bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Higher Ed as a Leveler: How Early Life and Higher Education Shape Resilience and Health in Adulthood
Authors: Bruefach Tyler , Carr Dawn
Published: December 2020

Growing evidence shows that individuals who have high levels of psychological resilience maintain higher levels of physical and psychological health in later life. Individuals cultivate psychological resilience over the life course, yet little research has explored its mechanistic effects on health during midlife. One source of resilience may be formal education, which is a well-established determinant of health in adulthood. Resilience might be one reason for this robust association, as education helps individuals develop greater psychological resources in adulthood. On the other hand, having a college degree also increases access to other health-promoting resources that can be leveraged over the life course, such as better-paying and higher-quality jobs. Using data drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), the current paper examines: 1) how early-life factors shape psychological resilience in early adulthood (24-32 years); and 2) the effects of early adulthood resilience on the association between education and health in mid-life (36-44 years). Results show that psychological resilience and college education have significant direct effects on health in midlife, net of health in early adulthood. However, first-generation college graduates cultivate more psychological resilience from their educational attainment than do those with college-educated parents. That is, higher education serves as a leveler for health gaps in midlife for those with fewer resources available in early life by bolstering resilience. These results provide important insights about how early life factors play an important role in shaping successful aging processes.
Perceived Social Integration Predicts Engagement and Responsiveness to Positive Events: Test of Age Moderation
Authors: Klaiber Patrick , Almeida David , Sin Nancy
Published: December 2020

Social Integration has important implications for health and well-being during adulthood. Being socially integrated might be an important resource that helps people to regularly engage in daily positive events. With older age, this resource might become increasingly important. However, being well socially integrated might also mean that people are certain that they experience more positive events in the future and thus, respond with less positive affect to any given positive event. We examined perceived social integration as a predictor of engagement and responsiveness to positive events using data from the National Study of Daily Experiences 2. 1904 adults (Mean age = 56.25, min = 33, max = 84) reported their daily positive affect and daily positive events during 8 consecutive days of telephone interviews. Perceived social integration was assessed at baseline. Adults higher in social integration experienced daily positive events more frequently (b = 0.01, SE = 0.003, p < .001), but showed less of an increase in positive affect on days with more-than-usual positive events (b = -0.003, SE = 0.001, p = .030). These models controlled for the Big Five personality traits, purpose in life, demographic variables and same-day occurrence of stressors. Age did not moderate the present associations. The present findings imply that social integration might be an important contributor to experiencing more positive events across adulthood. Being better socially integrated might also lead to responding with less positive emotions to any given positive event.
Evaluating a Mobile-Health-Enhanced Behavioral Lifestyle Intervention for Frailty in Diabetes: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Jiwani Rozmin , Wang Jing , Li Chengdong , Espinoza Sara
Published: December 2020

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and overweight are significant predictors of frailty in older adults. There are no widely accepted intervention strategies for frailty. The Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial demonstrated the efficacy of behavioral lifestyle intervention on weight loss and glycemic control in overweight older adults with T2D. It is unknown whether this intervention can prevent/delay frailty in older adults. We designed a feasibility study examining the effect of a behavioral lifestyle intervention enhanced with mobile technology (Fitbit) for self-monitoring of diet and physical activity on frailty and T2D outcomes over 6 months in overweight older adults diagnosed with T2D. Forty older adults were randomized to receive either 10 group sessions vs. one condensed session plus monthly phone calls for 6 months. In this analysis, we are reporting on Fitbit wear adherence and weight changes on the 20 participants in the group session for the first 6 group sessions. The study sample was aged 72.3±6.4 years; 62% female; 52% Hispanic; BMI 33.7±5.9 kg/m2; hemoglobin A1c 7.2%; frailty score 1.1±1.0 kg/m2. Thirteen (65%) are pre-frail, 6 (30%) are non-frail, and 1 (5%) is frail (using Fried criteria). Their weight (lbs.) changed from session 1 (210.2±42.5) to session 6 (196.8±44.2). Ten participants wore Fitbit every day between sessions, averaged at 92±12%. The preliminary evaluation showed the feasibility of using Fitbit to promote self-monitoring adherence in a behavioral lifestyle intervention and a positive trend for weight loss. Evaluating intervention effect on frailty at 6 months will provide us further insights.
Home-Based Exercise Program With Telephone Coaching: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Gulley Emma , Verghese Joe , Ayers Emmeline , Verghese Tanya , Ambrose Anne Felicia
Published: December 2020

