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Winter is coming: age and early psychological concomitants of the Covid-19 pandemic in England
- Authors:
- CARSON Jerome, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 19(3), 2020, pp.221-230.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: This paper aims to demonstrate early psychological concomitants of the Covid-19 pandemic in England on a sample of younger and older people. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional quantitative questionnaire (n = 1608) was conducted on the Prolific website. Participants completed the PERMA Scale (Flourishing), the four Office of National Statistics (ONS4) Well-being Questions, the Clinical Outcomes Measure in Routine Evaluation (CORE-10) and the short University of California Los Angeles Brief Loneliness Scale. Findings: Data were gathered on March 18, 2020, near the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. This study looks at the effects of the developing pandemic on younger participants (18 to 25 years, n = 391) and older participants (60 to 80 years, n = 104). Flourishing levels for older participants were significantly higher (M = 107.96) than for younger participants (M = 97.80). Younger participants scored significantly higher on the ONS4 for anxiety and lower than the older participants for happiness, life satisfaction and having a worthwhile life. Levels of psychological distress (CORE-10) were also significantly lower for older participants (M = 9.06) than for younger participants (M = 14.61). Finally, younger participants scored significantly higher on the Brief UCLA Loneliness Scale (M = 6.05) than older participants (M = 4.64). Research limitations/implications: From these findings, the Covid-19 pandemic was having a significantly greater effect on younger people in England, less than one week before the UK went into “lockdown”. Scores for both the Younger and Older groups on all the study measures were worse than normative comparisons. The study had no specific measure of Covid-19 anxiety, but nor was one available at the time of the survey. Practical implications: This study suggests that younger people (18 to 25) may be a more vulnerable group during the Covid-19 pandemic than many may have realized. Social implications: As a recent British Psychological Society report concluded, there is a lot of untapped wisdom amongst older groups in society. Originality/value: This is one of the earliest studies to look at psychological distress before England went into “lockdown.” (Edited publisher abstract)
Volunteer wellbeing: what works and who benefits?
- Author:
- WHAT WORKS CENTRE FOR WELLBEING
- Publisher:
- What Works Centre for Wellbeing
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 8
This briefing summarises the findings from a rapid evidence assessment (REA) exploring what is currently known about the impacts of volunteering on the wellbeing of volunteers aged 16 and over. The review looked at the positive and negative effects of volunteering on volunteers: happiness; life satisfaction; quality of life; feelings of depression and anxiety. The research points to a strong association between formal volunteering and wellbeing. However, it is not possible from the available evidence to definitively and categorically claim that volunteering causes enhanced subjective wellbeing. The evidence points to stronger wellbeing benefits of volunteering for some groups compared to others, including: people in later years of life; people from lower socio-economic groups; the unemployed; people living with chronic physical health conditions; and people with lower levels of wellbeing. There are a number of different steps or pathways that link volunteering to wellbeing. Evidence points to self-efficacy – a person’s belief in their abilities, social connectedness, and sense of purpose as some of the steps along the pathway from volunteering to wellbeing. Volunteer management and support as well as peer support are key factors in creating a volunteer experience that fosters wellbeing (Edited publisher abstract)
The impacts of volunteering on the subjective wellbeing of volunteers: a rapid evidence assessment
- Authors:
- STUART Joanna, et al
- Publishers:
- What Works Centre for Wellbeing, Spirit of 2012
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 84
- Place of publication:
- London
This rapid evidence assessment (REA) examines what is known about the impacts of volunteering on the subjective wellbeing of volunteers. The review explored the effects of formal volunteering on different population groups, the association between volunteering and wellbeing for different types and levels of volunteering and the mechanisms that can help to explain how volunteering experiences lead to changes in subjective wellbeing. The research points to a strong association between formal volunteering and wellbeing. However, it is not possible from the available evidence to definitively and categorically claim that volunteering causes enhanced subjective wellbeing. When looking at differential effects amongst volunteers, the research identified through the REA suggests that some groups are more likely to benefit from involvement, including volunteers in later years of life, those from lower socio-economic groups, those with low levels of wellbeing, the unemployed and those with chronic physical health conditions. Overall, the research base on the impacts of volunteering on individuals in later life was more extensive compared to other groups. There is a reasonably large body of evidence that suggests more frequent volunteering results in higher wellbeing benefits, also recognising there is a limit to this and too much volunteering can diminish these positive impacts. Reverse causality – people with higher wellbeing volunteering more – still remains a possibility. Other findings relating to the fields and activities volunteers undertake are more tentative and the evidence does not allow for conclusions to be drawn about which are more or less beneficial, as comparative studies of this nature are scarce. The implications for practice, policy and research are identified. (Edited publisher abstract)
Self-compassionate aging: a systematic review
- Authors:
- BROWN Lydia, HUFFMAN Jeff C., BRYANT Christina
