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Loneliness and social support of older people living alone in a county of Shanghai, China
- Authors:
- CHEN Yu, HICKS Allan, WHILE Alison E.
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 22(4), 2014, pp.429-438.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
China has an ageing population with the number of older people living alone increasing. Living alone may increase the risk of loneliness of older people, especially for those in China where collectivism and filial piety are emphasised. Social support may fill the need for social contacts, thereby alleviating loneliness. However, little is known about loneliness and social support of older people living alone in China. This study investigated loneliness and social support of older people living alone, by conducting a cross-sectional questionnaire survey with a stratified random cluster sample of 521 community-dwelling older people living alone in a county of Shanghai. Data were collected from November 2011 to March 2012. The instruments used included the UCLA Loneliness Scale version 3 and the Social Support Rate Scale. The participants reported a moderate level of loneliness. Their overall social support level was low compared with the Chinese norm. Children were the major source of objective and subjective support. Of the participants, 53.9% (n = 281) and 47.6% (n = 248) asked for help and confided when they were in trouble, but 84.1% (n = 438) never or rarely attended social activities. The level of loneliness and social support differed among the participants with different sociodemographic characteristics. There were negative correlations between loneliness and overall social support and its three dimensions. The findings suggest that there is a need to provide more social support to older people living alone to decrease their feelings of loneliness. Potential interventions include encouraging more frequent contacts from children, the development of one-to-one ‘befriending’ and group activity programmes together with identification of vulnerable subgroups. (Publisher abstract)
Pathways to problem gambling in seniors
- Authors:
- TIRACHAIMONGKOL Luxana Connie, JACKSON Alun Conrad, TOMNAY Jane Elizabeth
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 53(6), August 2010, pp.531-546.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study aimed to investigate pathways to later life problem gambling, for individuals aged 55 years and above, in order to improve interventions for vulnerable older adults. This study builds on a generic Pathways Model. Gambling-related risk and protective factors/correlates were extracted from the literature. Common themes were then identified and classified into three main pathway clusters. Cluster one related to individual vulnerability factors. These included distressing situation, urgency or apathy, service barriers, lack of welfare assistance, absence/lack of support, unhelpful coping/problem solving mechanisms and expectations, and lack of structured time plus exposure to gambling facilities. Cluster two comprised social and environmental factors; such as unsupportive environment, impulsive temperament, illusion of control, gambling as a significant part of cultural/ethnic identity, competitive personality, big win, enticing gambling-associated promotions. Cluster three related to factors affecting behavioural regulation such as disinhibition, impaired decision-making, proximity to gambling facilities and multiple addictions. Overall the findings suggested that Pathways One and Two of the model, which correspond to behaviourally conditioned and emotionally vulnerable subsets respectively, are likely to be most relevant to late-life problem gambling. The factors that lead to late-life problem gambling can range from straightforward causes to abstract social influences, and may involve age-related, as well as non-age related circumstances. The authors conclude that protecting older adults from late-life problem gambling is about promoting older adults’ general sense of well-being while reducing factors that may diminish their enjoyment and outlook on life.
Delusional disorder in old age and the risk of developing dementia - a nationwide register-based study
- Author:
- KRONER Alex
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 12(5), September 2008, pp.625-629.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study examines whether very late first-contact delusional disorder carries a risk for later development of dementia. By linkage of the psychiatric and the somatic nationwide registers of all out- and in-patients with hospital contact in Denmark, the study included all 60+ patients with first ever from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2001 with the index main diagnosis: delusional disorder. First contact osteoarthritis patients as well as the general population were used as controls. A total of 1,437 patients with persistent delusional disorder and 7,302 patients with osteoarthritis were included. Median follow-up time until first diagnosis of dementia at discharge was 1.87 and 4.40 years, respectively. The probability of getting a dementia diagnosis was estimated using Poisson regression models with dementia as the outcome of interest. Patients with very late first-contact delusional disorder had an 8.14 (95% CI, 6.51; 10.19) times increased rate of subsequently developing dementia compared with very late first contact osteoarthritis patients. Compared with the general population the rate ratio was 5.49 (95% CI, 4.81; 6.26). Very late first-contact delusional disorder increases the risk of subsequently getting a diagnosis of dementia 5-8 times compared with osteoarthritis patients and the general population.
The social exclusion of older people: evidence from the first wave of the English longitudinal study on ageing (ELSA): final report
- Authors:
- BARNES Matt, et al
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 112p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The study uses 2002-3 data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) which is a large-scale survey of people aged 50 and over living in England. The broad aim of the study was to see whether insights about social exclusion could be drawn from this relatively new data source in a way that might strengthen existing knowledge about the particular experiences of exclusion among older people. The main objective of this project was to measure the patterns of different forms of social exclusion among older people and to examine the key risk factors, or indicators, of social exclusion among older people.
