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Expressive social support buffers the impact of care-related work interruptions on caregivers' depressive symptoms
- Authors:
- ANG Shannon, MALHOTRA Rahul
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 22(6), 2018, pp.755-763.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objective: To assess if expressive and instrumental social support from family and friends moderate the association of care-related work interruptions (e.g. leaving work for the older adult's doctor appointment) with depressive symptoms among working family caregivers of older adults. Methods: Data were from the Singapore Survey on Informal Caregiving (SSIC). A subsample of 662 dyads, each comprising an older care-recipient [home-dwelling Singaporean aged 75 and older receiving human assistance for at least one activity of daily living (ADL)] and his/her working family caregiver, was analysed. Caregiver depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Care-related work interruptions were scaled through the Mokken scaling procedure. Expressive social support was assessed using a scale by Pearlin and co-workers. Instrumental social support was based on the hours of ADL help provided to the care-recipient by any family member or friend, on behalf of the primary caregiver. A linear regression model, with interaction terms, assessed expressive and instrumental social support as moderators of the association of care-related work interruptions with caregiver depressive symptoms. Results: More care-related work interruptions were associated with more caregiver depressive symptoms. And, this association was moderated by expressive, but not instrumental, social support. Conclusion: The findings conform to previous qualitative work suggesting that caregivers’ mental health may not benefit from instrumental support, but from receiving expressive support instead. Initiatives for improving the care experience of working caregivers of older adults should focus on promoting expressive support from their friends and family. (Edited publisher abstract)
Participation in productive activities and depression among older Europeans: Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)
- Authors:
- CHOI Kyeong-Sook, STEWART Robert, DEWEY Michael
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28(11), 2013, pp.1157-1165.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This cross-sectional study evaluates the association among five productive activities (paid work, formal volunteering, caregiving, informal helping and caring for grandchildren) with depression in older adults in 14 European countries. The study used the first two waves of data collected by the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe and analysed a total sample of 7238 relatively healthy community residents aged 60 years and older from 14 European countries. The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe excluded potential participants with a past history of depression, cognitive impairment and physical limitations. Depression was categorised using the EURO-D instrument, and associations with participating in productive activities were investigated. Depression was less prevalent among those individuals who were employed or self-employed and those who participated in formal volunteering or informal helping, whereas caregiving was associated with a higher risk of depression. Caring for grandchildren was not associated positively or negatively with depression. Formal volunteering and caregiving remained associated with depression after adjustment for age, sex, marital status, education, economic status, country and presence of long-term illness. Further research is required to clarify the direction of causation and evaluate interventions. (Edited publisher abstract)
The role of religious identity in the mental health of older working and retired adults
- Authors:
- KEYES C.L., REITZES D. C.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 11(4), July 2007, pp.434-443.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study investigates whether religious identity explains unique variance of the self esteem and depressive symptoms of older working and retired adults. Data were collected from a larger, five-year project begun in 1992 that compared the well-being of older workers and with that of new retirees living in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina metropolitan area. Data are from the third and final wave, collected between March and June, 1997, during which 242 of the eligible 255 people participated. Net of religious attendance, religiosity, and various control variables, religious identity predicted both mental health outcomes. As predicted, self esteem increased and depressive symptoms decreased as religious identity increased (i.e., viewing oneself as more competent, confident, and sociable as a religious person). Though there was a trend towards religious identity being more strongly predictive of mental health among retirees than among the working adults, these interactions did not reach statistical significance.
Everyday age discrimination: what older people say
- Author:
- HELP THE AGED
- Publisher:
- Help the Aged
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 34p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report report illustrates the "shocking level" of age discrimination in all areas of life including health, insurance, advertising and employment, through older people talking about their experiences. Reports relating to employment are by far the highest number of complaints the Charity receives. Some people simply do not want to retire at 65 and others have been made redundant for being 'too old' after many years of work. Once unemployed it is often difficult to find a job as many employers look to recruit young employees often with no rationale, meaning older workers are forced to make do with low paid work or short term contracts unsuited to their skills and experience. This can impact not only on a person's income and capacity to save for retirement, but also on their confidence and mental health, which in turn can lead to serious depression.
