bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PERSONALITY AND COGNITIVE AGING
Authors: Graham Eileen K , Scott Stacey B , Spiro Avron
Published: November 2019

Understanding when, how, and for who, cognitive decline occurs is essential to understanding how to optimize quality of life among aging adults. It is well known that there is large variation in cognitive change: the pace and direction of change differs greatly across individuals. Personality traits are one key factor that account for some of these individual differences. Individuals with high levels of certain characteristics are more or less likely to engage in lifestyle behaviors that may put them at greater or less risk of decline over time. The goal of our symposium is to present novel research in this area and discuss the implications for understanding personality and cognitive decline. First, Scott and colleagues will demonstrate a novel approach to personality measurement, and the extent to which there is longitudinal measurement invariance in these measures. This is an important first step in the study of change processes. Second, Terracciano and Sutin will test associations between personality traits and verbal fluency in aging adults, and whether these associations replicate across multiple large panel studies. Third, Graham and colleagues will investigate trajectories of cognitive decline, specifically whether personality is associated with decline both before and after a diagnosis of dementia. Fourth, James and colleagues will discuss the extent to which personality is associated with discordances between dementia diagnosis and neuropathology. All talks will focus on open science, reproducibility, replicability, and generalizability, consistent with GSA’s efforts toward these goals. Discussant Avron Spiro will contextualize these new findings and propose next steps.
PERCEIVED JOB DISCRIMINATION AND SLEEP HEALTH AMONG WORKING WOMEN: FINDINGS FROM THE SISTER STUDY
Authors: Lee Soomi , Chang Anne-Marie , Sandler Dale P , Buxton Orfeu M , Jackson Chandra L
Published: November 2019

Job discrimination is a social stressor that may lead to sleep health disparities in workers; however, limited research has examined the relationship, especially with specified sources of job discrimination. Using longitudinal data from the Sister Study, we tested the associations of perceived job discrimination (due to race, sex, age, and health conditions) with sleep health among working women (n=26,085). Among those without sleep difficulty at Time 1, race- and age-specific job discrimination was associated with increased odds of new onset sleep difficulty at Time 2. Moreover, among those without excessive sleepiness at Time 1, sex-, age-, and health-specific job discrimination predicted new onset of excessive sleepiness at Time 2. There was no association with sleep duration. We also found a dose-response relationship such that those who experienced job discrimination due to ≥3 reasons had greater odds of developing a sleep problem. Results suggest sleep health disparities emanating from the workplace.
DOES RECEIVING SUPPORT HURT? PAIN AND SLEEP IN OLDER ADULTS’ EVERYDAY LIVES
Authors: Huo Meng , Fuentecilla Jamie l , Leger kate , Fingerman Karen l
Published: November 2019

Pain is prevalent in late life and may cast negative impacts on older adults’ sleep. We examined this link in older adults’ everyday lives and asked whether receiving support on days when older adults had pain improved or worsened their sleep. We drew on the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study; over 300 adults aged 65+ reported on their pain, sleep and social support received throughout each day across 5 days. Multilevel models revealed that older adults in greater pain were more likely to nap throughout the day and to incur sleep disturbances at night. Older adults who slept better at night reported less pain the next day. The link between pain and sleep disturbances was stronger on days when older adults received support compared to days when they did not. This study adds to the literature regarding pain and sleep and explores what roles social factors play in this link.
A NETWORK ANALYSIS OF FRAILTY USING DATA FROM THE MEXICAN HEALTH AND AGING STUDY
Authors: Ramírez-Aldana Ricardo , García-Peña Carmen , Gutiérrez-Robledo Luis Miguel , Parra-Rodriguez Lorena , Gómez-Verján Juan Carlos , Pérez-Zepeda Mario Ulises
Published: November 2019

Frailty remains a challenge in the aging research area with a number of gaps in knowledge still to be filled. New approaches to its study have been proposed, including the one discussed in this article. We tested frailty as through the use of graphical probabilistic models (bayesian networks) with empirical data. Data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (main data 2012, mortality 2015) was used. Frailty was operationalized with a 35-deficit frailty index (FI). Analyzed nodes were the deficits, plus death and the total score of the FI. The edges, or ties, linking those nodes (set E) were obtained through structural learning, and an undirected discrete graph G (V, E) associated with a discrete graphical probabilistic model (Markov network) was derived. Structural learning was possible through hill-climbing (hc) and PC algorithms. Analyses were performed for the whole population and tertiles of the total FI score. The number of connections within nodes increased according to the tertile level of the total FI score. Groups of interconnected deficits increased as the FI score raised. Almost all deficits related to mobility were interconnected and death was not the most connected node. Frailty behaves as a nonlinear system under the looks of a complex network. Further research should aim to identify the nature of the interactions observed. This could contribute to the development of a conceptual framework that would allow specific interventions to mitigate the consequences of frailty in older adults to be developed.
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT IN OLD AGE: IMPACTS OF AGING UNDER INTERPERSONAL, MORAL, AND POLITICAL CONTEXTS
Authors: Lu Minjie , Zhang Xin
Published: November 2019

