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Vaartio-Rajalin H, Snellman F, Gustafsson Y, Rauhala A, Viklund E. Understanding Health, Subjective Aging, and Participation in Social Activities in Later Life: A Regional Finnish Survey. J Appl Gerontol 2024; 43:638-649. [PMID: 38037740 PMCID: PMC11055408 DOI: 10.1177/07334648231214940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
To understand health and well-being in later life, it is vital to consider the meaning of subjective aging. This study aimed to explore how perceived health, self-perceptions of aging, and participation in social activities relate to each other among older persons in the Bothnia region and Åland islands in Finland. Data were analyzed using Spearman's and polychoric correlation and multinomial logistic regression analyses. The perceived good health and the younger physical, psychological, and social dimensions of subjective age were found to be associated with each other and with participation in social activities outside one's home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heli Vaartio-Rajalin
- Turku University of Applied Sciences/Master School, Turku, Finland
- Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Department of Health Sciences, Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland
| | - Fredrik Snellman
- Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Umeå University, Sweden
| | - Ylva Gustafsson
- Faculty of Humanities, Department of Philosophy, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Auvo Rauhala
- Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Department of Health Sciences, Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland
- Finnish Centre for Client and Patient Safety, Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia, Vaasa, Finland
| | - Emilia Viklund
- Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Department of Health Sciences, Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland
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Gao J, Chen H, Chen H, Chen Y, Xu J, Wang Y, Wang Z. A cohort study of self-perception of ageing and all-cause mortality among older adults in China: a multiple mediators analysis. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1382. [PMID: 38783196 PMCID: PMC11112801 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18895-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Positive self-perception of aging (SPA) is a well-known predictor of longevity, while how and to what extent SPA is linked with all-cause mortality among older adults is still unclear. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between positive SPA and all-cause mortality and its potential mediators among Chinese older adults. METHODS This is a 20-year dynamic cohort study conducted among 22,957 older adults aged ≥ 65 years old from a nationally representative sample. Positive SPA was measured using a validated 7-item scale. Potential mediators including health behaviors and social participation were collected using a self-reported questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards regression models were conducted to examine the association between positive SPA and all-cause mortality. A mediation analysis was conducted to determine whether health behaviors and social participation mediated the association between SPA and all-cause mortality. RESULTS Throughout follow-up (median [interquartile range], 46 [21-84] months), all-cause mortality was 87.4%. Compared with older adults with the lowest quartile positive SPA, hazard ratio(HR) of all-cause mortality among older adults with the second, third, and fourth quartile of positive SPA was 0.96(95%CI:0.93-1.00), 0.93(95%CI:0.90-0.99), and 0.92(95%CI:0.87-0.96) respectively after controlling for all potential mediators and covariates. The mediation analysis showed that regular daily vegetable intake, physical activity, and high social participation explained 41.1-48.5% of the variance in the association between positive SPA and all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS In this cohort study, we found that high positive SPA was associated with decreased all-cause mortality directly, and indirectly through healthy lifestyle behaviors and social participation. These findings suggest that interventions targeted at promoting or maintaining positive SPA may contribute to healthy ageing among older adults in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junling Gao
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Cooperative Unit of National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Core unit of Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Huashuai Chen
- Business School, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan, 411105, China
| | - Hao Chen
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yingwei Chen
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jixiang Xu
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yujie Wang
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zhizhong Wang
- Geriatrics Dept, First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China.
- School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China.
