Latest news with #PaolaZaninotto
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Old people in England are happier with their life now than before COVID. What's changed?
Older people in England are happier than ever – or at least happier than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study suggests. Researchers from University College London (UCL) tracked about 4,000 people ages 50 and up in the country from 2012 to 2023. They used survey data to measure people's happiness, life satisfaction, and eudaemonic well-being – a sense of purpose and meaning in life – as well as depressive symptoms. Perhaps unsurprisingly, older people's mental well-being declined and depression levels rose in late 2020 with pandemic restrictions in full force, according to the findings, which were published in the journal Aging & Mental Health. Related Around 20% of UK medical students consider quitting university because of poor mental health But the scales soon tipped the other way. Older Britons' mental well-being bounced back from late 2021 to 2023, with their life satisfaction and sense of purpose even eclipsing their pre-pandemic levels, the study found. The findings could "reflect a renewed appreciation for social connections and meaningful activities, as well as increased psychological resilience after a period of adversity," Paola Zaninotto, the study's lead author and a professor of medical and social statistics at UCL, said in a statement. Well-being may be subjective, but it's about more than a lack of mental health problems like depression. Researchers think of well-being as a combination of positive feelings like happiness, good relationships, and a sense of purpose and control in life that allow people to thrive. That may help explain why depression levels did not improve in tandem with mental well-being after the pandemic. Related This country is the most depressed in Europe. How does yours compare? Before the pandemic, 11.4 per cent of older adults experienced significant depressive symptoms, a level that surged to 27.2 per cent in late 2020 and then fell to 14.9 per cent from 2021 to 2023. The researchers theorised that this could be due to the after-effects of interrupted medical care and other services for older people during the pandemic. Notably, not everyone reaped the benefits of the post-pandemic mental health boom. Adults in their 50s and less affluent people reported being worse off than their older and wealthier peers – possibly because their well-being levels were already lower before the pandemic. After the pandemic, people over 75 also saw smaller improvements in well-being and depression levels, possibly due to "persistent vulnerabilities" such as health problems, slower mental adaptation to the crisis, and a hit to their social lives, researchers said. Related Researchers identify new genetic risk factors for depression. Here's what that means The disparities underscore the "importance of tailored support policies for the immediate and lingering effects of pandemics on the well-being of our older population," Zaninotto said. The study has some limitations. Nearly all of the participants were white and about half were retired, which means the findings may not reflect the experiences of other groups. Even so, the findings are in line with previous research that shows life satisfaction has risen slightly in the UK since the early 1980s. Related Hospital admissions for mental health increase by 65% in a decade among young people In 2024, the United Kingdom ranked 20th of 143 countries in the annual World Happiness Report from University of Oxford, which tracks people's life satisfaction. Older adults may be providing a boost. The UK's older adults are now "significantly happier than the young," the 2024 report found, a trend that is mirrored in Norway, Sweden, Germany, Spain, and France.
Sky News
12-02-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Older people in England happier and more satisfied now than before COVID, researchers say
Older people are "happier, more satisfied, and have a greater sense of purpose" than before the COVID-19 pandemic, a study has found. Experts analysed data from a long-term study, the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, tracking the wellbeing of 3,999 people aged 50 in England over time. The researchers found that those surveyed reported that their happiness, eudaemonic wellbeing - which measures whether life feels worthwhile - and life satisfaction all plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Paola Zaninotto, professor of medical and social statistics at UCL's Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, said "remarkably" people reported higher happiness, wellbeing and satisfaction since then. "As many would expect, we found that wellbeing declined during the pandemic, and instances of depression rose," she said. "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." The study did find levels of depression among the 50-year-olds surveyed have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Around 11.4% reported depressive symptoms before COVID-19, which rose to 27.2% in late 2020. Post-pandemic, the study found levels of depression had fallen to 14.9% - still above pre-COVID figures. Ms Zaninotto added that "the pandemic had a profound effect on the wellbeing of older people in England," but added "we can only speculate on the reasons" why those surveyed reported feeling better after COVID-19. "It perhaps could reflect a renewed appreciation for social connections and meaningful activities, as well as increased psychological resilience after a period of adversity," she said. "Improved health security following widespread vaccinations could also have contributed to this positive shift. "We saw marked differences by age and affluence, underscoring the importance of tailored support policies for the immediate and lingering effects of pandemics on the well-being of our older population." The study was published in the journal Aging and Mental Health.