To promote successful aging, social engagement has been encouraged among older adults. Yet, thus far, research on older adults’ social engagement have been preoccupied with the close and intimate relationships between older adults and their families, friends, or caretakers. Little attention is being paid to how older adults may engage in peripheral social networks, civic activities, or public affairs. This symposium features four presentations that investigate older adults’ social engagement in these contexts. First, with the focus on interpersonal interaction with strangers, Yi Lu and colleagues examine the age differences in trustworthiness perception of unfamiliar faces. The second and third presentations focus on moral and political contexts. Minjie Lu will present the divergent impacts of age on the cognitive evaluations and emotional responses towards moral issues. Wong and Fung analyze older adults’ engagements in political discussions and actions and the factors that may promote these engagements. Last but not least, Nicole Fung and colleagues will present findings that generativity among older adults can promote sense of meanings and death acceptance, demonstrating the beneficial effects of social engagement in old age. Finally, Zhang will provide closing discussions about the implications and future directions of these presentations.
VIEWING TIME AND FACIAL TRUSTWORTHINESS PERCEPTIONS: GIVE IT A SECOND THINK MAY NOT WORK FOR OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Lu Yi , Ye Xu , Xiaowei Yin , Xin Zhang
Published: November 2019

Older adults tend to rate higher on trustworthiness of unfamiliar faces than younger adults. Contrary to the notion that it would be beneficial for them to have enough time to process, cognitive control theory suggests that older adults’ facial trustworthiness evaluation increases over time, making them more vulnerable to fraud. The present study aimed at exploring age differences in trustworthiness perception of unfamiliar faces, and how viewing time could impact. A 2 (age: old vs. young) ×2 (viewing time: 500 ms vs. 3000 ms) ×2 (facial trustworthiness: control vs. low trustworthiness) factorial design was conducted. As expected a significant three-way interaction revealed that viewing time only influenced older adults’ facial trustworthiness evaluation, and only when given shorter viewing time did older adults exhibit accurate facial trustworthiness ratings as younger adults. These findings suggest that a second think in facial perception may not work for older adults.
OLDER BLUES MUSICIANS
Authors: Marcus Michael
Published: November 2019

Older Blues musicians have provided inspiration to generations of younger musicians as well as their own contemporaries.
SUBJECTIVE AGING: SOMETHING UNIQUE OR JUST ANOTHER EXPRESSION OF GENERAL SELF-BELIEFS?
Authors: Klusmann Verena , Spuling Svenja M , Bowen Catherine E , Kornadt Anna E , Kessler Eva-Marie
Published: November 2019

Using data from the German Ageing Survey (adults aged 40‒85), this study tested the convergent and discriminant validity of subjective aging measures by comparing three different measures of subjective aging with one another and relating them to established measures of general self-beliefs (optimism, self-efficacy, subjective health) and subjective well-being (depression, affect). Correlations between subjective aging measures ranged from ‒.61 (amongst general self-perceptions of aging measures) to ‒.09, with subjective age being least related to the other measures. The highest overlap was observed between optimism and global self-perceptions of aging (.69) and it was for these global self-perceptions that the highest amount of variance could be explained by correlates in a regression analysis (R-square=.55). In contrast, only 10% of variance could be explained for subjective age. Our results underline the merit of taking the multidimensional nature of subjective aging into account since global measures appear less distinct from general personality traits.
DO SERIOUS HEALTH EVENTS CHANGE HOW WE VIEW OUR OWN AGING? ON THE ROLE OF CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS
Authors: Wolff Julia K , Spuling Svenja M , Beyer Ann-Kristin , Wiest Maja , Wurm Susanne
Published: November 2019

Several studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of views on aging (VoA) on health, while the reverse relationship is seldom in focus. Serious health events (e.g., myocardial infarction) are life-threatening and remind individuals of the finitude of life possibly changing their VoA. The present study investigates the effect of cardiovascular events (CVE) on longitudinal changes in VoA using pooled data of three waves of the German Ageing Survey (2008, 2011, 2014, age-range: 40-95 years). To account for alternative explanations, individuals without CVE were matched to the individuals with CVE (n = 202) using a propensity-score-matching approach. Individuals who experienced a CVE showed more adverse changes in three VoA indicators (aging associated with physical losses, ongoing development, felt age) than individuals without CVE. Results show that CVE can change how we view our own aging which in turn affects future health changes. Following a CVE people may benefit from promoting positive VoA.
YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL WISE, OLD PEOPLE FEEL ENERGETIC: COMPARING AGE STEREOTYPES AND SELF-EVALUATIONS ACROSS ADULTHOOD
Authors: Kornadt Anna E , Bowen Catherine E , Spuling Svenja M , Wiest Maja
Published: November 2019

