A Qualitative Study Exploring Negative Affect in Older Adults Residing in Long-Term Care Facilities

Purpose: To explore the experience of negative affect amongst older adults residing in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Methods: A total of 38 participants aged 65 years or above from seven LTCFs in the Henan Province were interviewed in an unstructured manner by using the phenomenological research method. Data were analyzed by the Colaizzi method with NVivo11.0 software. Results: Three main themes emerged: (a) loneliness (lack of family affection, no common topic, and few entertainment activities), (b) chronic anxiety (suffering from disease, fear of death, and interpersonal tension), (c) subthreshold depression (diminished self-care ability, high economic pressure, and spousal bereavement). Conclusions: Older adults residing in LTCFs experienced the negative affect of loneliness, chronic anxiety, and subthreshold depression. By identifying the specific psychological issues of older adults, tailored practical initiatives need to be developed in order to reduce negative affect, improve psychological resilience, and enhance subjective well-being of older adults.