scholarly journals The educational, racial and gender crossovers in life satisfaction: Findings from the longitudinal Health and Retirement Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 60-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Kathryn L. Braun ◽  
Yan Yan Wu
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Health And Retirement Study ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Retirement Study

scholarly journals Gender Modifies the Association of Cognition With Age-Related Hearing Impairment in the Health and Retirement Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Yuan ◽  
Shuping Sang ◽  
Jessica Pham ◽  
Wei-Jia Kong
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Health And Retirement Study ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
Female Sex ◽  
Hearing Acuity ◽  
Multivariable Models ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Retirement Study

Introduction: Despite growing recognition of hearing loss as a risk factor for late life cognitive disorders, sex and gender analysis of this association has been limited. Elucidating this is one means to advocate for holistic medicine by considering the psychosocial attributes of people. With a composite Gender Score (GS), we aimed to assess this among aging participants (50+) from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) cohort.Methods: The GS was derived from gender-related variables in HRS by factor analyses and logistic regression, ranging from 0 (toward masculinity) to 100 (toward femininity). GS tertiles were also used to indicate three gender types (GS tertile 1: lower GS indicates masculinity; GS tertile 2: middle GS indicates androgyny; GS tertile 3: higher GS indicates femininity). Univariate followed by multiple logistic regressions were used to estimate the Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of cognitive impairment (assessed by adapted Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status) from hearing acuity, as well as to explore the interactions of sex and gender with hearing acuity. The risk of cognitive impairment among hearing-impaired participants was assessed using multivariable models including sex and gender as exposure variables.Results: Five variables (taking risks, loneliness, housework, drinking, and depression) were retained to compute the GS for each participant. The distribution of GS between sexes partly overlapped. After adjusting for confounding factors, the OR for cognitive impairment associated with hearing impairment was significantly higher (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.15), and this association was not modified by female sex (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.46, 1.27), but by androgynous gender (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.81). In the multivariable models for participants with hearing impairment, androgynous and feminine gender, as opposed to female sex, was associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment (OR of GS tertile 2 = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.84; OR of GS tertile 3 = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.87; OR of female sex = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.57, 1.08).Conclusions: Hearing impairment was associated with cognitive impairment among older people, and this association may be attenuated by a more feminine GS.

scholarly journals LOSS NEGATIVELY IMPACTS A HEALTHY LIFE IN US ADULTS: FINDINGS FROM THE HEALTH AND RETIREMENT STUDY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S918-S918
Author(s):  
Justin B Ingels ◽  
Toni Miles
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Health And Retirement Study ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Healthy Life ◽  
Loved One ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Previous research reports that the loss of a loved one increases the risk of mortality and physical and mental health problems. Using data from the 2004 to 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, we estimate the years of healthy life (YHL) from 2004 to death for each respondent. YHL is based on the combination of years lived between 2004 and 2014, a projection of years beyond 2014, and self-rated health. Regression models stratified by age and gender were developed with the loss of a parent or spouse as the primary exposure and YHL as the dependent variable. Annual estimates of the total YHL lost associated with bereavement were based on these regression analyses and US Census data. Models reveal a strong dose-relationship between YHL lost and the number of losses. In total, the annual YHL lost associated with loss in US adults between 50 and 84 years of age is estimated at 2.0 and 1.6 million for men and women, respectively. Nearly three-fourths of the annual YHL lost are associated with adults younger than 65. Interaction analyses suggest that increasing physical activity has the greatest impact on reducing YHL lost in those with the greatest number of losses, one to two YHL per person. Understanding the full impact of loss on the lives of adults is an important step toward framing loss as a public health issue, especially for middle-aged adults. Results suggest that physical activity should be an important aspect of bereavement interventions.

scholarly journals INTERNET USE AND LONELINESS OF OLDER ADULTS OVER TIME: THE MEDIATION EFFECT OF SOCIAL CONTACT

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S194-S194
Author(s):  
Kexin Yu ◽  
Kexin Yu ◽  
Shinyi Wu ◽  
Iris Chi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Total Effect ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Health And Retirement Study ◽  
Longitudinal Association ◽  
Retirement Study ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Internet is increasingly popular among older adults and have changed interpersonal interactions. However, it remains controversial whether older people are more or less lonely with internet use. This paper tests the longitudinal association of internet use and loneliness among older people. One pathway that explains the association, the mediation effect of social contact, was examined. Data from the 2006, 2010 and 2014 waves of Health and Retirement Study was used. Hierarchical liner modeling results showed internet use was related to decreased loneliness over 12-year period of time (b=-0.044, p<.001). Internet use was associated with more social contact with family and friends overtime (b=0.261, p<.001), social contact was related to less perceived loneliness longitudinally (b=0.097, p<.001). The total effect of internet use on loneliness is -0.054 and the mediated effect is -0.025. The findings imply that online activities can be effective for reducing loneliness for older people through increased social contact.

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