Loneliness and depressive symptoms: the moderating role of the transition into retirement
- Authors:
- SEGEL-KARPAS Dikla, AYALON Liat, LACHMAN Margie E.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 22(1), 2018, pp.135-140 |.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: The transition to retirement implies significant changes in daily routine and in the social environment. More specifically, it requires more self-directed efforts in order to stay socially engaged. Hence, for those who suffer from loneliness, the transition to retirement could result in increased depressive symptoms due to the lack of structured daily routine. Methods: The authors used two waves of the Health and Retirement Study, and tested whether the transition to retirement between the two waves moderates the effects of loneliness on depressive symptoms. Results: The transition to retirement moderated the effect of loneliness in wave 1 on depressive symptoms in wave 2, such that for those who retired, the effect was stronger in comparison to those who stayed employed. Conclusions: Although many manage to easily transition into retirement, lonely older workers are at increased risk for maladjustment and the experience of depressive symptoms following retirement. This group could perhaps benefit from interventions aimed at increasing daily social interactions and establishing a socially satisfying routine (Edited publisher abstract)
Participation in productive activities and health outcomes among older adults in urban China
- Authors:
- LI Yawen, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 54(5), 2014, pp.784-796.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Purpose of the Study: This study examined whether participating in productive activities was associated with better health outcomes among older adults in urban China, including analysis of potential gender differences. Design and Methods: Using a sample of 10,016 urban Chinese adults aged 60 years or older from the 2006 Sample Survey of the Aged Population in Urban/Rural China, we regressed measures of self-rated health, functional health, and depression on productive activities (paid employment, helping with family, and volunteering), controlling for sociodemographic variables. Results: Those who provided assistance to family members or volunteered had significantly lower levels of depression and better functional and self-rated health than their counterparts. Older adults with paid job, providing family assistance, or volunteering reported significantly lower levels of depression and better functional and self-rated health than those without those activities. However, only older men with paid employment reported significantly less depression, and the effect of family assistance on functional health also differed by gender. Implications: As research increasingly demonstrates the role of productive activities in maintaining health among older adults, our findings can help practitioners or policy makers strategically select or develop health programs to promote productive activities among older adults in urban China. (Publisher abstract)
How depression and other mental health problems can affect future living standards of those out of the labour force
- Authors:
- SCHOFIELD Deborah, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 15(5), July 2011, pp.654-662.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study assessed whether those leaving the workforce early through mental health problems have less savings by the time they reach retirement age. Data were obtained from Health & Wealth MOD - a micro-simulation model of Australians aged 45-64 years that predicts accumulated savings at age 65. Findings revealed that females who retired early due to depression have an average value of total savings by the time they are 65 of $300. For those with more serious mental health problems the figure was $0. This is far lower than the average of $227,900 for females with no chronic condition who remained employed full-time. Males showed similar differences. Both males and females who were out of the labour force due to depression or other mental health problems had at least 97% less savings and retirement income by age 65 that those who remained employed full-time. The authors concluded that those who retire early due to mental health problems will face long term financial disadvantage.
Caregiver role strain: the contribution of multiple roles and available resources in African-American women
- Authors:
- WILLIAMS S. Wallace, DILWORTH-ANDERSON P., GOODWIN P. Y.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 7(2), March 2003, pp.103-112.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
While the roles of spouse, parent, and employee are normative for middle-aged adults, strain associated with each role may increase when the role of caregiver is added. The objectives of the present study were to determine: (1) what is the relationship between the caregiver's other roles (marital, parental, employee), specific combinations of these roles, and role strain; and (2) what is the relationship between available resources (economic, social, and personal) and role strain? The study participants were 148 African-American females who provided care to elderly family members. A model using multiple linear regression was analyzed. Caregivers with higher depressive symptomatology were more strained. However, neither additional multiple roles, nor a combination of roles were significantly related to role strain. African-American caregivers experienced a wide range of caregiver role strain. It would be a disservice to African-American caregivers to operate under the assumption that they provide care with little emotional cost. Continued within group analyses are needed to understand differential outcomes of these caregivers.
Creating and maintaining purpose in life in old age: a meta analysis
- Author:
- PINQUART Martin
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing International, 27(2), Spring 2002, pp.90-114.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
Purpose in life is a defining feature of mental health. In old age, maintaining purpose in life may become more difficult due to increasing losses. A small age associated decline of purpose in life becomes stronger in older age groups. High purpose in life is associated with higher socioeconomic status, better health, everyday competence, being employed and being married. The article concludes that relying on sources that have low or even no age associated decline such as social integration and previous attainments counteract strong declines of purpose in old age.
Employed family caregivers of cognitively impaired elderly: an examination of role strain and depressive symptoms
- Authors:
- EDWARDS A.B., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 6(1), February 2002, pp.55-61.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article compares employed and non-employed caregivers of cognitively impaired elderly family members. Explores whether holding the positions of both caregiver and worker led to greater role overload and psychological role conflict, or provided an outlet that helps caregivers better manage the demands placed on them. Results found no differences between employed and non-employed caregivers on measures of role overload, worry and strain, and depression. For working caregivers, however, greater conflict on the job was associated with higher role overload and worry and strain while beneficial work experiences were only weakly associated with lower role overload and worry and strain. There was an interaction effect between positive work experiences and role overload when predicting depressive symptoms. These results provide some support for role conflict, but also suggest that caregivers may vary considerably in how they adapt to multiple roles.