Page 98 - IJPS-11-5

International Journal of
Population Studies Older adults, gender, and emotions during pandemic

1.3. The role of isolation in amplifying fear study is guided by the following research questions:

Prolonged isolation during lockdowns significantly How did fear of COVID-19 evolve among older adults
nd
exacerbated fear and anxiety across populations (Pietrabissa throughout the time study (between the 92 day of
th
& Simpson, 2020). Brooks et al. (2020) identify key factors social isolation and the 155 day)?
contributing to this psychological distress, including social (ii) What factors contributed to gender differences in the
disconnection, disrupted routines, and uncertainty about expression and experience of fear?
the future. These stressors were particularly pronounced in To address these questions, this research applied
older adults, who faced heightened risks of severe illness a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative
and death. Research in Buenos Aires highlights how techniques and qualitative analyses of participants’
isolation severed critical support networks, leaving many narratives. This methodological design allows for a more
older adults feeling vulnerable and powerless (Etchevers comprehensive understanding of how fear fluctuated over
et al., 2020). time, how it differed by gender, and how broader social
Isolation’s psychological impacts extend beyond factors influenced individual emotional experiences. By
individual experiences, influencing collective emotional integrating sociological insights with empirical evidence,
climates. Bericat (2016) emphasizes the relational nature of this study aims to contribute to the growing body of
emotions, noting that fear often emerges from breakdown research on the emotional dimensions of crises and their
in social bonds and shared experiences. During COVID- implications for public health policies.
19, this dynamic was evident in the collective anxiety 2. Data and methods
surrounding economic instability and public health crises.
Fitzpatrick et al. (2020) further illustrate how these shared The qualitative data were analyzed through a cross-sectional
fears molded societal responses to the pandemic, fostering approach at each collection point and a longitudinal
both solidarity and division within communities. observation of continuities and changes over time.
Following an inductive, data-driven approach, this analysis
1.4. Fear and public health behavior facilitated a deeper understanding of participants’ social
Fear also played a critical role in influencing public health experiences (Holland, 2011). Although the longitudinal
behaviors during the pandemic. Mertens et al. (2020) analysis focused on individual cases to observe changes in
describe fear as an adaptive response that motivates emotions and perceptions of loss over time, we were also
protective behaviors, such as mask-wearing and social interested in identifying specific associations between fear
distancing. However, excessive fear can lead to maladaptive and loss perception. To achieve this, an aggregated analysis
outcomes, including panic, stigmatization, and resistance strategy was applied. This aggregated approach, while less
to public health measures. Brooks et al. (2020) warn that focused on individual cases, enabled us to observe patterns
poorly managed fear can undermine trust in authorities and in emotional subgroups (with/without fear) relative to
exacerbate societal tensions, highlighting the importance temporal fluctuations.
of clear communication and targeted interventions. By incorporating this aggregated analysis, the study
In Buenos Aires, public health campaigns sought to was enriched by capturing associations between emotions
leverage fear as a motivator for compliance with lockdown and perceptions within a dynamic context. This approach
measures. However, the psychological toll of prolonged complements rather than replaces the longitudinal findings
isolation and uncertainty often leads to emotional fatigue, by emphasizing the effects of fear on loss perception,
reducing adherence to guidelines over time (GCBA, 2020b). regardless of each case’s temporality. As will be shown
These dynamics accentuate the need for approaches that later, some participants experienced fluctuations in their
balance the use of fear in public health messaging with emotional responses across waves, reflecting the inherent
strategies to support emotional resilience and well-being emotional variability present throughout the pandemic.
(Ornell et al., 2020).
2.1. Sampling
1.5. Research objectives and key questions The data for this study were obtained from a fixed panel

Research questions of this study are as follows: sample, ensuring that the same individuals participated
(i) This study seeks to analyze how fear evolved among in three waves of data collection. The longitudinal design
older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, with incorporates the influence of time, a critical factor for
a particular focus on gender differences, given the capturing changes experienced by subjects under isolation
paradox that women reported greater fear despite men conditions. The sample comprised men and women aged
experiencing higher mortality rates. Specifically, this 65 and older, residing in 45 of the 48 neighborhoods of

Volume 11 Issue 5 (2025) 92 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.5686