scholarly journals The link between vision impairment and depressive symptomatology in late life: does having a partner matter?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Amilon ◽  
Anu Siren
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Spillover Effects ◽  
Vision Impairment ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Partnership Status ◽  
Negative Link

AbstractVisual impairment contributes to poor mental health among older adults by restricting everyday functioning and participation. This study examined whether the negative link between vision impairment and depressive symptomatology was less severe among partnered than among single older adults. We merged data from a survey among people with vision impairment with a reference population from the most recent wave of the Danish Longitudinal Study of Ageing (DLSA) (N = 5831 Mage = 74.37, range: 65–97 years, 53.1% female), investigating whether paths from poor vision via three mediators—functional limitations, emotional support and participation in social activities—to depressive symptomatology differ by partnership status. Structural equation modeling suggested that the direct path from vision impairment to depressive symptomatology is more than twice as strong for single than for partnered older adults. Thus being partnered reduces the negative link from vision impairment to depressive symptomatology. However, the path from vision impairment to emotional support is significantly stronger among single than among partnered individuals. Thus negative spillover effects from the visual impairment on the non-impaired partner’s mental health may compromise that partner’s ability to provide emotional support. Taking into account both partnership status and the mental health of both partners may help professionals more precisely target interventions aimed at reducing the risk of depression in visually impaired older adults.

scholarly journals Which Psychosocial Factors Best Predict Cognitive Performance in Older Adults?

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 487-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura B. Zahodne ◽  
Cindy J. Nowinski ◽  
Richard C. Gershon ◽  
Jennifer J. Manly
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Psychosocial Factors ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Psychosocial Variables

AbstractNegative affect (e.g., depression) is associated with accelerated age-related cognitive decline and heightened dementia risk. Fewer studies examine positive psychosocial factors (e.g., emotional support, self-efficacy) in cognitive aging. Preliminary reports suggest that these variables predict slower cognitive decline independent of negative affect. No reports have examined these factors in a single model to determine which best relate to cognition. Data from 482 individuals 55 and older came from the normative sample for the NIH Toolbox for the Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function. Negative and positive psychosocial factors, executive functioning, working memory, processing speed, and episodic memory were measured with the NIH Toolbox Emotion and Cognition modules. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling characterized independent relations between psychosocial factors and cognition. Psychosocial variables loaded onto negative and positive factors. Independent of education, negative affect and health status, greater emotional support was associated with better task-switching and processing speed. Greater self-efficacy was associated with better working memory. Negative affect was not independently associated with any cognitive variables. Findings support the conceptual distinctness of negative and positive psychosocial factors in older adults. Emotional support and self-efficacy may be more closely tied to cognition than other psychosocial variables. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–9)

scholarly journals Using structural equation modeling in the understanding of functional disability in older adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darlene Mara dos Santos Tavares ◽  
Nayara Gomes Nunes Oliveira ◽  
Flavia Aparecida Dias Marmo ◽  
Joilson Meneguci
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Functional Disability ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Likelihood Method ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Cross Sectional

Objective: to analyze functional disability and its associated factors among community-dwelling older adults. Method: a cross-sectional study, conducted with 1,635 older adults distributed in the following age groups: 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and 80 years old or more, living in a health macro-region of the state of Minas Gerais. Descriptive and trajectory analysis was carried out (p<0.05). The parameters were estimated by the Maximum Likelihood method. Results: the highest percentage was female, with a monthly income of 1 minimum wage and living with a companion. In the age groups from 60 to 69 and from 70 to 79 years old, older adults with a partner predominated; and, among those aged 80 years old or more, widowed individuals prevailed. In the three groups, functional disability occurred hierarchically. Lower schooling, frailty and depressive symptomatology were factors directly associated with functional disability in the advanced activities; frailty and sedentary behavior were directly associated with functional disability in the instrumental activities. In the older adults aged between 60 and 69 years old and from 70 to 79 years old, sedentary behavior was associated with greater dependence on the basic activities. Conclusion: the expanded understanding of the factors in the functional disability of the older adults, according to age group, helps the health professional in the development of preventive measures for this disease.

scholarly journals Mastery and self-esteem mediate the association between visual acuity and mental health: a population-based longitudinal cohort study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilde PA van der Aa ◽  
Ivar M Maaswinkel ◽  
Ger HMB van Rens ◽  
Aartjan TF Beekman ◽  
Jos WR Twisk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Longitudinal Cohort Study ◽  
Longitudinal Cohort ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Sense Of Mastery

