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The relationship between mental wellbeing and financial management among older people: an analysis using the third wave of Understanding Society
- Authors:
- HAYES David, UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL. Personal Finance Research Centre, INTERNATIONAL LONGEVITY CENTRE UK
- Publisher:
- International Longevity Centre UK
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 8
- Place of publication:
- London
This new analysis shows statistically significant relationships between age and both increased levels of mental wellbeing and people reporting they are managing their financial situation more comfortably. It corroborates previous research (C Fitch et al, in Mental Health Review Journal, 2011) suggesting that one in four people with mental health problems are in debt, while one in two people in debt have a mental health problem. This analysis also suggests that after controlling for a range of demographic and socio-economic characteristics, older people who are struggling to manage their finances have eight times the odds of having reduced levels of mental wellbeing. Fitch et al suggested that debt may be both a cause and consequence of mental health problems. This work supports the assertion that poor mental health is exacerbated by financial problems and, though questions of causality remain, indicates that mental wellbeing and financial management are inextricably intertwined. This working paper is published by the Personal Finance Research Centre (PFRC) at the University of Bristol and the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC-UK). The research has been produced as part of the ILC-UK and PFRC project on “financial wellbeing in older age” funded by the ESRC’s Secondary Data Analysis Initiative. It looks at the relationship between mental wellbeing and self-reported financial management among those aged 50 and over in the United Kingdom.1 These findings are drawn from the third wave (2011) of Understanding Society, a large social survey begun in 2009, which captures information on the social and economic circumstances, attitudes, and health, of the inhabitants of 40,000 households each year. This paper begins by examining how mental wellbeing among the over-50s varies with increasing age. It looks at self-reported financial management among the same age group, and explores the relationship between mental wellbeing and how well people feel they are managing their household’s financial situation. Finally, the researchers use regression analysis to assess the independent predictors of mental wellbeing; and the findings suggest a strong relationship between mental wellbeing and financial management. (Edited publisher abstract)
Emotion-regulation strategies in older people: a systematic review
- Authors:
- RAMIREZ-RUIZ Blanca, QUINN Kathryn, FERREIRA Nuno
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 24(1), 2020, pp.1-18.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Emotion regulation (ER) has been identified as an important factor influencing psychological and health problems of adult populations. The purpose of this paper is to address a gap in the literature by examining available evidence relating to the use of ER strategies (avoidance, problem solving, reappraisal, rumination and suppression) on the well-being of older people (OP). Design/methodology/approach: A systematic search for peer-reviewed articles published from 1985 to 2015 was conducted in PsycINFO, CINAHL, Medline, Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Collections and ASSIA and resulted in 1746 titles. In total, 20 studies met full inclusion criteria (the cross-sectional association between well-being and ER was reported, participants were 60 years or older, without cognitive impairment and the article was written in English, Portuguese or Spanish). Findings: Rumination was found to be the ER strategy most strongly associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression in OP populations, while mixed result were found for avoidance, problem solving, suppression and reappraisal. Research limitations/implications: Given the scarcity of research examining the association between ER and positive psychological concepts only a conclusion about ER and negative mood measures could be made. Questions for future research on ER and well-being in OP are proposed. Originality/value: This paper addresses a significant gap in the literature regarding the use of ER strategies in older adults. (Publisher abstract)
Subjective well-being of visually impaired older adults living in the community
- Authors:
- RAFAELY Liran, CARMEL Sara, BACHNER Yaacov G.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 22(9), 2018, pp.1223-1231.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Vision impairment is one of the most common disabilities among older adults, and it has a substantial impact on well-being. The present study constructs an integrative model to identify which variables derived from four dimensions of life (physical/functional, social, psychological and environmental) combined with sociodemographic variables explain the overall subjective well-being (SWB) visually impaired older adults living in the community. Method: A total of 121 severe visually impaired persons, aged 60 and over (M = 77.4, range 60–95), participated in the study. Personal, face-to-face interviews were conducted with participants at social centres or at their homes. Research tools consisted of valid and reliable questionnaires. Results: Five variables explained the older adults' variability in SWB: self-rated health, sense of meaning in life, functional independence in activity of daily living (ADL), sense of control of one's environment (Mastery) and the participant's age. The explained variance percentage was found to be high (61%). In contrast to expectations, social-environmental variables proved to be only of secondary significance in explaining SWB variability. Discussion: Variables derived from the psychological dimension appear more significant than the social-environmental variables in explaining SWB among visually impaired older adults. These variables should be considered when developing intervention programmes intended to increase SWB within this unique population group. (Edited publisher abstract)
