Average or extraordinary? A tale of two studied samples' anxiety related recovery work after COVID-19.

Introduction: A global pandemic is a hardship and mentally distressing event for any of us, and particularly for people living at a greater risk of post-infectious health harms. Public discourse about COVID-19 largely characterizes older people as a physically and mentally vulnerable demographic. Research findings largely now to the contrary consider age an asset, a perspective in keeping with Seligman's idea that everyday people can also see the positive side of life and act accordingly when faced with events that are neither positive nor within their control. With this in mind, we explore how average older people were managing pandemic-related anxiety when mandated COVID-19 public health measures were lifted. Methods: Our primary study sample was a national census-based quota sample ( Results: Convenience sample responders were largely residing in Ontario ( Discussion: Average older Canadians managed their anxiety as capably as healthier, better educated, and generally older peers. Our findings are explored through a lens of positivity, not vulnerability. Methodological provocations are offered for future research, including post-pandemic between-sampling comparisons.