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Ghanayem LK, Shannon H, Khodr L, McQuaid RJ, Hellemans KG. Lonely and scrolling during the COVID-19 pandemic: understanding the problematic social media use and mental health link among university students. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1247807. [PMID: 38356913 PMCID: PMC10864490 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1247807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Undergraduate university students experienced many academic and non-academic stressors during the first year of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, putting them at a greater risk of negative mental health outcomes. Reports worldwide have shown high incidences of depressive, anxiety, and stress scores among university students at the beginning of the pandemic. Emerging evidence also suggests that to cope with the stress and loneliness of the pandemic, many youth and young adults increased the amount of time they spent on social media platforms. Methods Undergraduate students participated in an online study aimed to understand the link between time spent on social media, coping through the use of social media and problematic social media use (PSMU) with mental health symptoms, such as stress, depression, anxiety, and loneliness, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results While time spent on social media was only weakly associated with stress, depression, anxiety and loneliness scores, PSMU more strongly mapped onto these outcomes. Additionally, students who were coping highly using social media displayed elevated stress, depression, anxiety and loneliness levels in comparison to those reporting low levels of coping with social media. Finally, students who reported high levels of coping using social media displayed higher PSMU scores, with this relationship appearing more pronounced in students who had higher levels of loneliness. Conclusion These data support evidence that it is not necessarily time spent on social media but rather PSMU that is relevant for mental health symptoms, and that PSMU is exacerbated by loneliness. Moreover, the current results highlight the effects of maladaptive coping on mental health symptoms and PSMU among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leen K. Ghanayem
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Holly Shannon
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Lida Khodr
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Robyn J. McQuaid
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Shimada H, Doi T, Tsutsumimoto K, Makino K, Harada K, Tomida K, Arai H. Elevated Risk of Dementia Diagnosis in Older Adults with Low Frequencies and Durations of Social Conversation. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 98:659-669. [PMID: 38461507 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Background Social networks and social participation have protective effects on cognitive function maintenance and Alzheimer's disease and general dementia development. Objective We aimed to investigate the association between conversations and dementia incidence in older adults. Methods This longitudinal prospective cohort study used population data from the National Center for Geriatric and Gerontology-Study of Geriatric Syndromes (NCGG-SGS) from September 2015 to February 2017. The database included 4,167 individuals in Japan aged ≥60 years who were generally healthy and without major cognitive impairment. Participants were classified into two groups according to six daily conversation measures at baseline. The conversation index was calculated as a composite score for these measures. Participants were tracked monthly over 60 months for new-onset dementia. Results Data from 2,531 participants were analyzed (72.7±6.7 years; range: 60-96 years). Dementia incidence per 1,000 person-years was 15.7 (95% confidence interval, 13.6-18.1). The Youden index determined the cut-off point for dementia incidence, with a conversation index of 16/17 points. The low conversation group included more participants with new-onset dementia. Cox proportional hazards regression crude models showed remarkable relationships between dementia onset and specific conversation measurements, including conversation index. According to the Cox regression adjusted model, the cut-off point of the conversation index showed only a remarkable relationship with dementia onset. Conclusions Dementia risk was extensively associated with low daily conversation statuses. The assessment of conversational factors may be useful as a risk indicator for the development of Alzheimer's disease and general dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Shimada
- Department of Preventive Gerontology, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
| | - Takehiko Doi
- Department of Preventive Gerontology, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
| | - Kota Tsutsumimoto
- Department of Preventive Gerontology, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
| | - Keitaro Makino
- Department of Preventive Gerontology, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
| | - Kenji Harada
- Department of Preventive Gerontology, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
| | - Kouki Tomida
- Department of Preventive Gerontology, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
| | - Hidenori Arai
- National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
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Bae SM. The Association between Adverse Childhood and Adulthood Experiences, Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Depression among Young Adults in South Korea. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6900. [PMID: 37835170 PMCID: PMC10572693 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20196900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the association between social isolation, loneliness, and depressive symptoms among young adults in South Korea after controlling for sociodemographic variables, adverse child and adult experiences, and perceived health status. The researcher analyzed the data of 2014 young adults aged 18-34 years from the Youth Social Economic Survey using hierarchical multiple regression analysis conducted with IBM SPSS Statistics 28.0. Among the sociodemographic variables, sex, education, and household income were significantly related to depressive symptoms. Females reported higher levels of depressive symptoms than males, and those attending college or having a college (or higher) degree reported lower levels of depressive symptoms than those with a high-school diploma or lower. Higher household income was associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Perceived health status was negatively associated with depressive symptoms, while adverse childhood and adulthood experiences, social isolation, and loneliness were positively associated with it. Among the major independent variables, loneliness was most strongly related to depressive symptoms, whereas social isolation had the weakest relevance to it. The prediction model proposed explained 32.7% of the variance in depressive symptoms and was considered good. Therefore, focusing on loneliness may be more important than focusing on social isolation to prevent and deal with depressive symptoms among young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Man Bae
- Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
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Salem HA, Abu-Elfotuh K, Alzahrani S, Rizk NI, Ali HS, Elsherbiny N, Aljohani A, Hamdan AME, Chellasamy P, Abdou NS, Gowifel AMH, Darwish A, Ibrahim OM, Abd Elmageed ZY. Punicalagin's Protective Effects on Parkinson's Progression in Socially Isolated and Socialized Rats: Insights into Multifaceted Pathway. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2420. [PMID: 37896179 PMCID: PMC10610313 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15102420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a gradual deterioration of dopaminergic neurons, leading to motor impairments. Social isolation (SI), a recognized stressor, has recently gained attention as a potential influencing factor in the progress of neurodegenerative illnesses. We aimed to investigate the intricate relationship between SI and PD progression, both independently and in the presence of manganese chloride (MnCl2), while evaluating the punicalagin (PUN) therapeutic effects, a natural compound established for its cytoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities. In this five-week experiment, seven groups of male albino rats were organized: G1 (normal control), G2 (SI), G3 (MnCl2), G4 (SI + MnCl2), G5 (SI + PUN), G6 (MnCl2 + PUN), and G7 (SI + PUN + MnCl2). The results revealed significant changes in behavior, biochemistry, and histopathology in rats exposed to SI and/or MnCl2, with the most pronounced effects detected in the SI rats concurrently exposed to MnCl2. These effects were associated with augmented oxidative stress biomarkers and reduced antioxidant activity of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Additionally, inflammatory pathways (HMGB1/RAGE/TLR4/NF-ᴋB/NLRP3/Caspase-1 and JAK-2/STAT-3) were upregulated, while dysregulation of signaling pathways (PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β/CREB), sustained endoplasmic reticulum stress by activation PERK/CHOP/Bcl-2, and impaired autophagy (AMPK/SIRT-1/Beclin-1 axis) were observed. Apoptosis induction and a decrease in monoamine levels were also noted. Remarkably, treatment with PUN effectively alleviated behaviour, histopathological changes, and biochemical alterations induced by SI and/or MnCl2. These findings emphasize the role of SI in PD progress and propose PUN as a potential therapeutic intervention to mitigate PD. PUN's mechanisms of action involve modulation of pathways such as HMGB1/RAGE/TLR4/NF-ᴋB/NLRP3/Caspase-1, JAK-2/STAT-3, PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β/CREB, AMPK/SIRT-1, Nrf2/HO-1, and PERK/CHOP/Bcl-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoda A. Salem
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt;
| | - Karema Abu-Elfotuh
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt;
| | - Sharifa Alzahrani
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia; (H.S.A.); (S.A.)
| | - Nermin I. Rizk
- Medical Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menouf 32952, Egypt;
| | - Howaida S. Ali
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia; (H.S.A.); (S.A.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt
| | - Nehal Elsherbiny
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Alhanouf Aljohani
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ahmed M. E. Hamdan
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia;
| | | | - Nada S. Abdou
- Faculty of Medicine, Misr University for Science and Technology (MUST), Giza 11556, Egypt;
| | - Ayah M. H. Gowifel
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Modern University for Technology and Information (MTI), Cairo 11571, Egypt;
| | - Alshaymaa Darwish
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt;
| | - Osama Mohamed Ibrahim
- Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tanta, Tanta 31527, Egypt;
| | - Zakaria Y. Abd Elmageed
- Department of Pharmacology, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA 71203, USA;
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Pedroso-Chaparro MDS, Cabrera I, Márquez-González M, Ribeiro Ó, Losada-Baltar A. Comorbid Depressive and Anxiety Symptomatology in Older Adults: The Role of Aging Self-Stereotypes, Loneliness, and Feelings of Guilt Associated with Self-Perception as a Burden. THE SPANISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 26:e26. [PMID: 37772769 DOI: 10.1017/sjp.2023.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to analyze the differences between older adults' symptom profiles (subclinical, anxiety, depressive, and comorbid) in negative aging self-stereotypes, loneliness, and feelings of guilt associated with self-perception as a burden. Participants were 310 community-dwelling people aged 60 years and over. The sample was grouped into four symptom profiles of older adults: anxiety, depressive, comorbid anxiety-depression, and subclinical symptoms. We carried out multinomial logistic regression analyses to analyze the role of assessed variables in the explanation of the four symptom profiles. Older adults who reported a comorbid symptomatology presented higher negative aging self-stereotypes and feelings of loneliness than the other three profiles. Compared with the subclinical profile, older adults who reported clinical symptomatology (anxiety, depressive, and comorbid profile) presented higher feelings of guilt associated with self-perception as a burden. The findings of this study suggest potential associations that may contribute to understanding and treating comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms in older adults.
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Poon E, Ang SHM, Ramazanu S. Community-based end-of-life care in Singapore and nursing care implications for older adults in the post-COVID-19 world. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 2023; 17:219-223. [PMID: 37384431 DOI: 10.1097/spc.0000000000000662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To render holistic overview on community-based end-of-life care in the context of Singapore, with analysis of nursing care implications for older adults requiring end-of-life care services. RECENT FINDINGS Healthcare professionals caring for older adults with life-limiting conditions had to play an active role in the constantly evolving healthcare landscape during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Usual meetings and community-based end-of-life care interventions were converted to online mode, utilizing digital technology. In order to provide value-based and culturally relevant care, further studies are warranted to evaluate healthcare professionals, patients and family caregivers' preferences whilst utilizing digital technology. As a result of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions to minimize infection transmissions, animal-assisted volunteering activities were conducted virtually. Regular healthcare professionals' engagement in wellness interventions is necessary to boost morale and prevent potential psychological distress. SUMMARY To strengthen the delivery of end-of-life community care services, the following recommendations are proposed: active youth engagement via inter-collaborations and connectedness of community organizations; improving support for vulnerable older adults in need of end-of-life care services; and enhancing healthcare professionals well-being through the implementation of timely support interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sheena Ramazanu
- Leadership Institute for Global Health Transformation, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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What factors explain the changes in major depressive disorder symptoms by age group during the COVID-19 pandemic? A longitudinal study. J Affect Disord 2023; 328:72-80. [PMID: 36806591 PMCID: PMC9933581 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic suggest an increase in major depressive disorder (MDD) among younger adults. The current study aims to assess the association of age groups and MDD risk before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and quantify the effect of potential mediating variables such as loneliness, social support, resilience, and socioeconomic factors. METHODS A representative sample of Spanish adults was interviewed before (2019, N = 1880) and during (2020, N = 1103) the COVID-19 pandemic. MDD was assessed using the CIDI, loneliness through the UCLA scale, social support through the OSSS-3, resilience with the 6-BRS, and worsened economic circumstances and unemployment through a single question. Mixed-models were used to study changes in MDD by age group. Regression models were constructed to quantify the association between age and potential mediators, as well as their mediating effect on the association between age group and MDD. RESULTS Among the younger age cohorts (18-29 and 30-44 years) the probability of having MDD during the pandemic increased from 0.04 (95 % CI: 0.002-0.09) to 0.25 (0.12-0.39) and from 0.02 (-0.001-0.03) to 0.11 (0.04-0.17), respectively. Some 36.6 % of the association between age and risk of MDD during the pandemic was explained by loneliness (12.0 %), low resilience (10.7 %), and worsened economic situation (13.9 %). LIMITATIONS Reliance on self-report data and generalizability of the findings limited to the Spanish population. CONCLUSIONS Strategies to decrease the impact of a pandemic on depressive symptoms among young adults should address loneliness, provide tools to improve resilience, and enjoy improved financial support.