A longitudinal investigation of repressive coping and ageing
- Authors:
- ERSKINE James, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 20(10), 2016, pp.1010-1020.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Two studies investigated the possibility that repressive coping is more prevalent in older adults and that this represents a developmental progression rather than a cohort effect. Study 1 examined repressive coping and mental health cross-sectionally in young and old adults. Study 2 examined whether there was a developmental progression of repressive coping prevalence rates in a longitudinal sample of older adults. Method: Study 1 compared younger adults (mean age 27.6 years) with older adults (mean age 74.2 years) on inventories of mental health and well-being and examined the prevalence of repressive coping in both samples. Study 2 re-tested a sample of older adults previously reported following an interval of 7 years. Results and conclusion: Study 1 – in line with previous research older adults demonstrated greater psychological well-being and had a higher prevalence of repressive coping than younger adults (at 30% vs. 12% respectively). Study 2 – the data indicated that the prevalence of repressive coping rose from 41% at the first time of testing (2002) to 56.4% at the second testing interval (2009). These results suggest that repressive coping may increase across the lifespan in certain individuals and continue to increase throughout older adulthood. Furthermore, this increase in repressive coping with age appears to result in better well-being in those older adults who become repressive copers. (Publisher abstract)
“It’s good for me”: physical activity in older adults with schizophrenia
- Authors:
- LEUTWYLER Heather, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 50(1), 2014, pp.75-80.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Physical activity (PA) interventions to improve the physical function of older adults with schizophrenia are necessary but not available. Older adults with schizophrenia may have unique barriers and facilitators to PA. The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of older adults with schizophrenia about barriers and facilitators to engage in physical activities that promote physical function. The authors conducted qualitative interviews with 16 older adults with schizophrenia. Data were collected and analysed with grounded theory methodology. Participants expressed interest in becoming more physically active for a variety of perceived benefits including psychiatric symptom management and maintenance of basic function. Key barriers and facilitators to PA emerged in five broad categories: Mental Health, No longer a spring chicken, Pride and Sense of Well-being, Comfort and Safety, and Belonging. Interventions in this population should address negative attitudes towards aging and promote routine physical activities that enhance well-being and companionship. (Publisher abstract)
Scoping study: a research and development network for rural and remote health, social care and wellbeing
- Authors:
- EARP Alice, DEAVILLE Jennifer
- Publisher:
- Institute of Rural Health
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 28p
- Place of publication:
- Newtown
Over the past five years, there has been increasing interest in Wales and other countries of the UK in research in the field of rural and remote health, social care and wellbeing. There is recognition that a large proportion of the population of Wales live in rural areas but that there is a lack of research evidence on their health, social care and well-being needs. Research has tackled a broad range of topics which can be briefly categorised as: older people (e.g. dementia, barriers to accessing healthcare, psychiatric morbidity in older people); children and young people (e.g. children and domestic violence, the uptake of childhood immunisation in rural areas, unintended teenage pregnancy and reducing sexually transmitted infection); mental health (e.g. depressive disorders, community mental health promotion, suicide); pregnancy and antenatal carep; farmers (e.g. improving access to healthcare for farming)
A systematic scoping review of community-based interventions for the prevention of mental ill-health and the promotion of mental health in older adults in the UK
- Authors:
- LEE Caroline, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, early cite May 2021,
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Mental health concerns in older adults are common, with increasing age-related risks to physical health, mobility and social isolation. Community-based approaches are a key focus of public health strategy in the UK, and may reduce the impact of these risks, protecting mental health and promoting wellbeing. This study conducted a review of UK community-based interventions to understand the types of intervention studied and mental health/wellbeing impacts reported. Method: This study conducted a scoping review of the literature, systematically searching six electronic databases (2000–2020) to identify academic studies of any non-clinical community intervention to improve mental health or wellbeing outcomes for older adults. Data were extracted, grouped by population targeted, intervention type, and outcomes reported, and synthesised according to a framework categorising community actions targeting older adults. Results: In total, 1,131 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 54 included in the final synthesis. Example interventions included: link workers; telephone helplines; befriending; digital support services; group social activities. These were grouped into: connector services, gateway services/approaches, direct interventions and systems approaches. These interventions aimed to address key risk factors: loneliness, social isolation, being a caregiver and living with long-term health conditions. Outcome measurement varied greatly, confounding strong evidence in favour of particular intervention types. Conclusion: The literature is wide-ranging in focus and methodology. Greater specificity and consistency in outcome measurement are required to evidence effectiveness – no single category of intervention yet stands out as ‘promising’. More robust evidence on the active components of interventions to promote older adult's mental health is required. (Edited publisher abstract)
