bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE ON EQUITY AND EFFICIENCY: A CASE STUDY OF QINGDAO CITY IN CHINA
Authors: Yang Wei , Chang Shuang 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
The demand for equitable and efficient long-term care (LTC) has risen rapidly, and finding a suitable mechanism to finance LTC has become a pressing policy concern for many countries. A number of high income countries have chosen to use a social LTC insurance to fund the LTC system, but empirical assessments on such an insurance in low-and middle-income countries are limited. Using China as an example, this paper empirically assesses the performance of newly-piloted LTCNI by evaluating its impact on equity and efficiency in financing. We draw data from 47 in-depth interviews conducted with local government, care providers and family members of the LTCNI participants in Qingdao in 2016. We found that there remain sizable disparities in financial burden among LTCNI participants, despite of its emphasis on ensuring access to care based on people’s needs; care providers are incentivised to provide care at the least cost even this care is deemed as insufficient or inadequate due to fixed payment for their services. Our paper offers critical insights into the potential and challenges in applying LTC insurance model to a LMIC, where critical lessons can be drawn for public LTC insurance in other LMICs.
CREATING STRENGTH IN AGE: THE ROLE OF ARTS, ETHICS, AND HUMANITIES IN GERONTOLOGY EDUCATION
Authors: Saunders Pamela 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
What are the necessary and ideal components of an interdisciplinary master’s degree program in gerontology? What is the role of arts, humanities, and ethics to teach students and future leaders the power of social networks? This paper presents a case study of one academic program. Data are semi-structured interviews with students and faculty analyzed using content analysis to discover themes. In 2018, inspired by aging demographics, Georgetown University launched a one-year, interdisciplinary MS degree in Aging & Health. Informed by AGHE competencies including arts, ethics, and humanities, the program provides theoretically and scientifically grounded content, hands-on experience, and professional engagement. One core course specifically focuses on arts, ethics, and humanities, and provides a basis for students to see interdisciplinary links across the curriculum. Findings includes themes that illustrate the value of harnessing the power of arts, humanities, and ethics, including a diverse, and intergenerational cohort, and students’ cultural value systems.
FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE: MARITAL TRANSITIONS AND SEXUAL LIFE IN MIDDLE AND OLDER AGE
Authors: Stokes Jeffrey E , Gallagher Elizabeth A , Kanyat Remona , Bui Cindy N , Beaulieu Celeste 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Marital transitions have known implications for health and well-being. However, little research has examined the effects of such transitions on adults’ sexual lives. This study uses longitudinal data from the National Study of Midlife Development in the United States (1995–2014) to compare different marital status and transition groups’ sexual activity, satisfaction, control, and effort throughout mid-and-later life. Across all outcomes, effects of marital status/transitions were contingent upon baseline values of the outcome. Consistently married adults reported more frequent sexual activity, greater sexual satisfaction, and greater effort put into sexual life than other groups when baseline values of those outcomes were average or above-average; such group differences were reduced or reversed at below-average baseline values. Among the not-married, women reported significantly less sexual activity than men. The consistently divorced/separated, consistently widowed, newly divorced/separated, and newly widowed all reported greater control over sexual life at follow-up than the consistently married, when baseline sexual control was average and/or below-average. Lastly, women reported lesser effort put into sexual life at follow-up than men across all groups, accounting for baseline effort; these gender gaps were least pronounced among the consistently and newly married, and most pronounced among the newly widowed and newly divorced/separated. Overall, findings indicate that implications of marital transitions for midlife and older adults’ sexual lives depend upon both gender and pre-transition context. Marriage is not always beneficial for sexual life; rather, poor quality sexual lives during marriage can reduce opportunities for improvement that may arise with marital transitions, including divorce and widowhood.
THE IMPACT OF SEXUAL FLUIDITY AND SOCIAL SUPPORT ON EGO INTEGRITY IN OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Figueroa Alicia C 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
The population of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) Americans is growing as the number of older adults “come out. ” While we know that “coming out” later in life impacts the experience of aging, little research has examined ways in which social support and sexual fluidity influence ego integrity in older adults. The present study investigated ego integration, changed sexual behavior, and perceived social support in adults 45 years of age and older who had been in a long-term relationship with the opposite sex prior to “coming out” as LGB. The average of participants was 61 years, sixty-eight percent (N = 43) were currently married or in a domestic partnership, and eighty-six percent (N = 54) identified as Caucasian. Individuals were recruited to participate in the survey utilizing online social media. Results (N = 63) suggested that those whose behavior was more sexually fluid were least ego integrated. Timing of “coming out” LGB, Early (44 and younger) versus Late (after the age of 45) impacted the degree of sexual fluidity and perceived social support. Results indicated those who “came out” Late were more sexually fluid and were less fearful of “coming out. ” The most significant result revealed social support from significant others to be most impactful compared to friends and family. This research expands on the challenges of those who are aging in a non-normative environment. The implications suggest that individuals who “come out” later have a more difficult time with accepting their sexual fluidity.