Exercise is crucial to maintain mobility, reduce falls and delay functional decline in older adults, but effective implementation strategies are lacking. Self-directed home-based exercise therapy is recommended by clinicians to overcome barriers such as cost, travel and availability. However, non-adherence is a major challenge due to lack of motivation, real time feedback or social support. To overcome these barriers, we conducted a feasibility study to evaluate a home-based exercise program with telephone coaching to improve mobility in frail older adults. Four non-demented, frail community-dwelling older adults were taught one of two exercise routines at our research center. The first involved complex exercises with internal and external cueing techniques that have been associated with neuroplasticity in previous studies (N=3). The second was a lesser cognitively demanding control program that included aerobic, balance and strengthening exercises (N=1). One week later, the participants were asked to repeat the exercises in their own home. The research assistant coached the patient over the telephone. A board-certified physiatrist was present during the home session to monitor adherence and fidelity to the protocol as well as address safety. The study produced qualitative findings regarding recruitment strategies, exercise feasibility, and other logistical issues relating to participant understanding, safety, and monitoring. Based on direct observation of participants at home, safety assessment protocols, instructions, and exercises were all refined. Building on this data, we plan to design a clinical trial to evaluate the impact of complex exercises designed to promote neuroplasticity and reduce cognitive and motoric decline in older adults.
Physical Activity, Diabetes, and Heart Conditions Among Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Older Adults
Authors: Lee Yeonjung (Jane) , Terada Tyran
Published: December 2020

The Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) older adult population remains understudied and are disproportionately affected by diabetes and heart conditions. Research has shown that participating in physical activity is a protective factor for many of the health conditions experienced by older adults. Yet, the link between physical activity, diabetes, and heart conditions among the NHOPI older adult population is limited. The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of NHOPI older adults and to explore the association between physical activity levels and diabetes/heart conditions. Methods and findings Using data from the 2014 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander National Health Interview Survey (NHPI NHIS), which is considered to have a representative sample of NHOPI, the study explores the associations between physical activity and diabetes/heart conditions. A total of 1,045 older adults ages 50 years and older were included for analyses. Weighted multivariate analyses with multiple imputation techniques were used. The NHPI NHIS is the first federal survey focusing on the NHOPI population of the United States with rich information on health. Results and Implications Those with who were engaged in a sufficient physical activity had lower odds of having diabetes or heart conditions than their counterparts without physical activity while controlling for other sociodemographic characteristics. Findings highlight the importance of physical activity promotion intervention in preventing cardiovascular disease. Research and practice addressing health disparities and cardiovascular conditions should leverage efforts to provide culturally relevant physical activity types and resources to NHOPI older adults.
Companionship With Family, Friends, and Neighbors in Later Life
Authors: Sugawara Ikuko , Takayama Midori , Ishioka Yoshiko
Published: December 2020

Companionship with close others are known to have a significant positive effect on our well-being in later years of life. At the same time, it is known that the frequency of meeting and chatting with others, an indicator of companionship, declines as we age. In this study we explore the situation of companionship among older-old and oldest-old people. The focus of this study on understanding how the aging process affects the experience of companionship and how people adapt to the loss of companionship. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 43 people aged 75 and older living in urban communities in Kawasaki, Japan. Participants were asked about everyday interactions with close others and feelings they experienced at the time. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed qualitatively. Chatting, going out for lunch or dinner, and going shopping were examples of activities older Japanese enjoyed with close others. Almost all respondents mentioned the loss of their old friends and siblings. They also mentioned that the decline in their physical and cognitive health, as well as that of their companions hindered shared activities they used to enjoy. They cherished positive interactions with others, although the frequency declined. Some respondents intentionally made new companions in the physical proximity, but it was hard to compensate for the loss of old companions with new one. These findings suggest that the value of companionship remains or even increase as we age. It would be important to identify environmental or social factors that may prevent the loss of companionship among older adults.
The Effect of Older Adults’ Volunteering on Relational Satisfaction
Authors: Kim Meeryoung
Published: December 2020

Longevity is increasing in what is called the centenarian society. However, the average retirement age of Korea is the lowest among OECD countries. Because of increasing longevity, older adults need activities after retirement. Volunteering can be a substitute that allows Korean older adults to find a social identity. This study examined older adults’ volunteering and how many kinds of volunteering affected relational satisfaction differently. This study used the 6th additional wave of the Korean Retirement and Income Study (2016). The target population of this study was ages over 60 and the sample size was 280. For data analysis, multiple regressions were used. Demographic variables were controlled. As for independent variables, reasons for volunteering whether they were motivated for self or for others were used. For dependent variables, relational satisfaction, such as family, human relation and overall life satisfaction was used. Volunteers’ health is an important factor for relational satisfaction. If volunteering was self-motivated, satisfaction of both family and human relations were negatively affected. Reason for others also affected satisfaction of family and human relations negatively. Volunteering initiated by others increased satisfaction of family and human relations. Doing more than one kind of volunteering affected both satisfaction of family and human relations. For overall life satisfaction, the effect of volunteering for oneself was lower than other reasons. These findings implied that reasons for volunteering affected relational satisfaction differently. In addition, the activities of volunteering, such as taking part in one or more had different effects.
Age Differences in the Relationship Between Daily Social Media Usage and Affect
Authors: Lin Xin Yao , Lachman Margie
Published: December 2020