Abstract Background With deteriorating eyesight, people often become dependent on others for many aspects of their daily lives. As a result, they feel less ‘in control’ and experience lower self-esteem. Lower sense of mastery and self-esteem are known to predict depression, but their roles in people with visual impairment remain unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the influence of mastery and self-esteem on the relationship between visual acuity and mental health. Methods A longitudinal cohort study was performed using data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). Data on vision was available from the fifth cycle (2001), with a mean follow-up of 5.9 years. A community-based population was studied, containing older adults from eleven municipalities in three culturally distinct geographical regions in the Netherlands. A total of 2599 older adults (aged 55 to 85 years at baseline) were included, who were randomly selected from population registers in 1992. The first (2001) and last (2012) included measurements contained 1961 and 1522 participants, respectively. Primary study outcomes were logMAR visual acuity, sense of mastery, self-esteem, depression and anxiety. Instead of standard questionnaire scores, latent trait scores (θ) were obtained through -) Item Response Theory (IRT-) analysis. Results Mean age was 72 years, with 56% females and 2% qualifying as low vision. Visual impairment was associated with a lower sense of mastery (β = -0.477, p < 0.001), lower self-esteem (β = -0.166, p = 0.008) and more depression (β = 0.235, p < 0.001). No significant association between visual acuity and anxiety was found. The relationship between visual acuity and depression was mediated partially by self-esteem (25%) and fully by sense of mastery (76%). Conclusions Vision loss was associated with depression. This association was mediated by self-esteem and sense of mastery. This provides us with new possibilities to identify, support and treat those at risk for developing depression by aiming to increase their self-esteem and sense of mastery.

scholarly journals The Association Between Health, Social Engagement, and Psychological Well-Being Among Older Adults in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 95-96
Author(s):  
Yuekang Li
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Coping Resources ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Stress Process

Abstract Psychological health and health-related quality of life of older adults have been long minimized by caregivers, service providers and the society in developing countries, such as China. According to the Stress Process Model, the stress of physical disadvantages influences mental health outcomes directly and indirectly. However, being socially engaged has the potential to reduce disease burden and improve psychological wellbeing of older adults. The purpose of this study is to examine the role played by social engagement in the pathway through which physical health predicts mental health. Using the WHO Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health China wave 2010, 6,276 individuals ages 60 years and older were included for analyses. Structural equation modeling was used to construct a directional path leading from the functioning and chronic disease, impacting the social engagement, in turn impacting the psychological wellbeing. All variables in this model are latent constructs. Functioning and chronic diseases in later life were associated with social engagement and psychological wellbeing, and the link between social engagement and psychological wellbeing was also significant. The effect of function was greater than that of chronic diseases. Though the significant indirect effect of physical health on psychological wellbeing was not supported in this study, this study suggests the multiple roles of social engagement as coping resources in the stress process of physical impairment and illness of older adults. This present study also adds to the existing literature by exploring how SEM methods can be applied to studies of social engagement.

scholarly journals Migration Status, Internet Use, and Social Participation among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China: Consequences for Depression

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (16) ◽  
pp. 6007
Author(s):  
Qian Liu ◽  
Haimin Pan ◽  
Yuanyuan Wu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Migration Status

This study aimed to examine the underlying relationship between migration status and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in China. Data were derived from three waves of panel data (2011, 2013, and 2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Two-level regression models and generalized structural equation modeling were run to fit the data. The results showed that migration status of the respondents could ameliorate their depression (β = −0.02, p < 0.01), so did internet use (β = −0.02, p < 0.001), and social participation (β = −0.06, p < 0.001). The indirect effects of migration status on depression through internet use and of internet use on depression through social participation existed. The effects of migration status, internet use, and social participation in decreasing depression were discussed. Provided the associations among migration status, internet use, social participation, and depression, attention should be paid on increasing protective aspects of migration among middle-aged and older adults, such as internet use and social participation, to enhance their mental health.

scholarly journals “We can’t carry the weight of the whole world”: illness experiences among Peruvian older adults with symptoms of depression and anxiety

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar Flores-Flores ◽  
Alejandro Zevallos-Morales ◽  
Ivonne Carrión ◽  
Dalia Pawer ◽  
Lorena Rey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Illness Experiences ◽  
Mental Health Interventions

