Age differences and changes of coping behavior in three age groups: findings from the Georgia Centenarian Study

Gambling in Older Adulthood: Longitudinal Associations Between Stressful Life Events, Individual, and Social Factors

Older adults are receiving increased attention in gambling research, in part because gambling and related problems appear to be increasing in this population. To date, little or no research has examined the complexities of gambling and later-life circumstances, including life events, and individual and social factors. This study utilized longitudinal data (5 waves) from older adults (60 + ; N = 670) in the Quinte Longitudinal Study (Williams et al., in: The Quinte longitudinal study of gambling and problem gambling 2006-2011, Bay of Quinte region, Ontario, 2014). Longitudinal multilevel models examined between- and within-person effects of stressful life events on gambling frequency and Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) scores, and the possible moderating role of individual (age, gender, mental health, physical health) and social variables (marital status, social support) on this relationship. Results of the final model showed significant effects (p < .01) for linear time (PGSI scores declined across waves; β = - .06); gender (women's mean PGSI greater than men's; γ = .26); social support (less support associated with greater PGSI; γ = .05); and an interaction between age and stressful life events (effect of stressful events on PGSI is lesser with greater age; γ = - .02). Simple slopes (at mean age of 66 at wave 1, and ± 1SD) showed that at 61 (γ = .35) and 66 years (γ = .23), mean PGSI scores were greater with each additional stressful life event; there was no significant effect for stressful events at age 71. These findings suggest women, those with less social support, and greater stressful life events may be at greater risk of problem gambling, while greater age weakens the effect of stressful events and problem gambling.

Longitudinal changes in coping strategies across midlife and older adulthood: findings from the midlife in the United States study

OBJECTIVES

Most studies examining age differences in coping across adulthood come from cross-sectional studies and focus on the broader categories of problem- and emotion-focused coping. We aimed to establish a factor structure for coping items used in a national, longitudinal study of aging (MIDUS) and examine age patterns in coping strategies over 10 years.

METHOD

We performed exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and factorial invariance testing. Next we conducted a series of multilevel models for each coping factor with participants from waves II and III of the MIDUS study (N = 2,661, Mage = 55, 58% women, 84% White).

RESULTS

We found a four-factor solution: instrumental action; denial/disengagement; positive reappraisal; focus and venting of emotions. Invariance was established across time and age. At baseline, age was positively associated with the use of three strategies, though younger adults used more focus and venting of emotions. There was an overall decrease over 10 years in use of all strategies, which was moderated by age. Positive reappraisal declined more steeply among midlife participants, whereas the remaining strategies declined more for older participants.

CONCLUSION

Results highlight the multi-dimensionality of MIDUS coping items and underscores the import of age in understanding changes in coping across midlife and older adulthood.

The relationship between depressive mood and subjective health in centenarians and near-centenarians: a cross-sectional study from Korean centenarian cohort

BACKGROUND

With the rapid increase in population longevity, more clinical attention is being paid to the overall health of long-lived people, especially centenarians. Subjective health, which is the perception of one's health status, predicts both mortality and declining physical function in older adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related to subjective health among centenarians and near-centenarians (ages ≥95) living in a rural area of South Korea.

METHODS

A total of 101 participants were enrolled from four different regions (Gurye, Gokseong, Sunchang, and Damyang), known as the Longevity Belt in Korea. Variables assessing physical and mental health, including the results of blood tests, were examined. Factors associated with good subjective health were identified with logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Fifty-six participants (59.6%) were subjectively healthy among the centenarians and near-centenarians. Logistic regression analysis revealed that depressive mood was the only factor associated with subjective health and was negatively correlated. The regression model explained 39% of the variance in subjective health.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings emphasize the importance of mental health at very advanced ages. Because depressive mood negatively correlates with subjective health, more attention is needed to prevent and manage mood symptoms of people of advanced ages, including centenarians.

The bidirectional relationship between depressive symptoms and functional limitations among centenarian survivors in their 80s: Testing bivariate latent change score models

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the study was to examine a bivariate latent change score model of depressive symptoms and functional limitations (activities of daily living) among centenarian or near-centenarian survivors over four waves using the Health and Retirement Study.

METHOD

Four hundred and sixty participants who eventually survived to age 98 or older were included by calculating their death age. Data from the time when the participants were in their 80s were analyzed. The mean age at baseline (1994) was 85.5 years. The observation interval was 2 years, from 1994 to 2000. Including age, gender, and education as a covariate, eight different models were conducted to examine the bivariate effects among depressive symptoms and functional limitations.