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Mao S, Lou VWQ, Lu N. Perceptions of neighborhood environment and loneliness among older Chinese adults: the mediator role of cognitive and structural social capital. Aging Ment Health 2023; 27:595-603. [PMID: 35302917 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2022.2053500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine the mediating role of social capital in the association between perceived physical neighborhood environment and loneliness among older adults in urban China. METHOD Data were derived from face-to-face interviews with people (n = 472) aged 60 or older in urban communities of Shanghai, China, in 2020. Loneliness was measured by the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Scale. A multiple mediator model was adopted to examine the research hypotheses. RESULTS Cognitive social capital played a full mediation role in the association between perceived community health care (β = -.061, p < .05), safety (β = -.168, p < .001), recreational services (β = -.058, p < .05), and loneliness. Structural social capital was associated with loneliness (β = -.102, p < .05), whereas its mediator effect was not significant. Perceived transportation convenience had neither a direct nor an indirect effect on loneliness among older adults. CONCLUSION Findings indicate that older adults' perceptions of healthcare services, safety, and recreational resources could help alleviate their loneliness via fostering cognitive social capital. Interventions improving older adults' perceptions of community health care, safety, and recreation, and their social capital level could help reduce the prevalence of loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Mao
- Department of Social Work and Social Policy, School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Vivian W Q Lou
- Department of Social Work & Social Administration, Sau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Nan Lu
- Department of Social Work and Social Policy, School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
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Altintas HK, Coban SA, Cantekin I. Relationship between frailty and loneliness among community-dwelling Turkish older people. Psychogeriatrics 2023; 23:243-251. [PMID: 36648011 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The scarcity of concrete data between loneliness and frailty was found and to fill this gap, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between frailty and loneliness in elderly individuals. The study was conducted to determine the relationship between loneliness and frailty in individuals aged 65 and over. METHOD The study had a cross-sectional descriptive correlational design. The study group consisted of 527 volunteers aged 65 and over who applied to six family health centres between 15.03.2019 and 15.05.2019 and met the inclusion criteria. The Information Form, Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), and Loneliness Scale for the Elderly (LSE) were used to collect the study data. RESULTS It was found that the mean age of individuals with frailty (69.67 ± 4.38) was found to be higher at a statistically significant level than those without frailty (67.83 ± 3.07) (t = -5.390; P = 0.001). It was found that a total of 89.1% of those who stated they had a serious disease (χ2 = 69.688, P < 0.001) and 68.9% (χ2 = 24.315, P < 0.001) of those who had a serious disease in a loved one were statistically frail. The mean total score obtained in the LSE was 12.702 ± 5.76 and it was statistically significant at a high level (t = -12.225, P < 0.001) There was a statistically significant relationship between the TFI and its subscales, and the LSE and subscale scores of the individuals who participated in the study. CONCLUSION A positive and significant relationship was detected between all subscales of loneliness and frailty; therefore, it can be argued that the negativity in one negatively affects the other. According to these results, it can be recommended to conduct screening and intervention programs to prevent frailty and loneliness in individuals aged 65 and over and prioritise the risk factors that were found in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hülya K Altintas
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey
| | - Sibel A Coban
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey
| | - Işın Cantekin
- Department of Nursing, NEU Seydişehir Kamil Akkanat Faculty of Health Sciences, Konya, Turkey
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Győri Á. The impact of social-relationship patterns on worsening mental health among the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Hungary. SSM Popul Health 2023; 21:101346. [PMID: 36712146 PMCID: PMC9868011 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence indicates the coronavirus pandemic has severely affected the oldest age group: in Hungary 92.7 per cent of those who died due to COVID-19 infection were 60 years of age or older. The age structure of the deceased was very similar in other countries. As, due to their underlying health status, elderly people are more vulnerable to the serious diseases caused by the coronavirus, strict government restrictions were introduced worldwide to protect them when the epidemic broke out. However, this social isolation can cause severe psychological and emotional strain. The study aim was to examine how patterns of social relationships were related to changes in mental health of the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary. We used the database of SHARE COVID-19 for our analysis. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were conducted. Findings of this study suggest that the network lacking contacts increases the severity of depression, anxiety, sleeping disorders, and loneliness the most among the elderly. Interestingly, the group with an intense close-knit network had a higher risk of worsening mental symptoms compared to multiple contact actives. Moreover, electronic communication - telephone, Skype - did not help either: there was a particularly high probability of worsening depression in this group. Another interesting result is that both in the group dominated by family contacts and among those with multiple relationships, the chances of worsening mental symptoms were lower, thus, personal contact - whether they include family members or other acquaintances - is truly protective. Results demonstrate that both the network characterised by lack of contact network and electronic contact activity contribute to greater risk of worsening mental health within elderly. A network pattern characterised by various types and forms of contacts is the most beneficial to mental health, and intensive contacts of limited scope alone are not sufficient to protect mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ágnes Győri
- Centre for Social Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences Centre of Excellence, Budapest, Hungary
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Zhang Y, Kuang J, Xin Z, Fang J, Song R, Yang Y, Song P, Wang Y, Wang J. Loneliness, social isolation, depression and anxiety among the elderly in Shanghai: Findings from a longitudinal study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2023; 110:104980. [PMID: 36863166 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2023.104980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the longitudinal associations between loneliness, social isolation, depression and anxiety in the elderly. METHODS A longitudinal cohort study was conducted among 634 older adults from three districts of Shanghai. Data were collected at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Loneliness and social isolation were measured using the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale and the Lubben Social Network Scale respectively. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the subscales of Depression Anxiety Stress Scales. Logistic regression and negative binomial regression models were used to examine the associations. RESULTS We found that moderate to severe loneliness at baseline predicted higher depression scores 6 months later (incidence rate ratio (IRR)=1.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.12, 3.53], p=0.019), while higher depression scores at baseline predicted social isolation at follow-up (odds ratio (OR)=1.14, 95% CI [1.03, 1.27], p=0.012). We also observed that higher anxiety scores predicted lower risk of social isolation (OR=0.87, 95% CI [0.77, 0.98], p=0.021). Additionally, persistent loneliness at both timepoints was significantly associated with higher depression scores at follow-up, and persistent social isolation was associated with a greater likelihood of having moderate to severe loneliness and higher depression scores at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Loneliness was found to be a robust predictor of changes in depressive symptoms. Both persistent loneliness and social isolation were closely associated with depression. We should develop effective and feasible interventions for older adults who have depressive symptoms or who are at risk of long-term social relationship problems to avoid the vicious circle among depression, social isolation and loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwen Zhang
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jiawen Kuang
- School of Public Health; NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaohua Xin
- Lingqiao Community Health Center, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China
| | - Jialie Fang
- Jing'an District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Song
- Xiaodongmen Subdistrict Community Health Center, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuting Yang
- School of Public Health; NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peige Song
- School of Public Health and Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
| | - Ying Wang
- School of Public Health; NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jingyi Wang
- School of Public Health; NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Gabarrell-Pascuet A, García-Mieres H, Giné-Vázquez I, Moneta MV, Koyanagi A, Haro JM, Domènech-Abella J. The Association of Social Support and Loneliness with Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Posttraumatic Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2765. [PMID: 36833463 PMCID: PMC9957328 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20042765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research suggests that changes in social support and loneliness have affected mental disorder symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are a lack of studies comparing the robustness of these associations. AIMS The aims were to estimate the strength of the associations of loneliness and social support with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022) in the general population. METHOD The method entailed a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of quantitative studies. RESULTS Seventy-three studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled correlations of the effect size of the association of loneliness with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress were 0.49, 0.40, and 0.38, respectively. The corresponding figures for social support were 0.29, 0.19, and 0.18, respectively. Subgroup analyses revealed that the strength of some associations could be influenced by the sociodemographic characteristics of the study samples, such as age, gender, region, and COVID-19 stringency index, and by methodological moderators, such as sample size, collection date, methodological quality, and the measurement scales. CONCLUSIONS Social support had a weak association with mental disorder symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic while the association with loneliness was moderate. Strategies to address loneliness could be highly effective in reducing the impact of the pandemic on social relationships and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aina Gabarrell-Pascuet
- Epidemiology of Mental Health Disorders and Ageing Research Group, Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Research, Teaching, and Innovation Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Helena García-Mieres
- Health Services Research Unit, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Iago Giné-Vázquez
- Epidemiology of Mental Health Disorders and Ageing Research Group, Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Research, Teaching, and Innovation Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Victoria Moneta
- Epidemiology of Mental Health Disorders and Ageing Research Group, Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Research, Teaching, and Innovation Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ai Koyanagi
- Epidemiology of Mental Health Disorders and Ageing Research Group, Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Research, Teaching, and Innovation Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Maria Haro
- Epidemiology of Mental Health Disorders and Ageing Research Group, Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Research, Teaching, and Innovation Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Domènech-Abella
- Epidemiology of Mental Health Disorders and Ageing Research Group, Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Research, Teaching, and Innovation Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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13
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Khodabakhshi-Koolaee A, Frouzan F. Loneliness and Death Anxiety: Differences Between Active and Bedridden Older Men. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2023:302228231153460. [PMID: 36659817 DOI: 10.1177/00302228231153460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Physical activity might be impact on death anxiety and loneliness in adult people. Accordingly, the present study examined loneliness and death anxiety in two groups of active and bedridden older men living in nursing homes in Yazd. This descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted on older men living in nursing homes in Yazd, Iran. The participants were 148 older men who were randomly selected. The instruments used to collect the data were the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA-S) and the Death Anxiety Scale One-way ANOVA was also used. The findings indicated the active older men scored lower in loneliness and death compared to the bedridden older men. Loneliness and death anxiety are important psychological components that are more common in inactive older than their active counterparts. Therefore, physical activity in old age can improve older adults' quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fazel Frouzan
- Department of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Humanities, Khatam University, Tehran, Iran
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14