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Rasset P, Mange J, Augustinova M. What do we really know about age-related stereotypes and well-being of older adults? A commentary on the state of the art. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1358403. [PMID: 38807961 PMCID: PMC11130559 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1358403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
There is a considerable body of literature on harmful consequences of age-related stereotypes-including consequences on physical and mental health. However, this commentary critically argues that the current state of the art disregards consequences of these stereotypes specifically for the well-being of older adults (i.e., outcome that is not to be confounded with mental health). To this end, the content of age-related stereotypes and the mechanisms through which they operate on physical and mental health are first outlined. The commentary then focuses on the very scarce evidence documenting how and when the well-being of older adults (as assessed directly and not as inferred from other indicators) is influenced by self-directed stereotypes. After setting out possible ways well-being may be involved in the relationship between self-directed stereotypes and physical and mental health of older adults, the present commentary argues that a better understanding of well-being would benefit strategies targeting the reduction of age-related stereotypes. Overall, this commentary on the state of the art highlights that future research is still needed to better understand both the direct and indirect relationships between age-related stereotypes and well-being that is not reducible to positive experiences of life (or hedonic well-being) but also comprises an eudaimonic component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Rasset
- Univ Rennes, Université Rennes 2, LP3C (Laboratoire de Psychologie: Cognition, Comportement, Communication)-UR1285, Rennes, France
| | - Jessica Mange
- Laboratoire de Psychologie de Caen Normandie (LPCN UR7452), Psychology Department, Université de Caen Normandie, Caen, France
| | - Maria Augustinova
- Centre de Recherche sur les Fonctionnements et Dysfonctionnements Psychologiques (CRFDP UR7475), Université de Rouen Normandie, Rouen, France
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Che SL, Lei WI, Hung T, Leong SM. Attitudes to ageing mediates the relationship between perception of age-friendly city and life satisfaction among middle-aged and older people in Macao: a cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:362. [PMID: 38654157 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-04961-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Societal attitudes toward ageing play a significant role in shaping one's ageing experience, and an age-friendly environment can potentially enhance the life satisfaction of older individuals. The objective of this study is to examine the role of attitudes to ageing as mediators in the association between the perception of an age-friendly city and life satisfaction among middle-aged and older adults. METHODS Using the tools of Age-Friendly City (AFC) criteria, Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire (AAQ) to measure psychosocial loss, psychological growth, and physical change, and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) to assess the level of life satisfaction among community-dwelling middle-aged and older people in Macao. Multiple mediation analysis was performed to test the mediation effect. RESULTS A total of 543 participants were included in this study. The average score of AFC was 4.25, the total scores of psychosocial loss, physical change, and psychological growth were 24.06, 29.00, and 26.94 respectively. The total score of SWLS was 24.06. There was a partial mediation of attitudes to ageing in the relationship between perception of age-friendly city and life satisfaction. The mediation effect explained 56.1% of the total effect of AFC to life satisfaction. CONCLUSION The development of an age-friendly city can help improve the public's view on ageing, and thus improve their life satisfaction. It is important for government to consider the improvement of people's attitudes to ageing when developing policies regarding AFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sok Leng Che
- Nursing and Health Education Research Centre, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macao, SAR, China
| | - Wai In Lei
- Nursing and Health Education Study Centre, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macao, SAR, China
| | - Tan Hung
- Education Department, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macao, SAR, China
| | - Sok Man Leong
- Research Management & Development Department, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macao, SAR, China.
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El-Sayed MM, Hawash MM, Khedr MA, Hafez SA, Salem ESAEH, Essa SA, Sayyd SM, El-Ashry AM. Cognitive flexibility's role in shaping self-perception of aging, body appreciation, and self-efficacy among community-dwelling older women. BMC Nurs 2024; 23:220. [PMID: 38561732 PMCID: PMC10983730 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-024-01874-4] [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: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive flexibility, the capacity to adjust to new information, affects how aging is perceived. In Egyptian culture, older women's views on aging are shaped by societal gender roles and expectations. These views influence their body image and belief in their abilities, all melded by cultural standards and values. AIM Investigate the mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between self-aging perception, body appreciation, and self-efficacy among community-dwelling older women. METHODS A correlational analytical design was used on 200 women aged 60 years or older using the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, Self-Perceptions of Aging, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Body Appreciation Scales. Structural equation modeling was used in the analysis. RESULTS The study found that cognitive flexibility is positively related to self-perception of aging and body appreciation and is also significantly related to general self-efficacy. However, no significant relationship was found between body appreciation and general self-efficacy. Additionally, the study found that cognitive flexibility partially mediates the relationship between self-perception of aging and body appreciation and fully mediates the relationship between body appreciation and self-efficacy. CONCLUSION Cognitive flexibility is vital in the relationships between self-perceptions of aging, body appreciation, and self-efficacy among older women. Therefore, nursing interventions targeting cognitive flexibility are recommended to promote positive self-aging perceptions, body appreciation, and self-efficacy in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Metwally El-Sayed
- Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Manal Mohammed Hawash