RESULTS

Of the eight models, the bivariate model of depressive symptoms predicting change in functional limitations fitted the data best. The parameter estimates of the final model indicated significant predictive pathways from depressive symptoms to subsequent changes in depressive symptoms and functional limitations.

CONCLUSION

This study tested the bidirectional relationship between depressive symptoms and functional limitations among centenarian survivors in their 80s, which uncovered that depressive symptoms is a dominant variable among the two constructs. Our findings add to a lacking number of longitudinal studies with oldest old adults.

Motor proficiency as a correlate of coping in late adult lifespan. An exploratory study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

A body of studies suggests that coping resources may represent a protective factor against functional and cognitive losses associated with advanced ageing. This study intended to examine the contributions of global cognition, functional mobility, and muscular strength on self-reported coping strategies in late adulthood.

METHODS

One hundred and thirty-seven community-based older individuals (M_age = 77.2 years, SD = 5.8 years, age range: 63-92 years), 48 males and 89 females with and without signs of cognitive decline completed a battery of tools assessing global cognitive function, problem-focused coping, muscular strength (assessed by handgrip strength, HGS) and functional mobility (assessed using the instrumented Timed-Up-and-Go test).

RESULTS

Significant associations were found between problem-focused coping, global cognitive function, HGS, functional mobility parameters, age, and education. Moreover, when the effects of education and gender were controlled for, HGS, functional mobility, and global cognitive function scores accounted for 44% of the variance in coping.

CONCLUSIONS

In clinical practice, the use of functional mobility and muscular strength measures to screen the physical health of older individuals should be encouraged.

Attitudes toward aging, active coping, and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Korean adults: How do they differ by age group?

BACKGROUND

Despite the adverse health outcomes of holding negative attitudes toward aging, little attention has been paid to these attitudes' role in mental health among the aging population.

OBJECTIVES

Drawing on the stress coping theory, this study examines whether negative attitudes toward aging and low levels of active coping are associated with greater depressive symptoms, and whether active coping attenuates the increased risk of depression caused by negative aging attitudes. We also investigate how these associations differ in middle-aged and older adults.

METHODS

A nationwide sample of 500 Koreans aged 55 or above was analyzed. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed separately by age groups to investigate the independent effects of attitudes toward aging and active coping as well as their interactive effects on depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

Our findings showed that more negative attitudes toward aging were related to higher levels of depressive symptoms. There were age group differences in the independent and moderating effects of active coping. For the middle-aged, those with higher levels of active coping had fewer depressive symptoms, while no such significant association was found among older adults. On the contrary, active coping buffered the adverse effects of endorsing negative aging attitudes on depressive symptoms only for the older adult group.

LIMITATIONS

A causality cannot be inferred by our findings due to the cross-sectional design.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings provide some of the first insights into how one's aging attitudes and coping style may protect against the risk of depression and how it differs by age group.

Frailty is associated with poor sleep quality in the oldest old

Background/aim

Sleep disorders and frailty increase with advancing age, along with physical disabilities, cognitive dysfunction, mood disorders, and social vulnerability. Thus, the study objective was to evaluate the relationship between frailty and sleep quality in the oldest old patients.

Materials and methods

In this study, 100 patients aged ≥80 years were assessed using comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) including basic activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL, handgrip strength, the Geriatric Depression Scale-15, the Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form. The sleep quality and frailty status of the patients were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Fried Frailty Index, respectively.

Results

The median age of the participants was 84 years (80–92), 55% of them were women, and 41% of them were frail. There was no statistically significant difference between the frail and nonfrail groups in terms of age, sex, and comorbidities (P > 0.050). The frail patients scored poorly according to the CGA tests when compared to the nonfrail ones (P < 0.050). The median score for the PSQI was significantly higher in the frail group, 12 points (3–19) versus 6 points (1–19) in the nonfrail patients (P < 0.001). The PSQI score (odds ratio [OR] of 1.308, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.092–1.566, P = 0.004), female sex (OR of 5.489, 95% CI: 1.063–28.337; P = 0.042), and the basic ADL score (OR of 0.383; 95% CI: 0.207–0.706; P = 0.002) were found to be independently associated with frailty using multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

Sleep quality was significantly decreased in the oldest old frail patients compared to the nonfrail ones, and poor sleep quality was independently associated with frailty. Evaluating the sleep patterns of the oldest old patients with CGA in daily geriatric practice might help to improve the quality of life of frail patients.