SOUND HEALTH: HARNESSING MUSIC FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN SERVICE OF OLDER PEOPLE
Authors: Edwards Emmeline 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Music can get you moving, lift your mood, help you recall a memory, and can potentially improve your health. A partnership between the National Institutes of Health and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, called Sound Health is expanding current knowledge and understanding of how listening, performing, or creating music involves intricate circuitry in the brain that could be harnessed for health and wellness. The presentation will focus on research that shows that music provides cognitive, socio-emotional, motor benefits as well as evidence for neural plasticity. The potential for music as therapy for several neurological disorders associated with aging will be discussed. Dr. Edwards will also highlight research gaps and opportunities in basic/mechanistic and clinical research on music and the aging brain.
LEARNING FROM LIFE STORIES: RECRUITING NURSING HOME RESIDENTS FOR A LIFE STORY WORK PROGRAM
Authors: Polk Brian K , Ejaz Farida , Rose Miriam 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Recruiting nursing home (NH) residents to participate in program evaluations is a consistent challenge. This was evident in a federally supported project to improve person-centered care of long-stay NH residents enrolled in Medicaid. Evaluators sought to examine the impact of a life story work intervention using a pre-post study design involving interviews of NH residents and surveys of their family members and staff. Other resident eligibility criteria included willingness to participate in both research and life story interviews, age 60+, a Brief Inventory Mental Status (BIMS) score of 8 or higher, English-speaking, and consent from a legal guardian, if applicable. A total of 16 NHs agreed to participate in the implementation and evaluation of the program, which developed complimentary, individualized life story booklets for residents and a companion summary for staff. Of the homes’ combined population of 1,817 residents, 569 met eligibility criteria for the research study. Non-response from legal guardians excluded 37 residents, and 174 residents approached for recruitment declined to have their names released to the researchers. During baseline interviews, 20 residents failed the BIMS, 21 were unavailable, and 79 refused when approached by a research interviewer. Ultimately, 238 resident interviews were completed at baseline. Common themes for refusals included disinterest in participating in life story work, statements that theirs was not a good life worth talking about, and doubts that quality of care would improve. Strategies for addressing such challenges included displaying sample life story materials during recruitment and providing residents additional time to consider participation.
PREDICTORS OF SELF-CONTINUITY IN LATER LIFE
Authors: Lampraki Charikleia , Spini Dario , Jopp Daniela 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Self-continuity is an identity mechanism that inter-connects past and present experiences with future expectations, creating a coherent whole. However, research is limited regarding inter-individual differences and life course determinants of change in self-continuity. Using a life-course perspective on vulnerability, we investigate how the accumulation of resources (e.g., social, hopeful attitude) and the occurrence of critical life events (e.g., childhood adversity, divorce) across the life course may affect changes in self-continuity. Data derived from the LIVES Intimate Partner Loss Study conducted in Switzerland from 2012 to 2016 (3 waves). The sample consisted of individuals having experienced divorce (N = 403, Mage = 55.43) or bereavement (N = 295, Mage = 69.91) in the second half of life, using a continuously married group as a reference (N = 535, Mage = 65.60). Multilevel hierarchical models were used. Results indicated that as individuals grew older they experienced more self-continuity. More childhood adversity was negatively associated with inter-individual differences in self-continuity for all groups. Divorcees with more childhood adverse events felt significantly less self-continuity as they grew older than divorcees with less childhood adversity. In the bereaved group, more childhood adversity and less hope was linked to lower levels of self-continuity. More hopeful married individuals felt more self-continuity as they grew older than less hopeful ones. In sum, findings demonstrate that self-continuity changes as a function of age, but also differs with regard to the critical life events experienced across the life course and the availability of resources.
