Social network size, loneliness, physical functioning and depressive symptoms among older adults: examining reciprocal associations in four waves of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA)

Aim of the current study is to examine whether previous depressive symptoms modify possible effects of religiousness on mood in the last week of life. After-death interviews with proxy respondents of deceased sample members of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam provided information on depressed mood in the last week of life, as well as on the presence of a sense of peace with the approaching end of life. Other characteristics were derived from interviews with the sample members when still alive. Significant interactions were identified between measures of religiousness and previous depressive symptoms (CES-D scores) in their associations with mood in the last week of life. Among those withpreviousdepressive symptoms, church-membership, church-attendance and salience of religion were associated with a greater likelihood of depressed mood in the last week of life. Among thosewithoutprevious depressive symptoms, church-attendance and salience of religion were associated with a higher likelihood of a sense of peace. For older adults in the last phase of life, supportive effects of religiousness were more or less expected. Fore those with recent depressive symptoms, however, religiousness might involve a component of existential doubt.

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Older adults report cancellation or avoidance of medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam

European Geriatric Medicine ◽

10.1007/s41999-021-00514-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Noah A. Schuster ◽

Sascha de Breij ◽

Laura A. Schaap ◽

Natasja M. van Schoor ◽

Mike J. L. Peters ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Primary Care ◽

Medical Care ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Multiple Chronic Conditions ◽

Hospital Outpatient ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽

Aging Study ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study

Abstract Purpose Delay of routine medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic may have serious consequences for the health and functioning of older adults. The aim of this study was to investigate whether older adults reported cancellation or avoidance of medical care during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore associations with health and socio-demographic characteristics. Methods Cross-sectional data of 880 older adults aged ≥ 62 years (mean age 73.4 years, 50.3% female) were used from the COVID-19 questionnaire of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, a cohort study among community-dwelling older adults in the Netherlands. Cancellation and avoidance of care were assessed by self-report, and covered questions on cancellation of primary care (general practitioner), cancellation of hospital outpatient care, and postponed help-seeking. Respondent characteristics included age, sex, educational level, loneliness, depression, anxiety, frailty, multimorbidity and information on quarantine. Results 35% of the sample reported cancellations due to the COVID-19 situation, either initiated by the respondent (12%) or by healthcare professionals (29%). Postponed help-seeking was reported by 8% of the sample. Multimorbidity was associated with healthcare-initiated cancellations (primary care OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.09–3.50; hospital OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.28–2.74) and respondent-initiated hospital outpatient cancellations (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.04–4.12). Depressive symptoms were associated with postponed help-seeking (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.06–1.24). Conclusion About one third of the study sample reported cancellation or avoidance of medical care during the first months of the pandemic, and this was more common among those with multiple chronic conditions. How this impacts outcomes in the long term should be investigated in future research.

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Predictors in starting and stopping Internet use between 2002 and 2012 by Dutch adults 65 years and older

Health Informatics Journal ◽

10.1177/1460458217720398 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 715-730 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jessica Berner ◽

Marja Aartsen ◽

Dorly Deeg

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Internet Use ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Demographic Predictors ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽

Aging Study ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study ◽

Normal Cognition ◽

High Sense

Research has indicated the need to consider the ageing process with technology adoption by older adults. This study examined psychological, health, social and demographic predictors with starting and stopping Internet use by older adults (2002–2012). Data were used from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, and Cox regression analyses were done to test predictors over time with starting or stopping Internet use. The results indicated that older adults starting to use the Internet (11.6%) outnumbered those who stopped (3.1%). Psychological, health, social and demographic predictors separately predicted starting and stopping Internet use. Starting use was predicted by lower age, higher education, normal cognition and living alone. The predictors in stopping use were being younger, having a high sense of mastery and being higher educated. The results need to be interpreted as indicative due to the small number of stoppers. Suggestions are made on how to improve usability.

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TRENDS IN LIFESTYLE AMONG 3 GENERATIONS OF OLDER ADULTS; THE LONGITUDINAL AGING STUDY AMSTERDAM

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnw162.1818 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 56 (Suppl_3) ◽

pp. 455-455

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽

Aging Study ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study

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Aircraft noise control policy and mental health: a natural experiment based on the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA)

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ◽

10.1136/jech-2020-214264 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. jech-2020-214264

Author(s):

Liming Li ◽

Ludovico Carrino ◽

Erica Reinhard ◽

Erik Timmermans ◽

Martijn Huisman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Noise Control ◽

