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Financial strain, negative social interaction, and self-rated health: evidence from two United States nationwide longitudinal surveys
- Authors:
- KRAUSE Neal, NEWSOM Jason T., ROOK Karen S.
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 28(7), October 2008, pp.1001-1023.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Three hypotheses concerning negative social interaction in later life were evaluated in this study. First, it was predicted that greater personal economic difficulty is associated with more frequent negative social interaction with social network members in general. Secondly, it was proposed that more frequent negative social interaction exacerbates the undesirable effect of personal financial strain on change in self-rated health during late life. Thirdly, an effort was made to see if some types of negative social interaction, but not others, accentuate the undesirable effects of personal economic problems on self-rated health. Data from two nationwide longitudinal surveys that were conducted in the United States revealed that greater personal financial difficulty is associated with more interpersonal conflict. The findings further indicate that the undesirable effects of personal economic difficulty on change in self-rated health are more pronounced at progressively higher levels of negative social interaction. Finally, the data suggest that one form of negative social interaction (not getting help when it is expected) is more likely to intensify the unwanted effects of personal financial strain on self-rated health than other types of negative social interaction.
Empathy and social functioning in late adulthood
- Authors:
- BAILEY Phoebe E., HENRY Julie D., von HIPPEL William
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 12(4), July 2008, pp.499-503.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Both cognitive and affective empathy are regarded as essential prerequisites for successful social functioning, and recent studies have suggested that cognitive, but not affective, empathy may be adversely affected as a consequence of normal adult aging. This decline in cognitive empathy is of concern, as older adults are particularly susceptible to the negative physical and mental health consequences of loneliness and social isolation. The present study compared younger (N = 80) and older (N = 49) adults on measures of cognitive empathy, affective empathy, and social functioning. Whilst older adults' self-reported and performance-based cognitive empathy was significantly reduced relative to younger adults, there were no age-related differences in affective empathy. Older adults also reported involvement in significantly fewer social activities than younger adults, and cognitive empathy functioned as a partial mediator of this relationship. These findings are consistent with theoretical models that regard cognitive empathy as an essential prerequisite for good interpersonal functioning. However, the cross-sectional nature of the study leaves open the question of causality for future studies.
Cancer in a dyadic context: older couples’ negotiation of ambiguity and search for meaning at the end of life
- Author:
- GARDNER Daniel S.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care, 4(2), October 2008, pp.135-159.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
An investigation of the ways in which older couples negotiate uncertainty and work together to search for meaning at the end of life. Ambiguity in the dying experience can be a major source of stress for older couples, who must often balance the need for care provision with respect for autonomy, aggressive treatment with quality-of-life and individual preferences with those affecting them as a couple. This study explores patterns of relationship, support and communication in married or partnered couples where one partner is diagnosed with advanced or terminal cancer. Thirty-five older couples participated in interviews about relationship aspects of their experiences of terminal illness, describing the individual and shared processes that they have engaged in as the end of life approached. Topics covered include the question of faith, of partners sharing, or not sharing, their knowledge of the reality of the situation or their attitude to it, individual fears, and whether the experience brought the couple closer or the reverse. Implications were highlighted for future research, including the impact of gender differences, differences among patients and caregivers, and different attitudes related to race, ethnicity and social class on the experience of advanced cancer, in order to improve the ability of social workers to care for older adults and their caregivers.
Staying connected: the lived experiences of volunteers and older adults
- Authors:
- PENNINGTON Jarred, KNIGHT Tess
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing International, 32(4), December 2008, pp.298-311.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
Many housebound older adults lack meaningful social relationships. This Australian study explores the phenomenon of social connectedness in the volunteer-older adult relationship through the experiences of frail and isolated older adults and volunteers. This relationship is conceptualised as a journey whereby each traveller plays an active role in its direction and outcome. When volunteers maintain the boundaries of the relationship through structured conversation and visits, it is described as friendly. Transgressing the boundaries involves doing extra for the elder and is both a function of the dyad’s compatibility, and the volunteer’s sense of ongoing agency and lack of elder expectations. The sense of social connectedness inherent in these relationships often feels like that of friendship or family, and these relationships are perceived as meaningful and close for both parties. Social connectedness in family-like relationships is a function of the playing out of an otherwise missing family role. However, if volunteer volition is compromised, this results in feelings of obligation and responsibility, similar to the dynamic between blood relatives. Participants’ narratives suggest that when the boundaries of the relationship are mutually negotiated, this serves to strengthen the relationship’s socioemotional quality, and potential for the continuity of the unique sense of social connectedness that has already been established.
The adaptive and maladaptive faces of dependency in later life: links to physical and psychological health outcomes
- Authors:
- FIORI Katherine, CONSENDINE Nathan, MAGAI Carol
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 12(6), November 2008, pp.700-712.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Negotiating the balance between reliance on others and desires for autonomy is a fundamental task of successful aging. The purpose of the present study was to replicate and extend a three-factor model of interpersonal dependency in a sample of older adults, and to examine the physical and psychological health correlates of this multifaceted construct. Data come from the third wave of a population-based study of older Americans (n = 166; mean age 80 years). An exploratory factor analysis of selected dependency items from two scales was conducted, followed by logistic and hierarchical linear regressions to analyze the association of dependency factors with self-reported health, use of hypertension medication, depressed affect and positive affect. Three factors closely paralleling those of Bornstein and Languirand's (Psychological Bulletin, 112(1), 3-23, 2004) measure were found: destructive overdependence, healthy dependency and dysfunctional detachment, as well as a fourth factor labelled 'healthy independence'. Healthy dependency was associated with better self-reported health. Dysfunctional detachment was related to a greater likelihood and healthy independence a lesser likelihood of taking hypertension medication. Whereas both healthy independence and healthy dependency were positively related to positive affect and negatively related to depressed affect, destructive overdependence was positively related to depressed affect. Understanding the complex nature of interpersonal dependency and autonomy in old age, as well as their implications for health and wellbeing, may enable practitioners to assist older adults in negotiating the task of balancing these needs.
