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Loneliness and quality of life in older adults: the mediating role of depression
- Authors:
- AHADI Batool, HASSANI Bentolhoda
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing International, 46(3), 2021, pp.337-350.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
This study's objective was to investigate the mediating role of depression in the relationship between loneliness and older adults' quality of life. Promoting the quality of life in individuals is one of the main issues that is consistently emphasized by the World Health Organization. The importance of this issue doubles, especially in older ages. Many elders face new challenges in this period and do not have access to their supportive resources as correctly as the past. Service providers for older people usually concentrate on providing physical facilities for them; however, psychological factors, with the same proportion, might affect the promotion or subsidence of older adults' quality of life. Two hundred and sixty-three participants (M = 68.99 years, SD = 7; 43% females) completed self-reported measures of loneliness, depressive symptoms, and quality of life. The researchers used Structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze data. Older adults people who had a higher sense of loneliness and depression reported lower quality of life. The results also showed that depression had a partial mediator role in the relationship between loneliness and life quality. With the expansion of previous studies that showed a significant relationship between loneliness, depression, and quality of life, this study revealed that loneliness in the older adults directly and indirectly (through the incidence of depressive symptoms) lowered the quality of life. (Edited publisher abstract)
Linking service quality attributes to meaning-in-life outcomes for residents who have transitioned to an assisted living community
- Authors:
- MEJIA Cynthia, SEVERT Denver
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 64(2), 2021, pp.151-174.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The growing number of persons aged 65 and older, combined with their greater reliance on care outside the family unit, has contributed to the rapid growth of older people residing in assisted living (AL) communities. Given the increased attention paid to service standards in older adults’ housing models, this qualitative study was conducted in AL to generate residents’ perspectives on service and meaning-in-life outcomes. Utilizing the attributes of service quality through a transition theory lens, the data revealed empathy and responsiveness as most essential to the perceptions of service and meaning-in-life among residents. Theoretical results from this study suggest that linking current service theory to meaning-in-life outcomes would be of benefit to AL service standards research. Practical application of the research outcomes revealed how appropriate personalized attention provided in a timely manner to residents is critical to their well-being, and to their successful transition to AL. (Edited publisher abstract)
Quality of life in older adult care homes: comparing office hours with out-of-office hours
- Authors:
- SMITH N., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Long-Term Care, November 2019, pp.153-163. Online only
- Publisher:
- King's College London
- Place of publication:
- London
Context: Poorer mortality rates and quality of care in hospitals outside of office hours is well documented. The literature on adult social (long-term) care, and in particular, care homes, is much less developed. There are, however, a few studies that suggest that outside of Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 16.30pm, quality of care in care homes might be lower. Objective(s): The objective of this study was to compare the social care-related quality of life (SCRQoL) of residents in older adult care homes during office hours (0900 to 16.30) with outside of office hours (evenings and weekends). Method(s): Researchers conducted a nested, cross-sectional study, collecting SCRQoL data using the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit at two time points, office hours (Monday-Friday between 9.00 and 16.30) and outside of office hours. We did not examine nigh times in the homes. Data were collected for 99 older adult care home residents in 13 care homes (5 residential and 8 nursing) and analysed using a combination of non-parametric and parametric techniques. Findings: SCRQoL ratings were lower during the weekends and early evenings than during office hours. The differences were most pronounced in the higher order domains of social participation, occupation and control over daily life. Limitations: The study struggled to explain this variation. This work was both exploratory and small in size. The study also did not collect data on levels of staffing. Implications: Further work is required to both confirm the findings and explore the reasons for the difference. Nonetheless, this study challenges the traditional model of care, in which social activities and meaningful pastimes are mostly organised during ‘office hours’. Researchers observed evenings that were very short, as residents tended to return to their room shortly after dinner, and quiet weekends, and this was reflected in residents’ quality of life. This is contrary to the rhetoric of care homes being people’s own homes, where they would be able to choose to remain active and engaged into the evening and on the weekends, as they may have done throughout their lives. (Edited publisher abstract)
