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A life-span approach to examining older vulnerable population’s subjective well-being: the role of adversity and trauma
- Authors:
- YANG Mai See, HEDEKER Donald
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 24(12), 2020, pp.2043-2052.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Using the life course guidance, the goal of this study was to examine the degree to which previously experienced adversity and trauma was associated with subjective well-being among older adults. Methods: Data from the Health and Retirement Study (1992–2012) was used to examine these trends over time. We used multilevel models to test for specific individual change across time. The study sample included older community dwellers aged 55 and over (N = 5,649). Results: In terms of early childhood adversities, 77% experienced at least one trauma and 72% experienced at least one trauma in adulthood. Adverse childhood experiences and adulthood trauma were predictors of depressive symptoms, poorer self-rated health, and worse life satisfaction. Older black, other race, and Hispanic groups have poorer subjective well-being overtime compared to whites. Conclusion: Findings suggested exposure to childhood adversities and adulthood trauma increases depressive symptoms, poor self-rated health, and low satisfaction of life over time. Findings from this study provide insight into how life course exposure of adversity and trauma among older adults showed a negative trend over time. (Edited publisher abstract)
Life-space mobility and dimensions of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults
- Authors:
- POLKU Hannele, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 19(9), 2015, pp.781-789.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: To examine the association between life-space mobility and different dimensions of depressive symptoms among older community-dwelling people. Life-space mobility refers to the size of the spatial area in which a person moves in everyday life, including not only individuals’ ability to walk, but also other forms of mobility, such as using public transportation or driving a car. Methods: Cross-sectional analyses of baseline data of the ‘Life-Space Mobility in Old Age’ cohort study were carried out. The participants were community-dwelling women and men aged 75–90 years (N = 848). Data were gathered via structured interviews in participants’ home. Life-space mobility (the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Life-Space Assessment – questionnaire) and depressive symptoms (Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, CES-D) were assessed. Other factors examined included sociodemographic factors, difficulties walking 500 m, number of chronic diseases and the sense of autonomy in participation outdoors (subscale of Impact on Participation and Autonomy questionnaire). Results: Poorer life-space mobility was associated with higher prevalence of different dimensions of depressive symptoms. The associations were partially mediated through walking difficulties, health and the sense of autonomy in participation outdoor activities. Conclusion: Poorer life-space mobility interrelates with higher probability for depressive symptoms, thus compromising older adults’ mental wellbeing. A focus on older adults’ life-space mobility may assist early identification of persons, who have elevated risk for depressive symptoms. The association between life-space mobility and depressive symptoms should be studied further utilising longitudinal study designs to examine temporality and potential causality. (Edited publisher abstract)
Personality, psychosocial and health-related predictors of quality of life in old age
- Authors:
- WEBER Kerstin, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 19(2), 2014, pp.151-158.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Beyond its well-documented association with depressive symptoms across the lifespan, at an individual level, quality of life may be determined by multiple factors: psychosocial characteristics, current physical health and long-term personality traits. Method: Quality of life was assessed in two distinct community-based age groups (89 young adults aged 36.2 ± 6.3 and 92 older adults aged 70.4 ± 5.5 years), each group equally including adults with and without acute depressive symptoms. Regression models were applied to explore the association between quality of life assessed with the World Health Organization Quality of Life - Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) and depression severity, education, social support, physical illness, as well as personality dimensions as defined by the Five-Factor Model. Results: In young age, higher quality of life was uniquely associated with lower severity of depressive symptoms. In contrast, in old age, higher quality of life was related to both lower levels of depressive mood and of physical illness. In this age group, a positive association was also found between quality of life and higher levels of Openness to experience and Agreeableness personality dimensions. Conclusion: Our data indicated that, in contrast to young cohorts, where acute depression is the main determinant of poor quality of life, physical illness and personality dimensions represent additional independent predictors of this variable in old age. This observation points to the need for concomitant consideration of physical and psychological determinants of quality of life in old age.