Using questionnaire data from the MIDUS study (N=6.325) we examined the extent to which people in their late 20s, 40s, and 60s think that positive stereotypic “old” and “young” characteristics describe themselves, their age peers, and other age groups. A constellation of “old” characteristics (e.g., wise, caring, calm) was seen as more descriptive of older adults, while a constellation of “young” characteristics (e.g., healthy, energetic) was seen as more descriptive of younger adults. Self-evaluations were highly positive and largely consistent across age groups. Compared to their age peers, younger adults saw themselves as having as many positive “young” characteristics but more positive “old” characteristics whereas older adults saw themselves as having more positive “young” characteristics but fewer positive “old” characteristics. The results support the stability of the aging self despite the existence of age stereotypes and the role of negative age stereotypes as a frame of reference for making self-evaluations.
AGING IN LATIN AMERICA: A FOCUS ON MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES
Authors: Garcia Catherine , Aranda Maria P
Published: November 2019

Population aging is occurring rapidly across Latin America, a region that includes some of the world’s most racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse populations. Aging in this region is occurring in a context of high levels of poverty and income inequality, which has implications for disease risk, cognitive health, and overall well-being. This symposium focuses on Mexico and Colombia, two of Latin America’s largest middle-income countries, which have recently undergone rapid epidemiological and demographic transitions. The papers in this symposium examine a variety of health dimensions among older Latinos that include physiological functioning, cognition, and psychological and physical well-being. García uses the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine biomarkers known to predict health risk among Mexican-origin populations: Mexico-born living in Mexico, Mexico-born living in the U.S., and U.S.-born Mexican-Americans. Saenz examines the importance of education on late-life cognitive ability among Mexicans using data from the MHAS Cognitive Aging Ancillary Study. Using data from the Colombian Survey of Health, Well-Being, and Aging (SABE-Colombia), Ailshire examines variation in biological risk across key subgroups of the population. Osuna uses data from the Colombian National Quality of Life Survey (ENCV) to determine if social and economic inequalities are reflected in unequal health and well-being among older adults. Results highlight which Latin American populations have increased risk for poorer health, which merit further research and policy attention. The findings highlight the importance of understanding health and well-being in the rapidly growing older adult populations of Latin America.
BIOLOGICAL RISK PROFILES IN THE OLDER MEXICAN POPULATION
Authors: Garcia Catherine , Saenz Joseph , Ailshire Jennifer A , Wong Rebecca , Crimmins Eileen M
Published: November 2019

Research examining biological risk is critical given that both the Mexican and U.S. populations are aging. Biomarkers can help us understand underlying disease patterns among Mexican-origin individuals in Mexico and the U.S. to help inform disease-prevention efforts for these populations. Using data from the 2012 Mexican Health and Aging Study and the 2010/2012 Health and Retirement Study, we examine seven biomarkers known to predict health risk: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin, and C-reactive protein. Logistic regression models, controlling for age and sex, are used to predict high-risk for each biomarker among Mexico-born Mexicans, Mexico-born Mexican-Americans, and U.S.-born Mexican-Americans. Results show that Mexico-born Mexicans exhibit higher biological risk for systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, low HDL cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin, and inflammation than Mexico-born and U.S.-born Mexican-Americans. Additionally accounting for socioeconomic status and health behaviors did not explain differences in high-risk among Mexican-born Mexicans.
ENVEJECIMIENTO Y ESTRATOS: SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITY IN AGING IN COLOMBIA
Authors: Osuna Margarita , Ailshire Jennifer A
Published: November 2019

Colombia has the highest level of income inequality among Latin American countries, which likely translates into disparities in the aging experience. This study uses data on adults ages 60 and older from the 2017 National Survey of Quality of Life to examine socioeconomic stratification in physical health and psychological well-being. Colombians are assigned to estratos that reflect their residential location as well as social and economic position. Compared to those in the lowest estrato, older adults in the middle and high estratos are less likely to report having sensory impairment or difficulty with daily activities. They are also 1-2 times more likely to report feeling happy and calm. Those in the highest estratos are less likely to report feeling worried. Results suggest there is tremendous variation in the aging experience across socioeconomic strata and that older adults in the lowest strata are particularly disadvantaged with respect to health and well-being.
ENGAGEMENT AND EFFECTIVENESS OF USING MOBILE APP FOR DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT AMONG OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Chen Mei-Lan , Wu Shinyi , Lee Pey-Jiuan , Jin Haomiao
Published: November 2019

Mobile health applications (app) have shown to be beneficial for chronic disease management. However, few studies assessed older adults’ engagement in tracking self-management activities with app functions and effectiveness on improving their diabetes outcomes. This study investigated tracking patterns of each app function (blood sugar, blood pressure, diet, exercise, medication adherence etc.) in a graphic-based aging-friendly diabetes self-management app (IMTOP app) and associated the patterns with changes in HbA1c, self-care behavior, diabetes empowerment, and health promotion. The sample included 334 community-dwelling older adults with type 2 diabetes in Taiwan (mean age 64.57 ± 6.64 years) participated in the IMTOP training course that designed to motivate and train older adults with diabetes to use mobile tablets and apps. We performed trajectory analyses using SAS TRAJ procedure to identify distinct classes of individuals following similar longitudinal patterns on absence or presence of weekly app use for each individual app function. The relationships between the app engagement class memberships and 4- and 8-month diabetes health outcomes were assessed using an econometric regression analysis approach. The results showed the degree of app engagement on any single function was significantly and positively correlated with diabetes self-care scale scores (all p < .05). Only the engagement on the blood sugar function had statistically significant association with HbA1c improvements (p < .05). The app use was not associated with diabetes empowerment or health promotion. The study findings suggest any app function engagement significantly improved older adults’ overall self-management but blood sugar tracking is critical to improve HbA1c.
TRANSLATING RESEARCH TO PRACTICE: USING CHANGE MODEL TO IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY OF HEALTH ALERTS FOR CHRONIC ILLNESS
Authors: Lane Kari R , Rantz Marilyn J , Skubic Marjorie
Published: November 2019

