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Table 3 Commonly reported themes about threats and benefits to wellbeing during lockdown

From: A qualitative study about the mental health and wellbeing of older adults in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic

Theme

Subtheme

Potential Threats to Wellbeing

ā€¢ Concerns about end-of-life, ageing, and mortality

ā€¢ Thinking about end-of-life concerns, worries about ageing and frailty

ā€¢ Grieving the loss of normality

ā€¢ Feeling life is on hold, craving normality, finding the state of the world upsetting

ā€¢ Healthcare concerns

ā€¢ Fear of hospitalisation, fear of seeking help due to perceived lack of service availability, fear of leaving the house due to COVID

ā€¢ Unable to engage with activities that protect wellbeing

ā€¢ Loss of leisure, lack of routine

Protective Activities and Behaviours

ā€¢ Slowing the pace of life

ā€¢ More time for exercise and new hobbies, time for introspection, and organising affairs

ā€¢ Benefits of routine and social responsibility

ā€¢ Feeling ā€œneededā€ and helping others, keeping busy with social obligations

ā€¢ Social interaction and support

ā€¢ Connecting with others, reciprocal offers of support

ā€¢ Utilising skills, experience and resources to cope

ā€¢ Using past coping skills and experience, accustomed to isolation, accessing practical resources