Pandemic-Induced Occupational Disruption and Association With Health in Japanese Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused occupational disruption and adverse health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults. This study aimed to investigate the extent of occupational disruption in older adults and its relationship to health-related quality of life (QOL), depression, and frailty. In this cross-sectional study, retention rates in four activity domains and relationships with health outcomes were examined in Japanese older adults aged ≥65 years (n=163) using canonical correlation analysis (CCA) and mixed linear models. More than 25% of activities were restricted compared with the pre-pandemic period. CCA demonstrated correlations between four retention rates and health outcomes (canonical correlation =.42, p =.0003). Retention in instrumental and social activities independently predicted QOL and depression (p