"Age-Related Positivity Effect" in the Relationship Between Pain and Depression Among Chinese Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Sex Differences

PURPOSE

To examine the "age-related positivity effect" and its sex differences in the pain-depression relationship among Chinese community-dwelling older adults.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional design.

METHODS

The study was conducted with a sample of 1,913 older adults in Jinan, China. Data were collected on pain intensity, age, sex, depressive symptoms, and potential covariates.

RESULTS

The hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that pain intensity was significantly related to depressive symptoms, there was a significant two-way interaction between age and pain intensity, and there was a significant three-way interaction between sex, age, and pain intensity. The Johnson-Neyman plot revealed that the relationship between pain and depressive symptoms decreased with advancing age, indicating an "age-related positivity effect." And the age-related positivity effect in the pain-depression relationship was significant only in men, but not in women.

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggests that all older women and "young-old" men (younger senior citizens aged 60-79) in China are more likely to experience depressive symptoms from pain. Interventions on cognitive psychology should particularly target all older women and young-old men to reduce the detrimental effect of pain on emotional well-being.

Functional disability mediates the relationship between pain and depression among community-dwelling older adults: Age and sex as moderators

OBJECTIVE

To examine the moderating effects of age and sex in the role of functional disability as a mediator between pain and depression.

METHODS

Participants were 1917 community-dwelling older adults from Jinan, China. Data were collected on pain intensity, functional disability in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, depressive symptoms and covariates.

RESULTS

Functional disability partially mediated the relationship between pain intensity and depressive symptoms (estimate = 0.015, SE = 0.007, 95% CI [0.004, 0.030]). Age and sex moderated both the direct and indirect effect of the mediation model. The mediating effect of functional disability was significant in the old-old men, young-old men, and young-old women, but not in the old-old women.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions should target both pain and pain-related functional disability to improve their emotional well-being among community-dwelling older adults. Importantly, strategies should be tailored across different age and sex groups to improve their effectiveness.

Longitudinal analysis of the impact of loneliness on cognitive function over a 20-year follow-up

Background: Loneliness and cognitive impairment are both commonly experienced by older old people, but evidence for the association between these has been inconsistent. Moreover, most evidence has been cross-sectional in nature and largely based on studies with relatively young later life age groups rather than 'the oldest old'. We aimed to test the potential impact of loneliness amongst older old people on their cognitive function over a 20-year period.Method: Data were drawn from wave 3 to wave 10 of the Cambridge City over-75s Cohort (CC75C) study. The impact of loneliness on transition between normal and impaired cognitive states was examined by multi-state modelling. The associations between loneliness changes and cognitive function decline were tested by using generalized estimating equation (GEE) with an independent working correlation structure. Missing data were imputed by using multiple imputation chained equations.Results: At wave 3, 713 participants were interviewed, of whom 657 (92%) had Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) assessments. Of individuals who had an MMSE score, approximately one quarter reported feeling lonely, and another 16% felt slightly lonely. The prevalence of feeling lonely or slightly lonely varied between waves. Results from multi-state modelling indicated that loneliness was not related to cognitive function transitions, and results from the GEE model showed that loneliness was not significantly associated with cognitive function decline after adjusting for cohort effects, follow-up time, sex, education, and interaction terms for sex, education and time.Conclusions: Loneliness did not exert long-term harmful effects on cognitive function in the oldest old.

Threats to Belonging-Stressful Life Events and Mental Health Symptoms in Aging Men-A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Objectives: Stressful life events, especially relationship events, are frequent in adult life. We investigated the impact of a variety of stressful life events on symptoms of depression, anxiety, and hostility. Methods: We analyzed data from a large prospective cohort study of men (n = 1,437) in the Boston area (assessed in 1985, 1988, and 1991). Main outcomes were measures of depression, anxiety and hostility symptoms. We used the Elders Life Stress Inventory (ELSI) to measure stressful life events in the past 12 months and examine their association with symptoms of depression, anxiety and hostility. First, we analyzed the association of stressful life events with symptom changes; second, we categorized stressful life events into finance/work, health, relationships, loss, living situations events; and third, we estimated the specific association between relationship events and depression, anxiety and hostility symptoms using multilevel models. Results: The most frequent stressful life events were health, relationship, and financial events. Depression, anxiety, and hostility symptoms were relatively stable among men who did not experience these life events. However, those who reported life events in the past 12 months had a greater increase in symptoms of depression (+0.05; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.10) and of hostility (+0.05; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.09) than those who did not. Additionally, we found a significant decrease in hostility (-0.05; 95% CI: -0.08 to -0.01) in those experiencing no life events. Conclusion: Relationship events were more important than any other type of events, and were significantly associated with increased depression and hostility in aging men. Although the effects were small, the results point to a need to understand better the impact of relationships on psychopathology in the aging population.

