Resilience in older adults in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic: an integrative review

Objective: To analyze the knowledge produced in the scientific literature about older adults' resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This is an integrative literature review with primary studies published in full, in Portuguese, English and/or Spanish, between 2020 and 2022, in PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, Web of Science and PsycINFO-APA databases. The articles were exported to the Rayyan system. The selected studies were read and entered into an instrument whose extracted data were authors, year, objective, study design, sample, mean age, resilience, main results and conclusion. In the critical assessment to determine the methodological quality and level of evidence, for qualitative studies, the Guidelines for Critical Review Form: Qualitative Studies were used, for quantitative studies, the Guideline Critical Review Form for Quantitative Studies, and mixed studies, the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results: Correspond to the final analysis of the nine published articles. Regarding coping strategies, physical activities stand out, such as walking, Tai-chi, running, resistance exercises and cycling; communication technology use, such as games, video sites, teleconferences, watching TV and communication application use and leisure activities, such as reading, playing musical instruments, meditation, the art of sewing, gardening and painting and lifestyle, keeping busy, seeking social support, eating healthy, and maintaining household routines. Conclusion: Older adults were relatively resilient during this pandemic. Resilience was an important factor for maintaining the well-being and quality of life of this population, with emphasis on physical activity and technology use.