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Xu X, Mishra GD, Holt-Lunstad J, Jones M. Social relationship satisfaction and accumulation of chronic conditions and multimorbidity: a national cohort of Australian women. Gen Psychiatr 2023; 36:e100925. [PMID: 36844964 PMCID: PMC9950967 DOI: 10.1136/gpsych-2022-100925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Social relationships are associated with mortality and chronic conditions. However, little is known about the effects of social relationship satisfaction on multiple chronic conditions (multimorbidity). Aims To examine whether social relationship satisfaction is associated with the accumulation of multimorbidity. Methods Data from 7 694 Australian women who were free from 11 chronic conditions at 45-50 years of age in 1996 were analysed. Five types of social relationship satisfaction (partner, family members, friends, work and social activities) were measured approximately every 3 years and scored from 0 (very dissatisfied) to 3 (very satisfied). Scores from each relationship type were summed to provide an overall satisfaction score (range: ≤5-15). The outcome of interest was the accumulation of multimorbidity in 11 chronic conditions. Results Over a 20-year period, 4 484 (58.3%) women reported multimorbidities. Overall, the level of social relationship satisfaction had a dose-response relationship with the accumulation of multimorbidities. Compared with women reporting the highest satisfaction (score 15), women with the lowest satisfaction (score ≤5) had the highest odds of accumulating multimorbidity (odds ratio (OR)= 2.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.94 to 2.83) in the adjusted model. Similar results were observed for each social relationship type. Other risk factors, such as socioeconomic, behavioural and menopausal status, together explained 22.72% of the association. Conclusions Social relationship satisfaction is associated with the accumulation of multimorbidity, and the relationship is only partly explained by socioeconomic, behavioural and reproductive factors. Social connections (eg, satisfaction with social relationships) should be considered a public health priority in chronic disease prevention and intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Xu
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gita D Mishra
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Julianne Holt-Lunstad
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - Mark Jones
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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15
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Min SH, Topaz M, Lee C, Schnall R. Understanding changes in mental health symptoms from young-old to old-old adults by sex using multiple-group latent transition analysis. GeroScience 2023:10.1007/s11357-023-00729-1. [PMID: 36626018 PMCID: PMC10400747 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00729-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Older adults are classified into three homogeneous groups: young-old (age 65-74), old-old (age 75-84), and oldest-old (age 85 and over). Mental health symptoms are likely to change over time, especially when older adults transition from one age group to another. Yet, little is known on changes in mental health symptoms as they transition to another age group, and if these changes differ by sex. This is a secondary data analysis using the longitudinal data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. A total of 1183 young-old adults at wave 1 was included. Mental health symptoms were depression, anxiety, loneliness, perceived stress, and happiness. Multiple-group latent transition analysis was conducted to model the transition probabilities of latent classes and to compare these differences between sex. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted to obtain demographic characteristics and to test for differences. Three latent classes were identified based on severity: class 1-mild, class 2-moderate, and class 3-severe. Regardless of sex, young-old adults remained in the same class from waves 1 to 2. However, they moved to a less severe group when transitioning into the old-old from waves 2 to 3. Statistically significant differences were found in their demographic characteristics among the latent classes. Older adults, when transitioning from young-old to old-old, are likely to transition to latent classes with less severe mental health symptoms in both sex. Clinicians need to provide a comprehensive assessment to all older adults, regardless of the severity of their mental health symptoms, to promote well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se Hee Min
- Columbia University School of Nursing, 560 W 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Maxim Topaz
- Columbia University School of Nursing, 560 W 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Chiyoung Lee
- University of Washington Bothell School of Nursing & Health Studies, 18115 Campus Way NE, Bothell, WA, 98011, USA
| | - Rebecca Schnall
- Columbia University School of Nursing, 560 W 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, USA
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16
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Bonsaksen T, Ruffolo M, Price D, Leung J, Thygesen H, Lamph G, Kabelenga I, Geirdal AØ. Associations between social media use and loneliness in a cross-national population: do motives for social media use matter? Health Psychol Behav Med 2023; 11:2158089. [PMID: 36618890 PMCID: PMC9817115 DOI: 10.1080/21642850.2022.2158089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed to examine the association between social media use and loneliness two years after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. METHODS Participants were 1649 adults who completed a cross-sectional online survey disseminated openly in Norway, United Kingdom, USA, and Australia between November 2021 and January 2022. Linear regressions examined time spent on social media and participants' characteristics on loneliness, and interactions by motives for social media use. RESULTS Participants who worried more about their health and were younger, not employed, and without a spouse or partner reported higher levels of loneliness compared to their counterparts. More time spent on social media was associated with more loneliness (β = 0.12, p < 0.001). Three profile groups emerged for social media use motives: 1) social media use motive ratings on avoiding difficult feelings higher or the same as for maintaining contact; 2) slightly higher ratings for maintaining contact; and 3) substantially higher ratings for maintaining contact. Time spent on social media was significant only in motive profile groups 2 and 3 (β = 0.12 and β = 0.14, both p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that people who use social media for the motive of maintaining their relationships feel lonelier than those who spend the same amount of time on social media for other reasons. While social media may facilitate social contact to a degree, they may not facilitate the type of contact sought by those who use social media primarily for this reason.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tore Bonsaksen
- Department of Health and Nursing Science, Faculty of Social and Health Science, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway,Department of Health, Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, Stavanger, Norway, Tore Bonsaksen Department of Health and Nursing Science, Faculty of Social and Health Science, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
| | - Mary Ruffolo
- School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Daicia Price
- School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Janni Leung
- Faculty of Health and Behavioural Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Hilde Thygesen
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Prosthetics and Orthotics, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway,Department of Health, Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gary Lamph
- School of Nursing, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom
| | - Isaac Kabelenga
- Department of Social Development Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia,Zambian Center for Poverty Reduction and Research Limited, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Amy Østertun Geirdal
- Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
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17
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Simons M, Reijnders J, Janssens M, Lataster J, Jacobs N. Staying connected in old age: associations between bonding social capital, loneliness and well-being and the value of digital media. Aging Ment Health 2023; 27:147-155. [PMID: 35156860 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2022.2036947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We examined associations between age, bonding social capital (BSC), loneliness and psychological, social and emotional well-being in old age. As in theory digital media can support both preservation of and access to someone's social capital, we also explored associations between the use of WhatsApp, social network sites (SNS) and Internet applications and respectively BSC and loneliness. METHOD In this cross-sectional study a sample of 349 older adults (range = 70y-93y; Mean(SD)=74.8y(4.9y); 59.6% male) filled out a questionnaire including the bonding social capital subscale of the personal social capital scale for elderly (PSCSE), validated scales measuring social, emotional, and psychological well-being and loneliness, the SNS intensity scale and items measuring frequencies of Whatsapp use and use of various Internet functions. Also relevant demographic and other covariates were included. RESULTS Regression analyses including relevant covariates confirmed our hypotheses, finding negative associations between BSC and both age and loneliness, and positive associations between BSC and psychological, social and emotional well-being. WhatsApp and Internet use were both found positively associated with BSC, whilst a negative association between WhatsApp use and loneliness was found. SNS use was not associated with BSC nor with loneliness. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate BSC as an important factor in positive aging and illustrate a widening gap between the need for socio-emotional resources versus their availability. With regard to digital media, we conclude that its value in old age should be sought in providing access to one's bonding social capital rather than adding to it by expanding the number of social relations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Simons
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Jennifer Reijnders
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Mayke Janssens
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Johan Lataster
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Nele Jacobs
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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18
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Goodwyn N, Beech N, Garvey B, Gold J, Gulliford R, Auty T, Sajjadi A, Arrigoni A, Mahtab N, Jones S, Beech S. Flying high: pilot peer coaching to champion well-being and mitigate hazardous attitudes. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1108/ejtd-09-2021-0136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
The “Germanwings” air crash in 2015 in which 150 people were killed highlighted the challenges pilots working in the aviation industry face. Pilots regularly work for extensive periods in inhospitable and high-pressure operational conditions, exposing them to considerable work-related stress. This has raised calls for a more systemic cultural change across the aviation industry, championing a more holistic perspective of pilot health and well-being. The study aims to explore how peer coaching (PC) can promote an inclusive psychosocial safety climate enhancing pilot well-being and can mitigate hazardous attitudes and dysfunctional behaviours.
Design/methodology/approach
Adopting an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were conducted with military and civilian peer coach/coachee pilots and key industry stakeholders, totalling 39 participants. The research provided significant insights into the perceived value of PC in promoting both pilot health and mental well-being (MW) and flight safety across the aviation industry.
Findings
The study highlights four key PC superordinate themes, namely, coaching skills, significance of well-being, building of peer relationships and importance of confidentiality and autonomy. Such combined themes build reciprocal trust within peer conversations that can inspire engagement and effectively promote personal well-being. The contagious effect of such local interventions can help stimulate systemic cultural change and promote a positive psychosocial safety climate throughout an organisation and, in this case, across the aviation industry. This study provides a PC conceptual framework “Mutuality Equality Goals Autonomy Non-evaluative feedback, Skill Confidentiality Voluntary Supervisory (MEGANS CVS),” highlighting the salient features of PC in promoting MW.
Research limitations/implications
The study highlights the salient features of PC and its role in promoting peer conversations that enable personal transition, openness and acceptance. This study also highlights how PC and well-being can be used to encourage inclusivity and engagement, thereby strengthening institutional resilience.
Practical implications
This study highlights how PC that can assist HRM/HRD professionals to embed a more inclusive and salutogenic approach to MW that can reshape organisational cultures. This study highlights the significance and link of workplace stress to hazardous attitudes and dysfunctional behaviours. It further notes that whilst the MEGANS CVS peer coaching framework has been applied to pilots, it can also be applied across all sectors and levels.
Social implications
This study highlights the value of PC as an inexpensive means to engage at the grassroots level, which not only improves personal performance, safety and well-being but by building peer relationships can also act as a catalyst for positive and deep organisational cultural change.
Originality/value
This study offers the MEGANS CVS framework that exposes insights into PC practice that can assist HRM/HRD professionals embed a more inclusive and salutogenic approach to health and well-being that can reshape organisational cultures. This study highlights the significance and link of workplace stress to hazardous attitudes and dysfunctional behaviours, and whilst this framework has been applied to pilots, it can also have relevance across all sectors and levels. This study calls for a “salutogenic turn,” employing MW and PC to transform organisational capabilities to be more forward-thinking and solution-focused, promoting an inclusive “just culture” where leaders positively lead their people.