Social media platforms allow people to connect and share content online (e.g., Facebook, Twitter). Although older adults are becoming more frequent users of social media, there continue to be mixed views on whether social media positively or negatively impacts well-being. Past studies have mainly focused on cross-sectional analyses for individual differences. However, both the time spent on social media and one’s affect can fluctuate on a daily basis. Thus, it is important to understand how the relationship between daily social media usage and affect varies within individuals from day to day. The current study adds to the literature by examining whether daily variations in time spent with social media are related to daily positive and negative affect and whether there are age differences in these relationships. The current study used an eight-day daily diary from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Refresher dataset for 782 participants (ages 25-75). Multilevel modeling results revealed that age moderated the relationship between daily time spent on social media and negative affect: for younger adults, on days when they spent more time on social media, they had more negative affect. For older adults, on days when they spent more time on social media, they had less negative affect. Surprisingly, daily time spent on social media was not related to daily positive affect, nor did this relationship differ by age. Implications for future research are discussed with a focus on how social media usage can contribute to daily well-being for adults of different ages.
Technology and Social Isolation Among Older Adults
Authors: Dunatchik Allison , Jacobs Jerry
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we use time-use data from the US (2003-2018) and the UK (2001-2015) to address important questions about recent trends in social isolation and technology use among older adults aged 65 and over. Do new information, communication and robotic technologies contribute to growing social isolation among older adults or to growing opportunities for social connection? We believe that answers to these questions require a consideration of technologies that are already widely in use. We ask whether TV time is social time or whether people spend most of their time watching TV by themselves, whether this has changed over the past 15 years and what the potential implications are for wellbeing among older adults. The results show that TV time is a mixed experience among older adults. In the US and the UK, a substantial proportion of TV time – around half – is spent alone, with those who are not married, those in rented accommodations and those with poorer self-rated health spending more time watching TV alone. Controlling for demographic and household characteristics, TV time alone has increased in recent years, accompanying an increase in time spent alone in general in the UK and an increase in TV time in general in the US. Analysis of moment-to-moment wellbeing shows that individuals report lower positive affect while watching TV alone than while watching with others, suggesting the increase in time spent watching TV alone may have negative implications wellbeing among older adults.
Everyday Goal Pursuit in Older Couples: Lessons Learned From Electronic Daily Life Assessments
Authors: Garza Elizabeth Zambrano , Hoppmann Christiane , Ashe Maureen , Gerstorf Denis , Madden Kenneth , Michalowski Victoria
Published: December 2020

Being able to progress on and accomplish personal goals is an important source of satisfaction and meaning across the adult lifespan and into old age. This study focuses on the importance of close others, such as spouses, for facilitating goal progress when individual resources may no longer suffice. We used multilevel modelling to analyze data from 119 couples (M age = 70 years, SD= 5.9; 50% women). Participants reported their personal goals at baseline and subsequently provided simultaneous ratings of goal pursuit, effort, and partner involvement three times daily over 7 days. Our findings show that more effort and spousal involvement indeed go hand in hand with better goal progress. More in-depth follow up analyses will pinpoint the role of individual and partner effects as potential mechanisms underlying contributions to everyday goal pursuit as well as address stress related processes.
From Their Perspective: Baby Boomers’ Health Information Searching Behaviors
Authors: Walkner Tammy
Published: December 2020