The meal as a performance: food and meal practices beyond health and nutrition
- Authors:
- NYBERG Maria, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 38(1), 2018, pp.83-107.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The proportion of elderly people in the population is increasing, presenting a number of new challenges in society. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how elderly persons with motoric eating difficulties perceive and perform their food and meal practices in everyday life. By using Goffman's concept of performance as a theoretical framework together with Bourdieu's thinking on habitus, a deeper understanding of food and meal practices is obtained. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 elderly people (aged between 67 and 87 years) and meal observations were carried out with 11 of these people. Participants were found to manage food and meal practices by continuously adjusting and adapting to the new conditions arising as a result of eating difficulties. This was displayed by conscious planning of what to eat and when, avoiding certain foods and beverages, using simple eating aids, but also withdrawing socially during the meals. All these adjustments were important in order to be able to demonstrate proper food and meal behaviour, to maintain the façade and to act according to the perceived norms. As well as being a pleasurable event, food and meals were also perceived in terms of being important for maintaining health and as ‘fuel’ where the main purpose is to sustain life. This was strongly connected to the social context and the ability to enjoy food and meals with family members and friends, which appeared to be particularly crucial due to the impending risk of failing the meal performance. (Publisher abstract)
Examining associations between sexual behaviours and quality of life in older adults
- Authors:
- FLYNN Taylor-Jane, GOW Alan J.
- Journal article citation:
- Age and Ageing, 44(5), 2015, pp.823-828.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Background: While sexual behaviours are potentially important for quality of life in older adults, they are under-researched. The current study examined associations between frequency and importance of sexual behaviours and quality of life in older adults. Method: One hundred and thirty-three participants (mean 74 years, SD = 7.1) provided information about the frequency with which they participated in six sexual behaviours and the perceived importance of these: touching/holding hands, embracing/hugging, kissing, mutual stroking, masturbating and intercourse. Participants also completed the WHO Quality of Life scale, providing an overall quality of life score, in addition to the domains of physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environment. Participants provided information on their marital status, living arrangements and self-reported health. Results: Both the frequency and importance of sexual behaviours were moderately positively correlated with quality of life (r = 0.52 and 0.47, respectively, both P < 0.001). In separate regression analyses, the frequency of sexual behaviours was a significant predictor of quality of life in the social relationships domain (β = 0.225, P < 0.05), and the importance of sexual behaviours was associated with the psychological domain (β = 0.151, P < 0.05), independent of the presence of a spouse/partner and self-reported health. Conclusions: With ageing trends, a broader understanding of the factors that influence quality of life in older adults is increasingly important. The current findings suggest that aspects of sexual behaviour and quality of life were positively associated. Researchers are encouraged to consider aspects of sex and sexuality when exploring determinants of well-being in later life. (Publisher abstract)
Insights into loneliness, older people and wellbeing, 2015
- Author:
- THOMAS Jennifer
- Publisher:
- Office for National Statistics
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 10
- Place of publication:
- Newport
This article focuses on older people's well-being, loneliness and some of the risk factors associated with loneliness such as living alone, housing tenure, marital status, ill health and support networks. The ONS Measuring National Well-being programme aims to produce accepted and trusted measures of the well-being of the nation - how the UK as a whole is doing. This analysis shows that older people are more satisfied with life generally and with their social networks and the support they provide. This may be due to having lower expectations due to a cohort effect or more mature perspectives but ultimately they are more content than their younger counterparts. However, the impact of loneliness on well-being is considerable, especially for the oldest old who are most likely to feel lonely and are subject to a high number of risk factors. The paper argues that the UK needs to consider how to minimise some of the impact that risk factors of loneliness has, particularly bereavement, poor health, and housing tenure. (Edited publisher abstract)
Does life satisfaction predict five-year mortality in community-living older adults?
