COVID-19 restrictions lifting and the health of older adults: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment

Abstract

We investigated the health changes in older adults after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. Utilising a quasi-natural experiment design based on pandemic restrictions lifting in China and South Korea from 2020 to 2022, we analysed an existing data set of 1 148 older adult participants. The data set included variables on demographic variables, self-rated health, allostatic load, and depression. The data were analysed utilising the propensity score matching-difference in differences (PSM-DID) method for empirical testing to examine the contribution of the lifting of pandemic restrictions on the health of older adults. The results showed that the lifting of the pandemic restrictions significantly improved the physical health and mental health of older adults, with lower depression scores. Heterogeneity tests indicated that younger, female, lower-income, and those suffering from chronic diseases benefited more from the lifting of the pandemic restrictions. The gradual recovery of older adults’ health in the post-pandemic era is an important phenomenon. There but there is still a need for more research on the potential health impacts of pandemic lockdown measures to inform health supports for older adults.