Positive psychology interventions in people aged 50–79 years: long-term effects of placebo-controlled online interventions on well-being and depression
- Authors:
- PROYER Rene T., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 18(8), 2014, pp.997-1005.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Various positive psychology interventions have been experimentally tested, but only few studies addressed the effects of such activities in participants aged 50 and above. Method: We tested the impact of four self-administered positive psychology interventions in an online setting (i.e., gratitude visit, three good things, three funny things, and using signature strengths in a new way) on happiness and depressive symptoms in comparison with a placebo control exercise (i.e., early memories). A total of 163 females aged 50–79 tried the assigned interventions or the placebo control exercise for one week and completed measures on happiness and depressive symptoms at five times (pre- and post-test, 1, 3, and 6 months). Results: Three out of the four interventions (i.e., gratitude visit, three good things, and using signature strengths in a new way) increased happiness, whereas two interventions (three funny things and using signature strengths in a new way) led to a reduction of depressive symptoms on at one post-measure. Conclusion: Positive psychology interventions yield similar results for people aged 50 and above as for younger people. The dissemination of such interventions via the Internet offers a valuable opportunity for older age groups as well.
Age-friendly environments and psychosocial wellbeing: a study of older urban residents in Ireland
- Authors:
- GIBNEY Sarah, ZHANG Mengyang, BRENNAN Cathal
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 24(12), 2020, pp.2022-2033.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objective: This article aims to estimate the association between age-friendly urban environments and psychosocial wellbeing in adults aged 55+ living in four Irish cities. Method: Data is from the Healthy and Positive Ageing Initiative ‘Age-friendly Cities and Counties Survey’ from four cities; Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Galway (n = 2,094). The Age-friendly Urban Index (AFUI), a perception-based measure of safety, access to services, and walkability, is used to measure urban environment quality on a scale of 35 (least favourable) to 105 (most favourable). Wellbeing was estimated using the following composite measures: quality of life (comprising hedonic (pleasure) and eudaimonic (control, autonomy, self-realisation) wellbeing); affective (depressive mood); and social (loneliness). Multivariate regression analyses (negative binomial and Poisson regression) were used to investigate the association between the AFUI and each wellbeing indicator. Models were fully adjusted for known demographic (age, gender, household structure, marital status), socio-economic (material deprivation, employment/occupation, education), social (social engagement, community activities) and health (self-rated health, mobility limitations) correlates of psychosocial wellbeing. Results: Older people living in cities with higher AFUI score were more likely to report higher quality of life overall, and higher hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing. These adults also had lower depressive mood scores and reported lower loneliness levels. Results remain significant in the fully adjusted model. Limitations: Causal conclusions cannot be made because of cross-sectional data. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of the relationship between the age-friendliness (safety, services, and walkability) of urban environments and multiple aspects of psychosocial wellbeing for older adults in Ireland. (Edited publisher abstract)
The emotional wellbeing of older carers
- Authors:
- SCRUTTON Jonathan, CREIGHTON Helen, INTERNATIONAL LONGEVITY CENTRE UK
- Publisher:
- University College London
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 20
- Place of publication:
- London
This report, the second in a two part series summarising research from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London (UCL), focuses on the subjective wellbeing of older carers. The research finds that: long term caregiving was associated with declines in quality of life and life satisfaction for carers, and an increased risk of depression; and giving up caregiving was associated with increased depression amongst both male and female carers. The report addresses the wider context of these findings, highlighting how the ageing population could potentially lead to large increases in the number of older carers, with the number of carers over 65 already having risen by 35 per cent since 2001. It also highlights the day-to-day realities faced by many older carers, including a high risk of emotional distress; the loss of friends, either because of a lack of time to socialise or because friends were unable to properly understand the constraints and strains of caring; and potential health risks. The report explores the policy implications of the research, highlighting that few policies and support services are aimed at older carers specifically. The report suggests that more could be done to protect the emotional wellbeing and mental health of older carers, through appropriate support being provided at all stages of the caregiving cycle. (Edited publisher abstract)
Age, ageing and subjective wellbeing in later life
- Authors:
- JIVRAJ Stephen, et al
- Publisher:
- University of Manchester. Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 12p.
