Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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How communities can promote civic engagement of people age 50-plus
- Authors:
- HENKIN Nancy, ZAPF Jenny
- Journal article citation:
- Generations, 30(4), Winter 2006, pp.72-77.
- Publisher:
- American Society on Aging
This article explores how various components of community, such as the social, physical, and civic infrastructure, can affect an individual's and an age cohort's willingness and ability to become involved in civic life. In the article, civic engagement refers to citizen action that has public consequence for communities and political life - including both political and social engagement.
A conceptual review of loneliness across the adult life course (16+ years): appendix
- Authors:
- MANSFIELD Louise, et al
- Publisher:
- What Works Centre for Wellbeing
- Publication year:
- 2019
- Pagination:
- 144
- Place of publication:
- London
Appendix to 'A conceptual review of loneliness across the adult life course (16+ years).' It provides tables of included and excluded studies in the review which sought to address the question ‘how is loneliness conceptualised across the adult life course (16+ years) in reported research findings?’ Included studies needed to have employed an identified theory, model, concept or framework for understanding loneliness. (Edited publisher abstract)
A conceptual review of loneliness across the adult life course (16+ years): synthesis of qualitative studies
- Authors:
- MANSFIELD Louise, et al
- Publisher:
- What Works Centre for Wellbeing
- Publication year:
- 2019
- Pagination:
- 57
- Place of publication:
- London
This review examines how loneliness is conceptualised across the adult life course in research findings. The review looked at studies published since 1945 and identified 144 relevant qualitative sources. In the included studies loneliness was defined by three types; social loneliness (n=103), emotional loneliness (n=24) and existential loneliness (n=17). This report defines and provides a synthesises of the evidence on each type of loneliness. It defines social loneliness as the perceived deficit in the quality of social connections; emotional loneliness as feelings which arise from loss of meaningful relationships that meet a need to be recognised and belong; and existential loneliness as an experience of feeling separate from other people, often when confronted with traumatic experiences or mortality. The included studies conceptualised loneliness in different ways and for diverse populations groups including old people, young people, groups specified by cultural, gender and sexual-orientation, people living with physical and mental illness, homeless people, and prisoners. Studies were conducted in several contexts including in healthcare, education establishments, workplaces, sports and community locations. The review concludes that there is an extensive body of qualitative literature which conceptualises loneliness across the adult life course. It highlights implications for research, policy and practice. An accompanying appendix providing a table of included and excluded studies; a slide deck and summary visualisation of the findings have also been published. (Edited publisher abstract)
The association between social network factors with depression and anxiety at different life stages
- Authors:
- LEVULA Andrew, HARRE Michael, WILSON Andrew
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 54(6), 2018, pp.842-854.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study examines whether social network factors influence individual’s depression and anxiety outcomes at different life stages. Data was drawn from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey. Hierarchical regression modelling was applied to examine the effects within and across different life stages. The depression and anxiety measures were taken from the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and the social network factors were taken from the self-completion questionnaire. With the exception of social trust in seniors, the social network factors were significant predictors of depression and anxiety. This has practical implications for the design of social policy initiatives. (Publisher abstract)
Gendered trajectories of support from close relationships from middle to late life
- Author:
- LIAO Jing
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 38(4), 2018, pp.746-765.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study investigates gender differences in trajectories of support from close relationships among adults in the transition from middle to old age, taking into account stability and change in the identity of the closest persons. Multi-level modelling was used to estimate gendered age-trajectories in three dimensions of support: emotional support, practical support and negative encounters, which were repeatedly measured over ten years amongst 6,718 Whitehall II participants. Men were more likely than women to nominate their partner as their closest person throughout follow-up; whereas women drew support from a wider range of sources. Gender differences were only evident in age-related trajectories of emotional support, and were contingent on stability and change in the closest relationships. Men reported increased emotional support from closest relationships with age, except for those who transitioned out of a partnership. For women, emotional support was stable among those whose closest person remained consistent, but decreased among those who changed their closest person. Further, emotional support increased with age for all married men, which was only the case for married women who nominated their partner as their closest person. Our analysis highlights gender-specific trajectories of perceived support from adults’ closest relationships in late life, and indicate more pronounced socio-emotional selectivity in older men than women. (Publisher abstract)
Perceived social support and mental health states in a clinic-based sample of older HIV positive adults
- Authors:
- KAPADIA Farzana, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Services, 15(4), 2016, pp.417-427.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Despite a high prevalence of mental health problems in older, HIV+ adults (aged ≥ 50), few studies have examined the relationship between perceived social support and mental health burdens in this group. In a clinic-based sample of 100 adults, 23% and 29% met criteria for one and more than one mental health burden, respectively. In multivariable binary logistic models, perceived receipt of positive and emotional social support as well as overall support was inversely associated with the presence of mental health burdens. There is a need for additional investigation of how social support can help mitigate mental health burdens among HIV+ older adults. (Publisher abstract)
An examination of the needs of older patients with chronic mental illness in public mental health services
- Authors:
- FUTERAN Shuli, DRAPER Brian M.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(3), April 2012, pp.327-334.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Meeting the needs of patients is likely to influence their experienced quality of life. The aim of this study was to describe the needs of patients aged 50 years and over with chronic mental illness being case managed within a public mental health service, and to determine factors that influence these needs. The participants were 97 patients recruited from community-based Adult Mental Health (AMH) teams and Specialist Mental Health Services for Older People (SMHSOP) teams. Eligibility criteria included a diagnosis of schizophrenia or mood disorder. Patient, carer and key worker interviews were carried out using the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE). The findings showed that patients self-rated fewer needs overall on the CANE than their key workers or the researcher, and also rated a higher proportion of their needs being met (83%) than the key worker (77%) or researcher (76%). From each perspective, over 80% of psychiatric and around 95% of identified medical needs were being met. The majority of social needs were unmet, with patients reporting only 42%, and key workers only 33%, met needs. The key unmet social needs were company, daily activities and having a close confidant. The article concludes that the social needs of older patients with chronic mental illness require greater attention by public mental health services.
