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Volunteering and psychological well-being among young-old adults: how much is too much?
- Authors:
- WINDSOR Timothy D., ANSTEY Kaarin J., RODGERS Bryan
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 48(1), February 2008, pp.59-70.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Research concerned with the relationship between volunteer activity and psychological well-being has typically reported higher levels of well-being among older adult volunteers relative to nonvolunteers. However, few studies have examined nonlinear associations between frequency of volunteer activity and well-being. This study examined nonlinear associations between hours spent volunteering and psychological well-being, controlling for employment status, partner status, physical health, and education. Associations between different domains of volunteer activity and well-being, along with the possible moderating effects of gender on these relationships was also investigated. Data was used from the PATH Through Life Project, a population-based study of Australian adults. Participants consisted of 2,136 older adults aged 64 to 68. Nonlinear associations between hours spent volunteering and psychological well-being were evident, with these associations characterized by inverted U shapes, with nonvolunteers and those volunteering at high levels producing lower well-being scores relative to those volunteering at moderate levels. Few associations between specific domains of volunteer activity and well-being were evident, and no notable gender interactions emerged. Implications: The results point toward optimal frequency of engagement in volunteer activity for psychological well-being as being bounded by upper and lower levels, outside of which benefits to well-being diminish.
Meaning in Life and depressive symptoms: a person-oriented approach in residential and community-dwelling older adults
- Authors:
- VAN DER HEYDEN Karen, DEZUTTER Jessie, BEYERS Wim
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 19(12), 2015, pp.1063-1070.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
In current society, an increasing population of older adults and a high prevalence of depressive symptoms in late life is noticeable. A possible protective resource is ‘Meaning in Life’. The objective of this study is to identify from a person-oriented view (a) Meaning in Life-profiles, based on Presence of Meaning and Search for Meaning dimensions, and (b) their associations with depressive symptoms. (Edited publisher abstract)
Does perceived burdensomeness erode meaning in life among older adults?
- Authors:
- ORDEN Kimberly A. van, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(7), September 2012, pp.855-860.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study tested hypotheses that role of perceptions that one is a burden on others is a risk factor for lower meaning in life. It investigated the associations between perceptions of burdensomeness on others and perceived meaning in life among 65 older adults seeking mental health treatment for depression or anxiety at an outpatient geriatric mental health clinic in the United States. Participants completed self-report questionnaires within a month following intake. Follow-up questionnaires were completed over the phone two months later. Results indicated that perceived burdensomeness predicted lack of meaning in life, while also accounting for depression severity. The authors concluded that burdensomeness may contribute to suicide morbidity and mortality in late-life by eroding meaning in life. Empirically supported treatments for late-life depression could be adapted to focus on perceptions of burdensomeness and its connections with meaning in life. Implications for practice are discussed.
Conceptualizing and assessing spirituality among Chinese elders: towards evidence-based practice
- Author:
- LOU Vivian W.Q.
- Journal article citation:
- Generations Review, 22(1), January 2012, Online only
- Publisher:
- British Society of Gerontology
Briefly reports on the findings of a research study to look at the meaning of spirituality among Chinese elders and identify how spirituality could contribute to wellbeing. Phase one involved conducting focus groups and indepth interviews in Hong Kong and Shanghai to discover the meaning of spirituality from the perspective of Chinese elders and those who had close relationships with them. Phase two was a Delphi study aiming to reach expertise consensus on the meaning of spirituality among Chinese elders. Phase three consisted of quantitative research to validate the Spirituality Scale for Chinese Elders (SSCE). Seven key components of spirituality, including spiritual well-being, meaning of life, transcendence, and relationships with self, family, people other than family members, and environment were identified.
The spectrum of worry in the community-dwelling elderly
- Authors:
- GOLDEN Jeannette, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 15(8), November 2011, pp.985-994.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study investigated the prevalence and distribution of worry, its associations with quality of life and depression, based on a large sample of community-dwelling elderly. Participants included 2,136 people aged 65 to 96 recruited through general practitioners. Interviews was used to rate symptoms which were classified into five levels of severity of worry ranging from simple, non-excessive to generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). Findings revealed that 79% of participants reported worrying, 37% worrying excessively, 20% reported excessive, uncontrollable worry and 6.3% met criteria for GAD. Prevalence of all types of worry declined with age and was lower in men. Major depressive disorder was absent in those who did not worry, and had a prevalence of only 0.2% in those with non-severe worry. It had a significantly elevated prevalence at all levels of excessive worry, and a significantly higher prevalence in those with GAD. All levels of excessive worry were associated with reduced quality of life.
The effects of reminiscence on psychological well-being in older adults: a meta-analysis
- Authors:
- BOHLMEIJER Ernst, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 11(3), May 2007, pp.291-300.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper presents the results of a meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of reminiscence on psychological well-being across different target groups and treatment modalities. Fifteen controlled outcome studies were included. An overall effect size of 0.54 was found, indicating a moderate influence of reminiscence on life-satisfaction and emotional well-being in older adults. Life-review was found to have significantly greater effect on psychological well-being than simple reminiscence. In addition, reminiscence had significantly greater effect on community-dwelling adults than adults living in nursing homes or residential care. Other characteristics of participants or interventions were not found to moderate effects. It is concluded that reminiscence in general, but especially life review, are potentially effective methods for the enhancement of psychological well-being in older adults. However, a replication of effectiveness studies of the well-defined protocols is now warranted.