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
There has been a shift from measuring successful ageing as the absence of physical and mental health conditions towards assessing subjective wellbeing. There are 3 broad approaches to measuring subjective wellbeing: eudemonic; evaluative; and affective. This paper examines age-related changes in subjective wellbeing in later life using multiple measures that cover the 3 dimensions of wellbeing. The study uses data from 5 waves of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) over an 8 year period. ELSA is a panel study of people aged 50 and over which began in 2002 and has continued to track the same individuals every 2 years. Multilevel linear growth curve models are used to examine the cross-sectional effects of age and the longitudinal effects of ageing on quality of life, depressive symptomatology and life satisfaction in later life. The findings show that older individuals have a better subjective wellbeing than those that are younger for each wellbeing measure, except at the oldest age for quality of life. Nonetheless, deterioration in wellbeing is greater at older ages, even when adjusting for age-related changes in later life, including widowhood, retirement and declining health. The results suggest that although older people enjoy higher levels of subjective wellbeing than their younger counterparts, they experience sharper declines, especially at the oldest ages.
Age and depression in patients with metastatic cancer: the protective effects of attachment security and spiritual wellbeing
- Authors:
- LO Christopher, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 30(2), February 2010, pp.325-336.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Psychological distress in cancer patients is inversely related to age, although the reasons are unclear. The literature suggests that ageing may be associated with the development of adaptive capacities, specifically greater attachment security (the sense that others will be available and supportive when needed) and spirituality (the capacity to view one's life as having meaning, purpose and value), that enable older people to cope better with disease. This article examines whether age-related patterns in attachment security and spiritual wellbeing account for the protective effect of age against distress. Measures of depression, attachment security, spiritual wellbeing and disease burden were collected from 342 patients aged from 21 to 88 years with advanced, metastatic cancer. Attachment security and spiritual wellbeing were tested as mediators of the effect of age on depression, controlling for disease burden. It was found that age was associated inversely with depression and positively with spiritual wellbeing and attachment security. Depression was inversely related to attachment security and spiritual wellbeing, and the effect of age on depression was fully mediated by attachment security and spiritual wellbeing. The relative protection from psychological distress among older cancer patients may be the result of age-related developmental accomplishments or differences in the response to adverse life-events.
Loneliness, social support networks, mood and wellbeing in community-dwelling elderly
- Authors:
- GOLDEN Jeannette, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(7), July 2009, pp.694-700.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Both loneliness and social networks have been linked with mood and wellbeing. However, few studies have examined these factors simultaneously in community-dwelling participants. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between social network, loneliness, depression, anxiety and quality of life in community dwelling older people living in Dublin. One thousand two hundred and ninety-nine people aged 65 and over, recruited through primary care practices, were interviewed in their own homes using the GMS-AGECAT. Social network was assessed using Wenger's typology. 35% of participants were lonely, with 9% describing it as painful and 6% as intrusive. Similarly, 34% had a non-integrated social network. However, the two constructs were distinct: 32% of participants with an integrated social network reported being lonely. Loneliness was higher in women, the widowed and those with physical disability and increased with age, but when age-related variables were controlled for this association was non-significant. Wellbeing, depressed mood and hopelessness were all independently associated with both loneliness and non-integrated social network. In particular, loneliness explained the excess risk of depression in the widowed. The population attributable risk (PAR) associated with loneliness was 61%, compared with 19% for non-integrated social network. Taken together they had a PAR of 70%. Loneliness and social networks both independently affect mood and wellbeing in the elderly, underlying a very significant proportion of depressed mood.
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)