Chronic illness is the primary reason for hospitalization and rehospitalization in the US today. Nearly 1/3 of older adults have 3 or more chronic illnesses. Chronic illnesses require significant self-management or management by nursing staff. This paper highlights the use of a change model to assist in sustaining nursing interventions in assisted living environments. We utilized embedded sensors measuring heart rate, respiratory rate, time in bed, restlessness in bed, and gait parameters to manage chronic illness. The embedded sensors use an algorithm to signify when a measure has changed for a resident, based on the past 2 weeks of data. Early health messages are emailed or texted to nursing staff. Nursing staff can use these messages as tools to further assess the resident’s condition. It was important to revisit the education, hold the staff accountable, phone in suggestions/reinforcement of what the alerts meant, and provide positive messages. This interdisciplinary study has been deployed in 6 assisted living settings (n=386) (facility-wide) in the midwest. We used a wait-list control group (n=482) of facilities awaiting sensor installation. Outcome variables included length of stay, hospitalizations, falls, and medication changes. Results included a decrease in all outcome variables length of stay 1.98 years longer (F=3.67; p=0.003); hospitalizations (F=2.15; p=0.048); falls (F=1.899; p=0.012); and medication changes (F=3.9; p=0.0008) when compared to the control group. We feel these results may benefit other clinicians in the future when implementing new protocols and practices.
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS FOR HOSPICE CARE OUTCOMES: PERSPECTIVES OF PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND PROVIDERS
Authors: Russell David , Baik Dawon , Jordan Lizeyka , Dooley Frances , Creber Ruth M Masterson
Published: November 2019

Use of hospice services in the U.S. has grown to cover an expanding number of patients with varying conditions and demographic characteristics. Notably, hospice agencies increasingly serve patients with diverse socio-cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Limited research has explored how these factors act to influence the course and outcomes of hospice care, or their role in shaping race/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in burdensome outcomes like acute hospitalization. This presentation uses the theoretical lens of Cultural Health Capital to explore how socio-cultural factors affect patient-provider interactions within the home hospice setting. Qualitative interviews were conducted with both providers (N=32) and patients/caregivers (N=7) at a large not-for-profit hospice agency in New York City. Themes identified from these interviews included prior knowledge and familiarity with hospice, family dynamics and social support, and linguistic and cultural barriers to care. Findings indicate the need for greater attention to socio-cultural influences on interactional dynamics within home hospice.
THE STRENGTH OF WEAKER TIES: HAVE WE BEEN IGNORING A RESOURCE FOR AGING ADULTS?
Authors: Fiori Katherine L , Huxhold Oliver , Webster Noah J , Antonucci Toni C
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine links between changes in social ties (close ties and weaker ties) and changes in positive and depressed affect across three waves in a large, representative sample of U.S. adults aged 40 and over (N = 802). Using trivariate dual-change score models, we found that a greater number of weaker ties was associated with higher numbers of close ties over time, and that the number of weaker ties was more strongly predictive of positive age-related changes in both aspects of well-being (i.e., less depressed affect and more positive affect) than the number of close ties. Our findings imply that focusing investment on the outer circles may have the unintended benefit of compensating for losses in the inner circle, and that contrary to popular theoretical orientations, weaker ties may offer older adults an avenue for both promoting positive affect and decreasing negative affect.
COHORT DIFFERENCES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF SEXUALITY AND EVALUATION OF ONE’S SEX LIFE IN LATE MIDLIFE
Authors: Kolodziejczak Karolina , Drewelies Johanna , Deeg Dorly J , Huisman Martijn , Gerstorf Denis
Published: November 2019

Age-related declines in multiple aspects of sex life are well documented, but we know little about historical change in key sexuality facets. We examine cohort differences in the perceived importance of sexuality and the evaluation of one’s sex life among middle-aged adults. We compare data from 55 to 64-year-olds in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) obtained in 1992–1993 (n = 718) vs. 2012–2013 (n = 860). Results revealed that later-born adults perceive sexuality as more important than their earlier-born peers. Effect sizes were small at the sample level (d < .15), but substantial for particular subpopulations (women without partner: d = .56). In zero-order models, later-born adults evaluated their sex life as slightly less pleasant, but differences did not hold when covarying relevant individual and cohort difference factors. We conclude that historical changes in late-midlife sexuality are multifaceted and discuss theoretical and practical implications of our findings.
POST-TRANSPLANT FUNCTIONAL STATUS TRAJECTORY AMONG ADULT KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS
Authors: Chu Nadia M , Shi Zhan , Haugen Christine , Segev Dorry , McAdams-DeMarco Mara
Published: November 2019