- Gerontological Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Abdelwahab Khedr
- Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Sarah Ali Hafez
- Gerontological Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - El-Saied Abd El-Hamid Salem
- Department of Fitness, Gymnastics, and Sports Shows, Faculty of Physical Education for Men, Abu Qir, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Samir Abdelnaby Essa
- Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Education, Taibah University, Madinah, 41477, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sameer Mohammed Sayyd
- Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Education, Taibah University, Madinah, 41477, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayman Mohamed El-Ashry
- Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
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Cai Y, Ren X, Wang J, Hou Y, Zhang M, Chen O. Associations between self-perceptions of aging and social functioning in older adults: An analysis based on health and retirement study data. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2024; 119:105307. [PMID: 38176120 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2023.105307] [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] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Self-perception of aging (SPA) and social functioning are two important variables in the process of healthy aging, but the relationship between them is still unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between SPA and social functioning in older adults. METHODS We conducted a longitudinal study utilizing data from the Health and Retirement Study. The sample comprised individuals aged 50 and above. Socio-demographic, psychosocial, and lifestyle information of study participants was systematically collected at baseline (2012 and 2014) and during follow-up four years later (2016 and 2018). SPA was measured using a scale assessing individuals' attitudes toward their aging process. Social functioning was evaluated through 22 questions, reflecting individuals' abilities to engage in and perform various roles and tasks in their daily lives. Multilevel modeling was employed to analyze the relationship between SPA and social functioning. Differences in social functioning changes among various SPA groups were assessed through the Generalized Estimating Equations methodology. RESULTS The study included 8,454 participants with an average age of 68.3 years (SD = 9.92). The multilevel model revealed a significant correlation between SPA and social functioning (β = 0.131; P < 0.001). This relationship persisted after adjusting the model (β = 0.088; P < 0.001). Generalized Estimating Equations indicated noteworthy differences in social functioning changes among distinct SPA groups (P = 0.034). DISCUSSION Positive SPA is associated with the healthy social functioning of older adults. Healthcare providers could target modifiable aspects of SPA to enhance the social function of older adults and promote successful aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Cai
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Box142, No. 44 West Culture Road, Lixia District, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Xiaohe Ren
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Box142, No. 44 West Culture Road, Lixia District, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Jingyi Wang
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Box142, No. 44 West Culture Road, Lixia District, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Yue Hou
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Box142, No. 44 West Culture Road, Lixia District, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Mengyuan Zhang
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Box142, No. 44 West Culture Road, Lixia District, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Ou Chen
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Box142, No. 44 West Culture Road, Lixia District, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
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Velaithan V, Tan MM, Yu TF, Liem A, Teh PL, Su TT. The Association of Self-Perception of Aging and Quality of Life in Older Adults: A Systematic Review. THE GERONTOLOGIST 2024; 64:gnad041. [PMID: 37029753 PMCID: PMC10943510 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnad041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Self-perception of aging is an important psychosocial factor that can influence quality of life in older age. This review aimed to synthesize findings on the association between self-perception of aging and quality of life among older adults aged 60 and above. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A systematic search was conducted in 4 electronic databases (Ovid Medline, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Web of Science). Studies conducted in English and including measures on the perception of aging and quality of life were included in this review. A total of 32 observational studies (21 cross-sectional, 8 longitudinal, 2 mixed-method, and 1 qualitative) met the inclusion criteria. Outcomes reported in the included studies were quality of life, physical health and functioning, psychological health, mental health, and general well-being. RESULTS Overall, 20 quantitative studies indicated a strong association between positive perception of aging and increased quality of life. Similarly, 9 quantitative studies demonstrated that negative perception of aging is associated with lower quality of life. Results of the mixed-method and qualitative studies indicated that older adults with higher morale and good physical capability had more positive perceptions of health. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS These results suggest that promoting a positive perception of aging and a self-care attitude would help to enhance older adults' quality of life and should be incorporated into future health promotions and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vithya Velaithan
- Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
- South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Min-Min Tan
- Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
- South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Ting-Fai Yu
- School of Arts and Social Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Andrian Liem
- Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Pei-Lee Teh
- School of Business, Gerontechnology Laboratory, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Tin Tin Su
- Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
- South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
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Zwar L, König HH, Hajek A. Caregiving intensity and its association with subjective views of ageing among informal caregivers with different sociodemographic background: a longitudinal analysis from Germany. Eur J Ageing 2024; 21:4. [PMID: 38217782 PMCID: PMC10787706 DOI: 10.1007/s10433-023-00797-4] [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] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
