Time perspective perception specific and maladaptation in elderly under uncertainty conditions during pandemic emergency

The purpose of the study - to determine the specifics of experiencing psychological stress, the time perspective and symptoms of adaptation disorders in older people in a pandemic emergency compared to the active adult population. At the first stage, 587 people were examined using the PSM-25 scale, then 100 respondents with maladaptive stress levels (sum ≥155 points) were selected. The main group consisted of 50 people aged 60 to 74 years (average age 65±2,7 years), 50 people aged 18 to 44 years (average age 32±3,8 years) were included in comparison group, who were examined with using the SCL-90-R questionnaire for assessing psychopathological symptoms and the ZTPI questionnaire for assessing the perception of time perspective. The presence of adaptation disorders in both groups was revealed. In the elderly group, the activation of the perception of the positive past was established, which can be an adaptive resource, and the greater severity of the fatalistic perception of the present, which causes passive overcoming with stress and narrows the adaptive capabilities of the elderly. The results of the study make it possible to identify potential «targets» of psychotherapeutic work with the population in conditions of pandemic stress, taking into account the age factor.