Frailty and disabilities are highly prevalent among kidney transplant (KT) recipients, but are not routinely measured in KT recipients. The Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) is a clinically perceived measure used to evaluate patient’s ability to manage daily activities, but little is known about its post-KT trajectories and its relationship to frailty and disability in KT recipients. We leveraged a cohort of 159,992 adult KT recipients from SRTR (1/2005-6/2018) and a cohort of 1,106 adult KT recipients from a prospective cohort study on aging and KT with recorded KPS (range 10%-100% integers). In each separate cohort, we used mixed effects models to assess differences in trajectories of KPS post-KT. In 159,992 KT recipients in SRTR, the mean unadjusted KPS score was 88.34% (95%CI: 88.28%, 88.40%) and declined at a rate of -0.59%/year (95%CI: -0.61%, -0.57%) post-KT, such that by 2-years post-KT the average was 87.00% (95%CI: 86.94%, 87.05%). Age at KT was associated with steeper decline in KPS (p0.05). KPS is a measure of functional status distinct from frailty, ADL, IADL, and SPPB at KT admission that declines with older age post-KT. Older KT recipients should be monitored closely for declines in physical function, and potentially undergo prehabilitation to improve functional status post-KT.
TRANSITIONING HOME AFTER STROKE: IMPROVING PHYSICAL HEALTH AND PATIENT ACTIVATION
Authors: Hughes Anne K , Woodward Amanda , Freddolino Paul , Fritz Michele , Coursaris Constantinos , Swierenga Sarah J , Reeves Mat
Published: November 2019

While the majority of stroke patients will return home after being hospitalized, this transition is physically and emotionally challenging. We developed a social work based case management program to address these challenges. The Michigan Stroke Transitions Trial (MISTT), a pragmatic 3-arm clinical trial tested the effects of the case management program on its own and combined with technology against usual care in patients recovering from stroke. Patients from three Michigan hospitals were randomized to one of three groups upon discharge to home. The two treatment groups received services from a social work case manager via home visit and telephone. One treatment group also was given training and access to a curated stroke website developed for MISTT. The intervention lasted up to 90 days and data was collected via telephone at 7 and 90 days. Quality of life and patient activation were the primary outcomes, measured by the PROMIS Global 10, and the Patient Activation Measure (PAM), respectively. We compared treatment efficacy by comparing the change in outcomes between the three groups (N=265) using a difference-in-differences (D-in-D) analysis. The mean change in PROMIS scores for the social work + technology group was significantly higher than both the social work only group (difference= +2.4; 95%CI=0.46, 4.34; p=0.02) and usual care (difference= +3.4; 95%CI=1.41, 5.33; p<0.001). The mean change in PAM scores for the social work + technology group was significantly higher than the social work only group (+6.7; 95%CI=1.26, 12.08; p=0.02) and marginally higher than usual care (+5.0; 95%CI=-0.47, 10.52; p=0.07).
MAKING ENGAGEMENT MEANINGFUL THROUGH ORGANIZED ROUTINE INTERACTION (MEMORI) CORPS TRIAL: AN INTRODUCTION
Authors: Samus Quincy M , Gitlin Laura N , Carlson Michelle , Rebok George , Johnston Deirdre , Leoutsakos Jeannie-Marie , Black Betty
Published: November 2019

This presentation will review the design, methods, and early lessons learned from the Making Engagement Meaningful through Organized Routine Interaction (MEMORI) Corps trial recently funded by NIA. This trial is evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of the MEMORI Corps program, a novel 12-week activity-based companion care model designed to mobilize and equip senior volunteers to deliver individualized, evidence-based activity programming to persons with dementia PWD living at home and offer family CGs needed respite. The intervention synthesizes and adapts prior evidence-based work from the Tailored Activities Program® (an activity-based intervention persons with dementia), Experience Corps® (an intergenerational civic engagement program that engages senior volunteers to work in elementary schools), and MIND at Home® (a home-based dementia care coordination program) to simultaneously address unmet respite care needs of family CGs, provide PWD structured meaningful activities and social engagement, and provide meaningful engagement and peer support opportunities for senior volunteers.
INTERNAL MIGRATION AND HEALTH CHANGES: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF CHINESE ADULTS IN MID AND LATER LIFE
Authors: Gao Li , Wu Zheng , Li Shu z
Published: November 2019

Objectives: This study examines the effects of internal migration on health status and health changes among middle-aged and older migrants in China. Methods: Using longitudinal data from the 2011-2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this study compares non-migrants with those of recent migrants and earlier migrants in regard to their self-rated health and mental health. OLS and a series of fixed effects models were conducted to examine the effects of migration on health status and health changes. Results: Compared with non-migrants, earlier migrants report better self-rated health but no difference in depression. Our findings demonstrate that recent migrants show better self-rated health changes than non-migrants. In addition, for recent migrants, there are significant changes in self-rated health among rural-to-urban migrants and rural-to-rural migrants, while urban-to-rural migrants and urban-to-urban migrants are not significantly different from non-migrations. Discussion: There are associations between internal migration and self-rated health in China. The effects of migration on health appear to differ by the type of migration. Those who migrated from rural area are mostly likely to be affected by migration. However, migrants from urban area are less affected.
HEALTH TRAJECTORIES OVER TIME IN THE ATHLOS PROJECT: FINDINGS FROM MULTIPLE COHORTS
Authors: Prina Matthew
Published: November 2019

