Psychosocial Predictors of Anxiety and Depression in Community-Dwelling Older Adults During a Prolonged Infectious Disease Crisis

Infectious-disease-related stress is multidimensional, extending beyond fear of infection to include social-participation disruption and relational strain. Findings highlight that different types of social support exert distinct protective effects through function-specific mechanisms, reinforcing the importance of targeted intervention design. Practical implications include strengthening emotional-support infrastructure, implementing hybrid digital-offline outreach models, and prioritizing resource allocation for medically vulnerable older adults as part of preparedness planning for future prolonged public-health emergencies.