We analysed whether care time, burden and range of caregiving tasks were associated with informal caregivers' subjective views of ageing (measured as attitudes towards own age (ATOA), subjective age (SA), and onset of old age (OOA)), and whether these associations differed as a function of the caregivers' age and gender. Adjusted cluster-robust fixed effects regression analyses were conducted with gender and age as moderators using data of informal caregivers (≥ 40 years) of the population-based German Ageing Survey (2014, 2017). All three aspect of care intensity were associated with changes in subjective views of ageing and this pattern was a function of the caregiver's age and gender. Care time was significantly associated with higher SA. Care tasks were significantly associated with more positive ATOA and earlier OOA. Age moderated the association between burden and ATOA, with older adults reporting more positive ATOA. Gender moderated the association between care time and ATOA; women reported less positive ATOA than men with increasing care time, but also felt subjectively younger than men with a broader range of care tasks. Age- and gender-stratified analysis indicated further differences. Our findings suggest to reduce care time, especially among older and female caregivers, to prevent a worsening of views of ageing, while being involved in a broad range of care tasks seems to (only) benefit female caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Zwar
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Hans-Helmut König
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - André Hajek
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
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Jemberie WB, Snellman F, Eriksson M, Hammarberg A. 'Ageing with an alcohol problem is not what I envision': reclaiming agency in shaping personal ageing trajectory and recovery from alcohol problems. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:866. [PMID: 38104085 PMCID: PMC10724916 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04573-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eliciting and understanding older persons' descriptions of their resources for healthy ageing and the interaction of these resources with alcohol use and alcohol problems can facilitate health promotion. It can also inform clinicians when identifying areas of recovery capital that present risks and strength for older people seeking alcohol treatment. The objective of this study was to illuminate the experiences and perspectives of older persons on ageing, alcohol use, treatment, and recovery from alcohol problems, as well as their understanding of healthy ageing. METHODS Eight men and two women, aged 61 to 73 years, with moderate drinking as a treatment goal and treated at an outpatient alcohol clinic in Sweden, participated in semi-structured audio-recorded virtual interviews. A qualitative content analysis examined the transcribed interviews. RESULTS Three themes were identified: "Tipping the balance", "Staying behind a veil" and "Lifting the vail". First, participants understood healthy ageing as a personal and multidimensional process that involved actively expanding, maintaining or adjusting to the resources needed to lead an active and meaningful life while preserving autonomy, dignity and independence for as long as possible. Second, most participants viewed moderate alcohol use as a contributor to healthy ageing. They sought treatment when their drinking became unsustainable and an immediate threat to their healthy ageing resources. Stigma, ambivalence and a lack of treatment options, however, contributed to delayed treatment. Third, the participants responded to treatment approaches that elicited their concern, incorporated their expertise and treatment and life goals, appreciated their autonomy and agency, and considered them partners in goal setting and decision making. Reduced drinking helped participants regain their agency and improved their healthy ageing capital which in turn catalyzed continuing recovery. CONCLUSIONS Older persons in non-abstinent recovery perceive healthy ageing and alcohol recovery as personal and interacting multidimensional processes involving their agency to improve biopsychosocial functioning. Treatment approaches that recognize older persons' desire for healthy ageing, incorporate their treatment goals and respect their autonomy are likely to be acceptable and effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wossenseged Birhane Jemberie
- Department of Social Work, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden.
- Centre for Demography and Aging Research (CEDAR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
- The Swedish National Graduate School for Competitive Science On Aging and Health (SWEAH), Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Fredrik Snellman
- Department of Social Work, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Malin Eriksson
- Department of Social Work, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anders Hammarberg
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
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Hajek A, König HH. Sexual satisfaction and aging satisfaction among middle-aged and older adults. Evidence from a nationally representative study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2023; 115:105102. [PMID: 37418821 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2023.105102] [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] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
AIM To examine the association between sexual satisfaction and aging satisfaction (also stratified by sex and age group). METHODS We used data from the German Ageing Survey (year 2008, n = 5,418 individuals). This is an established, nationally representative sample of individuals living in private households aged 40 years and over in Germany. The widely used "Attitudes Toward Own Ageing" (ATOA) subscale of the established Philadelphia Geriatric Morale Scale was used to quantify aging satisfaction. It was adjusted for several covariates in regression analysis. RESULTS After adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related covariates, multiple linear regressions still showed that higher sexual satisfaction was associated with higher aging satisfaction in the total sample (β = 0.06, p < .001). This association was also present among both sexes (men, β = 0.07, p < .001; women, β = 0.06, p < .001) as well as among both age groups (middle-aged adults: β = 0.07, p < .001; older adults: β = 0.06, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS Even after adjusting for several covariates, there is a clear link between sexual satisfaction and aging satisfaction. Such knowledge may assist in maintaining satisfaction with aging and may thus contribute to successful aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Hajek
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical-Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, Germany.
