One slope does not fit all: longitudinal trajectories of quality of life in older adulthood

Abstract Evidence that loneliness and isolation are precursors to myriad negative health issues is accumulating. For older adults, social engagement may be particularly important due to life-changing events that can accompany older adulthood, including retirement, disease, or mobility limitations. Individuals vary in their levels of social engagement, and these differences may have consequential effects on quality of life. Technology has the potential to create and enhance social engagement opportunities for older adults at risk for social isolation. For such technology innovations to be effective and widely adopted, designers must consider the unique needs, capabilities, limitations, and preferences of older adults. I will describe technologies that currently exist (e.g., apps, mobile devices, social networking) or are being developed (e.g., robotics, telepresence, virtual reality) to support social engagement, connectedness, and community participation. I will discuss the potential of these technologies as well as the design and training challenges unique to older adults.

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Goal Adjustment, Purpose, and Quality of Life in Older Adulthood

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e517122008-001 ◽

2008 ◽

Author(s):

Tal Aviram ◽

Carsten Wrosch

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adulthood ◽

Goal Adjustment

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Biomarkers of Inflammation Mediate an Association Between Sexual Activity and Quality of Life in Older Adulthood

Journal of Sexual Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.jsxm.2017.03.247 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 654-658 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mark S. Allen

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Sexual Activity ◽

Older Adulthood

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Quality of life of sarcoma patients from diagnosis to treatments: Predictors and longitudinal trajectories

European Journal of Oncology Nursing ◽

10.1016/j.ejon.2011.01.001 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 492-499 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Tiago Paredes ◽

Marco Pereira ◽

Helena Moreira ◽

Mário R. Simões ◽

Maria Cristina Canavarro

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Longitudinal Trajectories

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Longitudinal Trajectories of Quality of Life and Depression by Housing Tenure Status

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbx028 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 73 (8) ◽

pp. e165-e174 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Agnes Szabo ◽

Joanne Allen ◽

Fiona Alpass ◽

Christine Stephens

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Housing Tenure ◽

Tenure Status ◽

Longitudinal Trajectories

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Self-Compassion and Quality of Life in Adults Who Stutter

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology ◽

10.1044/2020_ajslp-20-00055 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 2097-2108

Author(s):

Robyn L. Croft ◽

Courtney T. Byrd

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

The Self ◽

Future Research ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Adults Who Stutter ◽

And Gender ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.

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Misophonia: An Evidence-Based Case Report

American Journal of Audiology ◽

10.1044/2020_aja-19-00111 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 685-690

Author(s):

C. S. Vanaja ◽

Miriam Soni Abigail

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Case Report ◽

Case History ◽

Pure Tone ◽

Physiological Responses ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Management Option ◽

Pure Tone Audiogram

Purpose Misophonia is a sound tolerance disorder condition in certain sounds that trigger intense emotional or physiological responses. While some persons may experience misophonia, a few patients suffer from misophonia. However, there is a dearth of literature on audiological assessment and management of persons with misophonia. The purpose of this report is to discuss the assessment of misophonia and highlight the management option that helped a patient with misophonia. Method A case study of a 26-year-old woman with the complaint of decreased tolerance to specific sounds affecting quality of life is reported. Audiological assessment differentiated misophonia from hyperacusis. Management included retraining counseling as well as desensitization and habituation therapy based on the principles described by P. J. Jastreboff and Jastreboff (2014). A misophonia questionnaire was administered at regular intervals to monitor the effectiveness of therapy. Results A detailed case history and audiological evaluations including pure-tone audiogram and Johnson Hyperacusis Index revealed the presence of misophonia. The patient benefitted from intervention, and the scores of the misophonia questionnaire indicated a decrease in the severity of the problem. Conclusions It is important to differentially diagnose misophonia and hyperacusis in persons with sound tolerance disorders. Retraining counseling as well as desensitization and habituation therapy can help patients who suffer from misophonia.

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