Social exclusion of older people: evidence from the first wave of the English longitudinal study on ageing (ELSA): summary
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The study uses 2002-3 data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) which is a large-scale survey of people aged 50 and over living in England. The broad aim of the study was to see whether insights about social exclusion could be drawn from this relatively new data source in a way that might strengthen existing knowledge about the particular experiences of exclusion among older people. The main objective of this project was to measure the patterns of different forms of social exclusion among older people and to examine the key risk factors, or indicators, of social exclusion among older people.
Is it “aging” or immunosenescence? The COVID-19 biopsychosocial risk factors aggravating immunosenescence as another risk factor of the morbus. a developmental-clinical social work perspective
- Authors:
- CHIGANGAIDZE Robert K., CHINYENZE Patience
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 64(6), 2021, pp.676-691.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
COVID-19 has proliferated ageism. The impetus of this article is to show that immunosenescence is a risk factor to COVID-19 and not aging per se. Based on the idea that some older people are also healthier than younger ones, the emphasis of this article is on immunosenescence and not aging as a risk factor of COVID-19 complications. The paper utilizes a biopsychosocial approach to expound on the link between immunosenescence and COVID-19 risk factors. The article explores biological factors such as malnutrition, comorbidities, substance abuse, and sex. It also expands on psychosocial factors such as mental health disorders, homelessness, unemployment, lack of physical exercises, stigma, and discrimination. The article calls for gerontological social work to assume a developmental-clinical social work perspective to prevent the early onset and progression of immunosenescence. It calls for gerontological social work to prevent factors that promote unhealthy aging. The article promotes a preventative stance to practice and not just curative approaches. Treatment involves primary prevention which emphasizes on avoiding the onset of unhealthy aging. It is this approach that gerontological social work should aim also to address in building resilience in the face of pandemics. (Edited publisher abstract)
Loneliness and the aging population: how businesses and governments can address a looming crisis
- Authors:
- PALMARINI Nicola, et al
- Publisher:
- IBM
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 28
- Place of publication:
- Armonk, NY
This report explores the growing problem of loneliness in older people, current interventions, and ideas for future solutions. It draws on insights from interviews with a range of experts from six countries, including insight from medical professionals, social workers, academic researchers, technologists. The report focuses on why it is important for organisations understand loneliness and ageing, the triggers for loneliness, and why loneliness is so difficult to alleviate. It also looks at what is being done to alleviate loneliness in the ageing population today and potential future solutions. The report shows that for older people, loneliness is an emerging risk factor that has implications for personal, economic, and societal well-being. It identifies three areas for developing future solutions to address loneliness: detecting loneliness earlier and intervening earlier; helping people feel more engaged with others, and helping people rebuild social capital. It also outlines suggested actions for providers, business and employers. Short case studies of initiatives are included. (Edited publisher abstract)
Trajectories of attachment in older age: interpersonal trauma and its consequences
- Authors:
- BACHEM Rahel, LEVIN Yafit, SOLOMON Zahava
- Journal article citation:
- Attachment and Human Development, 21(4), 2019, pp.352-371.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Previous studies suggest that attachment insecurities may increase after trauma exposure, an effect documented only at a group level. This study explores the heterogeneity of changes over time and examines the associations of the nature of the traumatic event (interpersonal and nonpersonal), and its consequences (posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] and loneliness) with attachment trajectories. Two groups of Israeli veterans participated: 164 former prisoners-of-war and 185 combat veterans. Attachment was assessed at four points (1991–2015). Risk factors were evaluated in 1991. Using latent growth mixture modeling, trajectories of attachment insecurities were explored. Three avoidance trajectories (stability, decrease, inverse u-shaped) and two anxiety trajectories (stability, decrease) were identified. The inverse u-shaped avoidance trajectory was associated with captivity, humiliation, loneliness, and PTSD, and stable avoidance was associated with loneliness. Stable anxiety was associated with captivity and loneliness. Attachment insecurities can change during aging and persist decades after a trauma. Trauma-related risk factors are related to more deleterious trajectories. (Edited publisher abstract)
New horizons in hepatitis B and C in the older adult
- Authors:
- KEMP Linda, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Age and Ageing, 48(1), 2019, pp.32-37.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV), are blood-borne viruses that can cause acute hepatitis; but are clinically relevant because chronic infection is associated with development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Both these viruses are becoming more common in the older population, due to the ageing of generations exposed to the risk factors associated with infection; intravenous drug use, multiple sexual partners and men who have sex with men. This review will cover the natural history and epidemiology of these infections as well as the revolution in drug therapy that now allows cure of HCV infection and complete control of HBV infection.
Enhancing our understanding of drinking in later life: qualitative data refreshes parts that other data cannot reach
- Author:
- FUDGE Nina
- Journal article citation:
- Age and Ageing, 48(1), 2019, pp.3-5.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This article considers how older people can be at risk of alcohol-related harm. It points out that qualitative studies on drinking in older age provide nuanced detail on the routines and practices behind drinking in later life. For example: most adults consider themselves responsible drinkers; ‘othering’ differentiates themselves from heavier and riskier drinkers and drinking alcohol in later life can be pleasurable, helping to ease social interactions and structure post-retirement day. It concludes that qualitative evidence can be used to develop public health interventions that speak to the people they are intended for. (Original abstract)