Latest news with #Zaninotto
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.
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.
The Guardian
12-02-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Life satisfaction among over-50s in England higher than before pandemic, study finds
People 50 and over in England have greater life satisfaction and sense life is more worthwhile than before the Covid pandemic, although depression is more common, researchers have found. Prof Paola Zaninotto, first author of the research from University College London, said the study showed wellbeing and mental health worsened between the early stages of the pandemic and later in 2020, contrary to some reports. However, this situation subsequently improved. 'It is good to see the positive wellbeing has gone back to normal or even better than normal,' Zaninotto said, although levels of depression in older adults still higher than before the pandemic suggest more help is needed, she added. Writing in the journal Aging & Mental Health, Zaninotto and colleagues report how they analysed data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing – a continuing research project involving a nationally representative group of people aged 50 and older. In particular, they looked at survey data collected before the pandemic, in mid 2020 and then late 2020, and again from late 2021 onwards, allowing researchers to explore the psychological impact of the crisis. The results, based on responses from about 4,000 participants, reveal levels of happiness, life satisfaction and the feeling life is worthwhile all fell as the pandemic began, with a further decrease in late 2020. However these levels bounced back in subsequent surveys, with the average scores for life satisfaction and a sense that life is worthwhile higher than before the pandemic. By contrast the estimated proportion of participants with depression increased in the early stages of the pandemic, climbing from 11.4% to 19.3%, before rising to 27.2% in late 2020. While prevalence fell in subsequent surveys it remained above pre-pandemic levels at 14.9%. The team found rebounds in positive wellbeing and depression were generally less pronounced among those aged 75 and over, while measures of positive wellbeing were consistently lower for participants aged 50–59 at all time points compared with older groups. Participants in their 50s also experienced the greatest increase in the estimated prevalence of depression during the height of the pandemic. 'There are lots of midlife stressors for this age group, including, for example, financial responsibilities,' said Zaninotto, adding people in their 50s also often experience work and caring-related pressures. The researchers add the prevalence of depression was consistently higher, and measures of positive wellbeing consistently lower, in the poorest participants, during all waves of the survey. However declines in positive wellbeing during the height of the pandemic were greatest for those in medium- and high-wealth groups, with these groups also showing a greater rebound in later surveys. 'We speculated that is probably because they couldn't do the things that maybe brought them more satisfaction or happiness, such as going to theatre, socialising and all that, whereas the people [who are] less affluent don't have as much of those things so maybe they, in terms of disruption to their lifestyle, didn't suffer as much,' said Zaninotto. Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said 'It is encouraging, and perhaps unsurprising, that as the pandemic receded, older people felt more psychologically well.' But she said it was concerning that the study suggested the older you are, the smaller the improvements in positive wellbeing and rates of depression, and that, in general, rates of depression in older people were above pre-pandemic levels. She also highlighted a previous Age UK report that your chances of being treated for mental health problems reduces in later life. 'This report is a reminder that there is a lot to be positive about in later life, despite stereotypes about decline and misery,' Abrahams said. 'However, we must also take mental health in older people seriously, making sure that those that can benefit from treatment are able to access it.'