People frequently turn to the Internet for health information, especially as they get older. But searches and results can be influenced by many factors including the comfort level for using digital technology, input from social connections, and personal knowledge. The Baby Boom generation is changing the age structure of the U.S. toward an older age demographic. Despite the significance of this cohort, little is known about how they apply health information to manage personal health. This study focused on Baby Boomers to increase knowledge about their health information searching behavior, the role social support plays in that behavior, and to better understand their perceptions of healthy aging. Social cognitive theory (Bandura, 2004) was the framework to investigate micro-level factors that may influence Baby Boomers’ decisions about health information and whether they apply that information for healthy aging. Findings confirm Baby Boomers use online health information to advocate for specific treatments and more appropriate medications, to change their diet and exercise routines as well as to maintain their quality of life as they age. They also routinely rely on social connections when gathering information and implementing changes. Knowledge about Baby Boomers’ health information seeking behaviors has broad implications for health care professionals, web page designers, policy makers, and others interested in promoting healthy aging. Insight into older adults’ perceptions about using newer digital devices and their perseverance to learn new procedures like accessing electronic health records may spark changes in the communication between health care providers and patients of all abilities.
Subjective Successful Aging: Factors Related to a Self-Rated Perception
Authors: Rodriguez Marlene Alvarado , Mendoza-Ruvalcaba Neyda Ma
Published: December 2020

Introduction Theoretical successful aging definitions may not consider the older adults perception′s on their own aging. The aim of this study is to analyze factors related to subjective perception of successful aging. Methods: Population based, random sample included n=401 community-dwelling older adults 60-years and older (mean age=72.51,SD=8.11 years,59.4% women). For measurement of subjective successful aging (S-SA), participants were asked to self-rate SA in a Likert scale: “do you believe/feel you are aging well?” Objective Successful aging (O-SA) was operationalized in accordance with Rowe & Kahn definition (no important disease, no disability, physical functioning, cognitive functioning, and being actively engaged). Sociodemographic and health data were also asked. Data were analyzed in SPSSv24. Results: In total 11% were successful agers according to objective measures, while 77.6% rated themselves as successful agers. In the Likert scale of S-SA, specifically 23.4% considered themselves as very much successful agers, 54.1% much, 20.2% somewhat, and only 2.2% said that not at all think they are aging successfully. Education was related to a better perception of S-SA, as well as life satisfaction (p=.000), better subjective health (p=.000), being a spiritual person (p=.000), and not feeling alone (p=.000). Age, marital status, sex, and life-long learning activities were not related to S-SA. Conclusion There is a disparity between subjective and objective successful aging rates Being a successful ager may have a different meaning for each person, and not necessarily involves established criteria. Criteria generated by older adults should be added in theoretical definitions and measures.
Emotional Tone of Dreams and Daily Affect
Authors: Richardson Cassandra , Vigoureux Taylor , Lee Soomi
Published: December 2020

One theoretical function of dreams is emotion processing. However, few studies have examined how daily emotions in waking life (i.e., daytime affect) affect the emotional tone of dreams (i.e., dream affect) that night, and vice versa. This study examined daily bidirectional associations between dream affect and daytime positive and negative affect. Participants were 61 nurses who completed 2-weeks of ecological momentary assessments. If participants remembered the previous night’s dreams (nparticipants=50; ndays=268), they reported the dream’s emotional tone upon waking (‘0’=very negative to ‘100’=very positive). Participants also responded to a short-version of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale three times/day. Multilevel modeling was used to evaluate two temporal directions (dream affect→ daytime affect or daytime affect→ dream affect) at the within- and between-person levels. After adjusting for sociodemographic covariates, at the within-person level, daily positive affect was higher and daily negative affect was lower than usual on days following more positive dream affect (B=0.19, p<.05; B=-0.26, p<.05, respectively). When we added the other temporal direction, today’s positive or negative affect was not associated with dream affect that night. At the between-person level, nurses who reported more positive dream affect also reported more positive daytime affect (B=0.52, p<.01), but not less negative daytime affect (B=-0.34, p>.10). Findings suggest that dream affect is predictive of daily affect, but not the other way around. Future studies could further examine if emotions closer to sleep are more strongly associated with dream affect to motivate more precisely-timed affect interventions.
Social Support Changes in Response to Retirement
Authors: King Brittany
Published: December 2020

Retirement is an influential life course transition, that has potential to impact overall well-being as well as our social lives. The extent to which our social lives are changed is dependent upon the resources available both pre- and post-retirement. Research on retirement has focused on how well-being is changed, through measures such as depression, and conceptualize social support as a resource that can help offset some of the associated negative consequences. However, it is unclear how that resource of social support is itself being impacted. This study uses 2008-2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data to assesses if how social support changes is dependent upon timing of retirement or whether the individual was forced to retire (N=1,933). Ordinary least squares regression (OLS) and marginal effects are used to assess the change in support and to test if the effects differentially impact certain groups. Preliminary results from this study show that men who have been retired for two waves report a significant negative change (p<0.05) in their in-person interactions with children, whereas women who have been retired for the same amount of time report a significant positive change (p<0.01) in their interactions with children. Additionally, women who are forced to retire report a significant (p<0.05) increase in their in-person interactions with children. These findings suggest that factors such as timing of retirement and forced retirement are important factors in understanding how received social support changes.
Possible Selves Across the Lifespan
Authors: Chen Victoria , Light Alysson
Published: December 2020