The Independent
12-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Older generations happier now than pre-Covid, study finds
Older adults in England have reported elevated levels of happiness, life satisfaction, and purpose compared to pre-pandemic times, according to new research. Experts suggest that navigating the Covid-19 crisis may have fostered a renewed appreciation for social connections and meaningful activities for the older generation. The findings come from an analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, which tracks the wellbeing of individuals aged 50 and over. While the study reveals a positive shift in overall wellbeing, researchers also noted that depression rates remain slightly higher than pre-2020 levels. This suggests a complex picture of post-pandemic mental health among older adults, with increased happiness and purpose coexisting alongside lingering mental health challenges. Figures from 3,999 people show that self reported ratings for happiness; eudaemonic wellbeing – which measures whether a life feels worthwhile; and life satisfaction all plummeted during the pandemic. But they found that all aspects of positive wellbeing improved in a statistically significant way post-pandemic. And measures tracking eudaemonic wellbeing and life satisfaction were significantly higher than before the pandemic. By contrast, levels of depression among the group have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Some 11.4 per cent reported depressive symptoms before Covid-19 and during the pandemic this short up to 27.2 per cent in late 2020. But the latest measures show that post-pandemic levels of depression fell to 14.9 per cent among the group studied, according to the study which has been published in the journal Aging and Mental Health. 'Our research showed that the pandemic had a profound effect on the well-being of older people in England,' said study lead author Paola Zaninotto, professor of medical and social statistics at UCL's Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. '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. 'We saw marked differences by age and affluence, underscoring the importance of tailored support policies for the immediate and lingering effects of pandemics on the well-being of our older population.' Figures from the Office for National Statistics' National Wellbeing Dashboard show that between July and September 2024, around one in 20 (4.7 per cent) of UK adults report they have low levels of satisfaction with their lives. A smaller proportion (3.6 per cent) gave a rating of 'low' when asked how worthwhile they feel the things they do in life are. Meanwhile, 7.7 per cent rated their happiness the previous day as 'low'. More adults in the UK reported feeling 'high anxiety yesterday' in July to September 2024 (22.5 per cent) compared to July to September 2019 (20.4 per cent). And the proportion of adults in the UK reporting some evidence of depression or anxiety has increased in the long term, according to the ONS. Some 22.6 per cent reported some evidence of depression or anxiety in 2022 to 2023, compared to 19.7 per cent in 2017 to 2018.
Euronews
12-02-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Old people in England are happier with their life now than before COVID. What's changed?
Older people in England are happier than ever – or at least happier than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study suggests. Researchers from University College London (UCL) tracked about 4,000 people ages 50 and up in the country from 2012 to 2023. They used survey data to measure people's happiness, life satisfaction, and eudaemonic well-being – a sense of purpose and meaning in life – as well as depressive symptoms. Perhaps unsurprisingly, older people's mental well-being declined and depression levels rose in late 2020 with pandemic restrictions in full force, according to the findings, which were published in the journal Aging & Mental Health. But the scales soon tipped the other way. Older Britons' mental well-being bounced back from late 2021 to 2023, with their life satisfaction and sense of purpose even eclipsing their pre-pandemic levels, the study found. The findings could 'reflect a renewed appreciation for social connections and meaningful activities, as well as increased psychological resilience after a period of adversity,' Paola Zaninotto, the study's lead author and a professor of medical and social statistics at UCL, said in a statement. How is 'happiness' defined? Well-being may be subjective, but it's about more than a lack of mental health problems like depression. Researchers think of well-being as a combination of positive feelings like happiness, good relationships, and a sense of purpose and control in life that allow people to thrive. That may help explain why depression levels did not improve in tandem with mental well-being after the pandemic. Before the pandemic, 11.4 per cent of older adults experienced significant depressive symptoms, a level that surged to 27.2 per cent in late 2020 and then fell to 14.9 per cent from 2021 to 2023. The researchers theorised that this could be due to the after-effects of