HAGIS: COVID-19 Impact & Recovery Study
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The COVID-19 pandemic impacted everyone in some way. The purpose of this study was to explore how the pandemic impacted the way those aged 50+ live their lives in Scotland. The survey measured COVID-19 concerns relating to restrictions, financial worries, concerns for the future and vaccine attitudes. The survey then explored decision making relating to visiting family and friends, attending health appointments, returning to the workplace, and savings and spending patterns.
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The study provided understanding of how older people negotiated their response to different aspects of their life in this ‘new normal’. This has contributed to policy debate and public health messaging in Scotland.
This study was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), as part of UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) rapid response to COVID-19. UKRI ESRC supports this study as part of their aim to further understand the impact of COVID-19 on the UK population.
Work Package 1: Development of Validated COVID-19 Fear Measure
Work Package 2: Health Behaviours & Health Service Engagement
Emerging literature from the USA and Canada indicate widespread COVID-19 fear. However little is known about its prevalence in the UK, or if it is socially graded. Understanding the prevalence and intersectionality of COVID-19 fear is imperative for public health messaging and policy responses to the impact of COVID-19 on individuals and re-engagement with society.
We developed the COVID-19 fear survey instrument, and co-produced the interpretation of findings and recommendations for policy and practice via an e-Delphi consultation.
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COVID-19 fear is more widespread than fear of other more prevalent health conditions, e.g. seasonal flu. COVID fear may be more prevalent in those with predictors of poor outcomes from COVID-19, e.g. those who are older, overweight, deprived, or with multi- morbidities. It is anticipated that COVID-19 fear may have both positive and detrimental effects on engagement with health services.
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We explored predictors of COVID-19 fear, and the association between COVID fear and health service engagement, such as GP and hospital attendance and participation in the cancer screening programmes.
Work Package 3: Social Connectedness & Technology Use
Social isolation and distancing measures brought by COVID-19 have impacted social connectedness and as a result, provided an impetus for older people to explore the potential of information and communication technology (ICT) to stay connected.
We explored older people’s lived experience of social connectedness and their use of ICTs during lockdown, probing individual motivations and exploring the extent to which COVID-19 restrictions may have impacted on, or relate to, digital divides.
Work Package 4: Return to Work, Consumption & Savings Behaviours
The COVID-19 pandemic changed where and how we work, save and spend, including how we travel between home, work, shops and other recreational activities (e.g. restaurants, cinema, pubs).
We looked at how COVID-19 fear affected willingness to return to a physical workplace other than home, how individuals have renegotiated their consumption and saving behaviour in the light of COVID-19, including willingness to travel.