EXPLORING THE EFFICACY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF REMINISCENCE USING THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTED OBJECTS
Authors: Anderson Keith A , Berg-Weger Marla , Plocher Tom , Farina Anne , Gaugler Joseph E 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Reminiscence therapy (RT) is a form of person-centered care that involves the exploration of past activities, events, and experiences with another person or in a small group. Research on RT has found an array of benefits for older adults, including improvements in mood, quality of life, social interaction, cognition, and memory. In this presentation, the researchers report on Phases I and II of an evaluation of a reminiscence using three-dimensional (3D) printed objects from older adults’ pasts. Advances in 3D printing technology now allow researchers to create scale replicas of cherished items from peoples’ pasts, such as toys, bicycles, pets, automobiles, boats, and houses. In Phase I, the researchers evaluated the efficacy of incorporating 3D objects in reminiscence using a parallel convergent mixed methods design. Participants agreed or strongly agreed that the 3D object reminiscence was well-received (88.9%), facilitated reminiscence (83.3%), increased engagement and alertness (72.3%). Qualitative data identified additional benefits of the use of 3D objects in reminiscence, including increases in social engagement and interactions with staff and family members. In Phase II, the researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of a formal 3D reminiscence intervention using a randomized control trial of 175 older adults. The researchers hypothesize that 3D object reminiscence will be more effective than reminiscence using verbal cues in stimulating memory and enhancing cognition, engagement, mood, and quality of life. Preliminary findings from Phase II will be reported along with the findings from Phase I.
LINKS BETWEEN LONELINESS AND HAPPINESS IN JAPAN’S AGING POPULATION
Authors: Yamashita Takashi , Bardo Anthony R , Lam Jack 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Fertility rates in Japan have been historically low over several decades while life expectancy remains among the highest in the world. Consequently, traditional social networks consisting of immediate family and relatives have shrunk, and a growing number of older adults in contemporary Japanese society report feeling lonely. Thus, the well-being of Japans aging population is a major concern. While the negative effects of loneliness on perceived well-being (e.g., happiness) in later life have been well documented in western nations, relatively little is known from a Japanese context. Thus, we utilized a sample (n = 258) of urban community-dwelling Japanese adults age 65 years and older from the 2012 Survey of Mid-Life in Japan (MIDJA) to examine the association between happiness and loneliness. Consistent with findings from western nations, we identified strong links between happiness and loneliness in Japan. Results from ordinal logistic regression models showed that loneliness (OR = 0.80, p &lt; 0.05) was negatively associated with happiness even after accounting for sociodemographic characteristics. Additionally, this study examined relevant demographic and cultural characteristics in order to contextualize the findings and identify possible explanations. For example, the cultural importance of family ties and gendered family roles was discussed in relation to the likely impact that increased levels of loneliness will have on the well-being of older Japanese adults. In sum, if the well-being of Japan’s rapidly aging population is to be maintained (or possibly even enhanced), then the growing societal issue of loneliness must be addressed.
RETIREES’ MEMORIES OF WORK LIFE AND WELL-BEING AFTER RETIREMENT: A QUALITATIVE INQUIRY
Authors: Hahnel Tina , Hommelhoff Sabine , Liao Hsiao-Wen 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Reminiscence research has grown immensely in the past 30 years. Yet, research on personal memories of work lives is lacking. This is surprising because work is a crucial aspect of many people’s lives and an important life story chapter (Thomsen, Pillemer, & Ivcevic, 2011). Part of a larger project, the present qualitative study aimed to understand (1) what retirees remember about their work lives and (2) whether and how retirees tie those memories to their current well-being. Six in-depth interviews on lives before and after retirement (4 women and 2 men with different careers, age range 65 to 87 years) were conducted and transcribed verbatim. Findings of a thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) revealed that participants reported both big and small stories. They first narrated landmark events (e.g., job loss after the Fall of the German Wall) and continued to recount many little incidents (e.g., a child asking an unretiring teacher if she is now "done with retirement”). Additionally, participants not only reminisced about work itself (i.e., what jobs were like) but equally about workplace relationships (e.g., particularly positive or negative relations with supervisors). Despite difficult times at work, participants reported that they were now at peace with how things went and generally satisfied with their current lives. We discuss how the type (i.e., big or small) and content (i.e., work- or relationship-focused) of retirees’ memories and positive meaning-making (i.e., recounting work lives in a positive light) may contribute to well-being and propose a conceptual model for future research.
EMOTIONS SURROUNDING THE 2018 MIDTERM ELECTIONS
Authors: Krueger Sydney , Ochsner Kevin 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Over the adult life-span there is a self-reported shift in daily life emotions towards feeling less negative and more positive. We hypothesized that variations in emotion regulation behavior over the life-span could explain why aging is associated with this “rosy glow”. We collected survey data from 400 adults on Prolific (18-90, M = 47, SD = 16) at three time points: once before and two times following the 2018 Midterm Elections. We collected political engagement ratings, baseline emotion ratings, emotion ratings following the election, and self-reported emotion regulation behavior (e.g., situation modification, situation selection, reappraisal, seeking social-support). In our analyses we treated age as a continuous variable predicting differences in emotion ratings and emotion regulation reports. Consistent with past research, age predicted a decrease in negative and an increase in positive emotions at baseline (before the election). Controlling for political affiliation and we found that age predicted a lower likelihood of using social support regulation and situation modification. We also found that age was inversely predictive of the use of multiple strategies, such that younger adults are more likely to rely on a larger array of regulatory strategies than older adults. These results suggest that age-related differences in self-reported emotions in daily life may be attributed to a reduction in regulation-strategy usage over the life-span, and perhaps a reduced need to regulate negative emotion.