interrupted medical care and other services for older people during the pandemic. Notably, not everyone reaped the benefits of the post-pandemic mental health boom. Adults in their 50s and less affluent people reported being worse off than their older and wealthier peers – possibly because their well-being levels were already lower before the pandemic. After the pandemic, people over 75 also saw smaller improvements in well-being and depression levels, possibly due to 'persistent vulnerabilities' such as health problems, slower mental adaptation to the crisis, and a hit to their social lives, researchers said. Older adults are happier than the young The disparities underscore the 'importance of tailored support policies for the immediate and lingering effects of pandemics on the well-being of our older population,' Zaninotto said. The study has some limitations. Nearly all of the participants were white and about half were retired, which means the findings may not reflect the experiences of other groups. Even so, the findings are in line with previous research that shows life satisfaction has risen slightly in the UK since the early 1980s. In 2024, the United Kingdom ranked 20th of 143 countries in the annual World Happiness Report from University of Oxford, which tracks people's life satisfaction. Older adults may be providing a boost. The UK's older adults are now 'significantly happier than the young,' the 2024 report found, a trend that is mirrored in Norway, Sweden, Germany, Spain, and France.
Euronews
12-02-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Why are old people in this country happier now than before COVID?
Older adults in England reported better mental well-being after the pandemic, but also slightly elevated depression rates. ADVERTISEMENT Older people in England are happier than ever – or at least happier than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study suggests. Researchers from University College London (UCL) tracked about 4,000 people ages 50 and up in the country from 2012 to 2023. They used survey data to measure people's happiness, life satisfaction, and eudaemonic well-being – a sense of purpose and meaning in life – as well as depressive symptoms. Perhaps unsurprisingly, older people's mental well-being declined and depression levels rose in late 2020 with pandemic restrictions in full force, according to the findings, which were published in the journal Aging & Mental Health. But the scales soon tipped the other way. Older Britons' mental well-being bounced back from late 2021 to 2023, with their life satisfaction and sense of purpose even eclipsing their pre-pandemic levels, the study found. The findings could 'reflect a renewed appreciation for social connections and meaningful activities, as well as increased psychological resilience after a period of adversity,' Paola Zaninotto, the study's lead author and a professor of medical and social statistics at UCL, said in a statement. How is 'happiness' defined? Well-being may be subjective, but it's about more than a lack of mental health problems like depression. Researchers think of well-being as a combination of positive feelings like happiness, good relationships, and a sense of purpose and control in life that allow people to thrive. That may help explain why depression levels did not improve in tandem with mental well-being after the pandemic. Before the pandemic, 11.4 per cent of older adults experienced significant depressive symptoms, a level that surged to 27.2 per cent in late 2020 and then fell to 14.9 per cent from 2021 to 2023. The researchers theorised that this could be due to the after-effects of interrupted medical care and other services for older people during the pandemic. Notably, not everyone reaped the benefits of the post-pandemic mental health boom. Adults in their 50s and less affluent people reported being worse off than their older and wealthier peers – possibly because their well-being levels were already lower before the pandemic. After the pandemic, people over 75 also saw smaller improvements in well-being and depression levels, possibly due to 'persistent vulnerabilities' such as health problems, slower mental adaptation to the crisis, and a hit to their social lives, researchers said. Older adults are happier than the young The disparities underscore the 'importance of tailored support policies for the immediate and lingering effects of pandemics on the well-being of our older population,' Zaninotto said. The study has some limitations. Nearly all of the participants were white and about half were retired, which means the findings may not reflect the experiences of other groups. Even so, the findings are in line with previous research that shows life satisfaction has risen slightly in the UK since the early 1980s. ADVERTISEMENT In 2024, the United Kingdom ranked 20th of 143 countries in the annual World Happiness Report from University of Oxford, which tracks people's life satisfaction. Older adults may be providing a boost. The UK's older adults are now 'significantly happier than the young,' the 2024 report found, a trend that is mirrored in Norway, Sweden, Germany, Spain, and France.