Possible selves are defined as “personalized representations of one’s self in future states” (Cross & Markus, 1991). Research has also found that thinking frequently about possible selves predicts lower well-being, whereas thinking clearly about possible selves is associated with higher well-being (McElwee & Haugh, 2010). However, possible selves differ across the lifespan (Hooker & Kaus, 1994; Cross & Markus, 1991) and life stages can impact exploration of possible identities (Arnett, 2000). Thus we hypothesize that the relationship between thought about possible selves and well-being differs across the lifespan. In a cross-sectional survey, 240 participants (age range: 18-92) reported on frequency and clarity of possible selves, as well as general self-clarity (Campbell et al., 1996). Results indicate curvilinear moderation by age of the link between possible self-clarity and well-being, with the association being stronger among midlife adults than among younger adults and older adults. Also, as clarity of feared possible selves increases, self-concept clarity decreases. Similarly, frequency of thinking about feared possible selves was negatively correlated with self-concept clarity. However, clarity and frequency of thought about hoped-for positive possible selves had no correlation with self-concept clarity.
Predictors of Psychologist Trainees’ Attitudes Toward and Interest in Future Work With Older Adult Clients
Authors: Caskie Grace , Voelkner Abigail , Sutton MaryAnn
Published: December 2020

By 2035, 25% of the growing older adult population may be in need of mental health services (Novotney, 2018; Vespa, 2018). However, only a small proportion of psychologists currently identify as geropsychologists; thus, the number of geropsychologists will be insufficient to meet these future demands. Identifying variables that explain the variability in current psychology trainees’ expressed interest to engage in future clinical work with older adults is important so that training efforts can be targeted and the number of geropsychologists increased. Based on a multicultural framework and intergroup contact theory, this study examined contact with older adults, empathy, and multicultural competence as predictors of counseling and clinical psychology doctoral trainees’ attitudes toward and interest in working with older adult clients. A sample of 311 doctoral trainees (234 clinical PhD/PsyD, 78 counseling PhD/PsyD) were surveyed online. Structural equation modeling tested the hypothesized interrelationships between study variables. The model showed good fit to the data (χ2(82) = 179.803, p<.001, TLI=.93, CFI=.94, RMSEA=.06, SRMR=.06). Greater contact with older adults was significantly related to more positive attitudes about older adults and greater interest in working with older adults. More positive attitudes was significantly related to greater interest in working with older adults. Empathy was significantly related to more positive attitudes, but to less interest in working with this age group. Increasing the amount of contact experiences with older adults as part of doctoral training programs in counseling/clinical psychology may help to enhance trainees’ positive attitudes and interest in future clinical work with older adults.
Age and Cognitive Ability Predict Perceived Demands of Specific Emotion Regulation Strategies
Authors: Growney Claire , English Tammy
Published: December 2020

Certain emotion regulation (ER) strategies are often considered to be more or less demanding of cognitive resources. However, age-related differences in the perceptions of these demands are not yet understood. Older adults might perceive greater demands for certain strategies due to differences in cognitive ability and motivation to maintain emotional well-being. In the present study, we examined age and cognitive ability as predictors of perceived effort required to use ER strategies that span all families of the process model. A diverse sample of community participants (age 22-83) completed assessments of cognitive ability and perceived demands associated with ten ER strategies. Overall, response-focused strategies were rated as highest in demands whereas situation selection and savoring were perceived as least demanding. Older adults reported higher demands associated with situation selection, distraction, and detached reappraisal (but not positive reappraisal) compared with younger adults. Cognitive ability was not associated with perceived demands for ER strategies traditionally viewed as cognitively demanding (e.g., suppression). Rather, higher cognitive ability only predicted lower perceived demands for strategies often considered low in demand: situation selection and savoring. Perceived ER success was not consistently associated with age or cognitive demands. Results suggest that older adults view some, but not all, ER strategies as more demanding than younger adults do. The role of cognitive ability in age-related changes in ER may be more complex than previously expected. Notably, the lack of findings with perceived ER success suggest effort requirements associated with ER may not impede ability to successfully regulate across adulthood.
Age Moderates the Effect of Awe on Cognitive but not Emotional Well-Being
Authors: Bernstein Laura , Patrick Julie
Published: December 2020