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19
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Miley K, Michalowski M, Yu F, Leng E, McMorris BJ, Vinogradov S. Predictive models for social functioning in healthy young adults: A machine learning study integrating neuroanatomical, cognitive, and behavioral data. Soc Neurosci 2022; 17:414-427. [PMID: 36196662 PMCID: PMC9707316 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2022.2132285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/10/2022]
Abstract
Poor social functioning is an emerging public health problem associated with physical and mental health consequences. Developing prognostic tools is critical to identify individuals at risk for poor social functioning and guide interventions. We aimed to inform prediction models of social functioning by evaluating models relying on bio-behavioral data using machine learning. With data from the Human Connectome Project Healthy Young Adult sample (age 22-35, N = 1,101), we built Support Vector Regression models to estimate social functioning from variable sets of brain morphology to behavior with increasing complexity: 1) brain-only model, 2) brain-cognition model, 3) cognition-behavioral model, and 4) combined brain-cognition-behavioral model. Predictive accuracy of each model was assessed and the importance of individual variables for model performance was determined. The combined and cognition-behavioral models significantly predicted social functioning, whereas the brain-only and brain-cognition models did not. Negative affect, psychological wellbeing, extraversion, withdrawal, and cortical thickness of the rostral middle-frontal and superior-temporal regions were the most important predictors in the combined model. Results demonstrate that social functioning can be accurately predicted using machine learning methods. Behavioral markers may be more significant predictors of social functioning than brain measures for healthy young adults and may represent important leverage points for preventative intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Miley
- School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN, United States
| | - Martin Michalowski
- School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN, United States
| | - Fang Yu
- Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Ethan Leng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN, United States
| | | | - Sophia Vinogradov
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis MN, United States
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20
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Merritt SH, Krouse M, Alogaily RS, Zak PJ. Continuous Neurophysiologic Data Accurately Predict Mood and Energy in the Elderly. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12091240. [PMID: 36138976 PMCID: PMC9497070 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12091240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The elderly have an elevated risk of clinical depression because of isolation from family and friends and a reticence to report their emotional states. The present study explored whether data from a commercial neuroscience platform could predict low mood and low energy in members of a retirement community. Neurophysiologic data were collected continuously for three weeks at 1Hz and averaged into hourly and daily measures, while mood and energy were captured with self-reports. Two neurophysiologic measures averaged over a day predicted low mood and low energy with 68% and 75% accuracy. Principal components analysis showed that neurologic variables were statistically associated with mood and energy two days in advance. Applying machine learning to hourly data classified low mood and low energy with 99% and 98% accuracy. Two-day lagged hourly neurophysiologic data predicted low mood and low energy with 98% and 96% accuracy. This study demonstrates that continuous measurement of neurophysiologic variables may be an effective way to reduce the incidence of mood disorders in vulnerable people by identifying when interventions are needed.
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21
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Pavlidis G, Motel-Klingebiel A, Aartsen M. Exclusion from social relations in later life: on the gendered associations of social networks with mental wellbeing. Aging Ment Health 2022:1-9. [PMID: 36016471 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2022.2116397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: This study addresses the gendered risks of loneliness and depression in later life from a social exclusion perspective. Exclusion from social relations (ESR) in older age is an unwanted situation associated with increased loneliness and depressive symptoms, with gender differences in the perception of solitude, and the evaluation of existing social networks, potentially accounting for the increased susceptibility of older women.Method: Secondary analyses was conducted in a sample of 60,918 participants in the Survey on Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Older persons' subjective perception of solitude (i.e. solitude satisfaction), and their satisfaction with established relations (i.e. network satisfaction), were examined in gender-stratified regression models, predicting loneliness and depressive symptomatology, controlling for network size, demographics, and health.Results: There was no convincing evidence for significant associations between solitude satisfaction (SoS) and loneliness among older men, nor between network satisfaction (NeS) and loneliness for both genders. Low SoS and low NeS were independently associated with more depressive symptoms and an increased probability of depression, especially among older women. This vulnerability could not be attributed to increased loneliness, as only among older women, low SoS was associated with lower levels of loneliness, and lower levels of loneliness was anaemically associated with more depressive symptoms.Conclusions: The perception of solitude, and the evaluation of social relations, are associated with gendered risks of depression among older persons who are challenged by objective and subjective ESR states.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Pavlidis
- Division of Ageing and Social Change, Department of Culture and Society, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden
| | - Andreas Motel-Klingebiel
- Division of Ageing and Social Change, Department of Culture and Society, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden
| | - Marja Aartsen
- Department for Ageing and Housing studies, Nova-Norwegian Social research, Oslo, Norway
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22
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Zheng J, Yu P, Chen X. An Evaluation of the Effects of Active Game Play on Cognition, Quality of Life and Depression for Older People with Dementia. Clin Gerontol 2022; 45:1034-1043. [PMID: 34666621 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2021.1980170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This pilot study was intended to evaluate the effects of active game play on cognition, quality of life, and depression for older people with dementia. METHODS Thirty-eight older people with dementia were recruited. Eighteen people received eight-week active game play using Xbox 360 Kinect. Twenty people received their usual care. The Mini Mental State Examination, Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease and Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia were used to measure the outcomes. RESULTS The results showed that there was no significant improvement on the mean scores of Mini Mental State Examination (P = .252), however, the active game play increased the mean score of Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (P = .005), and reduced the mean score of Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (P = .001) in comparison with the usual care group. CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrated that the active game play was effective in improving quality of life and alleviating depression in older people with dementia. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Findings highlight the potential for gaming as a non-pharmacological interventions for older people with dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaying Zheng
- Nursing Department, Qianjiang College, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ping Yu
- School of Computing and Information Technology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Xueping Chen
- Nursing Department, Qianjiang College, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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23
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Xiong R, Xia Y, Tian B. Social Disconnectedness and Mental Health Problems During the COVID-19 Pandemic in China: A Moderated Mediation Model. Int J Public Health 2022; 67:1604742. [PMID: 35755954 PMCID: PMC9218057 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of perceived isolation and the moderating effect of COVID-19 related concerns in the relationship between social disconnectedness and mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of 11,682 Chinese residents were conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak. Conditional process analysis was performed to test the mediating effect of perceived isolation and the moderating effect of COVID-19 related concerns. Results: Social disconnectedness was positively related to mental health problems, and perceived isolation significantly mediated their relationship. COVID-19 related concerns exacerbated the direct link between social disconnectedness and mental health problems as well as the indirect link via perceived isolation. Conclusion: Social disconnectedness was a key predictor of mental health problems during the COVID-19 outbreak. The direct and indirect effects of social disconnectedness on mental health problems were stronger for respondents who had more COVID-19 related concerns. Understanding the underlying mechanisms by which social disconnectedness is related to mental health problems has important practical implications for the prevention of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoshan Xiong
- Department of Social Work, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiwei Xia
- School of Law, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China
| | - Beihai Tian
- Department of Sociology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Gender Differences in Correlates of Loneliness among Community-Dwelling Older Koreans. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19127334. [PMID: 35742581 PMCID: PMC9224515 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background: Despite a relatively large number of studies exploring late-life loneliness, few studies have compared gender differences in the correlates of loneliness of older adults. Thus, we examined the gender differences in correlates of loneliness among community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of data from a parent study conducted among community-dwelling Koreans 65 years of age or older. Loneliness was measured by the 20-item Revised University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale. As potential correlates, demographic, health-related, and social variables were included. Multivariate hierarchical regression analyses were performed separately by gender. Results: Men were more likely to be lonely than women, after controlling for demographic, health-related, and social variables. A social network of family ties and being married were found to be inversely correlated with loneliness in men but not in women. A social network of friendship ties and participation in a variety of community activities were inversely correlated with loneliness in both men and women. Conclusions: A social network of family ties and being married may help reduce late-life loneliness, particularly among men. This study highlights the importance of considering gender differences in the design of strategies for preventing and alleviating late-life loneliness.
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Park J, Jang Y, Oh H, Chi I. Loneliness as a Mediator in the Association Between Social Isolation and Psychological Distress: A Cross-Sectional Study With Older Korean Immigrants in the United States. Res Aging 2022; 45:438-447. [PMID: 35488410 DOI: 10.1177/01640275221098180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The present study explored the role of loneliness in the association between social isolation and psychological distress, using a cross-sectional sample of older Korean immigrants in the U.S. Considering structural (unmarried and living alone) and relational (isolation from family and friends) social isolation, we hypothesized that (1) both types of social isolation would be associated with loneliness and psychological distress and (2) their effect on psychological distress would be mediated through loneliness. Data came from the Study of Older Korean Americans (SOKA), a multisite survey of Korean immigrants aged 60 and older (n = 2,150). The multivariate analyses demonstrated that older individuals with structural and relational isolation reported higher levels of loneliness and psychological distress. Loneliness was found to mediate the effect of both types of social isolation on psychological distress. The intervening role of loneliness suggests strategies to alleviate the mental health consequences of social isolation in older immigrants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juyoung Park
- Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, 5116University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 5116University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yuri Jang
- Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, 5116University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 5116University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hans Oh
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 5116University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Iris Chi
- Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, 5116University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 5116University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Abu-Elfotuh K, Al-Najjar AH, Mohammed AA, Aboutaleb AS, Badawi GA. Fluoxetine ameliorates Alzheimer's disease progression and prevents the exacerbation of cardiovascular dysfunction of socially isolated depressed rats through activation of Nrf2/HO-1 and hindering TLR4/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 104:108488. [PMID: 35042170 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Depression is a risk factor for Alzheimer's (AD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Therefore, depression treatment restricts its deteriorating effects on mood, memory and CV system. Fluoxetine is the most widely used antidepressant drug, it has neuroprotective effect through its antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties. The current study investigated for the first-time the cross link between depression, AD and CVD besides, role of fluoxetine in mitigating such disorders. Depression was induced in rats by social isolation (SI) for 12 weeks, AlCL3 (70 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was used to induce AD which was administered either in SI or normal control (NC) grouped rats starting at 8th week till the end of the experiment, fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day, p.o) treatment also was started at 8th week. SI and AD showed a statistically significant deteriorated effect on behavioral, neurochemical and histopathological analysis which was exaggerated when two disorder combined than each alone. Fluoxetine treatment showed protective effect against SI, AD and prevents exacerbation of CVD. Fluoxetine improved animals' behavior, increased brain monoamines, BDNF besides increased antioxidant defense mechanism of SOD, TAC contents and increased protein expression of Nrf2/HO-1 with significant decrease of AChE activity, β-amyloid, Tau protein, MDA, TNF-α, IL1β contents as well as decreased protein expression of NF-kB, TLR4, NLRP3 and caspase1. It also showed cardioprotective effects as it improved lipid profile with pronounced decrease of cardiac enzymes of CK-MB, troponin and MEF2. In conclusion, fluoxetine represents as a promising drug against central and peripheral disorders through its anti-inflammatory/antioxidant effects via targeting antioxidant Nrf2/HO-1 and hindering TLR4/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karema Abu-Elfotuh
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Aya H Al-Najjar
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Asmaa A Mohammed
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amany S Aboutaleb
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ghada A Badawi
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sinai University, El Arish, Egypt.