Abstract Background Despite the high levels of depression and anxiety symptoms in old age, the use of mental health services in this population is low. Help-seeking behaviors are shaped by how an individual perceives and experiences their illness. The objective of this study was to characterize the illness experiences of Peruvian older adults with depression and anxiety symptoms in order to lay the foundation for tailored community-based mental health interventions. Methods In this qualitative study, we conducted in-depth interviews with a purposively selected sample of older adults (≥ 60 years) from peri-urban areas of Lima, Peru. We included individuals with only depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 ≥ 10), only anxiety symptoms (Beck Anxiety Inventory ≥ 16), with depressive and anxiety symptoms, and older adults who mentioned they had received mental health treatment/care. The interview guide included the following topics: perceptions and experiences about depression and anxiety; perceptions about the relationship between physical chronic diseases and mental health; experiences with mental health professionals and treatments, and coping mechanisms. Data collection was conducted between October 2018 and February 2019. Results We interviewed 38 participants (23 women, 15 men) with a mean age of 67.9 years. Participants’ ideas and perceptions of depression and anxiety showed considerable overlap. Participants attributed depression and anxiety mainly to familial and financial problems, loneliness, loss of independence and past traumatic experiences. Coping strategies used by older adults included ‘self-reflection and adaptation’ to circumstances, ‘do your part’, and seeking ‘emotional support’ mainly from non-professionals (relatives, friends, acquaintances, and religion). Conclusions Illness experiences of depression and anxiety set the pathway for tailored community-based mental health interventions for older adults. Overlapping narratives and perceptions of depression and anxiety suggest that these conditions should be addressed together. Mental health interventions should incorporate addressing areas related to depression and anxiety such as prevention of loss of independence, trauma, and loneliness. Good acceptability of receiving emotional support for non-professionals might offer an opportunity to incorporate them when delivering mental health care to older adults.

scholarly journals Social Capital and Mental Health among Older Adults Living in Urban China in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 7947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Sun ◽  
Nan Lu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Urban China ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Cognitive Social Capital ◽  
Structural Social Capital

Although social capital has been found to be an important social determinant of mental health in later life, research on social capital in the context of COVID-19 and the interplay among subdimensions of social capital is lacking. The present study examined the mediating role of cognitive social capital on the relationship between structural social capital and mental health among older adults in urban China in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from the Yangpu district in Shanghai, China, in July–August 2020. A quota sampling approach was used to recruit 472 respondents aged 60 years and older from 23 communities in the Yangpu district. Mental health was measured by depressive symptoms and life satisfaction. Cognitive social capital was assessed through trust and reciprocity, and structural social capital was assessed through organization memberships, and COVID-19 related volunteering and citizenship activity. Structural equation modeling was used to test the mediation model. The results show that cognitive social capital had a full mediation effect on the association between structural social capital and mental health indicators (life satisfaction: b = 0.122, SD = 0.029, p < 0.001; depressive symptoms: b = −0.343, SD = 0.119, p < 0.01). The findings indicate that social capital can play an important role in sustaining and improving mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Policy and intervention implications are discussed.

scholarly journals Does Self-Efficacy and Team Leader Equity Matter for Older Workers’ Mental Health?

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 996-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mi Sun Choi ◽  
Holly Dabelko-Schoeny ◽  
Mo Yee Lee ◽  
Alicia C Bunger
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Working Life ◽  
Team Leader ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background and Objectives Prolonged working life is not necessarily associated with good mental health. Despite the importance of healthy working life in later years, little research has been conducted on predictors of mental health in the workplace among older workers. This study aimed to investigate how personal (self-efficacy) and team (leader equity) factors are associated with older workers’ mental health through work engagement. Research Design and Methods We analyzed responses of 508 U.S. workers aged 50 years and older from the Age and Generations Study data using structural equation modeling. Results Results showed that perceived self-efficacy was a strong predictor of mental health. Also, work engagement was a powerful mechanism for promoting older adults’ mental health; engagement partially mediated the relationship between perceived self-efficacy and mental health, and fully mediated the relationship between team leader equity and mental health. Discussion and Implications The findings highlight how important it is for employers to invest in human capital development, suggesting human resource programs should focus on strategies that target older adults’ engagement through tailored self-efficacy programs and inclusive leadership training programs. Such attempts would contribute to enhancing the mental health of older workers.

Mental Health among Older Adults with Caregiving Needs: The Role of Social Networks

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-167
Author(s):  
Fengyan Tang ◽  
Heejung Jang ◽  
Elizabeth A Mulvaney ◽  
Jane Seoyoon Lee ◽  
Donald Musa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Informal Social Support ◽  
Social Network Size

Abstract A major challenge facing an aging society is the increased caregiving needs among community-dwelling older adults with chronic conditions. Reliance on social relations may help address caregiving needs and maintain older adults’ mental well-being. This study examines the roles of different aspects of social relations—social network size, social support, and service use—in the association between caregiving needs and mental health status (MHS). Using a sample of adults age 55 and over in an urban setting, authors tested the direct, mediation, and moderation effects models of social relations. Structural equation modeling was applied and latent variables of caregiving needs, MHS, and social network size were identified. Results showed that caregiving needs and informal social support (that is, network size, positive support, and negative strain) were directly related to MHS and that informal social support partially mediated the negative effect of caregiving needs on MHS; by contrast, service use moderated the association, indicating that those with caregiving needs who used more services were in better MHS than their counterparts with less service use. Findings point to the importance of social work interventions aimed at improving social relations and enhancing awareness and access to social services.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document