Evidence suggests that positive emotions may broaden and build our emotional and physical health, and cognitive resources (Fredrickson, 2001). A growing literature shows that happiness and joy can be powerful means for growth. In contrast to happiness, which pushes one to expand and accommodate, research suggests that awe, that feeling of being in the presence of something immense or transcendent, prompts the urge to assimilate. Although promising, few examinations have included older adults and a limited range of positive emotions have been examined. Thus, we sought to address this gap in the literature by assessing the influence of age and awe on emotional well-being. Data from 180 adults (M age ~ 38; range 18 – 89) were used to examine the main effects of age and dispositional awe (Shiota et al., 2006), and their interaction, on emotional well-being. Only 12% of the variance was explained [X2 (DF = 9) = 344.27, p < .001]. Awe was positively associated with emotional well-being (Beta = .280*), but neither age nor the interaction between age and awe contributed to the variance explained. We conducted a similar examination with perceived cognitive health [X2 (DF=9) = 337.09, p < .001; R^2 = .235]. A main effect for age and a significant age by awe interaction uniquely contributed to the variance explained in cognitive well-being. A similar model was tested with self-assessed health as the outcome. Neither main effects nor the interaction emerged as significant. Results are discussed within the context of age-invariant contributors to well-being.
Emotional Salience and Interpersonal Problems in Depressed Older Adults With Personality Pathology
Authors: Aronov Avner , Geramian Helene , Ho Jennifer , Mak Wing Jin , Yenko Ira , Park Hyunyoung Ellen , Francois Dimitry , Zweig Richard
Published: December 2020

Research demonstrates reciprocal relationships between personality and depression as well as the important role interpersonal conflicts play, but rarely explores these risk factors in older adults. This study aimed to examine relationships of personality traits, processes, and the impact of emotional involvement and distress during an interpersonal conflict on depression in older adults. The study also investigated whether emotional involvement or interpersonal distress moderate the relationship between personality pathology and depression. Depressed middle and older adult inpatients (N=37; mean age=65.73, SD=7.81; 56.8% female; 86.5% White/Non-Hispanic) completed self-reports and interview-based assessments regarding personality traits (NEO-FFI Neuroticism, Agreeableness), interpersonal problems (IIP-25), and depression (GDS). Narrative responses regarding an interpersonal conflict were obtained and rated for contamination themes as well as emotional involvement and distress. Overall, findings indicated that living with others predicted higher depression (p= .046) and was related to higher neuroticism and interpersonal problems. Personality traits (Neuroticism) (r= .485, p= .001) and processes (Interpersonal problems-trend) (β= .307, p= .058), as well as higher levels of emotional distress (r= .486, p= .001) and involvement (r= .475, p= .001) in an interpersonal conflict were also tied to depression in bivariate but not multivariate analyses. The moderating effects of emotional involvement or distress on the relationship between personality and depression were not supported. Depressed older inpatients who live with others appear at higher risk of depression. Personality traits and processes may be more distal risk factors for depression. Findings are discussed in relation to stress generation as well as clinical implications targeting emotional regulation.
The Age and Well-Being Paradox Revisited: A Multidimensional Perspective
Authors: Hansen Thomas
Published: December 2020

Much gerontological research has focused on the paradoxical observation that older people, despite their lower objective quality of life, report higher well-being than younger people. High well-being in old age is believed to be caused by adaptation, emotional regulation, and accommodative strategies. We aim to add nuance by examining whether the “paradox” holds across dimensions of well-being; for men and women; in young old and old-old age; and before introducing statistical controls (e.g for health and social factors). Using fixed effects models and 15-years panel data from the Norwegian NorLAG study (n=2,700, age 40+), we explore age-related changes in cognitive, affective, and eudaimonic dimensions of wellbeing. Results indicate a general pattern of stability well into older age, but negative changes in advanced age, cross-sectionally and longitudinally, and for each well-being measure. Declines in well-being are less pronounced and with a later onset for the cognitive compared with the other measures. Results are similar for men and women. Loss of health and partner are the main causes of declining well-being in older age. Findings suggest qualifications to the “well-being paradox”, e.g.: some dimensions of well-being remain more stable than others; across dimensions of well-being change is more negative in old-old than in young-old age; and patterns of increasing well-being in older age are more pronounced after controlling for age-related changes in health and social roles. We argue that the use of controls makes for false impressions of the psychological changes that actually occur when people grow older.
The Impact of the Financial Crisis on Entrepreneurship Among Older Adults
Authors: Kim Julie
Published: December 2020