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Chong EY, Lim AHS, Mah FCY, Yeo LHW, Ng ST, Yi H. Assessing the psychosocial dimensions of frailty among older adults in Singapore: a community-based cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e047586. [PMID: 35135759 PMCID: PMC8830253 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine how multiple dimensions of mental and social health, in addition to physical health, were associated with frailty among older adults. DESIGN A door-to-door sampling household community-based survey. SETTING Thirty-two public housing blocks within a residential town in Singapore's central region. PARTICIPANTS 497 residents aged 60 years or older from the public housing town. OUTCOME MEASURES Physical frailty was assessed using the FRAIL Scale, which stands for fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illnesses and loss of weight. Physical health was assessed by multimorbidity, physical activity and functional ability; mental illness was assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ); and social domains were assessed by the Lubben Social Network Scale, Community Integration Measure and UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) Loneliness Scale. RESULTS Compared with robust (59.5%) and prefrail (32.6%) older adults, frail adults (7.9%) reported higher morbidity, lower functional ability and physical activity, higher scores on GHQ, and lower scores on all three social health scales. In multiple regression models, frailty was significantly associated with age 81-90 years (adjusted OR=2.22, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.99), having 2-3 (adjusted OR=1.56, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.38) or >3 (adjusted OR=1.83, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.18) chronic diseases, reduced ability to perform daily tasks without assistance (adjusted OR=0.41, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.73), having fallen in the past 6 months (adjusted OR=2.18, 95% CI 1.18 to 4.06), social dysfunction in GHQ (adjusted OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.43) and loneliness (adjusted OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.50). Physical activity did not remain significantly associated with frailty when mental and social health-related factors were entered in the regression. CONCLUSION Community intervention for frailty prevention and management needs to include mental health promotion and social engagement to increase its impact on older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliot Yeung Chong
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Angela Hui-Shan Lim
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Freda Cheng Yee Mah
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lyn Hui Wen Yeo
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shu Tian Ng
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Huso Yi
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
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28
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Gabarrell-Pascuet A, Moneta MV, Ayuso-Mateos JL, Miret M, Lara E, Haro JM, Olaya B, Domènech-Abella J. The effect of loneliness and social support on the course of major depressive disorder among adults aged 50 years and older: A longitudinal study. Depress Anxiety 2022; 39:147-155. [PMID: 35029840 DOI: 10.1002/da.23236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research indicates that social support, loneliness, and major depressive disorder (MDD) are interrelated. Little is known about the potential pathways among these factors, in particular in the case of adults aged 50 years and older and suffering from MDD. The objective was to investigate whether loneliness mediates the association between low social support and recurrent episodes of MDD. METHODS We used data from a cohort of the Spanish general population interviewed at three time-points over a 7-year period. We included 404 individuals aged 50+ suffering from MDD in the baseline assessment. A 12-month major depressive episode was assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) at each interview. The University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale was used to measure loneliness, whereas social support was assessed through the Oslo Social Support Scale. We tested cross-lagged and autoregressive longitudinal associations using structural equation modeling. RESULTS We identified two significant longitudinal mediation patterns: lower social support predicted higher subsequent levels of loneliness (Coef. = -0.16; p < .05), which in turn predicted an increase in MDD recurrence (Coef. = 0.05; p < .05). CONCLUSIONS Interventions focused on promoting social support among older adults suffering from MDD may decrease feelings of loneliness and prevent recurrent episodes of MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aina Gabarrell-Pascuet
- Research, Innovation and Teaching Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - María V Moneta
- Research, Innovation and Teaching Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - José L Ayuso-Mateos
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS-Princesa), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Miret
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS-Princesa), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elvira Lara
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS-Princesa), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Josep M Haro
- Research, Innovation and Teaching Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS-Princesa), Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Olaya
- Research, Innovation and Teaching Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joan Domènech-Abella
- Research, Innovation and Teaching Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Sociology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Mallett J, Redican E, Doherty AS, Shevlin M, Adamson G. Depression trajectories among older community dwelling adults: Results from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). J Affect Disord 2022; 298:345-354. [PMID: 34715192 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study investigated the role of a large range psychological, attitudinal and health related variables as predictors of depression trajectories amongst older adults over a 4-year time period. METHODS Data from three consecutive waves of the TILDA survey of older community dwelling adults aged 50+ in Ireland were combined for analysis. Depression symptom scores were assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies- Depression scale (CES-D). Changes in depression scores over three time points were modelled as distinct trajectory classes using group-based trajectory modelling, whilst simultaneously controlling for demographic, attitudinal and health related predictors of these trajectory classes using multinomial regression. RESULTS Four distinct depression trajectories were identified as (1) a stable low symptom level group (79%), (2) a moderate but deteriorating symptoms group (7.6%), (3) a moderate but improving group (10.1%) and (4) a vulnerable group with consistently high symptoms (3.1%). Multinomial logistic regression indicated that limiting pain, mobility impairments, perceived stress and loneliness predicted membership of the moderate and higher depressive symptom classes. Retirement status and higher reported levels of worry were associated with a greater likelihood of membership of the moderate symptom classes only. LIMITATIONS Use of the CES-D is open to bias due to subjective nature of respondent reporting. CONCLUSIONS Results concur with previous studies on the development of depression among older people and highlight the key health related and psychological variables that may inform interventions aimed at mitigating risks of developing depression among older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Mallett
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, United Kingdom.
| | - Enya Redican
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Ann Sinéad Doherty
- Department of General Practice, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, 123St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Mark Shevlin
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Gary Adamson
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, United Kingdom
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Miura KW, Sekiguchi T, Otake-Matsuura M, Sawada Y, Tanaka E, Watanabe T, Tomisaki E, Okumura R, Kawasaki Y, Ito S, Anme T. Patterns of social relationships among community-dwelling older adults in Japan: latent class analysis. BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:75. [PMID: 35078419 PMCID: PMC8786623 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-02748-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social relationships may be the key to successful aging among older adults. However, little is known about the variability of social relationships among community-dwelling older people. This study aimed to describe the patterns of social relationships and examine the differences in sociodemographic characteristics and mental and physical health status among these patterns. METHODS We obtained the data from a questionnaire survey in 2017 for older adults aged 65 and above who lived in a suburban area in Japan. The Index of Social Interaction (ISI) was used to evaluate social relationships. The final sample comprised 964 people who were independently mobile and answered at least one item of the ISI. To clarify the patterns of social relationships, latent class analysis was performed with five subscales of ISI treated as indicator variables. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted to examine the factors associated with the patterns of social relationships. RESULTS The patterns of social relationships were classified into three classes: "Active" (73.6%), "Socially isolated" (14.7%), and "Less motivated" (11.7%). Persons who had depressive symptoms were more likely to be allocated to the "Socially isolated" (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.80, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.13-2.86) or the "Less motivated" groups (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.00-2.85) compared to the "Active" group. In addition, men (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.07-2.76) and those living alone (OR 3.07, 95% CI 1.43-6.61) were more likely to be allocated to the "Socially isolated" group. Moreover, those who were dependent, according to the instrumental activities and daily living functions, were more likely to be assigned to the "Socially isolated" (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.21-3.97) or "Less motivated" (OR 6.29, 95% CI 3.47-11.39) groups. CONCLUSION This study revealed the patterns of social relationships in older adults and suggested that there may be variations of social relationships among community dwellers. The results also indicated the necessity of assessing individual patterns of social relationships and devising strategies for each pattern in public health practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumi Watanabe Miura
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0083, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, Nihonbashi, Tokyo, 103-0027, Japan
| | - Takuya Sekiguchi
- RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, Nihonbashi, Tokyo, 103-0027, Japan
| | | | - Yuko Sawada
- Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences, Suminoe-ku, Osaka, 559-8611, Japan
| | - Emiko Tanaka
- Musashino University, Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-8181, Japan
| | - Taeko Watanabe
- College of Nursing and Nutrition, Shukutoku University, Nitona-cho, Chiba, 260-8703, Japan
| | - Etsuko Tomisaki
- Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care, Keio University, Shinanomachi, Tokyo, 160-0016, Japan
| | - Rika Okumura
- Department of Public Welfare, Tobishima, Aichi, 490-1434, Japan
| | - Yuriko Kawasaki
- Department of Public Welfare, Tobishima, Aichi, 490-1434, Japan
| | - Sumio Ito
- Department of Public Welfare, Tobishima, Aichi, 490-1434, Japan
| | - Tokie Anme
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan.
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Relationships between Sense of Community, Authenticity, and Meaning in Life in Four Social Communities in France. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14021018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
This research explored the effects of sense of community and authenticity on meaning in life in social communities in France. The sample included one hundred participants from four social communities (i.e., political, religious, virtual learning, and mutual aid). The Meaning in Life Questionnaire, the Sense of Community Scale, and the Authenticity Scale were administered to the respondents. The correlational analyses indicated that sense of community and authenticity were more related to the presence of meaning (r = 0.29 and r = 0.54, respectively) than to the search for meaning (r = −0.39 and r = 0.03, respectively). In addition, no interaction effects were found between sense of community and the three dimensions of authenticity, suggesting that the level of authenticity did not influence the relationships between sense of community and presence of or search for meaning. The practical and research implications of the study for social communities in the field of existential psychology were discussed.
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Sharifian N, Sol K, Zahodne LB, Antonucci TC. Social Relationships and Adaptation in Later Life. COMPREHENSIVE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [PMCID: PMC7500884 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-818697-8.00016-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Social relations encompass a complex and dynamic set of characteristics that have been shown to distinctly affect health and quality of life across the lifespan and especially in older adulthood. In this chapter we begin with a brief review of several prominent theories of social relations. Next, we consider how social relations can be understood based on the resource they provide (e.g., contact frequency, social support), the relationship they stem from (e.g., friends, family), the strength of the tie (e.g., strong, weak) as well as the means of communication (e.g., offline, online). We briefly summarize how these characteristics have been shown to uniquely influence health and quality of life in older adulthood. Finally, we contemplate potential clinical applications, provide recommendations for the future and offer final concluding comments.