Control Policy ◽

Aircraft Noise ◽

Noise Levels ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽

Aging Study ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study ◽

The New Deal ◽

Aircraft Noise Control

BackgroundThis study examines the impact of environmental noise policy on depressive symptoms by exploiting the national experiment afforded by the New Deal aircraft noise control policy introduced in Schiphol (Amsterdam) in 2008.MethodsData came from older adults (ages 57–102) participating in three waves (2005/2006, 2008/2009 and 2011/2012) of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) (N=1746). Aircraft noise data from the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency were linked to LASA cohort addresses using the GeoDMS software. The Centre for Epidemiologic Studies—Depression (CES-D) scale was used to measure depressive symptoms. Using a difference-in-dfferences (DiD) approach, we compared changes in CES-D levels of depressive symptoms before and after the policy between people living close (≤15 km) and those living far away (>15 km) from Schiphol airport.ResultsThere were few changes in noise levels after the introduction of the policy. Estimates suggested that the policy did not lead to a reduction in noise levels in the treatment areas relative to the control areas (DiD estimate=0.916 dB(A), SE=0.345), and it had no significant impact on levels of depressive symptoms (DiD estimate=0.044, SE=0.704). Results were robust to applying different distance thresholds.ConclusionThe New Deal aircraft noise control policy introduced in Amsterdam was not effective in reducing aircraft noise levels and had no impact on depressive symptoms in older people. Our results raise questions about the effectiveness of the current noise control policy to improve the well-being of residents living near the airport.

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Associations of systemic inflammation with frontotemporal functional network connectivity and out-degree social-network size in community-dwelling older adults

Brain Behavior and Immunity ◽

10.1016/j.bbi.2019.01.025 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 79 ◽

pp. 309-313

Author(s):

Minji Bang ◽

Junsol Kim ◽

Suk Kyoon An ◽

Yoosik Youm ◽

Jeanyung Chey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Network ◽

Systemic Inflammation ◽

Network Connectivity ◽

Network Size ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Functional Network ◽

Functional Network Connectivity ◽

Social Network Size ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

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Adverse effects of frailty on social functioning in older adults: Results from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam

Maturitas ◽

10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.09.002 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 83 ◽

pp. 45-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Emiel O. Hoogendijk ◽

Bianca Suanet ◽

Elsa Dent ◽

Dorly J.H. Deeg ◽

Marja J. Aartsen

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Adverse Effects ◽

Social Functioning ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽

Aging Study ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study

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Associations Between Social Support, Social Networks, and Financial Exploitation in Older Adults

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/0733464816642584 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (8) ◽

pp. 990-1011 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Scott R. Beach ◽

Richard Schulz ◽

Rodlescia Sneed

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Social Network ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

Population Based ◽

Network Size ◽

Social Network Size ◽

Financial Exploitation ◽

The Social

Social support and social networks are important correlates of elder mistreatment. This study tests hypothesized associations between perceived social support, social network size, and financial exploitation (FE). A population-based survey of 903 older adults (60+) in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) found that lower perceived social support and larger social networks were simultaneously associated with higher risk for FE since age 60, controlling for known risk factors. The same associations were found for FE in the last 6 months. Older adults with larger social networks combined with lower perceived social support were most likely to report FE. When it comes to the role of social relationships and risk for FE, “more may not always be better.” Encouragement to widen the social network by “making new friends” should be stressed less than making sure these new network members will truly be supportive of the older adult.

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Three-year trajectories in Functional Limitations and Cognitive Decline among Dutch 75+ year olds, using nine-month intervals

10.21203/rs.3.rs-142036/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maura Gardeniers ◽

Marjolein Broese van Groenou ◽

Erik Jan Meijboom ◽

Martijn Huisman

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Functional Limitations ◽

Future Research ◽

Short Version ◽

Time Intervals ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽

Aging Study ◽

Mini Mental Status Examination ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study

Abstract Background Using longitudinal panel data, the aim of this study was to first identify three-year trajectories in cognitive and physical functioning among Dutch older adults. And second, to identify which main characteristics were associated with these trajectories. Methods Group-based Trajectory Modelling with mortality jointly estimated was used to identify trajectories, using a scale composed of 6 Activities of Daily Living (ADL) as a measure of physical functioning, and a short version of the mini mental status examination (sMMSE) or the IQCODE as a measure of cognitive functioning. Data came from 574 Dutch adults aged 75+, collected in five nine-month measurement waves conducted between 2015 and 2018 for the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. Results Five trajectories in physical functioning were identified: ‘high’, ‘moderate’, ‘steeply declining’, ‘gradually declining’, and ‘continuously low’. People that were older, lower educated, living in an institution, or suffered from diabetes or cerebrovascular accidents were more likely to follow a low or declining physical trajectory. For cognitive functioning four trajectories were identified: a ‘high’, ‘moderate’, ‘declining’, and ‘low’ trajectory. Old age, low education, living in an institution, and heart- and lung diseases were associated with continuously low or declining cognitive functioning. Mortality risks were highest among those experiencing the continuously low functioning trajectories. Conclusions This study identified trajectories comparable to previous studies that used longer time intervals, showing the consistent presence of heterogeneity in both physical and cognitive trajectories. Co-modelling mortality resulted in bigger group sizes for the more adverse trajectories. The favourable trajectories, containing most of the participants, were mostly characterized by absence of disease, whereas trajectories showing decline did not share a common indicator. Specific chronic diseases were associated with different rates of decline, however there was no factor that was associated with all declining trajectories; future research could focus on finding such an indicator.

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