The ATHLOS (Ageing Trajectories of Health: Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies) project is a consortium of 15 partners across Europe who are working together to understand patterns of healthy ageing trajectories, and to seek the factors that determine those patterns, in a harmonised dataset of 17 international cohort studies of ageing. During this symposium we will be presenting some of the work that has recently been carried out within this project. The symposium will consist of four talks: the first talk will introduce the project, and describe the preliminary work that took place within the first few years of the project, and the challenges faced by the consortium. The second talk will focus on the harmonisation process and on the development of the health metric, an indicator used to measure healthy ageing in this project. The third talk will focus on inequalities in healthy ageing, specifically investigating the impact of education and wealth across cohorts. Finally, in the last talk we will describe the role of lifestyle behaviours (specifically physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption) and their impact on healthy ageing trajectories.
THE ROLE OF GERONTOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY IN ACHIEVING THE UN’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Authors: Antonucci Toni C
Published: November 2019

The United Nations has identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) designed to improve the health and well-being of the world’s most vulnerable populations. This presentation will review the potential role psychology, in particular, illustrative theories and research, in achieving the SDGs of reducing poverty and achieving gender equality and empowerment. We consider life span (individual) developmental and life course (environmental structure) theories as useful for explaining how poverty and inequality influence the individual and community at one point in time and over time. Further, we use research evidence to illustrate how naturally occurring resources can be garnered to better explain, understand, identify and create successful intervention programs. We emphasize the importance psychology to achieving SDGs and emphasize that the application psychology to changing the behavior and expectations of individuals and societies to achieve sustainable development that contributes to a world that celebrates optimal and sustainable development for all.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ATHLOS PROJECT: AGEING TRAJECTORIES OF HEALTH: LONGITUDINAL OPPORTUNITIES AND SYNERGIES
Authors: Prina Matthew , Panagiotakos Demosthenes , Prince Martin , Bobak Martin , Sanderson Warren , Scherbov Serguei , Ayuso-Mateos Jose L , Haro Jose Maria
Published: November 2019

ATHLOS is a 5-year project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program. Its aim is to achieve a better understanding of healthy ageing, utilising longitudinal data from existing cohort studies. The measure of healthy ageing used within ATHLOS is based on the definition used by the World Health Organization as the ongoing process of developing and maintaining functional ability to enable well-being in older age. The first step of the project was to harmonise 17 community based cohort studies of ageing, covering 38 countries over the world and over 411,000 individuals. In this talk we will discuss the work of the different work packages of the project, including a description of the existing evidence on risk factors of healthy ageing.
CREATION OF A COMMON METRIC OF HEALTH STATUS IN THE HARMONIZED DATASET OF THE ATHLOS PROJECT
Authors: Sanchez-Niubo Albert , Caballero Francisco Felix , Daskalopoulou Christina , Fuente Javier de la , Torre Alejandro de la , Vazquez Iago Giné , Wu Yu-Tzu , Prina Matthew
Published: November 2019

Although life longevity has increased across the world, evidence suggests some heterogeneity of the ageing process across individuals. To investigate different ageing patterns, the ATHLOS project harmonised data from 411,000 individuals across 17 existing cohort studies. The harmonised dataset provides comparable information on functioning measures, cognition, mental health, sociodemographic and lifestyle behaviours. To measure the process of healthy ageing across time and cohorts, we employed a Bayesian Multilevel Item Response Theory(IRT) and created a common metric of health status by using items of functioning. The IRT measurement model includes parameters describing the difficulty and discriminatory power of each item. We adopted the Bayesian Multilevel framework as it allows item parameters to vary among studies and the simultaneous estimation of all parameters under a Markov Chain Monte Carlo(MCMC) method. Finally, we assessed the predictive validity of the metric against mortality by performing a Receiver Operating Characteristic(ROC) curve analysis.
FRAILTY STATUS, COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT, AND THE EFFECTS OF INTENSIVE BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL
Authors: Callahan Kathryn E , Cleveland Maryjo , Supiano Mark , Williamson Jeff , Pajewski Nicholas M
Published: November 2019

