"How I would like to forget": Lived experiences of traumatic and stressful life events among older adults in Peru.

Abstract

Traumatic and stressful life events can have lasting effects on mental health, particularly among older adults in low-resource settings. In Latin America, there is limited qualitative evidence capturing the lived experiences of these events. This study explores how older adults in Peru reflect on traumatic and stressful events throughout their lives, and how these experiences continue to shape their mental health in later life. This qualitative study was nested within the Global Excellence in COPD Outcomes (GECo) study in Lima, Peru. We conducted semi-structured, narrative-based interviews with 38 older adults (≥60 years) with moderate to severe symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 ≥ 10), anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory ≥ 16) or a history of mental health treatment. Four main categories emerged: (1) violence (emotional, physical or sexual), (2) abandonment or loss of close relatives, (3) onset of severe illness or disability and (4) other miscellaneous life disruptions. Participants described their memories of past stressful events as deeply embedded in current thoughts and, in some cases, as shaping how they experience certain emotions in the present. Addressing trauma in older adults may improve well-being in low-resource settings. Recognizing the enduring impact of life-course stressors is crucial for culturally sensitive mental health interventions.