Pandemic in Indonesian older people: The implication for sleep deprivation, loss of appetite, and psychosomatic complaints

Abstract

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals were concerned about being infected. Meanwhile, the older people felt isolated due to the detrimental effect on their mental and physical health. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the mental health issues suffered by the older people during the COVID-19 pandemic, the implication for sleep deprivation, loss of appetite, and psychosomatic complaints. Methods: This was a descriptive-analytic study using a cross-sectional approach to find the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The population of this study was older people (those aged ≥60 years) living in urban areas in West Java and Jakarta. The sample size was measured with the Lemeshow formula using a 95% confidence interval. A total of 259 older people participated in this study in cluster random sampling selection. Questionnaires were distributed to study participants consisting of sociodemographic characteristics, general anxiety disorder, history of chronic illness, COVID-19 related psychological concern, self-reported losing appetite, self-reported sleep deprivation and psychosomatic assessment. Statistical analysis used descriptive and logistic regression analysis. Results: The average age of study participants is 65.3 years old (SD ± 6.8; min-max = 60 to 89 years old). Multivariable logistic regression model showed that sleep deprivation is significantly associated with non-college education background (OR = 2.28; 95% CI = 1.23 to 4.61), anxiety (OR = 7.09; 95% CI = 3.57 to 14.08), and the existence of chronic illness (OR = 2.75; 95% CI = 1.44 to 5.26). Subsequently, the psychosomatic symptom was associated with anxiety (OR = 5.27; 95% CI = 2.75 to 10.11) and chronic illness (OR = 2.80; 95%CI = 1.47 to 5.32). Loss appetite was associated with non-college education background (OR = 2.50; 95% CI = 1.16 to 5.41), anxiety (OR = 10.41; 95% CI = 5.01 to 21.63), and the existence of chronic illness (OR = 3.60; 95% CI = 1.72 to 7.55). The analysis showed that none of the COVID-19 related fear is associated with a sleep disorder, loss of appetite, and psychosomatic symptoms. Conclusions: Sociodemographic factors, anxiety and medical factors contribute to the risk of mental health issues in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, implication for sleep deprivation, loss of appetite, and psychosomatic complaints.