Kukiat Tudpor, Worawit Jitsukka, Chalard Chantarsombat, Kemika Sombateyotha, Ranee Wongkongdech, Adisorn Wongkongdech, Thanyarat Chaiyakarm, Songkramchai Leethongdeesakul, Nutchanun Kamonroek, Narongsakdi Kuboonya-aragsa, Krissanachai Kimchai & Niruwan Turnbull
Psychological stress is a process of behavioral and physiological responses to internal and environmental changes. Older persons are group of people of difficulty in adaptation to such changes due to their physical and social limitations. Pandemics of other infectious diseases had different impacts on psychological stress levels depending on their socio-demographic and geographical variations. This present study was aimed to investigate effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on psychological stress levels in older persons living in rural area (Baan Waai) and rurban area (Khamrieng, the area with diffusion of urban and rural activities) in Maha Sarakham province, Thailand. Spatial distribution of psychological stress and socio-demographic data were collected using Global Positioning System (GPS) and were mapped together using the Geographic Information System (GIS) program. Results depicted that the older persons living in the rurban area had a higher psychological stress level. The psychological stress levels were predicted by occupational and economic statuses, especially in the rurban area due to its predominant dependency on trading products and services. In conclusion, living in rural area with job and adequate income were relieving factors of psychological stress in the older persons during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period.