Winter is coming: age and early psychological concomitants of the Covid-19 pandemic in England
- Authors:
- CARSON Jerome, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 19(3), 2020, pp.221-230.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: This paper aims to demonstrate early psychological concomitants of the Covid-19 pandemic in England on a sample of younger and older people. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional quantitative questionnaire (n = 1608) was conducted on the Prolific website. Participants completed the PERMA Scale (Flourishing), the four Office of National Statistics (ONS4) Well-being Questions, the Clinical Outcomes Measure in Routine Evaluation (CORE-10) and the short University of California Los Angeles Brief Loneliness Scale. Findings: Data were gathered on March 18, 2020, near the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. This study looks at the effects of the developing pandemic on younger participants (18 to 25 years, n = 391) and older participants (60 to 80 years, n = 104). Flourishing levels for older participants were significantly higher (M = 107.96) than for younger participants (M = 97.80). Younger participants scored significantly higher on the ONS4 for anxiety and lower than the older participants for happiness, life satisfaction and having a worthwhile life. Levels of psychological distress (CORE-10) were also significantly lower for older participants (M = 9.06) than for younger participants (M = 14.61). Finally, younger participants scored significantly higher on the Brief UCLA Loneliness Scale (M = 6.05) than older participants (M = 4.64). Research limitations/implications: From these findings, the Covid-19 pandemic was having a significantly greater effect on younger people in England, less than one week before the UK went into “lockdown”. Scores for both the Younger and Older groups on all the study measures were worse than normative comparisons. The study had no specific measure of Covid-19 anxiety, but nor was one available at the time of the survey. Practical implications: This study suggests that younger people (18 to 25) may be a more vulnerable group during the Covid-19 pandemic than many may have realized. Social implications: As a recent British Psychological Society report concluded, there is a lot of untapped wisdom amongst older groups in society. Originality/value: This is one of the earliest studies to look at psychological distress before England went into “lockdown.” (Edited publisher abstract)
Only connect: the impact of Covid-19 on older LGBT+ people
- Author:
- OPENING DOORS LONDON
- Publisher:
- Opening Doors London
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 8
- Place of publication:
- London
This report evaluates Opening Doors London’s (ODL) own response to the lockdown and explores the experiences and feelings of its members during this turbulent period. ODL provides information and support services specifically for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT+) people over 50 in the UK. The report is based on a survey of ODL members, with input from the staff and volunteers who swung into action to reconfigure the delivery of vital services in order to continue supporting some of the most vulnerable members of the LGBT+ community. The survey has evidenced the extent of loneliness and social isolation experienced by a group of older LGBT+ people living in London, which has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 lockdown and worsened both physical and mental health. It also evidenced that the recalibration of ODL services meant that we were able to continue support for this vulnerable population. Findings include: 50% of respondents reported a negative impact on their psychological wellbeing; 18% felt much more depressed than usual; 23% experienced worsened physical health during lockdown; 37% felt more lonely than usual; 27% hardly ever or never had someone to talk to. (Edited publisher abstract)
Brain health and mental well-being: GCBH recommendations on feeling good and functioning well
- Author:
- GLOBAL COUNCIL ON BRAIN HEALTH
- Publisher:
- Global Council on Brain Health
- Publication year:
- 2019
- Pagination:
- 34
- Place of publication:
- Washington, DC
This report from the Global Council on Brain Health aims to provide a greater understanding of the relationship between mental well-being and brain health and provide practical recommendations to help people optimise their mental well-being as they age. It summarises the consensus reached by scientists, health professionals, scholars, and policy experts and describes the major points of discussion that led to their recommendations for men and women age 50 and older. The evidence presented shows that feeling good, functioning well and being able cope with life’s challenges are all related to better brain health as we age. Based on the evidence the Global Council on Brain Health state that: greater mental wellbeing is associated with reduced risk of dementia; it is possible to improve your sense of mental well-being, regardless of age or physical condition; and that relating well to others and having good emotional control are key to mental wellbeing. The findings are also supported by the results of a survey of American adults age 18 and older about their perceptions of their own mental well-being and brain health and the ways adults coped with their life stresses. (Edited publisher abstract)