- Authors:
- ST. JOHN Philip D., MACKENZIE Corey, MENEC Verena
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 19(4), 2015, pp.363-370.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Depression and depressive symptoms predict death, but it is less clear if more general measures of life satisfaction (LS) predict death. This study aimed to determine: (1) if LS predicts mortality over a five-year period in community-living older adults; and (2) which aspects of LS predict death. Method: 1751 adults over the age of 65 who were living in the community were sampled from a representative population sampling frame in 1991/1992 and followed five years later. Age, gender, and education were self-reported. An index of multimorbidity and the Older American Resource Survey measured health and functional status, and the Terrible–Delightful Scale assessed overall LS as well as satisfaction with: health, finances, family, friends, housing, recreation, self-esteem, religion, and transportation. Cox proportional hazards models examined the influence of LS on time to death. Results: 417 participants died during the five-year study period. Overall LS and all aspects of LS except finances, religion, and self-esteem predicted death in unadjusted analyses. In fully adjusted analyses, LS with health, housing, and recreation predicted death. Other aspects of LS did not predict death after accounting for functional status and multimorbidity. Conclusion: LS predicted death, but certain aspects of LS are more strongly associated with death. The effect of LS is complex and may be mediated or confounded by health and functional status. It is important to consider different domains of LS when considering the impact of this important emotional indicator on mortality among older adults. (Edited publisher abstract)
An assessment of the relationship between informal caring and quality of life in older community-dwelling adults: more positives than negatives?
- Authors:
- RATCLIFFE Julie, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 21(1), 2013, pp.35-46.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study used the Index of Capability (ICECAP-O) instrument to measure the quality of life of a representative sample of the older South Australian population according to carer status. A survey including the ICECAP-O instrument, carer status and several socio-demographic questions was administered in 2009 to 789 individuals aged 65 years or older in their own homes. A total of 671 individuals characterised themselves as a non-carer and 115 individuals characterised themselves as an informal carer. In general, carers exhibited relatively high quality of life as measured by the ICECAP-O, with carers having comparable mean ICECAP-O scores to non-carers in the general population. The results indicated statistically significant variations in overall ICECAP-O scores according to age, with younger participants tending to have slightly higher scores on average. Average ICECAP-O scores were noticeably lower for carers who were separated or divorced and for carers who lived alone. The authors concluded that the provision of informal care may be associated with a positive impact upon quality of life for many caregivers, which may mediate the negative aspects arising from the burden associated with informal care-giving.
Older women and their representations of old age: a qualitative analysis
- Authors:
- QUÉNIART Anne, CHARPENTIER Michèle
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 32(6), August 2012, pp.983-1007.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study examined the views of three generations of older women with different life stories (single, married, children and childless) in Quebec, Canada. Based on a qualitative analysis of 25 in-depth interviews conducted with three generations of older women, findings revealed their refusal to define themselves as ‘older or elderly women’, largely due to persistent stereotypes linking old age to dependency, social isolation and fragility. Aware of the social prejudice regarding women and old age, they reject it unanimously. Older women represent a challenge to these homogenising preconceptions of old age, which they, on the contrary, experience in a multitude of ways, often enjoyable. Their conceptions of ageing well are diverse and do not correspond to a clinical definition of ageing. Their representations of ageing well and of ageing expressed the values of physical and intellectual health, and being socially active so they could continue in the continuum of their lives and future projects, rather breaking with contemporary life or existing on the margins of society.
Development of short versions for the WHOQOL-OLD module
- Authors:
- FANG Jiqian, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 52(1), February 2012, pp.56-65.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) research group has developed several quality of life instruments including the WHOQOL-OLD module for older adults. The aim of this study was to develop 1 or more short versions of the 24-item WHOQOL-OLD module with acceptable psychometric properties. A secondary analysis was conducted based on the data from the WHOQOL-OLD field study. The data set included 5,566 respondents from 20 international centres. Two-thirds of them randomly selected as a developmental sample, and the remaining third as a validation sample. Three approaches (item response theory [IRT] and regression analysis [REG], classical test theory [CTT] and REG, and CTT and IRT and REG) were performed to develop 3 short-form scales with 6 items each using the developmental sample. The reliability and criterion validity of the 3 short-form scales were evaluated using the validation sample. The 3 versions of short-form WHOQOL-OLD showed similar reliability and validity. The article concludes that the new versions contain the best items of the original module, are much shorter, and have good internal consistency and criterion validity as a whole.