| | - Hans-Helmut König
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical-Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, Germany
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Ishikawa M. Internalization of negative societal views on old age into self-perceptions of aging: exploring factors associated with self-directed ageism. FRONTIERS IN SOCIOLOGY 2023; 8:1291325. [PMID: 38045535 PMCID: PMC10691258 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2023.1291325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Introduction A growing number of research has provided evidence for the negative impact of ageism on older people's health and well-being. Among the three different manifestations of ageism, namely institutional, interpersonal and self-directed ageism, significant ageism-health associations have been proved to be strongest for self-directed ageism. This supports stereotype embodiment theory, which maintains that lifetime exposure to negative age stereotypes leads to the internalization of ageism as a form of negative attitudes towards own aging and it adversely affects health and well-being in old age. However, little is known about how people internalize negative age stereotypes held in the society into self-perceptions of aging. Methods This study aimed to explore how socially shared beliefs about old age are internalized into self-perceptions of aging focusing on uncovering factors related to self-directed ageism. Data were derived from the survey that had examined citizen's attitudes towards old age and aging in Finland. Multinominal logistic regression models were performed to examine the association of sociodemographic and contextual factors with different combinations of societal age stereotypes and two indicators of self-perceptions of aging: subjective views on old age and personal feelings of own old age. Results The analyses showed that being female, attaining tertiary education, evaluating poor quality of life and awareness of institutional old age discrimination were related to holding negative views on aging towards both society and oneself. Discussion The findings from univariate and multivariate models suggest that it is not age per se, but structural and cultural circumstances shaped with growing older that turns socially shared negative age stereotypes into negative self-perceptions of aging. Even though the study addressed situations in one country, the findings have an important implication for other rapidly aging societies regarding how social and cultural contexts are closely linked to the formation of self-directed ageism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motoko Ishikawa
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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Sabatini S, Cosentino S, Chapman S, Ballard C, Brooker H, Corbett A, Stephan BCM. Cognitive trajectories: exploring the predictive role of subjective cognitive decline and awareness of age-related changes for cognitive functioning. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1270798. [PMID: 37928917 PMCID: PMC10620507 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1270798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We investigated whether aspects of subjective cognitive aging, including awareness of age-related gains and losses in cognition (AARC-gains, AARC-losses) and subjective cognitive decline (SCD), predict change in objective cognitive function as measured by verbal reasoning (VR) and working memory (WM). Methods We used longitudinal data for 3,299 cognitively healthy UK residents aged 65+. We used data on AARC and SCD assessed in 2019, and cognitive tasks assessed in 2019, 2020, and 2021. We used latent growth curve modeling, latent class growth analysis, and growth mixture modeling. Results For VR, multiple growth trajectories were not evident. Mean VR at baseline was 37.45; this remained stable over time. Higher AARC-gains in cognition (mean intercept = -0.23; 95%CI: -0.31; -0.16), higher AARC-losses in cognition (mean intercept = -0.37; 95%CI: -0.46; -0.28), and lower SCD (mean intercept = 2.92; 95%CI: 2.58; 3.58) were associated with poorer VR at baseline. A three-class growth mixture model-class varying best represented trajectories of WM. In Class 1 (N = 182) mean WM at baseline was 31.20; this decreased by 2.48 points each year. In Class 2 (N = 119) mean WM at baseline was 23.12; this increased by 3.28 points each year. In Class 3 (N = 2,998) mean WM at baseline was 30.11; and it remained stable. Higher AARC-gains (Odds Ratio = 1.08; 95%CI: 1.03; 1.14) and AARC-losses (Odds Ratio = 1.10; 95%CI: 1.04; 1.16) in cognition predicted greater likelihood of being in Class 2 than Class 3. Conclusion Although both higher AARC-gains and AARC-losses indicate poorer concurrent cognition, higher AARC-gains may be a resource that facilitates future cognitive improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Sabatini
- School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie Cosentino
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Silvia Chapman
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Clive Ballard
- Faculty of Health and Life Science, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Brooker
- Faculty of Health and Life Science, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- Ecog Pro Ltd., Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Corbett
- Faculty of Health and Life Science, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Blossom C. M. Stephan
- School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin enAble Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
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13
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Huxhold O, Henning G. The Risks of Experiencing Severe Loneliness Across Middle and Late Adulthood. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2023; 78:1668-1675. [PMID: 37431978 PMCID: PMC10561886 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbad099] [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] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES From a theoretical point of view, older adults may not necessarily face a greater risk of becoming lonely than middle-aged adults but are more likely at a disadvantage in fighting loneliness. Therefore, in this study, we differentiate between the risk of becoming lonely and the risk of remaining lonely. METHODS A large longitudinal data set representative of the German noninstitutionalized population from 40 to 85 years of age (N = 15,408; 49% female participants) was used in the analysis. Lagged logistic regression models were estimated to investigate the effect of earlier experiences of severe loneliness on the risk of being lonely after three years across middle age and late adulthood. Individual differences in health, views on aging, and social activities were taken into account to explore their role in age differences in the risk of remaining lonely. RESULTS The analysis revealed marginal age differences in the risk of becoming lonely but a marked age gradient regarding the risk of remaining lonely. Lonely older adults who were older than 75 years of age were more likely to remain lonely after three years than lonely middle-aged adults. Controlling for individual differences in health, views on aging as social loss, and social activities accounted for this age difference. DISCUSSION Interventions against loneliness may prioritize older age groups because losses in capacities, shifts in motivations, and a degraded opportunity structure render it increasingly less likely that older adults leave a state of loneliness on their own accord.