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 59(4), 2019, pp.e311-e324.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Background and Objectives: There is considerable heterogeneity in experiences of aging, with some experiencing greater well-being and adapting more successfully to the challenges of aging than others. Self-compassion is a modifiable psychological skill that might help explain individual differences in well-being and adjustment in later life. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on self-compassion and well-being outcomes in studies of older adults aged 65 and older. Research Design and Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, using databases PsycINFO, Medline, and Embase. The search term self-compassion was paired with terms relating to well-being, psychological symptoms, and adjustment. Meta-analysis was used to synthesize results on the relationship between self-compassion and four outcomes including depression, anxiety, hedonic well-being, and eudaimonic well-being. Results: Eleven studies met inclusion criteria for this review. Meta-analysis revealed that self-compassion was associated with lower levels of depression (r = −.58, 95% CI [−.66, −.48]) and anxiety (r = −.36, 95% CI [−.60, −.07]), and higher levels of hedonic (r = .41, 95% CI [.15, .62]) and eudaimonic (r = .49, 95% CI [.41, .57]) well-being. Further, three studies found self-compassion weakened the impact of physical symptoms on well-being outcomes. Discussion and Implications: We found preliminary evidence that self-compassion is associated with well-being outcomes in older adults, and that self-compassion may buffer the psychological sequelae of health symptoms in later life. Higher quality studies with uniform outcome measures are needed to replicate and extend these results. (Edited publisher abstract)
Is exercise helpful for women aged 50 and over with mental health problems and what are the barriers to exercise?
- Authors:
- TINKER Anthea, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 18(2), 2017, pp.93-103.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of exercise on the mental health problems of older women. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is based on information from academic literature, government publications and publications from other relevant bodies. It is a scoping study and is not a systematic review because of the constraints of the resources. Findings: There is growing evidence about the value of exercise for the mental health of older women but few evaluated examples of how this can be achieved. Research limitations/implications: There is a gap in the literature about this topic with few evaluated examples of how more older women can be encouraged to take more exercise. Practical implications: Policy makers, practitioners and older people themselves would gain from a greater emphasis on exercise as a means of improving quality of life and for reducing healthcare budgets through fewer referrals to services. Social implications: Greater emphasis on exercise for older women would increase their quality of life through a reduction in mental health problems. Originality/value: There is limited research which links mental health, exercise and older women, especially regarding the barriers to exercise that older women with diagnosed mental health problems may face. (Publisher abstract)
Museum object handling groups in older adult mental health inpatient care
- Authors:
- SOLWAY Rob, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 17(4), 2015, pp.201-214.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Emerging evidence indicates that museum object handling sessions offer short-term benefits to healthcare participants. This study aimed to further understand psychological and social aspects of object handling in mental health inpatients. Older adults (N = 42) from a psychiatric inpatient ward with diagnoses of depression or anxiety took part in a series of object handling group sessions with 5–12 participants per group. Session audio recordings were subjected to thematic analysis. Five main themes were identified: ‘responding to object focused questions’, ‘learning about objects and from each other’, ‘enjoyment, enrichment through touch and privilege’, ‘memories, personal associations and identity’ and ‘imagination and storytelling’. The first four were congruent with literature associated with positive wellbeing and engagement outcomes but the fifth was a new finding for group contexts. Limitations include the relatively small sample and variable week-to-week group attendance. Audio recordings did not provide information on non-verbal communication and how objects were handled. Future studies should control for attendance and examine effects of multiple sessions over time, ideally with video recording. This study offers preliminary support for museum object handling as a group intervention in mental health care with potential to develop therapeutic aspects of the sessions. Findings indicate that object handling is a novel yet effective intervention with potential for conferring additional advantages by conducting sessions in group settings. (Publisher abstract)
Ill, worried or sick? Inter-relationships among indicators of wellbeing among older people in Sweden
- Author:
- HALLEROD Bjorn
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 29(4), May 2009, pp.563-584.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study examined the associations between a large set of health indicators and wellbeing among older people (aged 66 or more years) in Sweden. The data were drawn from the Swedish Panel Survey of Ageing and the Elderly (PSAE), with variables covering information about health, daily activities, social interaction, anxieties and worries, and economic hardship. A series of confirmative factor analyses were used to reveal if and how indicators of living conditions could be subdivided into latent factors, and several socio-economic and socio-demographic variables were used as their predictors. Differences between men and women and between a number of age groups of old people were systematically scrutinised. The preferred representation of the data was a nested model that identified one global factor, which related to all manifest indicators, and three residual factors that measured the specific experiences of physical impairment, psychosocial distress and economic difficulties. The findings improve our understanding of the relationships between indicators of health and wellbeing and the various latent dimensions that simultaneously affect response patterns.