Motivation to physical activity among adults with high risk of type 2 diabetes who participated in the Oulu substudy of the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study
- Authors:
- KORKIAKANGAS Eveliina, TAANILA Anja M., KEINANEN-KIUKAANNIEMI Sirkka
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 19(1), January 2011, pp.15-22.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Globally, the number of people at risk of, or diagnosed with, type 2 diabetes is increasing. However, this can be prevented by lifestyle changes such as increased levels of physical activity. This study researched the motivators and barriers to physical activity among individuals with high risk of type 2 diabetes who participated in a sub-study of the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study in Oulu, Finland. It also considered whether the motivators or barriers changed during the follow-up from 2003 to 2008. Questionnaires were conducted twice; in the first follow-up in 2003 63 participants answered the questionnaire, and in the second follow-up in 2008 71 participants answered the questionnaire. Findings indicated that motivators to physical activity included weight management, feelings of physical and mental well-being. Social relationships associated with exercise were also motivators. In conclusion, the authors suggest that regular counselling is important in order to promote exercise among older people, and that motivators to exercise are strengthened by positive experiences of exercise.
Age-friendly and inclusive volunteering: review of community contributions in later life
- Authors:
- JOPLING Kate, JONES Dan
- Publisher:
- Centre for Ageing Better
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 94
- Place of publication:
- London
This review considers how to enable more people to contribute to their communities, in later life (defined as aged 50 and over), with a focus on increasing participation among underrepresented groups, especially those in poor health or living with long-term health conditions. It covers activities such as neighbourliness, helping in the community and volunteering. It draws on a range of sources including a call for evidence, a call for practice and seven roundtable meetings involving over 100 participants. The report looks at why people get involved with their communities and how contributing to communities can improve social connections, and lead to increased life satisfaction and wellbeing; how volunteering can change across the life course; and the practical, structural and emotional barriers to contributing to communities. It sets out a framework for age-friendly, inclusive volunteering, which includes for volunteering to: be flexible and to fit around life changes; to provide support and training needed; to provide opportunities to be sociable and feel connected; value volunteers; provide meaningful activity; and make good use of strengths and experiences. The review makes recommendations for the voluntary, public and private sectors on how to tackle the barriers to enable people to continue to volunteer throughout their lifetime. Case studies of good practice are included throughout the report. (Edited publisher abstract)
Time and money volunteering among older adults: the relationship between past and current volunteering and correlates of change and stability
- Authors:
- CHOI Namkee G., CHOU Rita Jing-Ann
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 30(4), May 2010, pp.559-581.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This paper examines the relationship between the extent of ‘formal’ time and money (hours and dollars) volunteering among adults over 55 years at baseline and 9 years later, using data from the first and second waves of the ‘Survey of Midlife Development’ in the US (MIDUS1 1995-1996, MIDUS2 2004-2006). The authors analyse the changes and stability in volunteering status, and examine the relationship between change and stability and various socio-demographic attributes of the participants and measures of their human, cultural and social capital. Most older volunteers, volunteered repeatedly, deriving personal psychological benefit, and the extent of volunteering at the start of the studied period (T1) was a significant predictor of the extent of volunteering 9 years later (T2). High education levels and social network size (social connectedness measured by number of meetings attended) were consistent predictors of new engagement, stability in volunteering and the extent of donations of time and money. Compared to new volunteers at T2, repeat volunteers gave more time and money. High levels of generative qualities and/or religious beliefs correlated with motivation to volunteer, with amount of dollars donated often linked with importance of religion to the volunteer. The authors claim that the relationship between volunteering behaviour, generative qualities, and possibly religious identification, may be reciprocal and discuss their findings via recommendations for future recruitment and retention policies for voluntary organisations.