The Status of Older Adult Care in Contemporary Ghana: A Profile of Some Emerging Issues

The paper examines how the healthcare and social care pillars of social policy for aging societies shape inequalities in health and well-being at old age, utilizing qualitative and quantitative datasets. The results intimate the lack of geriatric infrastructure, hence the inadequacy of geriatric care provision for older adults. Systemic problems or gaps existent in Ghana led to private individuals taking advantage of the situation, turning it into an opportunity for service providers. Thus, the evolution of recreational/residential homes in Ghana is situated along three distinct patterns or forms namely the occasional, the adult day care center and residential archetypes. Collectively, these constitute formal and informal care facilities. These are often privately owned and at a cost. The nature of quality of care may be affected by the types of homes available, especially in the globalized cultural setting. A growing number of older adults resort to care homes as an alternative measure. These are discussed from two viewpoints. First, geriatric data generation, the absence of which impedes healthcare provision. Second, cash-for-care policies may exacerbate existing inequalities in care with negative consequences for health and well-being. In short, policies for aging populations are being implemented across Ghana with too little known about their consequences for inequalities in health and well-being in later life. The paper sought to address this knowledge gap by exploring a significant infrastructure by undertaking a systematic examination of how recent policy developments for aging exacerbate or reduce inequalities in health and well-being among older adults. The paper concludes that social policy for aging societies' specific key pillars (healthcare and social care research) offers opportunities for analyzing and understanding internal dynamics including the effects of policy implementation for inequalities in health and well-being at older ages, therefore enabling the identification of strategies to improve older adults' circumstances, without which older adult population will far outpace elder care provision.

Differences in Coping Strategies Between Young and Older Adults: The Role of Executive Functions

Executive functions (EFs) have been identified as processes in the ability to select and apply adaptive strategies for coping with stress. This study compares executive functioning, short-term memory, and coping in a sample of young and older adults with no prior diagnosis of depression and with normal cognitive function ( N = 216). The study collected measures of depression, EFs, short-term memory, and coping. Young participants scored higher than older adults on EFs and short-term memory. Moreover, in young adults, there was a prevalence of avoidance coping strategies. Scores on depressive symptomatology were found to be related to avoidant coping strategies. Older adults with higher score on inhibition used less avoidant coping. Thus, it seems that executive deficits might contribute to depression, as they affect processes for coping with stress. This finding may have implications for the role of EFs and coping in psychological well-being and successful adaptation of individuals to stressful situations.

Anxiety-Related Coping Styles, Social Support, and Internet Use Disorder

Objective: The Internet can offer a seemingly safe haven for those being disappointed by relationships in the "offline world". Although the Internet can provide lonely people with opportunities to seek for help and support online, complete withdrawal from the offline world comes with costs. It is discussed if people can even become "addicted" to the Internet. Of note, meanwhile, many researchers prefer the term Internet use disorder (IUD) instead of using the term "Internet addiction". To illustrate the importance of one's own social network supporting a person in everyday life, we investigated, for the first time to our knowledge, how social resources in terms of quality and quantity might represent a buffer against the development of IUD. Furthermore, anxiety related coping styles are investigated as a further independent variable likely impacting on the development of an IUD. Method: In the present work, N = 567 participants (n = 164 males and n = 403 females; M_age = 23.236; SD_age = 8.334) filled in a personality questionnaire assessing individual differences in cognitive avoidant and vigilant anxiety processing, ergo, traits describing individual differences in everyday coping styles/modes. Moreover, all participants provided information on individual differences in tendencies toward IUD, the perceived quality of social support received, and the size of their social network (hence a quantity measure). Results: Participants with larger social networks and higher scores in the received social support reported the lowest tendencies toward IUD in our data. A vigilant coping style was positively correlated with tendencies toward IUD, whereas no robust associations could be observed between a cognitive avoidant coping style and tendencies toward IUD. Hierarchical linear regression underlined an important predictive role of the interaction term of vigilance in ego-threat scenarios and perceived quality of social support. Conclusion: The current study not only yields support for the hypothesis that the size of one's own social network as well as the perceived quality of social support received in everyday life present putative resilience factors against developing IUD. It also supports the approach that special coping styles are needed to make use of the social support offered.