Background: Frailty associates with cognitive decline and incident dementia in older adults. The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) has highlighted blood pressure (BP) control as a potentially modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment. Using data from SPRINT, we explore whether frailty status, based on a frailty index (FI), prospectively associates with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, and whether the effect of intensive BP control on these outcomes varies by frailty status. Methods: SPRINT randomized participants to either to an systolic BP goal of <120 mmHg (intensive treatment) or a goal of <140 mmHg (standard treatment). We used Cox regression to model the association of the FI with MCI and dementia, and to conduct subgroup analyses by frailty status for the effect of intensive treatment. Results: We include 9307 participants, with the majority categorized as pre-frail (0.100.21, 38.0%). Adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and treatment group, a 0.1 increase in the FI was associated with increased risk for MCI (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.29, 1.58) and dementia (HR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.56, 2.08). There was weak evidence of an interaction between frailty status and intensive treatment for the composite outcome of MCI and dementia (p=0.03), with a beneficial effect of intensive treatment in pre-frail participants (HR=0.71 95% CI: 0.58, 0.89), and a largely null effect in frail participants (HR=0.98, 95% CI: 0.82, 1.18). Conclusions: Frailty status may modify the effect of intensive BP control on MCI and dementia.
AN EMPIRICAL TYPOLOGY OF CULTURE CHANGE IMPLEMENTATION IN NURSING HOMES
Authors: Duan Yinfei , Mueller Christine
Published: November 2019

The implementation of culture change (CC) practices has been increasing in U.S. nursing homes (NHs) with varying success. No study has examined the typology of CC implementation across NHs using empirical data. This study aimed to identify an empirical typology of CC implementation and to examine NH organizational characteristics associated with types of CC implementation. An online CC survey using a validated instrument was sent to administrators of 363 NHs in Minnesota and 78 administrators completed the survey. No significant difference in NH characteristics was found between participants and non-participants. Using a hierarchical cluster analysis based on scores of five CC domains, this study identified three distinctive clusters. Overall, NHs most frequently engaged in resident-centered care and environment transformation and least frequently implemented family/community engagement practices. While NHs in cluster 1 (20.8%) performed best in all CC domains, they were distinguished from others by more frequency of family/community engagement, staff empowerment and staff leadership practices. NHs in cluster 3 (41.7%) were distinguished by overall lower engagement of CC practices in all domains. While NHs in cluster 2 (37.5%) and cluster 1 were comparable in environment transformation and resident-centered care, NHs in cluster 2 and cluster 3 were similar in their low family/community engagement. NHs in cluster 3 had significantly lower registered nurse retention, and lower mental health and social service staffing compared to NHs in cluster 2. This typology provides insight into the variations in implementing CC practices across NHs and pragmatic implications for promoting deep and extensive CC.
STATE PERFORMANCE ON HOME- AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES EXPENDITURES UNDER THE BALANCING INCENTIVES PROGRAM
Authors: Shih Regina A , Friedman Esther M , Ghosh-Dastidar Bonnie , Escarce Jose
Published: November 2019

Medicaid has been at the forefront of policy efforts to “rebalance” long-term services and supports (LTSS) from institutional toward home- and community-based services (HCBS). The Balancing Incentives Program (BIP), authorized under the Affordable Care Act, sought to increase spending on HCBS relative to total LTSS among states that were spending less than 50% of total Medicaid LTSS dollars on HCBS each year. BIP’s benchmark for states to spend more than 50% of LTSS on HCBS was meant to improve states’ infrastructure to ensure an equitable, consumer-friendly process to access HCBS. For the first time, we quantified how states performed on HCBS expenditures. We analyzed state-level HCBS expenditure data for states eligible for BIP (n=35) from 2008 to 2015, which includes several years both before and after BIP implementation. We examined the effect of BIP on HCBS expenditures as a percent of total LTSS spending using fixed-effects modeling which controls for stable characteristics of states and years. We find that BIP states increased HCBS spending relative to non-BIP states, and this effect continued to grow over our study period. In the first year after BIP implementation, BIP states increased spending by 1.8% relative to non-BIP states. The difference in spending between BIP and non-BIP states is even larger in subsequent years (4.8% in year 2, 5.3% in year 3, and 5.8% in year 4). Results indicate that BIP prompted increased state-level spending that continued to rise several years after initial implementation of BIP.
COMPOSITE MEASURES FOR MULTIDIMENSIONAL SOCIAL EXCLUSION: AN APPLICATION TO THE IRISH LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON AGEING
Authors: Keogh Sinead , Neill Stephen O’ , Walsh Kieran
Published: November 2019

The measurement of the complex, multidimensional and dynamic concept of old-age social exclusion has been constrained due to theoretical and methodological challenges as well as a reliance on secondary data sources not designed to collect social exclusion indicators. Limitations in measuring social exclusion in later life hinder the expansion of our empirical and conceptual understanding of social exclusion. In this paper, we seek to address these limitations by developing a composite measure of old-age social exclusion using three methods: 1) normalisation through re-scaling with linear aggregation, 2) a sum-of-scores approach with an applied threshold and, 3) classification and regression trees (CART), a machine learning approach. Using the conceptual framework of old-age exclusion presented by Walsh et al., (2017), these three approaches are applied empirically with data from Wave 1 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). The measures are assessed in terms of their ability to explain a validated measure of psychological well-being. Results suggest that despite the challenges associated with secondary data and measurement techniques that implicitly measure social exclusion, the newly proposed composite measure computed using CART performed better than the other two measures which are more prevalent in the literature.
HUMAN RESOURCES PROFESSIONALS’ PERCEPTIONS OF AGE-FRIENDLY EMPLOYMENT
Authors: Choi Mi Sun , Dabelko-Schoeny Holly , White Katie , Sheldon Marisa
Published: November 2019