Older adults are assumed to be more averse to uncertainty than younger adults as economics and psychology studies based on prospect theory and related risk aversion theories show. Indeed, compared to younger adults, older adults engage in a smaller share of entrepreneurship. Yet adults 50 and over make up a steadily growing group of entrepreneurs in the US, and the 2008 financial crisis has not slowed them down. Sociological perspectives on older adults’ entrepreneurship consider disruption in the structural conditions of the labor market as a result of the economic crisis and a culture of active aging to argue that older adults’ entrepreneurial behaviors stem from structural and cultural roots. Analyses using 2003-2015 individual-level data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor show that an economic downturn did not thwart older adults’ entrepreneurial activities any more than it affected younger adults’ activities. Further, older adults’ odds of planning to start a business and actually starting a business were higher after the crisis than before the crisis. A closer examination reveals that older adults with less wealth generally have higher odds of pursuing entrepreneurship than other older adults. Meanwhile, wealthier older adults have higher odds of pursuing opportunity-driven entrepreneurship. Evidence suggests that the saliency of labor market conditions or the culture of active aging depends on older adults’ social location.
A Faith to Move Mountains? Childhood Abuse, Religious Change, and Mental Health at Midlife
Authors: Upenieks Laura
Published: December 2020

Of all the various forms of adversity experienced during childhood, childhood maltreatment (emotional and physical abuse) is shown to have the largest impacts on mental health and well-being. Yet we still have a limited understanding of why some victims of early maltreatment suffer immense mental health consequences later on in the life course, while others are able to cushion the blow of these early insults. Using two waves of data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS), this study considers change in religiosity as a buffer across three dimensions for victims of childhood abuse: religious importance, attendance, and the specific act of seeking comfort through religion. Results suggest that increases in religious comfort during adulthood are positively associated with adult mental health for victims of abuse, while decreases in religious comfort over time were associated with worse mental health. Changes in religious attendance and religious importance were not significant associated with mental health for victims of abuse. Taken together, my results show that the stress-moderating effects of religion for victims of childhood maltreatment are contingent on the stability or increases or decreases in religiosity over the life course, which has been overlooked in previous work.
Social Environment and Mental and Behavioral Health Outcomes in Older Adults: A Critical Review
Authors: De Main Atami Sagna , Xie Bo
Published: December 2020

Social environments are complex and critical to older adults’ health. Older adults are vulnerable to lack of social connectedness, social engagement and social contribution. 10-43% of community-dwelling older adults suffer from social isolation and loneliness in the United States. Despite the growing evidence on the impact of social environment on older adults’ health, it remains that the information about older adults’ social environment and its relationships to mental/behavioral health is fragmented. The purpose of this study is to determine the state of the science on social environment components (social connectedness, social engagement, social contribution) and mental/behavioral health (depressive symptoms, anxiety, psychological well-being, substance use, mental healthcare utilization) among community-dwelling older adults (65+ years). Five databases - CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, SocINDEX - were systematically searched using PRISMA guidelines to identify relevant articles from 1990 to 2019. Eleven articles are included in this review, illustrating relationships between social environment and mental/behavioral health. The studies found that poor social connectedness, social engagement, and social contribution were significantly associated with older age, poor perceived health, depression and anxiety symptoms, poor psychological well-being, hopelessness, having multiple chronic conditions, and functional limitations. Low social connectedness was significantly related to poor utilization of mental health services. No significant association was found between social environment and substance use in older adults. The findings of this review add to the literature related to social environment being relevant to older adults’ mental/behavioral health and highlight the need to further our understanding of their dynamic relationships and changes over time.
Conservation of Resources Theory: Technology and Caregiver Strain
Authors: Lee Shinduk , Ory Marcia , Dahlke Deborah Vollmer , Shubert Tiffany , Popovich Steve , Smith Matthew
Published: December 2020

Using the Conservation of Resources Theory, this study examined how caregiver strain was influenced by care recipients’ use of falls alert wearables. Online survey data from 486 unpaid caregivers for adults aged 50 and older were analyzed. Structural equation modeling was used to test the following hypotheses: (1) caregivers with fewer financial resources would engage in fewer resource conservation strategies (e.g., care recipients’ use of falls alert wearables); (2) resource conservation strategy engagement would be associated less resource loss; and (3) the effect of resource conservation strategies on caregiver strain would be less salient than the effect of resources used on caregiving (e.g., time and social support). The hypothesized model had a good model fit (CFI=.910), with SRMR (.060) and RMSEA (.062) being close to .05. All hypothesized paths were statistically-significant, except for the direct effect of using falls alert wearables on social support (p=.076) and caregiver strain (p=.135). As hypothesized, higher income was associated with greater likelihood of using falls alert wearables (b=.10, p>.022). Technology use was associated with less time spent on caregiving (b=-.16, p<.001) and had statistically-significant indirect effects on caregiver strain (b=-.03, p=.008). The total effect of using falls alert wearables (b=.04, p=.394) on caregiver strain was less powerful than the effect of time (b=.20, p<.001) or social support (b=-.28, p<.001). Study findings suggest the benefits of using falls alert wearables to alleviate time-related burdens and downstream caregiver strain among unpaid caregivers. Future efforts should investigate the relative advantage of wearables for other caregiving purposes.
Friendships Forged in Fitness: An Ethnographic Exploration of Older Women’s Social Experiences in Water Aerobics
Authors: Howell Britteny , Wanner Samantha
Published: December 2020