Idle minds are the devil's tools? Coping, depressed mood and divergent thinking in older adults

OBJECTIVES

The main aim was to test a causal relations model of the problem-focused and emotion-focused coping styles, depressed mood, and divergent thinking (DT) in older adults. It was hypothesized that both forms of coping would have a significant effect on predicting depressed mood, and that problem-focused coping and depressed mood would have a significant effect on DT.

METHOD

Participants were 135 subjects with ages ranging between 55 and 84 years old, who took part in a personal interview and filled out several questionnaires. The statistical analysis included structural equations models (SEM).

RESULTS

The initial model led to a final model endorsed by the goodness of fit, composite reliability, and discriminant validity indexes. This model confirms a direct relationship between the two types of coping strategies and depressed mood (with the opposite sign), but not between rational coping and DT. Finally, depressed mood was also confirmed as a mediator variable between coping and DT.

CONCLUSION

The type of coping is a clear predictor of mood in older adults. Advanced age decline is not necessarily translated into inefficacy in everyday problem solving especially in those who, through proble-focused coping, avoid depressed moods and maintain good levels of DT.

Profiles in emotional aging: does age matter?

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this research project was to define emotional profiles in elderly people and to analyze the presence of each one in different age groups (from 65 to 74, 75 to 84, 85 to 94 and 95 to 104).

METHOD

The sample group comprised 257 elderly people not suffering from cognitive impairment who were independent in the Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. The following emotional variables were analyzed: positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, loneliness, and regulation strategies.

RESULTS

Cluster analyses revealed three emotional profiles: 'dissatisfied' (elderly people with high levels of negative affect and loneliness who are unhappy with their lives and use problem solving to regulate their emotions), 'happy' (those with good levels of positive affect and life satisfaction, low levels of loneliness and negative affect and little use of passive strategies), and 'resilient' (those with low levels of positive and negative affect and medium levels of loneliness who are more or less satisfied with their lives and who use passive strategies to regulate their emotions). A relationship was observed between age and profile. Among the under 85s, the most common profile was 'happy', while among the over 85s, the most common profile was 'resilient.' The 'happy' profile was also observed in participants over the age of 85, although to a lesser extent. The prevalence of the 'dissatisfied' profile decreased with age.

CONCLUSION

These results highlight the fact that although age seems to be a key factor in determining profile, individual differences should not be overlooked, even among the oldest old.

Age-related physical and psychological vulnerability as pathways to problem gambling in older adults

Background To inform clinical treatment and preventative efforts, there is an important need to understand the pathways to late-life gambling disorder. Aims This study assesses the association between age-related physical health, social networks, and problem gambling in adults aged over 65 years and assesses the mediating role of affective disorders in this association. Methods The sample comprised 595 older adults (mean age: 74.4 years, range: 65-94 years; 77.1% female) who were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to assess physical frailty, geriatric pain, loneliness, geriatric depression, geriatric anxiety, and problem gambling. Results Pathway analysis demonstrated associations between these variables and gambling problems, providing a good fit for the data, but that critically these relationships were mediated by both anxiety and depression symptoms. Conclusions This study indicates that late-life problem gambling may develop as vulnerable individuals gamble to escape anxiety and depression consequent to deteriorating physical well-being and social support. When individuals develop late-life problem gambling, it is recommended that the treatment primarily focuses upon targeting and replacing avoidant coping approaches.

Coping strategies in Spanish older adults: a MIMIC model of socio-demographic characteristics and activity level

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to analyze the combined effect of socio-demographic characteristics and activity level on coping strategies and to test which of these variables has a greater impact on coping.

METHOD

A sample of 243 men and women aged 55-99 years old was selected from different elderly activity centers in Granada, Spain, using a convenience sampling. Associations between eight coping strategies measured by Coping Strategies Inventory and the above mentioned variables were examined using a Multiple Indicator and Multiple Causes model.

RESULTS

Age was negatively related with problem solving, express emotions and social support. Activity level was positively related with problem solving, cognitive restructuring, express emotions and social support and it was negatively associated with social withdrawal. Gender only predicted the scores in self-criticism and living alone was related with higher emotional expression. Participation in creative activities, attending University for the third age and practicing physical exercise were related with differences in the use of several coping strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a complex relationship between socio-demographic characteristics, activity level and the coping strategies used by the elderly. It is important to understand this relationship in order to identify older adults who use ineffective coping, and to subsequently include them in intervention programs to improve their coping abilities.

Mediation of effects of the level of response to alcohol and impulsivity 15 years later in 36-year-old men: Implications for prevention efforts

BACKGROUND

Although the prevalence of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) has increased in older individuals in the recent decade, there are few programs to mitigate that increase. The current analyses evaluate the feasibility of applying to older drinkers elements of an approach to prevent heavier drinking in young adults by focusing on mediators of effects of two risk factors for alcohol problems, low levels of response to alcohol (low LRs) and higher impulsivity.