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14
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Lee D, Aula I, Masoodian M. Perspectives on creative well-being of older adults. J Aging Stud 2023; 66:101159. [PMID: 37704277 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaging.2023.101159] [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] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
The growing aging population has become a significant global issue in recent years, increasing the need for research that examines aging-related phenomena such as personal growth and development in later life. A major challenge in achieving this aim is the prevailing deficit perspective on aging, which is so pervasive that it often overshadows older adults' contributions to society and diminishes the opportunities encountered in older adulthood. Although perspectives on the nature of aging are gradually changing in a positive way, and the developments in medicine are improving health-related aspects of aging, it is still a worldwide challenge to eradicate negative stereotypes around aging. This article explores empirical perspectives on aging by analyzing diverse narratives gathered from open-ended interviews we conducted in Finland from 2019 to 2021. Focusing on their aging experiences and the value of a broad range of creative engagements and interventions that older adults have joined voluntarily, the study aims to provide a better understanding of personal perspectives of aging, the creative well-being of older adults, and the growing diversity of experiences within the older age group. Based on the findings of this study, we highlight the importance of promoting older adults' engagement in art-based interventions to enhance their creativity and well-being in later life, as well as fostering aging-friendly co-creative approaches in such interventions by involving the older adults themselves in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dohee Lee
- School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland.
| | - Inkeri Aula
- School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland.
| | - Masood Masoodian
- School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland.
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15
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Choi EY, Zelinski EM, Ailshire J. Neighborhood Social Environment and Self-Perceptions of Aging. Innov Aging 2023; 7:igad038. [PMID: 37213322 PMCID: PMC10195563 DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igad038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives Self-perceptions of aging (SPA) are associated with health and well-being later in life. Although prior studies have identified individual-level predictors of SPA, the role of neighborhood social context in SPA remains largely unexplored. A neighborhood social environment may act as a critical avenue for older adults to remain healthy and socially active, contributing to their evaluations of how they grow old. The present study aims to fill the previous research gap by examining the relationship between neighborhood social environment and SPA, and how age may moderate this relationship. This study is guided by Bronfenbrenner's Ecology of Human Development theory and Lawton's Ecological Model of Aging, positing that an individual's aging experience is deeply rooted in their residential environment. Research Design and Methods Our sample includes 11,145 adults aged 50+ from the 2014 and 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. We included 4 social and economic aspects of neighborhoods: (1) neighborhood poverty; (2) percentage of older adults; (3) perceived social cohesion; and (4) perceived disorder. Results Multilevel linear regression models showed that respondents in neighborhoods with higher percentages of the older population and with perceptions of high neighborhood disorder reported more negative SPA. Those who perceived their neighborhoods as more socially cohesive reported more positive SPA. Controlling for individual socioeconomic and health status, only neighborhood social cohesion remained significant. We also found significant interaction effects between neighborhood social cohesion and age: The effects of neighborhood cohesion on SPA were stronger in middle age than in old age. Discussion and Implications Our findings provide insights into how neighborhood social context is associated with SPA, suggesting that a socially cohesive neighborhood may be important to promote more favorable perceptions of aging, particularly for middle-aged residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Young Choi
- School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Zelinski
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jennifer Ailshire
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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16
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Levy BR, Pietrzak RH, Slade MD. Societal impact on older persons' chronic pain: Roles of age stereotypes, age attribution, and age discrimination. Soc Sci Med 2023; 323:115772. [PMID: 36965204 PMCID: PMC10763575 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE In view of the severity and prevalence of chronic pain, combined with the limited success of long-term treatments, there is the need for a more expansive understanding of its etiology. We therefore investigated over time three societal-based potential determinants of chronic pain that were previously unexamined in this connection: negative age stereotypes, age attribution, and age discrimination. METHODS The cohort consisted of 1373 Americans aged 55 and older, who participated in four waves of the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, spanning seven years. RESULTS Consistent with the hypotheses, negative age stereotypes as well as age discrimination predicted chronic pain, and age attribution acted as a mediator between the negative age stereotypes and chronic pain. In a subset of participants who were free of chronic pain at baseline, those who had assimilated negative age stereotypes were 32% more likely to develop chronic pain in the next seven years than those who had assimilated positive age stereotypes. CONCLUSION Our finding that the three societal-based and modifiable predictors contributed to chronic pain refutes the widely held belief that chronic pain experienced in later life is entirely and inevitably a consequence of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Becca R Levy
- Social and Behavioral Science Department, Yale School of Public Health, USA; Psychology Department, Yale University, USA.
