInnovations and Interventions in Quality of Life Research Group, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, BrazilInnovations and Interventions in Quality of Life Research Group, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, BrazilInnovations and Interventions in Quality of Life Research Group, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, BrazilGeriatrics Team, Internal Medicine Service, Hospital De Clínicas De Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilClinical Research Center, Hospital De Clínicas De Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilGraduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavior Science, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, BrazilInnovations and Interventions in Quality of Life Research Group, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, BrazilClinical Research Center, Hospital De Clínicas De Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilGraduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavior Science, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, BrazilInnovations and Interventions in Quality of Life Research Group, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, BrazilPsychiatry Service, Hospital De Clínicas De Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilIntroductionResilience scores are usually higher among older adults, but the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated social isolation in this risk group necessitate a reevaluation of this characteristic.ObjectivesTo investigate the differences in resilience among young, middle-aged, and elderly individuals and to explore the mediating factors (quality of life, spirituality, social support, depressive symptoms) in the relationship between age and resilience.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2020 through online collection using the snowball method, enrolling 3,278 participants. They were divided into three age groups (18–36, 37–59, 60+), and resilience was assessed using the CD-RISC-10 scale. Mediation analyses examined the roles of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), quality of life (EUROHIS-QOL-8), spirituality (WHOQOL-SRPB), and social support (MOS).ResultsThe sample comprised 1,207 young, 1,680 middle-aged, and 391 older adults. Resilience scores were significantly higher in the elderly population compared to middle-aged and young adults [F(2,3251) = 81.12; p = 0.001]. Quality of life (β = 0.23; p = 0.001) and spirituality (β = 0.28; p = 0.001) showed positive mediating effects, while depressive symptoms (β = −0.18; p = 0.001) had a negative effect. Social support did not show a statistically significant mediating effect.ConclusionOlder age was associated with higher resilience scores, even during COVID-19 pandemic. Spirituality and quality of life were identified as mediators of this relationship. These findings underscore the need for longitudinal research to confirm whether these factors predict resilience and to guide mental health interventions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1576150/fullCOVID-19resilienceolder adultsquality of lifespirituality
spellingShingle Leonardo Gonçalves
Leonardo Gonçalves
Leonardo Gonçalves
Lorenzo Casagrande Reggiani
Lorenzo Casagrande Reggiani
Lorenzo Casagrande Reggiani
Josiane Maliuk
Gianfranco Rizzotto de Souza
Renato Gorga Bandeira de Mello
Bruno Perosa Carniel
Bruno Perosa Carniel
Bruno Perosa Carniel
Neusa Sica da Rocha
Neusa Sica da Rocha
Neusa Sica da Rocha
Neusa Sica da Rocha
Age and resilience amid COVID-19 pandemic adversity: the mediating roles of quality of life, spirituality, and depressive symptoms
Frontiers in Psychology
COVID-19
resilience
older adults
quality of life
spirituality
title Age and resilience amid COVID-19 pandemic adversity: the mediating roles of quality of life, spirituality, and depressive symptoms
title_full Age and resilience amid COVID-19 pandemic adversity: the mediating roles of quality of life, spirituality, and depressive symptoms
title_fullStr Age and resilience amid COVID-19 pandemic adversity: the mediating roles of quality of life, spirituality, and depressive symptoms
title_full_unstemmed Age and resilience amid COVID-19 pandemic adversity: the mediating roles of quality of life, spirituality, and depressive symptoms
title_short Age and resilience amid COVID-19 pandemic adversity: the mediating roles of quality of life, spirituality, and depressive symptoms
title_sort age and resilience amid covid 19 pandemic adversity the mediating roles of quality of life spirituality and depressive symptoms
topic COVID-19
resilience
older adults
quality of life
spirituality
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1576150/full
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