Many researchers have attempted to find alternative ways to address the challenges of the aging workforce. Applying the concept of age-friendly to work settings may be a promising strategy to promote older adults’ well-being in the workplace. However, age-friendly employment is an abstract concept, and empirical research identifying its features is lacking. Also, few studies adequately represented the diverse characteristics of different industries and stakeholder’s perceptions of age-friendly work environments. This study used focus group data and the Delphi method, along with existing literature to create an instrument to measure age-friendliness in diverse work environments. In partnership with a senior employment organization serving central Ohio, six human resources (HR) professionals participated in a focus group discussion and 10 HR professionals participated in a two-round Delphi study. In the focus group discussion, HR professionals identified flexibility, mobility, ergonomics, health benefits, and respect as age-friendly aspects in the workplace. We developed 37 items within five subcategories: accommodation, development, maintenance, utilization, and inclusion. In the first round, HR professionals assessed the importance of each item, presenting training opportunities for employees of all ages as the most important practice; four weeks later they examined the revised 33 items in regard to the feasibility of their real-world implementation, showing 100% agreements among experts in career advice, opportunities for promotion, involving decision making, educating age discrimination, and formal acknowledgment. The second phase of this study will include scale evaluation to confirm its reliability and validity with a broader number of HR professionals and older adults.
PATHWAYS TO RESILIENCE: TRANSFORMING TRAUMA THROUGH THE POWER OF NETWORKS
Authors: Corley Connie , Feldman Maureen , Kaiser Scott
Published: November 2019

Resilience has been examined in various age groups, initially focused on vulnerable children and more recently in enhancement of resilience in various age groups and in response to trauma. Based on studies of resilience in Holocaust survivors and intergenerational engagement to promote resilience in former gang members and isolated older adults, Corley’s 3E model of Experience, Expression and Engagement is discussed in terms of multiple studies and the implications for forming and strengthening networks in communities at risk. This includes initiating creative coalition-building endeavors to address loneliness in residential settings for older adults evolving from a project funded to the Motion Picture and Television Fund in Los Angeles from the AARP Foundation.
DEVELOPING TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACHES IN PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITIES FOR OLDER PERSONS
Authors: Bowland Sharon , Knight Becky
Published: November 2019

In a study using a grounded theory approach with trauma survivors living in a mixed-age public housing community in Louisville, KY, twenty-five older women (50+) identified their main concern as housing safety. The study underlined the importance of community-level effects on health and well-being. Additionally, almost all participants identified that they had multiple experiences of interpersonal trauma across the life course. There may be increased negative health effects for older women living in public housing based on a history of interpersonal trauma. First, we will examine how women living in the community coped with their safety concerns. Second, we will explore policy implications of older trauma survivors living in communities that may exacerbate their trauma histories due to an ongoing lack of safety. Finally, we will consider how implementing trauma-informed approaches in public housing can potentially lead to improved health and well-being for those living with complex trauma.
SHORT-TERM U.S. PATHS TOWARD RETIREMENT: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES ACROSS AGE-GENDER-CLASS INTERSECTIONS
Authors: Flood Sarah , Moen Phyllis , flood sarah , Wang Janet
Published: November 2019

Existing knowledge about retirement transitions comes from studies of cohorts living through demographic, technological, social and economic environments, and private sector and public policy regimes that are very different from those of today. The Boomer cohort now transitioning to retirement is more educated, healthier, and more engaged in paid work than their parents or grandparents at the same ages. How is the large, diverse Boomer cohort (in their 50s, 60s, and 70s) navigating leaving the labor force compared to the Silent Generation preceding them? How similar or different across cohorts are patterned yet heterogeneous short-term workforce pathways, in terms of the timing, sequencing, and voluntariness of working hours, work participation, and exits, including subjective retirement? We use linked Current Population Survey (CPS) panel data (over 16 months) to capture change, complexity, heterogeneity, and inequities in even short-term work/retirement dynamics across intersections of age, gender, and class.
INFLUENCES OF CAREWORK INTENSITY ON DAILY TIME USE PATTERNS OF CAREGIVERS
Authors: Sayer Liana C
Published: November 2019

With the aging of the Baby Boom generation, increasing numbers of older adults require assistance in their daily lives and most help comes from family members. Delays in childbearing mean many adult elder care providers are simultaneously raising children. Although past research has documented disparities in psychological distress and financial costs, less is known about the social costs resulting from elder caregiving and how this varies by parental status. We examine the social costs of elder caregiving by comparing elder and child care configurations to investigate three questions. First, do the daily time use patterns of elder caregivers differ by parental status? Second, do the daily time use patterns of elder caregivers differ by caregiving intensity? Third, does caregiving intensity moderate associations of elder caregiving and parental status on daily time use? We address these questions using nationally representative time diary data from the 2011-2017 American Time Use Survey (ATUS).