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Vogel JS, Bruins J, de Jong S, Knegtering H, Bartels-Velthuis AA, Bruggeman R, Jörg F, Pijnenborg MGHM, Veling W, Visser E, van der Gaag M, Castelein S. Satisfaction with social connectedness as a predictor for positive and negative symptoms of psychosis: A PHAMOUS study. Schizophr Res 2021; 238:121-127. [PMID: 34653741 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study examines satisfaction with social connectedness (SSC) as predictor of positive and negative symptoms in people with a psychotic disorder. METHODS Data from the Pharmacotherapy Monitoring and Outcome Survey (PHAMOUS) was used from patients assessed between 2014 and 2019, diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (N = 2109). Items about social connectedness of the Manchester short assessment of Quality of Life (ManSA) were used to measure SSC. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the association of SSC with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) after one and two years against α = 0.01. Analyses were adjusted for symptoms, time since onset, gender and age. Additionally, fluctuation of positive and negative symptom scores over time was estimated. RESULTS The mean duration of illness of the sample was 18.8 years (SD 10.7) with >65% showing only small variation in positive and negative symptoms over a two to five-year time period. After adjustment for covariates, SSC showed to be negatively associated with positive symptoms after one year (β = -0.47, p < 0.001, 95% CI = -0.70, -025) and two years (β = -0.59, p < 0.001, 95% CI = -0.88, -0.30), and for negative symptoms after one year (β = -0.52, p < 0.001, 95% CI = -0.77, -0.27). The prediction of negative symptoms was not significant at two years. CONCLUSION This research indicates that interventions on SSC might positively impact mental health for people with psychosis. SSC is a small and robust predictor of future levels of positive symptoms. Negative symptoms could be predicted by SSC at one year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle Sjoerd Vogel
- Lentis Psychiatric Institute, Hereweg 80, 9725 AG Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, P.O. 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands; GGZ Drenthe Mental Health Institute, Department of Psychotic Disorders, Dennenweg 9, 9404 LA Assen, the Netherlands.
| | - Jojanneke Bruins
- Lentis Psychiatric Institute, Hereweg 80, 9725 AG Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, P.O. 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Steven de Jong
- Lentis Psychiatric Institute, Hereweg 80, 9725 AG Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, P.O. 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Henderikus Knegtering
- Lentis Psychiatric Institute, Hereweg 80, 9725 AG Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, P.O. 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Agna A Bartels-Velthuis
- Lentis Psychiatric Institute, Hereweg 80, 9725 AG Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, P.O. 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Richard Bruggeman
- University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, P.O. 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Frederike Jörg
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, P.O. 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands; GGZ Friesland Mental Health Institute, Department of Research and Education, Sixmastraat 2, 8932 PA Leeuwarden, the Netherlands.
| | - Marieke G H M Pijnenborg
- University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, the Netherlands; GGZ Drenthe Mental Health Institute, Department of Psychotic Disorders, Dennenweg 9, 9404 LA Assen, the Netherlands.
| | - Wim Veling
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Psychosis Department, Hanzeplein 1 (CC60), 9713 GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Ellen Visser
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, P.O. 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Mark van der Gaag
- VU University Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Psychology, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BR Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Mental Health Research Institute, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BR Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychosis Research, Zoutkeetsingel 40, 2512 HN The Hague, the Netherlands
| | - Stynke Castelein
- Lentis Psychiatric Institute, Hereweg 80, 9725 AG Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, P.O. 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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Marini CM, Wilson SJ, Nah S, Martire LM, Sliwinski MJ. Rumination and Sleep Quality Among Older Adults: Examining the Role of Social Support. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2021; 76:1948-1959. [PMID: 33378473 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbaa230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Although the adverse link between rumination and sleep quality is well established, much of the literature neglects the role of social factors. This study examined the role of older adults' perceived social support from spouses and from family/friends in modifying the association between trait rumination and sleep quality. Existing hypotheses suggest that social support may play 3 unique roles, each tested within the current study: (H1) support may act as a protective factor that buffers negative effects of rumination on sleep quality, (H2) support may curtail rumination and, in turn, promote sleep quality, and (H3) rumination may erode support and, in turn, undermine sleep quality. METHOD Data came from 86 partnered older adults in independent-living or retirement communities (Mage = 75.70 years). We utilized 3 waves of interview data collected annually between 2017 and 2019. The first hypothesis was tested using moderation in multilevel models; the second 2 hypotheses were evaluated with prospective associations using multilevel mediation. RESULTS Negative effects of high-trait rumination on time-varying sleep quality were attenuated among those who reported high, stable levels of support from their spouses. Perceived family/friend support did not yield the same protective effect. There was no evidence that support preempted, or was eroded by, rumination. DISCUSSION Perceived spousal support may act as a psychosocial resource that mitigates negative effects of trait rumination on older adults' sleep quality. Interventions aimed at mitigating maladaptive outcomes of rumination on sleep quality for older adults should consider spousal support as a key target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Marini
- Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, USA
| | - Stephanie J Wilson
- Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Suyoung Nah
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lynn M Martire
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Martin J Sliwinski
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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Gratitude and loneliness in daily life across the adult lifespan. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02488-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Eliasen EH, Weihe P, Petersen MS. The Faroese Septuagenarians cohort: A comparison of well-being before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among older home-dwelling Faroese. Scand J Public Health 2021; 50:136-143. [PMID: 34727762 DOI: 10.1177/14034948211056209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Despite success in avoiding morbidity and mortality in the oldest members of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic, the crisis may have affected the well-being of older adults, for example due to social distancing measures. The aim of this study was to examine the well-being of older Faroese by conducting a direct comparison of well-being indicators on the same group of elderly people before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Data were collected from 227 home-dwelling adults aged 82-86 years from the Faroese Septuagenarians cohort. The pre-COVID-19 period was from December 2017 to January 2019, and the COVID-19 period was from 8 June to 15 July 2020. Three aspects of well-being were assessed: loneliness, self-rated health and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF). RESULTS During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were significant increases in loneliness (21.8% vs. 6.8%; p<0.001) and in worse self-rated health compared to the previous year (37.2% vs. 19.0%; p<0.001). In terms of quality of life, the domains of overall quality of life (74.33±14.96 vs. 71.88±15.21; p=0.04) and physical health (73.81±17.11 vs. 71.66±17.37; p=0.03) deteriorated. On the other hand, the domains of social relationships (78.87±16.52 vs. 85.81±13.35; p<0.001), environment (82.49±10.78 vs. 87.06±7.88; p<0.001) and psychological health (77.07±11.52 vs. 80.53±10.89; p<0.001) improved during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that attention should be directed to loneliness and physical well-being amongst home-dwelling old adults, despite the elderly showed resilience and improved psychological health, social relations and environment domains in a quality of life assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eina H Eliasen
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, the Faroese Hospital System, Faroe Islands
| | - Pál Weihe
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, the Faroese Hospital System, Faroe Islands.,Center of Health Sciences, University of the Faroe Islands, Faroe Islands
| | - Maria Skaalum Petersen
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, the Faroese Hospital System, Faroe Islands.,Center of Health Sciences, University of the Faroe Islands, Faroe Islands
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McGrath A, Murphy N, Richardson N. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing of Irish Men's Shed members. Health Promot Int 2021; 36:1007-1019. [PMID: 33270821 PMCID: PMC7799116 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daaa113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 disproportionately affects males especially those who are older and more socio-economically disadvantaged. This study assessed wellbeing outcomes among men’s shed members (Shedders) in Ireland at baseline (T1), 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 12 months (T4) in response to a 10-week health promotion program ‘Sheds for Life’ (SFL). Two cohorts participated in SFL commencing in March and September 2019. This study compares the T3 findings from one cohort carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic [COVID cohort (n = 185)] with T3 findings from a comparator cohort [pre-COVID cohort (n = 195)], completed pre-COVID-19. Questionnaires assessing wellbeing [life satisfaction, mental health, loneliness, physical activity (PA), self-rated health and other lifestyle measures] were analyzed in both cohorts T1, T2 and T3. Self-rated Health and life satisfaction decreased in the COVID cohort at T3 (p < 0.001), while loneliness scores increased (p < 0.0005). Higher loneliness scores were correlated with lower health ratings, life satisfaction and PA during COVID-19 (p < 0.001). Days PA decreased in the COVID cluster at T3 from T2 (p < 0.01) with those in urban areas reporting lower activity levels than rural areas (p < 0.05). Those sufficiently active at baseline managed to maintain PA during COVID-19 while those not meeting guidelines were more likely to report decreases (p < 0.001). Shedders experiencing COVID-19 restrictions are at an increased risk of poorer wellbeing and increased levels of loneliness. Support and guidance are needed to safely encourage this cohort back into men’s sheds, settings that protect against loneliness and positively promote health and wellbeing. Lay summary The COVID-19 pandemic will have wide-reaching implications on wellbeing, particularly on those who are older and more vulnerable. Evidence also suggests that COVID-19 disproportionately affects males. This study aimed to understand the impact that COVID-19 has had on men in the setting of Men’s Sheds in Ireland. Two cohorts of men who were participating in a 10-week health and wellbeing program (Sheds for Life) at different stages were followed over time. At 6 months follow-up the first Cohort had not experienced COVID-19 whereas the second cohort was actively experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. We measured wellbeing using questionnaires, comparing both groups of men for differences. We found that the men who were experiencing COVID-19 had lower self-rated health, physical activity and life satisfaction as well as higher rates of loneliness, with those who were more lonely reporting lower wellbeing scores. We also found that men in rural areas were more physically active during COVID-19 and that those were not active were more likely to become more inactive during COVID-19. This study suggests that support and guidance is needed to safely encourage this cohort back into Men’s Sheds, settings that protect against loneliness and positively promote health and wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisling McGrath
- Centre for Health Behavior Research, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
| | - Niamh Murphy
- Centre for Health Behavior Research, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
| | - Noel Richardson
- National Centre for Men's Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Carlow, Ireland
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Soldevila-Domenech N, Forero CG, Alayo I, Capella J, Colom J, Malmusi D, Mompart A, Mortier P, Puértolas B, Sánchez N, Schiaffino A, Vilagut G, Alonso J. Mental well-being of the general population: direct and indirect effects of socioeconomic, relational and health factors. Qual Life Res 2021; 30:2171-2185. [PMID: 33847868 PMCID: PMC8298347 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-021-02813-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to analyse the association between individual mental well-being and social, economic, lifestyle and health factors. METHODS Cross-sectional study on a representative sample of 13,632 participants (> 15y/o) from the Catalan Health Interview Survey 2013-2016 editions. Mental well-being was assessed with the Warwick-Edinburg Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). Linear regressions were fitted to associate well-being and sociodemographic, relational, lifestyle and health variables according to minimally sufficient adjustment sets identified using directed acyclic graphs. Predictors entered the model in blocks of variable types and analysed individually. Direct and total effects were estimated. RESULTS Health factors significantly contributed to mental well-being variance. Presence of a mental disorder and self-reported health had the largest effect size (eta2 = 13.4% and 16.3%). The higher individual impact from a variable came from social support (β = - 12.8, SE = 0.48, eta2 = 6.3%). A noticeable effect gradient (eta2 = 4.2%) from low to high mental well-being emerged according to economic difficulties (from β = 1.59, SE = 0.33 for moderate difficulties to β = 6.02 SE = 0.55 for no difficulties). Younger age (β = 5.21, SE = 0.26, eta2 = 3.4%) and being men (β = 1.32, SE = 0.15, eta2 = 0.6%) were associated with better mental well-being. Direct gender effects were negligible. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights health and social support as the most associated factors with individual mental well-being over socioeconomic factors. Interventions and policies aimed to these factors for health promotion would improve population mental well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Soldevila-Domenech
- Health Services Research Group, Epidemiology and Public Health Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Carrer del Doctor Aiguader, 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Carrer del Doctor Aiguader, 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Carrer del Doctor Aiguader, 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos G Forero
- School of Medicine, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Itxaso Alayo
- Health Services Research Group, Epidemiology and Public Health Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Carrer del Doctor Aiguader, 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordina Capella
- Programme on substance Abuse, Agency of Public Health of Catalonia, Carrer Roc Boronat, 81-95, 08005, Barcelona, Spain
- Direcció General d'Ordenació i Regulació Sanitàries, Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya, Travessera de les Corts, 131-159, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Colom
- Programme on substance Abuse, Agency of Public Health of Catalonia, Carrer Roc Boronat, 81-95, 08005, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Davide Malmusi
- CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Ajuntament de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Mompart
- Direcció General de Planificació en Salut, Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya, Travessera de les Corts, 131-159, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Philippe Mortier
- Health Services Research Group, Epidemiology and Public Health Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Carrer del Doctor Aiguader, 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Puértolas
- Health Services Research Group, Epidemiology and Public Health Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Carrer del Doctor Aiguader, 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Néstor Sánchez
- School of Medicine, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Schiaffino
- Direcció General de Planificació en Salut, Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya, Travessera de les Corts, 131-159, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Català D'Oncologia, Gran Via de l'Hospitalet 199-203, 08908, l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Gemma Vilagut
- Health Services Research Group, Epidemiology and Public Health Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Carrer del Doctor Aiguader, 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
- CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Jordi Alonso
- Health Services Research Group, Epidemiology and Public Health Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Carrer del Doctor Aiguader, 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Carrer del Doctor Aiguader, 88, PRBB Building, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
- CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
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Bonsaksen T, Thygesen H, Leung J, Ruffolo M, Schoultz M, Price D, Østertun Geirdal A. Video-Based Communication and Its Association with Loneliness, Mental Health and Quality of Life among Older People during the COVID-19 Outbreak. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:6284. [PMID: 34200670 PMCID: PMC8296058 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to examine the use of video-based communication and its association with loneliness, mental health and quality of life in older adults (60-69 years versus 70+ years) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Norway, UK, USA and Australia during April/May 2020, and 836 participants in the relevant age groups were included in the analysis. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between the use of video-based communication tools and loneliness, mental health and quality of life within age groups, while adjusting by sociodemographic variables. Video-based communication tools were found to be more often used among participants aged 60-69 years (60.1%), compared to participants aged 70 or above (51.8%, p < 0.05). Adjusting for all variables, the use of video-based communication was associated with less loneliness (β = -0.12, p < 0.01) and higher quality of life (β = 0.14, p < 0.01) among participants aged 60-69 years, while no associations were observed for participants in the oldest age group. The use of video-based communication tools was therefore associated with favorable psychological outcomes among participants in their sixties, but not among participants in the oldest age group. The study results support the notion that age may influence the association between the use of video-based communication tools and psychological outcomes amongst older people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tore Bonsaksen
- Department of Health and Nursing Science, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2418 Elverum, Norway
- Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, 4306 Sandnes, Norway;
| | - Hilde Thygesen
- Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, 4306 Sandnes, Norway;
- Prosthetics and Orthotics, Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway
| | - Janni Leung
- Faculty of Health and Behavioural Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Mary Ruffolo
- School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (M.R.); (D.P.)
