Personality traits, coping strategies and nonspecific psychological distress: considerations for mental health in older adults

Abstract

Aging leads to physical, cognitive, emotional and social changes manifested in a heterogeneous way and exposes the elderly to stressful situations.1 The way in which these modifications are experienced differs according to multiple factors, including personality and coping, facing a more or less stressful environment,2 which could be related to different levels of psychological distress. In addition, the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic has particularly affected the physical and mental health of older adults, representing a risk factor for the development of symptoms of anxiety and depression.3