The effectiveness of social robots for older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies
- Authors:
- PU Lihui, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 59(1), 2019, p.e37–e51.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Background and Objectives: Social robots may promote the health of older adults by increasing their perceived emotional support and social interaction. This review aims to summarize the effectiveness of social robots on outcomes (psychological, physiological, quality of life, or medications) of older adults from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Research Design and Methods: A mixed-method systematic review of RCTs meeting the study inclusion criteria was undertaken. Eight databases were electronically searched up to September 2017. Participants’ characteristics, intervention features, and outcome data were retrieved. The mean difference and standardized mean difference with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were synthesized to pool the effect size. Results: A total of 13 articles from 11 RCTs were identified from 2,204 articles, of which 9 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Risk of bias was relatively high in allocation concealment and blinding. Social robots appeared to have positive impacts on agitation, anxiety, and quality of life for older adults but no statistical significance was found in the meta-analysis. However, results from a narrative review indicated that social robot interactions could improve engagement, interaction, and stress indicators, as well as reduce loneliness and the use of medications for older adults. Discussion and Implications: Social robots appear to have the potential to improve the well-being of older adults, but conclusions are limited due to the lack of high-quality studies. More RCTs are recommended with larger sample sizes and rigorous study designs. (Edited publisher abstract)
The experience of older adults with anxiety and depression living in the community: aging, occupation and mental wellbeing
- Authors:
- MULHOLLAND Fiona, JACKSON Jeanne
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 81(11), 2018, pp.657-666.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Introduction: As life expectancy grows so does the need for mental health services for older people. Occupational science and therapy literature demonstrates how occupation supports older adults' wellbeing, but there has been little research into the relationship between occupation and health for those with anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to understand the occupational experience of Irish older adults with anxiety and depression so as to inform therapeutic programmes. Method: A qualitative research design with a phenomenological framework was adopted. A total of five community-dwelling people with diagnoses of anxiety and/or depression were purposively selected to participate in semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: The themes which emerged – ‘Occupation as a marker for wellness’ and ‘Sustaining a sense of occupational identity’ – support existing literature and reveal new information about interactions between occupational identity crisis and mental health. Personally meaningful occupation which connects a person to their life worlds and sense of self has the potential to consolidate recovery from anxiety and depression. Conclusion: The study contributes to knowledge on how occupation supports an older person's wellbeing and identity in the face of life changes, and has implications for occupational therapists working with older adults.
‘Old and ill’: death anxiety and coping strategies influencing health professionals' well-being and dementia care
- Authors:
- McKENZIE Ellen L., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 21(6), 2017, pp.634-641.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: This paper examined the psychological factors that influence the well-being of health professionals who work with people with dementia and the types of care (person-centred or task-oriented) provided to these patients. Methods: The literature was reviewed to identify the factors influencing the well-being of, and types of care provided by, health professionals working with people experiencing dementia. Results: Based on their review of the literature, the authors propose that approaches to care and the well-being of health professionals working with dementia patients are influenced by the characterisation of dementia as a terminal illness that typically occurs in older people. Drawing upon terror management theory, they argue that exposure to dementia patients is likely to promote awareness of one's own mortality and death-related anxiety. A theoretical model is presented which posits that health professionals working in dementia care draw on experiential avoidance to manage this anxiety. Both death anxiety, and coping strategies, such as experiential avoidance, used to manage this anxiety may influence health professionals' approaches to care of, and attitudes towards, dementia patients. The authors also suggest a bi-directional relationship between health professionals' approaches to care and well-being. Conclusion: Recommendations are made regarding future directions for research and implications for training of health professionals providing direct service or consultation in dementia care. (Edited publisher abstract)