| | - Mariyana Schoultz
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK;
| | - Daicia Price
- School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (M.R.); (D.P.)
| | - Amy Østertun Geirdal
- Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway;
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Rice SM, Kealy D, Ogrodniczuk JS, Seidler ZE, Montaner G, Chambers S, Oliffe JL. The Anxiety Depression Pathway Among Men Following a Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: Cross-Sectional Interactions Between Anger Responses and Loneliness. Am J Mens Health 2021; 15:15579883211023699. [PMID: 34142615 PMCID: PMC8216379 DOI: 10.1177/15579883211023699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Anger has been a largely neglected emotion in prostate cancer research and intervention. This paper highlights the role of anger in the anxiety depression pathway among men with prostate cancer, and whether its impact is dependent on loneliness. Data are presented from a sample of men with prostate cancer (N = 105, M = 69.12 years, prostatectomy = 63.8%) and analysed using conditional process analysis. Dimensions of anger were evaluated as parallel mediators in bi-directional anxiety and depression pathways. Loneliness was evaluated as a conditional moderator of identified significant mediation relationships. Moderate severity depression (16.5%) was endorsed more frequently than moderate severity anxiety (8.6%, p = .008), with 19.1% of the sample reporting past two-week suicide ideation. Consistent with hypotheses, anger-related social interference (but not other dimensions of anger) significantly mediated the anxiety-depression pathway, but not the reverse depression-anxiety pathway. This indirect effect was conditional on men experiencing loneliness. Sensitivity analyses indicated the observed moderated mediation effect occurred for affective, but not somatic symptoms of depression. Findings support anger-related social interference (as opposed to anger frequency, intensity, duration or antagonism) as key to explaining the previously established anxiety-depression pathway. Results underscore the need for enhanced psychosocial supports for men with prostate cancer, with a particular focus on relational aspects. Supporting men with prostate cancer to adaptively process and manage their anger in ways that ameliorate negative social consequences will likely enhance their perceived social support quality, which may in turn better facilitate post-diagnosis recovery and emotional adjustment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon M. Rice
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - David Kealy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - John S. Ogrodniczuk
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Zac E. Seidler
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gabriela Montaner
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Suzanne Chambers
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia
- Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney NSW, Australia
| | - John L. Oliffe
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Nursing, The University of Melbourne, Australia
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Are Psychosocial Factors Determinant in the Pain and Social Participation of Patients with Early Knee Osteoarthritis? A Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18094575. [PMID: 33925879 PMCID: PMC8123481 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The main objective of this research is to determine the psychosocial differences between patients with knee pain or early osteoarthritis (EOA) and healthy subjects at risk of developing osteoarthritis. The secondary objective is to determine how psychosocial factors might influence pain and social participation in patients with EOA. A cross-sectional study was performed. Participants were divided according to the presence of pain or EOA. Pain intensity both at rest and walking, psychological variables such as anxiety and depression, and social participation were evaluated. A total of 105 participants were included (64 with knee pain and 41 without pain), with a mean age of 51.42 ± 5.92 (35 men and 70 women). Patients with knee pain had higher levels of anxiety (MD = −2.35; p < 0.01; d = 0.66) and depression (MD = −2.45; p < 0.01; d = 0.87), regardless of the presence of EOA. In addition, patients with higher depression levels had lower levels of social participation. The results revealed a relationship between the psychological variables, anxiety and depression, with knee pain and the onset of symptomatic OA, as well as an influence of depression levels on social participation. Improving these psychological characteristics may be useful in delaying the onset of symptomatic OA and enhancing social participation.
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Klein E, Zenger M, Tibubos A, Ernst M, Reiner I, Schmalbach B, Brähler E, Beutel M. Loneliness and its relation to mental health in the general population: Validation and norm values of a brief measure. JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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Sahle BW, Chen W, Rawal LB, Renzaho AMN. Weight Gain After Smoking Cessation and Risk of Major Chronic Diseases and Mortality. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e217044. [PMID: 33904915 PMCID: PMC8080225 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.7044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Smoking cessation is frequently followed by weight gain; however, whether weight gain after quitting reduces the health benefits of quitting is unclear. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between weight change after smoking cessation and the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), type 2 diabetes, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and all-cause mortality. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of Australian adults aged 18 years or older who were studied between 2006 and 2014. Smoking status and anthropometric measurements were self-reported annually. Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to determine the hazard ratios (HRs) for the association between changes in weight and body mass index (BMI) and the risk of CVD, type 2 diabetes, cancer, COPD, and mortality. Data were analyzed in January 2019. EXPOSURES Annual self-reported smoking status; years since quitting. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Weight gain after quitting, incident CVD, type 2 diabetes, cancer, COPD, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS Of a total 16 663 participants (8082 men and 8581 women; mean [SD] age, 43.7 [16.3] years), those who quit smoking had greater increases in weight (mean difference [MD], 3.14 kg; 95% CI, 1.39-4.87) and BMI (MD, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.21-1.44) than continuing smokers. Compared with continuing smokers, the HRs for death were 0.50 (95% CI, 0.36-0.68) among quitters who lost weight, 0.79 (95% CI, 0.51-0.98) among quitters without weight change, 0.33 (95% CI, 0.21-0.51) among quitters who gained 0.1 to 5.0 kg, 0.24 (95% CI, 0.11-0.53) among quitters who gained 5.1 to 10 kg, and 0.36 (95% CI, 0.16-0.82) among quitters who gained more than 10 kg. The HRs for death were 0.61 (95% CI, 0.45-0.83) among quitters who lost BMI, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.51-1.44) among quitters without change in BMI, 0.32 (95% CI, 0.21-0.50) among quitters who gained up to 2 in BMI, and 0.26 (95% CI, 0.16-0.45) among quitters who gained more than 2 in BMI. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study found that smoking cessation was accompanied by a substantial weight gain; however, this was not associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases or an attenuation of the mortality benefit of cessation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berhe W. Sahle
- School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Wen Chen
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health and Center for Migrant Health Policy, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Center for Migrant Health Policy, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lal B. Rawal
- School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
- School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Sydney, Australia
- Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Andre M. N. Renzaho
- School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
- Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
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Bonsaksen T, Schoultz M, Thygesen H, Ruffolo M, Price D, Leung J, Geirdal AØ. Loneliness and Its Associated Factors Nine Months after the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Cross-National Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:2841. [PMID: 33799497 PMCID: PMC7999676 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18062841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 has been a global healthcare concern impacting multiple aspects of individual and community wellness. As one moves forward with different methods to reduce the infection and mortality rates, it is critical to continue to study the impact that national and local "social distancing" policies have on the daily lives of individuals. The aim of this study was to examine loneliness in relation to risk assessment, measures taken against risks, concerns, and social media use, while adjusting for sociodemographic variables. The cross-sectional study collected data from 3474 individuals from the USA, the UK, Norway, and Australia. Loneliness was measured with the de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Multiple linear regression was used in the analysis of associations between variables. The results showed that concerns about finances were more strongly associated with social loneliness, while concerns about the future was more strongly associated with emotional loneliness. Longer daily time spent on social media was associated with higher emotional loneliness. In conclusion, pandemic-related concerns seem to affect perceptions of loneliness. While social media can be used productively to maintain relationships, and thereby prevent loneliness, excessive use may be counterproductive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tore Bonsaksen
- Department of Health and Nursing Science, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2418 Elverum, Norway
- Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, 4306 Sandnes, Norway;
| | - Mariyana Schoultz
- Department of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK;
| | - Hilde Thygesen
- Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, 4306 Sandnes, Norway;
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Prosthetics and Orthotics, Faculty of Health Science, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway
| | - Mary Ruffolo
- School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (M.R.); (D.P.)
| | - Daicia Price
- School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (M.R.); (D.P.)
| | - Janni Leung
- Faculty of Health and Behavioural Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Amy Østertun Geirdal
- Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway;
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Takase M, Ogino R, Yoshida K, Kusu H, Kenmochi T, Goto J. Qualitative Research on the Primary Effect of Fish Pet Ownership Using the Bottleium, a Bottle-Type Aquarium, on Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Japan: A Potential Preventive Measure Towards Social Isolation. Geriatrics (Basel) 2021; 6:geriatrics6010017. [PMID: 33578783 PMCID: PMC7985762 DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics6010017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging increases the risk of social isolation, which could lead to conditions such as depressive mood. Pet ownership is known to reduce social isolation. However, previous studies have mainly focused on mammals as pets, which could be difficult at old age. A small ornamental fish is relatively easy to culture and might be a suitable alternative. In this research, we aimed to elucidate the possible effects of fish ownership on the psychological state of community-dwelling older adults in Japan. A Bottleium, a bottle-type aquarium, was selected to lower the burden of fish ownership. A workshop was hosted in 2019 and participants brought home their own Bottleium, with fish and water snail inside. Nineteen participants gave consent to the follow-up interview a month later. Five themes, "observation of fish and water snail," "interaction between the fish and the owner," "taking care of the fish as pet owner," "facilitation of interpersonal interaction," and "development of support system," emerged from thematic analysis. The promotion of animal-to-human, and human-to-human interaction and development of responsibility could relate to a sense of social inclusion and ikigai-kan, a purpose of life. Fish ownership, when using equipment that suits the physical capability of older adults, could act as a positive stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai Takase
- The Institute of Gerontology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (R.O.); (J.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-3-5841-1662
| | - Ryogo Ogino
- The Institute of Gerontology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (R.O.); (J.G.)