METHODS

Data were extracted from the San Diego Prospective Study (SDPS). Structural Equation Models evaluated relationships among age 36 low LRs and higher impulsivity; age 46 perceived peer drinking, alcohol expectancies, and drinking to cope; and age 51 alcohol problems, even after controlling for age 36 alcohol problems.

RESULTS

Relationships of age 36 low LRs to later alcohol problems was both direct and linked to age 46 heavy drinking peers. LR also operated indirectly through peer drinking to alcohol expectancies and drinking to cope. Age 36 impulsivity had no direct path to later alcohol problems and operated primarily through mediation by alcohol expectancies and via expectancies to drinking to cope. After controlling for age 36 alcohol problems, the low LR and impulsivity results remained robust.

CONCLUSIONS

Programs for mitigating increases in alcohol problems in middle-age drinkers should consider identifying individuals with low LRs and/or higher impulsivity and implementing prevention approaches similar to a program used in young adults. The approach should emphasize some different mediators for older drinkers with low LRs and those with higher impulsivity.

Coping: Impact of Gender and Stressful Life Events in Middle and in Old Age

OBJECTIVES

This study seeks to identify different life events that participants considered stressful and to study the joint effect of gender, age group, and main stressful life events on the use of different coping strategies.

METHODS

The sample comprised 243 men and women, 55 to 99 years old, who attended senior activity centers. Analyses were conducted using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).

RESULTS

Three main categories of stressful life events were identified: health problems, family problems, and other problems. Significant main effects of gender and stressful life events, and marginal effects of age group on coping strategies were found. Furthermore, an interaction between gender and age group, and also between gender and stressful life events emerged in some of the coping strategies analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS

Age, gender or type of stressful situation impact on the coping strategies used by older people. Older men and women were found to use different strategies depending upon the situation they are facing and upon their age group. The results may prove useful to practitioners and clinicians who directly work with older people and may help clinicians provide effective coping strategies to address the specific life events that older adults find stressful.

Age differences among older adults in the use of emotion regulation strategies. What happens among over 85s and centenarians?

OBJECTIVE

Past research on emotion regulation strategies has concluded that older adults use more passive strategies than young adults. However, we found scarce research in this field focusing on the oldest old (i.e. those aged 85 and over). The aim of this study was to analyze whether or not differences exist in the way older adults aged 85 and over (centenarians included) use emotion regulation strategies, in comparison with younger age groups (65-74 and 75-84 years old).

METHOD

Participants were 257 older adults from Spain, all aged between 65 and 104. The sample was divided into four age groups: 65-74; 75-84; 85-94; and 95-104 years old. Participants completed the Strategy Questionnaire after reading each of the vignettes designed to elicit feelings of either sadness or anger. The questionnaire measures four types of regulation strategies: Passive, Express, Solve and Seek.

RESULTS

The 85-94 age group and centenarians were found to use proactive (Express, Seek) and Solve strategies less in comparison with younger age groups when regulating sadness and anger. In contrast, an increased use of Passive strategies was observed in the regulation of both emotions in the 85-94 age group. Significant differences were also found between centenarians and younger age groups in the use of Passive strategies for sadness, although not for anger.

CONCLUSION

Age differences were observed in the use of emotion regulation strategies, with older age groups using proactive strategies less and passive strategies more.

Social support, coping strategies and their correlations with older adults' relocation adjustments after natural disaster

AIM

The present study examines the associations among social support, coping strategies and relocation adjustment outcomes, including community cohesion, residential satisfaction and depressive symptoms, for older persons in Taiwan displaced by Typhoon Morakot.

METHODS

This study enrolled 372 adults aged 60 years or older who were relocated to permanent houses after Typhoon Morakot destroyed their homes on 8 August 2009. A path analysis simultaneously examined the hypothesized links among social support, coping strategies and relocation adjustment outcomes.

RESULTS

The relationships between coping strategies and relocation outcomes varied. Problem-focused and support-seeking coping were positively related to perceived community cohesion, whereas emotion-focused coping was associated with a high number of depressive symptoms. Social support was positively related to residential satisfaction. Additionally, social support was also indirectly related to increased community cohesion and residential satisfaction through its positive relationship with support-seeking and problem-focused coping.

CONCLUSIONS

More interventions should be implemented to enhance support within informal networks and a sense of belonging to the new resident community, thereby promoting more active coping strategies, enhancing the effectiveness of coping efforts and maximizing positive adjustment outcomes. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1006-1014.