RELATED FACTORS OF MENTAL HEALTH WELL-BEING IN THE PARTICIPANTS OF SENIOR CITIZENS' COLLEGE
Authors: Uchida Hayato , Matsuura Shinro 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
The aim of this study was to clarify the mental health well-being and its related factors of participants in senior citizen’s college. The participants were 364 persons (age 69.4+/-6.1) aged sixty years or over living in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. We conducted a cross- sectional study that included age, family structure, employed status, self-related health, presence of chronic disorders, Instrumental ADL (TMIG index of competence score), dietary variety score (1-10), cognitive social capital, structural social capital, the scales of grandchild-grandparent relationships, Japanese version of the abbreviated Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6), the frequency of going outdoors, and Mental health well-being was assessed using the Japanese version of the World Health Organization Mental Health Well-being Index-five items, WHO-5. We carried out the surveys in October in 2018. The total score of WHO-5 was 19. 6+/-4.7 among all participants. From the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis, “social isolation” (OR=4.001, 95%CI=1.584-10.043) was independently associated with low mental health well-being (WHO-5). These results suggest that, to advance the well-being of the elderly, it is necessary to develop and implement the projects which promote social functions including close relationship with others, neighbors or family members.
BURDENS OF HONOR: EXAMINING HONOR IDEOLOGY, SUICIDE RISK-FACTORS, AND AGEISM IN OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Bock Jarrod , Brown Ryan P 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Prior research has demonstrated that rates of suicide increase as men enter older adulthood and that these rates are even higher in honor-oriented regions of the U.S. (particularly among White men). Research into the honor-suicide link has suggested explanatory factors that coincide with the interpersonal theory of suicide, such as untreated depression, heightened risk-taking, and the use of firearms in suicide; however, factors related to aging (e.g., ageism, anxiety about aging) have yet to be examined. The present study examined ambivalent ageism, permissive attitudes toward suicide, and interpersonal risk-factors for suicide as explanations for the honor-suicide link among a sample of 201 older American men (Mage = 56.45, SD = 8.35, range = 44-77 years of age). After controlling for participant age and religiosity, participants with greater endorsement of honor ideology but lower levels of honor fulfillment expressed heightened levels of thwarted belongingness (β = 0.35, p = .001)—an established interpersonal risk-factor for suicide. Additionally, lower levels of honor fulfillment predicted greater anxiety about aging (β = -0.41, p &lt; .001), greater perceived burdensomeness (β = -0.39, p &lt; .001), and more positive implicit attitudes toward youth (β = 0.27, p = .019). Conversely, greater levels of honor fulfillment predicted more positive attitudes toward aging (β = 0.20, p = .025). Our results extend previous research on the honor-suicide relationship by demonstrating the utility of marrying the interpersonal theory of suicide with research on cultures of honor.
STRENGTHENING AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING TO ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONCERNS
Authors: Keefe Bronwyn , Kostiuk Rita 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
The Center for Aging and Disability Education and Research at Boston University in collaboration with the Age-Friendly New Bedford received funding from Tufts Health Plan Foundation to reduce the stigma of mental illness and increase awareness of the effects of social isolation in the community. In order for older adults to be fully engaged in community life, behavioral health concerns need to be addressed with a focus on social isolation, depression, and substance use. Many Age Friendly efforts don’t address these issues even though significant numbers of older adults are impacted. Without a community-wide capacity building effort, behavioral health issues among older adults often fade into the background. We developed and implemented a 3-tiered approach to incorporating behavioral health into an Age Friendly initiative. In the first tier, we focused on increasing awareness of the impact of behavioral health concerns and stigma by creating an anti-stigma campaign in multiple languages. The second tier focused on holding workshops for older adults on behavioral health related issues. The third tier provided training to key stakeholders, including aging service providers, clergy, first responders, and resident coordinators focusing on the need to effectively identify and respond to older adults with behavioral health concerns. Using the Depression Stigma Scale, we measured perceived stigma among older adults pre and post workshop participation. We found statistically significant changes in how older adults perceive depression after participation in the workshop. Training results were also statistically significant with gains pre-post training in key competency areas.