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Negotiating agency and belonging during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic: an interview study among older adults in England, UK.

Wenning, B; Polidano, K; Mallen, C; Dikomitis, L

Negotiating agency and belonging during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic: an interview study among older adults in England, UK. Thumbnail


Authors

B Wenning

K Polidano

L Dikomitis



Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the agency of older adults and their strategies to restructure ways of being and belonging in a rapidly and radically changed social environment during the UK's first COVID-19 lockdown in Spring 2020.

DESIGN: Qualitative study consisting of semi-structured interviews. Findings were derived from a thematic analysis of interview transcripts. We also established a patient and public involvement and engagement group who advised on study design, interview topic guide and interpretation of findings.

SETTING: Interviews were conducted online with older adults in the UK through their platform of choice in Spring 2020 in England, UK.

PARTICIPANTS: We conducted 28 interviews (16 women, 12 men) with older adults over the age of 70 years. Our participants were mostly white, middle class adults.

RESULTS: From the data, we constructed three strategies that older adults used to employ agency and create spaces of belonging in their social networks despite lockdown restrictions. First, participants created a sense of belonging by being 'good' members of society who were knowledgeable about COVID-19. Second, older adults created new ways to socially engage with the wider community. Finally, older adults actively restructured social networks to preserve a sense of belonging.

CONCLUSIONS: Older adults are actively and creatively carving a space of belonging during the societal upheaval in response to the COVID-19 lockdown and public health restrictions. Rather than internalising potential exclusionary messages based on their age, older adults instead used their agency to reimagine and transform spheres of belonging.

Acceptance Date Apr 7, 2022
Publication Date May 9, 2022
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal BMJ Open
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Pages e060405 - ?
DOI https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060405
Keywords qualitative research; mental health; public health; social medicine
Publisher URL https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/5/e060405