Enhancing the quality of extended life years. Identification of the oldest old with a very good and very poor quality of life
- Authors:
- GRUNDY E., BOWLING A.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 3(3), August 1999, pp.199-212.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The objective of the study was to investigate quality of life in very old age by analysing what proportion of older people had cumulative difficulties across several domains of quality of life, what proportion had no or few problems, and how these distributions changed over time. The study confirms the great diversity of the elderly population, and the need to adopt a multidimensional perspective on quality of life in old age. The study is unique in its longitudinal analysis of a very elderly population, and in adopting a multi faceted approach, rather than analysing each domain of quality of life separately.
‘The own’ and ‘the wise’ as social support for older people living with HIV in the United Kingdom
- Authors:
- ROSENFELD Dana, ANDERSON Jane
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 40(1), 2020, pp.188-204.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
As the HIV population ages, how the ageing and HIV experiences intersect to shape the lives of older people living with HIV (PLWH) becomes an increasingly pressing question. This multi-method study investigated social support, mental health and quality of life among 100 older PLWH in the United Kingdom. Drawing on data from three focus groups and 74 life-history interviews with older (aged 50+) White men who have sex with men (MSM), and Black African and White heterosexual men and women, living with HIV, the study explores participants’ distinctions between, evaluations of and access to sources of social support. Participants distinguished between support from the HIV-negative (Goffman's ‘the own’) and experientially based support from other PLWH (Goffman's ‘the wise’), and viewed the former, while valuable, as needing to be supplemented by the latter. Furthermore, access to experientially based support varied across participant groups, whose communities had different histories with HIV/AIDS and thus different degrees of knowledge about HIV and avenues for connecting to other PLWH. Thus, social support among older PLWH cannot be neatly divided into ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ domains, or fully appreciated by applying traditional social support measures, including, in the context of health conditions, ‘peer support’ created through formal service organisations. Rather, older PLWH's own distinctions and evaluations better illuminate the complexities of social support in the context of ageing with HIV. (Edited publisher abstract)
The importance of sources of meaning in life of community dwelling psychologically frail older people
- Authors:
- HOEYBERGHS Lieve Josee, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 23(2), 2019, pp.65-76.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Psychological frailty adds most to overall feelings of frailty, but is often neglected, although meaning in life is important for psychological well-being. The purpose of this paper is to explore the sources of meaning in life within psychologically frail older people. Design/methodology/approach: Data (n= 16,872) generated from the Belgian Ageing Studies were collected, using the Comprehensive Frailty Assessment Instrument and the Sources of Meaning Profile (SOMP-R) instrument. Psychometric properties of the SOMP-R were explored using factor and reliability analysis and one-way-ANOVA analysis were used to asses mean differences. Findings: Financial security, meeting basic needs and personal relations play an important role as sources of meaning in life. Moreover, the SOMP-R showed excellent psychometric properties. Research limitations/implications: Due to the cross-sectional design of this study, evolution in time and causal links could not be assessed. Practical implications: The findings of this study emphasize that sources of meaning in life are relevant and can be assessed using the SOMP-R upon which individually tailored care plans can be developed. The results show that, meaning in life as such plays an important role for psychologically frail older people. As a consequence, this offers insights to support these older people. Caregivers and policymakers might therefore take these results into account. Guarantee and/or follow up a frail individual’s financial security, assessing and enabling one’s personal relationships and meeting their basic needs are very important when taking care of psychologically frail older individuals. Social implications: Besides the practical implications, the social inclusion of psychologically frail older people seems to be relevant. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the association between meaning in life and psychological frailty in later life is not yet investigated. Further the findings of this study emphasize that sources of meaning in life are relevant and can be assessed using the SOMP-R upon which individually tailored care plans can be developed. (Edited publisher abstract)
The relationship between trait emotional intelligence, resiliency, and mental health in older adults: the mediating role of savouring
- Authors:
- WILSON Claire A., SAKLOFSKE Donald H.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 22(5), 2018, pp.646-654.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: The present study explores savouring, defined as the process of attending to positive experiences, as a mediator in the relationships between resiliency, trait emotional intelligence (EI), and subjective mental health in older adults. Following Fredrickson's Broaden and Build Theory of positive emotions, the present study aims to extend our understanding of the underlying processes that link resiliency and trait EI with self-reported mental health in older adulthood. Method: A sample of 149 adults aged 65 and over (M = 73.72) were recruited from retirement homes and community groups. Participants completed measures of resiliency, savouring, trait EI, and subjective mental health either online or in a paper format. Results: Path analysis revealed that savouring fully mediated the relationship between resiliency and mental health. However, trait EI did not significantly predict mental health in this sample. Conclusion: These findings provided partial support for the Broaden and Build Theory of positive emotions. As anticipated, savouring imitated the broadening effect of positive emotions by mediating the relationship between resiliency and mental health. However, savouring failed to reflect the undoing effect of positive emotions and did not mediate the relationship between EI and mental health. These findings have implications for positive psychology exercises and may be a simple, yet effective means of improving the life quality of older adults. (Publisher abstract)