Cultural and gender differences in coping strategies between Caucasian American and Korean American older people

Coping strategies have significant effects on older people's health. This study examined whether gender and ethnic differences influence the coping strategies chosen by older adults when they encounter daily life stressors. Data were collected from 444 community-dwelling people over the age of 65, including 238 Caucasian Americans and 206 Korean Americans. Results showed significant differences between the two groups. Korean Americans had higher scores on problem and emotion-focused coping strategies as well as avoidant coping strategies than Caucasian Americans. Caucasian older women employed more active coping, planning, and positive reframing skills; relied more on religion; and sought emotional support more than Caucasian men. For Korean Americans, older women utilized religion and denial; whereas older men employed instrumental support and substance abuse. The results suggest that practitioners should develop ethnic, gender-specific programs to help older adults cope more effectively with their daily life stressors.

Coping Strategies: Gender Differences and Development throughout Life Span

Development during life-span implies to cope with stressful events, and this coping may be done with several strategies. It could be useful to know if these coping strategies differ as a consequence of personal characteristics. This work uses the Coping with Stress Questionnaire with this aim using a sample of 400 participants. Specifically, the effects of gender and age group (young people, middle age and elderly), as well as its interaction on coping strategies is studied. With regard to age, on one hand, it is hypothesised a decrement in the use of coping strategies centred in problem solving and social support seeking as age increases. On the other hand, the use of emotional coping is hypothesised to increase with age. With respect to gender, it is hypothesised a larger use of emotional coping and social support seeking within women, and a larger use of problem solving within men. A MANOVA found significant effects for the two main effects (gender and age) as well as several interactions. Separate ANOVAs allowed us to test for potential differences in each of the coping strategies measured in the CAE. These results partially supported the hypotheses. Results are discussed in relation to scientific literature on coping, age and gender.

Social Resources and Change in Functional Health: Comparing Three Age Groups

This study examined the mediating and moderating role of social resources on the association between age and change in functional health for three age groups of older adults. Data were provided by those in their 60s, 80s, and 100s who participated in the first two phases of the Georgia Centenarian study. Analyses confirmed the study's hypothesis that social resources moderated the relationship between age group and change in functional health; in particular, centenarians who experienced the greatest decline in IADLs scored the highest on social resources at time 1. No evidence was found for mediation by social resources or a directional influence by either level of social resources or functional health on change in the other resource. Evidence from this study challenges researchers and service providers to consider the heterogeneity in resources among older adults.

Does age moderate the effect of personality disorder on coping style in psychiatric inpatients?

OBJECTIVE

To examine age-related differences in the relationship between personality and coping strategies in an Australian population of psychiatric inpatients.

METHOD

Consenting eligible adults (N=238) from 18-100 years of age consecutively admitted to inpatient psychiatry units were assessed using the SCID I and II, the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced Scale (COPE), the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), the 12 Item Short-Form Heath Survey (SF12), the Sarason Social Support Questionnaire, and the NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) (cognitively impaired, and non-English speaking patients were excluded).

RESULTS

Older adults reported less symptomatology than younger patients and younger patients described more personality dysfunction than older patients. As assessed by the COPE, older adults reported lower levels of dysfunctional coping strategies than younger adults. Personality traits, social supports, gender, and age predicted coping strategies, while Axis I diagnosis, education, personality disorder, and symptom severity were not significant predictors of coping strategies.

CONCLUSION

This study found that influences on coping were multifactorial and moderated by age. These factors have implications for interventions designed to enhance coping strategies.

Age differences and changes in resources essential to aging well: a comparison of sexagenarians, octogenarians, and centenarians

THIS STUDY EXAMINED CHANGE OVER TIME IN FIVE RESOURCES ASSESSED BY THE DUKE OARS MULTIDISCIPLINARY FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE: social, economic, mental, physical, and functional resources. Two hundred and one participants in the Georgia Centenarian Study provided data for this longitudinal study: 70 sexagenarians, 63 octogenarians, and 68 centenarians. Those in their 60s and 80s were followed up within 60 months; due to mortality attrition, centenarians were followed up within 20 months. Centenarians experienced the lowest levels of resources relative to those in their 80s and 60s. Over time they primarily experienced loss in activities of daily living, highlighting that the ability to maximize gains and mitigate losses over time for older adults is highly associated with various resources essential to well-being. Findings suggest that older adults'-especially the very old-resources should be concurrently assessed in a multidimensional analysis by researchers and practitioners who work with older adults in various settings.