Research shows that participants, especially older women, are more likely to adhere to a fitness program when they have social supports. Gerontology research also demonstrates that the social relationships forged by older women at community and fitness centers can be long-lasting and provide a variety of supportive functions. Older adults respond well to pool- or water-based aerobic exercises that are safe on the joints and provide a comfortable environment away from the intimidating nature of the gym. Therefore, water-based classes provided at community fitness centers are well positioned to provide ample social opportunities to further reinforce continued physical activity for older women, resulting in health and quality-of-life improvements. This project is a 5-month ethnographic exploration of the social relationships created and maintained in the context of water-based fitness classes (water aerobics) at a local community center (YMCA) that is attended by a culturally diverse group of older adults. The friendships forged by women in the pool at the YMCA provide a variety of social supports that help to maintain healthy aging outcomes among participants. Drawing on components of Activity Theory and Social Support Theory, this presentation utilizes participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and questionnaires (N=35) to provide an anthropological “thick description” of the important role that fitness center friendships can form in the social lives of older women in the U.S.
Social Isolation and Loneliness: Moderators of the Relationship Between Sensory Impairment and Cognition
Authors: Huang Alison , Rebok George , Swenor Bonnielin , Pinto Jayant , Waite Linda , Deal Jennifer
Published: December 2020

Hearing and vision impairment have been independently linked to accelerated cognitive decline in older adults, however there is limited evidence on the effect of dual sensory impairment (DSI) (both hearing and vision impairment) on cognition. Additionally, the impact of social isolation and loneliness, both correlates of DSI and independent risk factors for cognitive decline, on the DSI-cognition relationship has yet to be studied. Using data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (N=3,091), multivariable linear regression models were used to describe the cross-sectional relationship between self-reported functional sensory impairment (none, hearing only, vision only, DSI) and cognitive function, measured by the survey adapted Montreal Cognitive Assessment. We also included an interaction term in the model to investigate whether cognition is worse among older adults with sensory impairment who also are socially isolated or lonely. Participants in this sample are between 62-91 years with 15% reporting hearing impairment, 11% reporting vision impairment, and 7% reporting DSI. DSI was associated with significantly lower global cognitive function compared to no sensory impairment (-0.31 standard deviations (SD), 95% CI:-0.44 to-0.18), hearing impairment alone (-0.29 SD, 95% CI: -0.44 to -0.15), and vision impairment alone (-0.22 SD, 95% CI: -0.39 to -0.06). Furthermore, cognitive function was significantly worse among older adults with both DSI and smaller social networks (p-interaction <0.05). No differences in the DSI-cognition relationship were observed by level of loneliness. These findings add to the limited research on the relationship between DSI, social isolation and loneliness, and cognition.
Out-of-Pocket Costs Attributable to Dementia: A Longitudinal Analysis
Authors: Oney Melissa , White Lindsay , Coe Norma
Published: December 2020

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) affects 5.5 million Americans, and is expensive despite the lack of a cure or even treatments effective in managing the disease. The literature thus far has tended to focus on the costs to Medicare, despite the fact that one of the main characteristics of ADRD (the loss of independence and ability to care for oneself) incurs costs not covered by Medicare. In this paper, we use survey data for 2002-2014 from the Health and Retirement Study to estimate the out-of-pocket costs of ADRD for the patient and their family through the first 8 years after onset of symptoms, as defined by a standardized 27-point scale of cognitive ability. A two-part model developed by Basu and Manning (2010) allows us to separate the costs attributable to ADRD into two components, one driven by differences in longevity and one driven by differences in utilization. We consider total out-of-pocket expenditures, as well as out-of-pocket expenditures by category (i.e. hospital, nursing home, doctor, prescription drug, and other). Our results suggest that the out-of-pocket costs of ADRD are quite substantial over the first 8 years after onset. We also find that out-of-pocket spending is decreasing over the first 8 years, similar to the trend seen in Medicare expenditures. The results of this study highlight the financial burden of ADRD, particularly for the population paying out-of-pocket for care.