Age Differences in Psychological Distress After Multiple Disaster Exposures: The Effect of Multidimensional Negative COVID-19 Impacts

Objective:This study examined how the multidimensional negative coronavirus disease (COVID-19) impacts contextualized the age differences in psychological distress following exposures to tornadoes and the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods:Data were from a 2-wave panel study conducted at T1 (October 2020-August 2021) and T2 (May-August 2022). Latent class analysis was conducted to explore the patterns of negative COVID-19 impacts based on a sample of 1134 at T1. Negative binomial regressions were performed to examine the age differences in psychological distress at T2, based on the working sample (N = 554), as well as the moderating effect of identified class membership, with baseline psychological distress controlled.Results:Three latent classes were identified: class 1 "low overall impacts," class 2 "moderate overall impacts with high emotional distress," and class 3 "severe overall impacts." Individuals ages 65 and over reported lower psychological distress at T2 relative to those ages 18-34 and 35-49. However, compared to people ages 18-34, 35-49, and 50-64, those ages 65 and over reported the greatest increases in T2 psychological distress if they had experienced moderate or severe overall COVID-19 impacts at T1.Conclusion:There is a pressing need for mental health interventions that are tailored to multi-disaster scenarios and age-related differences in long-term disaster recovery.