Typologies of extreme longevity myths

Purpose. Political, national, religious, and other motivations have led the media and even scientists to errantly accept extreme longevity claims prima facie. We describe various causes of false claims of extraordinary longevity. Design and Methods. American Social Security Death Index files for the period 1980-2009 were queried for individuals with birth and death dates yielding ages 110+ years of age. Frequency was compared to a list of age-validated supercentenarians maintained by the Gerontology Research Group who died during the same time period. Age claims of 110+ years and the age validation experiences of the authors facilitated a list of typologies of false age claims. Results. Invalid age claim rates increase with age from 65% at age 110-111 to 98% by age 115 to 100% for 120+ years. Eleven typologies of false claims were: Religious Authority Myth, Village Elder Myth, Fountain of Youth Myth (substance), Shangri-La Myth (geographic), Nationalist Pride, Spiritual Practice, Familial Longevity, Individual and/or Family Notoriety, Military Service, Administrative Entry Error, and Pension-Social Entitlement Fraud. Conclusions. Understanding various causes of false extreme age claims is important for placing current, past, and future extreme longevity claims in context and for providing a necessary level of skepticism.

Reported coping strategies and depressive symptoms among African American and white residents of congregate housing

Chronic health conditions and living in congregate housing, both stressors and losses, are risk factors for late life depressive symptoms. We examined self-reported coping strategies and their associations with depressive symptoms among residents of congregate living facilities. Despite demographic differences between the African American and the White participants, reported coping for the 2 groups was similar, though more African Americans reported spiritual coping. Participants who reported coping through either positive attitude and adaptations or activity participation had fewer depressive symptoms, after controlling for demographics, health, functioning, and other types of coping.

Synergy between molecular and contextual views of coping among four ethnic groups of older adults

The coping styles of four ethnic groups of older adults in response to negative life events were analyzed in a population-based study of 1118 residents of Brooklyn, New York. Using a molecular approach, data regarding the context of events and the corresponding coping responses was obtained. Open-ended semi-structured interviews allowed participants to describe recent negative life events and explain how they coped. An empirically derived coding system distinguished four major negative life events: Death, Illness/Injury, Empathic Response to Distress of Others, and Interpersonal Conflict. Nine major styles of coping emerged: Medicate, Active Coping, Passive Response, Prayer, Stoicism, Social Support, Positive Self-Talk, Acknowledgment of Emotions, and Distraction. Gender and ethnic differences in coping styles were found. Although ethnic specificity in coping emerged when context was considered, the few effects of ethnicity suggests that the major normative events of later life may pull for generic coping responses.

Health Aspirations in the Context of Age and Self-rated Health

The present research examined the respondents’ preferences for approach and avoidance health aspirations (i.e. health related life goals) in relation to their age and self-rated health (SRH) in a representative Hungarian sample ( N = 4841). Higher age predicted stronger preference for both orientations of health aspirations while SRH attenuated this relationship for approach and amplified it for avoidance health aspiration. Bad SRH predicted elevated preference for approach health aspirations in younger age while it predicted greater preference for avoidance aspirations in older age. Results and implications are discussed with reference to aging and health.

Centenarians--a useful model for healthy aging? A 29-year follow-up of hospitalizations among 40,000 Danes born in 1905

Centenarians surpass the current human life expectancy with about 20-25 years. However, whether centenarians represent healthy aging still remains an open question. Previous studies have been hampered by a number of methodological shortcomings such as a cross-sectional design and lack of an appropriate control group. In a longitudinal population-based cohort, it was examined whether the centenarian phenotype may be a useful model for healthy aging. The study was based on a complete follow up of 39,945 individuals alive in the Danish 1905 birth cohort on January 1, 1977 identified through the Danish Civil Registration System (DCRS). Data from the Danish Demographic Database and The Danish National Patient Register (in existence since 1977) were used. The 1905 cohort was followed up from 1977 through 2004 with respect to hospitalizations and number of hospital days. Survival status was available until December 2006. Danish centenarians from the 1905 cohort were hospitalized substantially less than their shorter-lived contemporaries at the same point in time during the years 1977 through 2004. For example, at age 71-74, the proportion of nonhospitalized centenarians was 80.5% compared with 68.4% among individuals who died in their early 80s. This trend was evident in both sexes. As a result of their lower hospitalization rates and length of stay in hospital compared with their contemporaries, who died at younger ages, Danish centenarians represent healthy agers. Centenarians constitute a useful study population in the search for fixed traits associated with exceptional longevity, such as genotype.