More than just not being alone: the number, nature, and complementarity of meal-time social interactions influence food intake in hospitalized elderly patients
- Authors:
- PAQUET Catherine, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 48(5), October 2008, pp.603-611.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study evaluated the social facilitation of elderly patients' food intake beyond the presence of mealtime companions by assessing various relationships. The study examined the relationships between patients' intake and (a) the number of interpersonal exchanges with mealtime fellows, (b) the nature of behaviours expressed by the patients themselves and their fellows, and (c) the degree of complementarity between these. Interpersonal exchanges and intake were observed on repeated mealtime occasions (n = 1,477) nested within 32 geriatric patients (21 women, 11 men; age, M = 78.8 years) in a rehabilitation unit located in Canada. Participants' intake was estimated from plate leftovers. Interpersonal behaviours were examined for both participants and patients with whom they interacted in terms of agency and communion dimensions, following the interpersonal circumplex model of human interaction. With the use of multilevel regression analyses, the number, nature, and complementarity of behaviours that participants engaged in and were exposed to on a given meal were computed to test their impact on intake. The total amount of interaction between patients was positively related to intake. The effect was significant for both participants' own behaviours and those to which they were exposed, and it varied with the nature of the interaction; effects were significant in terms of frequency and complementarity for communal behaviours, and complementarity only for agentic behaviours. Effects could only partly be explained by meal duration effects. The results provide support for the effect of the number, nature, and complementarity of mealtime interpersonal behaviours on the food intake of elderly patients, and they may inspire new approaches to ensure adequate intake in this malnutrition-prone population.
Social relationships and their role in the consideration to hasten death
- Author:
- SCHROEPFER Tracy A.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 48(5), October 2008, pp.612-621.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study explored the quality and functioning of terminally ill elders' social relationships and their impact on elders' consideration to hasten death. In-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 96 terminally ill elders in the US. Logistic regression was used to determine whether aspects of social relationships significantly predicted the consideration to hasten death. The qualitative data was content analyzed to identify main themes and patterns. Logistic regression revealed that conflictual social support was a significant predictor of the consideration to hasten death. Qualitative data provided insight into findings that responsibilities to loved ones or direct verbal attempts did not deter elders' consideration to hasten death. This research highlights the importance of quality social support in elders' consideration to hasten death and exhibits the need for practitioners to assess thoroughly the quality of elder–caregiver relations.
What's love got to do with it? Developing supportive practices for the expression of sexuality, sexual identity and the intimacy needs of older people
- Author:
- HAFFORD-LETCHFIELD Trish
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Care Services Management, 2(4), September 2008, pp.389-405.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper seeks to contribute to emerging debates and the development of further understanding by those working in social care towards sexuality and the expression of older people's sexual needs. Drawing on a range of secondary literature, this paper first attempts to define which discourses are influential around older people's sexuality within the social care arena. It examines the potential role played by social care professionals in recognising, interacting and confronting any barriers that serve to perpetuate myths and stereotypes of the ‘asexual’ older person. Finally, the paper addresses questions as to what steps might be taken to promote the wellbeing of older people using social care services through creating opportunities for expression of their needs for intimacy and sexual wellbeing and how to manage responses within services in a more holistic way.
Social well-being in extra care housing: an overview of the literature
- Author:
- CALLAGHAN Lisa
- Publisher:
- Personal Social Services Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 29p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Canterbury
This literature review was carried out as part of a project investigating social well-being in extra care housing. An interim report from the project, describing the methodology and reporting some very early findings, is also available. The aim of this literature review was: to identify how social well-being has been defined in the literature; to identify what factors affect social well-being; and to identify how social well-being could be measured in the present study. For the older people taking part in this project, social well-being is likely to be crucially influenced by moving to a housing-with-care setting. Therefore, this review focuses on the effect of environmental characteristics as well as both concrete and perceptual social factors on well-being. Searches were conducted of a large number of databases and of the internet. Social well-being is defined as the area of overall well-being involving social relationships, social participation, social networks, and social support. In terms of environmental characteristics, the literature covers the areas of physical design, approach taken to activity provision within the housing and care setting, links with the local community, and staffing and care. The literature on social factors includes friendships and social support, loneliness and isolation, social activity and participation, and social climate.
Promoting the mental health and well-being of older people: trainer manual to support the level 2 award
- Authors:
- CLARE Alison, CUTHBERT Sharon Lee
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 157p., CD ROM
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
This training manual provides the resources and materials to deliver training to those involved in improving the mental health and well-being of older people, including paid staff, volunteers and informal carers. It includes guidance for trainers, activities and timings, and suggests learning materials and resources. The manual has been developed to support the Level 2 City and Guilds Award, but can also be used to delivery non-accredited learning programmes. The contents are split into five units: the principles and values that underpin the promotion and well-being and mental health with older people; mental well-being, mental health problems and older people; communication and relationships; working within services to promote well-being and mental health with older people; and developing yourself and your role.