- Graduate School of Teacher Education, Saga University, Saga 840-8502, Japan
| | | | - Hikari Kusu
- Gex Corporation, Osaka 578-0903, Japan; (K.Y.); (H.K.); (T.K.)
| | | | - Jun Goto
- The Institute of Gerontology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (R.O.); (J.G.)
- School of Engineering, Tokai University, Tokyo 151-8677, Japan
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Hwang J, Toma CL, Chen J, Shah DV, Gustafson D, Mares ML. Effects of Web-Based Social Connectedness on Older Adults' Depressive Symptoms: A Two-Wave Cross-Lagged Panel Study. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e21275. [PMID: 33439143 PMCID: PMC7840281 DOI: 10.2196/21275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Depressive symptoms are the most prevalent mental health concern among older adults (possibly heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic), which raises questions about how such symptoms can be lowered in this population. Existing research shows that offline social connectedness is a protective factor against depression in older adults; however, it is unknown whether web-based social connectedness can have similar effects. Objective This study investigates whether social connectedness on a support website protects older adults against depressive symptoms over the course of a year, above and beyond the protective effect of offline social connectedness. The secondary aim is to determine whether older adults with increased depressive symptoms are more likely to engage in social connectedness on this website. Thus, we examine depressive symptoms as both an outcome and predictor of web-based social connectedness to fully understand the chain of causality among these variables. Finally, we compare web-based social connectedness with offline social connectedness in their ability to lower depressive symptoms among older adults. Methods A total of 197 adults aged 65 years or older were given access to a social support website, where they were able to communicate with each other via a discussion forum for a year. Participants’ social connectedness on the web-based platform, conceptualized as message production and consumption, was measured using behavioral log data as the number of messages participants wrote and read, respectively, during the first 6 months (t1) and the following 6 months (t2) of the study. Participants self-reported their offline social connectedness as the number of people in their support networks, and they reported their depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 both at baseline (t1) and at 12-month follow-up (t2). To ascertain the flow of causality between these variables, we employed a cross-lagged panel design, in which all variables were measured at t1 and t2. Results After controlling for the effect of offline support networks at t1, web-based message consumption at t1 decreased older adults’ depressive symptoms at t2 (β=−.11; P=.02), but web-based message production at t1 did not impact t2 depressive symptoms (β=.12; P=.34). Web-based message consumption had a larger effect (β=−.11; P=.02) than offline support networks (β=−.08; P=.03) in reducing older adults’ depressive symptoms over time. Higher baseline depressive symptoms did not predict increased web-based message consumption (β=.12; P=.36) or production (β=.02; P=.43) over time. Conclusions The more messages older adults read on the web-based forum for the first 6 months of the study, the less depressed they felt at the 1-year follow-up, above and beyond the availability of offline support networks at baseline. This pinpoints the substantial potential of web-based communication to combat depressive symptoms in this vulnerable population. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1186/s13063-015-0713-2
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Affiliation(s)
- Juwon Hwang
- School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Catalina L Toma
- Department of Communication Arts, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Junhan Chen
- Department of Communication, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Dhavan V Shah
- School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - David Gustafson
- Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Marie-Louise Mares
- Department of Communication Arts, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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de la Torre-Luque A, Lara E, de la Fuente J, Rico-Uribe LA, Caballero FF, Lopez-Garcia P, Sanchez-Niubo A, Bobak M, Koskinen S, Haro JM, Ayuso-Mateos JL. Metabolic dysregulation in older adults with depression and loneliness: The ATHLOS study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 123:104918. [PMID: 33113390 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to examine how loneliness contributes to metabolic dysregulation among older adults with depression and determine the relative contribution of loneliness to the development of chronic diseases in late adulthood. Harmonised data from the Ageing Trajectories of Health: Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies (ATHLOS) project were used. Concretely, the sample comprised 6195 participants (53.95% women; M = 61.30 years, SD = 7.11) from three European cohorts. Three groups were considered: control group (CG); depressive symptom episode group (DEP); and a group with depression and loneliness (DEP + LONE). A metabolic score was estimated using anthropometric and blood indicators, by means of multi-indicator multi-causes (MIMIC) modelling and after controlling for sociodemographic and health-related covariates. Group-comparison was based on measurement-invariance procedures. Multimorbidity development was predicted at follow-up considering the study group and relevant covariates. All the analyses were sex-specific. As a result, measurement invariance revealed the influence of group (ΔCFI = -0.017 for male participants and ΔCFI = -0.009 for female ones) on metabolic scores in both sexes. Metabolic scores were significantly lower (i.e., they had more metabolic risk) in DEP + LONE women in comparison to women from the other groups. DEP men showed the lowest metabolic scores but those from the DEP + LONE group showed meaningfully lower scores than CG men (d = 1.35). In terms of multimorbidity prediction, DEP + LONE group membership significantly predicted the outcome in both sexes; DEP group membership significantly predicted multimorbidity at follow-up in women. In summary, these results highlight the relevant contribution of loneliness in depression-related metabolic dysregulation in the short- (concurrent metabolic risk) and long-term (chronic condition development). Moreover, sex-specific mechanisms seem to be involved in metabolic alterations of depressed people showing loneliness feelings. This study calls for action to reduce the impact of loneliness in old age and to promote healthy ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro de la Torre-Luque
- Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry and Pathology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain; Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS Princesa), Spain
| | - Elvira Lara
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS Princesa), Spain; Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier de la Fuente
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS Princesa), Spain; Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Alejandra Rico-Uribe
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS Princesa), Spain; Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Felix Caballero
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Public Health, and Microbiology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain; Centre for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Pilar Lopez-Garcia
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain; Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
| | - Albert Sanchez-Niubo
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain; Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martin Bobak
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Josep Maria Haro
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain; Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Ayuso-Mateos
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS Princesa), Spain; Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
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Typologies of Loneliness, Isolation and Living Alone Are Associated with Psychological Well-Being among Older Adults in Taipei: A Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17249181. [PMID: 33302603 PMCID: PMC7764280 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness, isolation, and living alone are emerging as critical issues in older people's health and well-being, but the effects are not consistent. The purpose of this study was to examine the clustering of loneliness, isolation, and living alone, the risk factors and the associations with psychological well-being. METHODS The data were collected from the 2019 Taipei City Senior Citizen Condition Survey by face-to-face interviews and included a community-based sample (n = 3553). Loneliness, isolation, and living arrangement were analyzed by cluster analysis to define Loneliness-Isolation-Living-Alone clusters. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the factors related to Loneliness-Isolation-Living-Alone clusters, and linear regression was used to examine association of clusters with psychological well-being. RESULTS Five clusters of older adults were identified and named as follows: Not Lonely-Connected-Others (53.4%), Not Lonely-Isolated-Others (26.6%), Not Lonely-Alone (5.0%), Lonely-Connected (8.1%), and Lonely-Isolated-Others (6.9%). Demographics, financial satisfaction, physical function, family relationship, and social participation were related to the Loneliness-Isolation-Living-Alone clusters. Compared with the Not Lonely-Connected-Others cluster, the Lonely-Connected cluster and Lonely-Isolated-Others cluster had higher depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction, and the Not Lonely-Isolated-Others cluster reported lower life satisfaction; the Not Lonely-Alone cluster was not different. DISCUSSION Loneliness and isolation are negatively associated with psychological well-being, and living arrangement is not the determinant to loneliness or isolation. Older adults are suggested to strengthen their informal social support, and the government may encourage social care and create an age friendly environment to reduce loneliness and isolation.
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Simons M, Lataster J, Reijnders J, Peeters S, Janssens M, Jacobs N. Bonding personal social capital as an ingredient for positive aging and mental well-being. A study among a sample of Dutch elderly. Aging Ment Health 2020; 24:2034-2042. [PMID: 31389250 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2019.1650887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The current study aims to add to the limited empirical research of possible benefits of personal social capital for the well-being of elderly. A validated personal social capital scale, measuring both bonding and bridging social capital in a general population, was adjusted to fit the characteristics of the social environment of elderly, to explore the association between social capital and well-being of elderly, as well as the mediating role of loneliness. METHOD A sample of 328 Dutch adults, varying in age from 65 to 90 years (Mean = 72.07; SD = 4.90) filled out an online questionnaire including the adapted personal social capital scale for elderly (PSCSE), as well as validated scales measuring social, emotional, and psychological well-being and loneliness. Relevant other (demographic) variables were included for testing construct and criterion validity. RESULTS CFA analysis revealed the subdimensions bonding and bridging social capital with reliability scores of respectively α = .88 and α = .87, and α = .89 for the total scale. Regression analyses confirmed construct and criterion validity. Subsequently, significant positive associations between bonding social capital and respectively social, emotional and psychological well-being were found. These associations were mediated by loneliness. Bridging social capital was only found to be significantly associated with social well-being, not mediated by loneliness. CONCLUSION Our findings have enhanced our understanding of the association between social capital and mental well-being of elderly and indicate that bonding personal social capital in particular may be considered an ingredient for positive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Simons
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Johan Lataster
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jennifer Reijnders
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne Peeters
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Mayke Janssens
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Nele Jacobs
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Cohen-Mansfield J. COVID-19 and older adults in Israel – common challenges and recommendations. QUALITY IN AGEING AND OLDER ADULTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1108/qaoa-09-2020-0043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
The impact of COVID-19 has most dramatically affected the older population, and nursing homes have become infection hotspots. As a response, governments have ordered isolation of older adults in geriatric institutions owing to the high risk of critical illness and mortality. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential impact of current policies on nursing homes and community-based care and provide suggestions for improvement in care.
Design/methodology/approach
Taking the situation in Israel as an example, the author discussed major systemic problems pertaining to long-term care facilities and to community based care; the neglect of mental health; systemic deficiencies in end of life care; and the need to revise communications concerning COVID-19.
Findings
Within each of the identified areas, recommended changes in strategy, policy and practice can help mitigate the dramatic impact of COVID-19 on the living experience of the older population.
Originality/value
Drawing on the Israeli experience, this paper presents current shortcomings in the policy response to COVID-19 regarding nursing homes and community-based care and provides recommendations that are applicable to other contexts as well. Although some of these have been suggested or even practiced in some locations, many continue to be neglected and have not been discussed even as COVID-19 continues to infect societies around the globe.
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