| | - Robert H Pietrzak
- Social and Behavioral Science Department, Yale School of Public Health, USA; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, USA
| | - Martin D Slade
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, USA
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17
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Stephan Y, Sutin AR, Luchetti M, Terracciano A. The prospective relationship between subjective aging and inflammation: Evidence from the health and retirement study. Psychophysiology 2023; 60:e14177. [PMID: 36124383 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
This study tested the prospective associations and potential mediators between subjective aging, indexed by subjective age and self-perceptions of aging (SPA), and a range of inflammatory markers, including C-reactive proteins (CRP) and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines among older adults. Participants (N = 6099, 59% women, age range = 50 to 94, Mean Age = 65.32, SD = 8.85) were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study. Subjective age, SPA, and demographic factors were assessed in 2008/2010. Assessments of soluble transformation growth factor-beta 1 (sTGF-β1), interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), interleukin 6 (IL-6), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNFR1), and high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) were measured in 2016. Potential mediators (body mass index, disease burden, physical inactivity, and depressive symptoms) were asssessed at baseline and in 2012/2014. Linear regression analyses indicated that an older subjective age and negative SPA were related to higher level of IL-10, IL-1Ra, IL-6, sTNFR1 and hsCRP. These associations were mediated by higher disease burden and physical inactivity. Negative SPA (but not subjective age) was associated with lower sTGF-β1. The link between subjective aging and inflammatory markers was relatively independent from chronological age. The present study provides new evidence that subjective aging is prospectively associated with inflammation, including systemic inflammation and pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
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18
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Ikeuchi T, Itoh S, Miwa H, Watanabe K, Wakui T. Does Smartphone Use Make Older Adults Feel Younger? A Cross-Sectional Online Survey during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1710. [PMID: 36767089 PMCID: PMC9914656 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Subjective age (i.e., how old one feels) has been found to be a biopsychosocial marker of aging. This study examined the associations between subjective age and the frequency of information and communication technology (ICT) usage by older adults. Data were collected via an online survey conducted in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study analyzed responses from participants aged 65 to 89 (M = 71.9, SD = 3.9) who resided in Japan (N = 1631, 52.8% female). Subjective age was indexed by asking participants to specify in years how old they felt. Proportional discrepancy scores (PDS) were calculated to indicate younger or older subjective age and were used as an independent variable. Participants were asked about the frequency of computer, smartphone, flip phone, tablet, and social networking service (SNS) use. Two-thirds of the participants (63.6%) reported feeling younger than their actual age. Nearly 90% reported using computers for more than 2-3 days a week, while 64.3% reported smartphone use, 22.9% reported flip phone use, and 36.6% reported SNS use. Logistic regression analyses revealed that a lower PDS (i.e., feeling younger) was associated with a significantly higher frequency of smartphone use (OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.98) after adjusting for potential confounders. No such association was found for computer, flip phone, tablet, or SNS use. Our study found that feeling younger was associated with a higher frequency of smartphone use. The daily use of smartphones may have helped older adults stay in touch with family and friends and obtain the information that they needed, which may have contributed to better psychological well-being outcomes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Ikeuchi
- Human Care Research Team, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
| | - Sakiko Itoh
- Department of Genome Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Miwa
- Service Value Augmentation Research Team, Human Augmentation Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Chiba 277-0882, Japan
| | - Kentaro Watanabe
- Service Value Augmentation Research Team, Human Augmentation Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Chiba 277-0882, Japan
| | - Tomoko Wakui
- Human Care Research Team, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
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19
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Losada-Baltar A, Márquez-González M, Pedroso-Chaparro MDS, Cabrera I. Toward the construction of an integrative model of psychological triggers of physical, cognitive, and psychological decline related to aging. Rev Esp Geriatr Gerontol 2022; 57:203-204. [PMID: 35550721 DOI: 10.1016/j.regg.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Isabel Cabrera
- Departamento de Psicología Clínica y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
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20
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Dunsmore VJ, Neupert SD. No Pain, No Gain? Personality Associations With Awareness of Aging Depend on Arthritis. Front Psychol 2022; 13:863152. [PMID: 35756270 PMCID: PMC9218331 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.863152] [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: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Awareness of aging brings to light one’s own perceived behavioral, physical, and cognitive changes associated with getting older. Personality and physical illness are each related to two components of awareness of aging: attitudes toward own aging (ATOA), and awareness of age-related changes (AARC). Here, we move beyond main effects to examine how personality and arthritis interact with respect to awareness of aging. Materials and Methods 296 participants (M age = 64.67, SD = 4.36, Range = 60–90 years, 49.7% women) completed online self-report questionnaires of personality, arthritis, ATOA, and AARC gains and losses. Results We ran three hierarchical multiple regression models to test how personality traits and arthritis interacted to predict ATOA, AARC gains, and AARC losses, respectively. Higher extraversion was related to positive ATOA, and higher openness was related to positive ATOA and more AARC gains. Higher neuroticism was related to negative ATOA, more AARC losses, and less AARC gains. We found a main effect for arthritis, where those with arthritis reported more AARC losses. Lastly, we found a significant interaction between arthritis and agreeableness when predicting AARC gains. Among those with low agreeableness, people with arthritis reported significantly more AARC gains compared to those without arthritis. Conclusion Personality and arthritis are each important for awareness of aging. Overall, our study suggests that for those with arthritis, it is especially important to consider behavioral and cognitive factors related to agreeableness, as they may be important means of promoting positive views on aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria J Dunsmore
- Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Shevaun D Neupert
- Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
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21
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Wettstein M, Kornadt AE, Wahl HW. Awareness of Age-Related Changes Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Longitudinal Trajectories, and the Role of Age Stereotypes and Personality Traits. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:902909. [PMID: 35693951 PMCID: PMC9174521 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.902909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Awareness of Age-Related Change (AARC) describes to what extent people become aware of changes which they attribute to getting older. So far little is known regarding how different AARC dimensions change over time, to what extent these changes in different domains of AARC gains and losses are interrelated, and which predictors account for inter-individual differences in within-person longitudinal trajectories. Specifically, the extent to which individuals perceive age-related gains and losses might be shaped by their chronological age, their personality as well as by their general views on aging (i.e., their age stereotypes). We investigated changes in global and domain-specific AARC gains and losses over about five years in a sample of originally N = 423 participants aged 40 to 98 years at baseline. We analyzed the role of personality traits and age stereotypes for levels and changes of AARC, taking into account participants' age at baseline and controlling for gender, education, and subjective health. Based on longitudinal multilevel regression models, we observed mean-level declines in most AARC gain domains. In contrast, perceived general AARC losses, as well as AARC losses in health and physical functioning, in cognitive functioning and in social-cognitive/socio-emotional functioning remained, on average, stable over time. Baseline scores on AARC gains (global scale) were higher among individuals with higher neuroticism, openness, conscientiousness and more positive age stereotypes. Additionally, the association of higher neuroticism with higher AARC gain scores was stronger among individuals with more positive age stereotypes. Higher neuroticism and more negative age stereotypes also predicted higher baseline scores on AARC losses (global scale). At the same time, higher neuroticism was associated with a steeper decrease in AARC loss perceptions over time. Most of the intercorrelations within the intercepts and within the intra-individual trajectories of the different AARC domains were positive, but small in size. Our findings show the importance of considering trajectories of age-related gains and losses in parallel and across multiple developmental domains when investigating the subjective perception of the aging process. They also suggest that personality traits and general age stereotypes are related with individual experiences of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Wettstein
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna E. Kornadt
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Hans-Werner Wahl
- Department of Psychology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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22
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Stephan Y, Sutin AR, Terracciano A. Subjective Aging and Objectively Assessed Hearing Function: A Prospective Study of Older Adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2022; 77:1637-1644. [PMID: 35092438 PMCID: PMC9757156 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbac018] [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: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Subjective aging is consistently related to a range of health-related outcomes, but little is known about its relationship with sensory functioning. The present prospective study tested whether subjective age and self-perceptions of aging (SPA) are associated with objective hearing function. METHODS Participants were 7,085 individuals aged 50-93 years (60% women, mean = 65.15, standard deviation [SD] = 8.71) from the Health and Retirement Study. Measures of subjective age, SPA, and information on demographic factors were obtained in 2008/2010. Objective hearing function was assessed 8 years later in 2016/2018. Furthermore, potential mediating variables (C-reactive protein, body mass index, physical inactivity, and chronic conditions) were assessed in 2012/2014. RESULTS In regression analyses that accounted for demographic factors, older subjective age and negative SPA were associated with lower hearing acuity 8 years later. In addition, 1 SD older subjective age and negative SPA were related to a 9% and 7% higher likelihood of hearing impairment. Mediation analyses revealed that physical inactivity and chronic conditions partially mediated subjective age and SPA associations with hearing acuity. There was little evidence that the link between subjective aging and hearing was moderated by hearing aids and partial support for a moderating role of age. DISCUSSION This study provides new evidence that subjective aging is prospectively related to hearing function. Individuals with older subjective age or negative SPA have unfavorable behavioral and clinical profiles that explain part of their lower hearing function. Individuals' experience with their aging process is a marker of risk for impaired hearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Stephan
- Address correspondence to: Yannick Stephan, PhD, Euromov, University of Montpellier, UFRSTAPS, 700, Avenue du Pic St Loup, 34090 Montpellier, France. E-mail:
| | - Angelina R Sutin
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Antonio Terracciano
- Department of Geriatrics, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
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