Health, out-of-home activities and digital inclusion in later life: Implications for emerging mobility services

ABSTRACTThe ability to use the internet frequently is likely to provide a useful means of engaging with society and using services in later life, yet older people are the most likely to suffer digital exclusion, with those of the oldest ages at the greatest risk. Using six waves (2002–2012) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, we model cohort-specific patterns of frequent internet use for people aged 50 and over. Multi-level growth models are used to observe trajectories of internet use over the ten-year period. Firstly, analyses are stratified by gender and wealth, and secondly we additionally test for health effects. The study finds cohort-specific differences in patterns of internet use. Rates of internet use increase faster among younger cohorts yet, despite initially increasing, begin to decline among older cohorts. Poor health is shown to be a key factor in shaping the trajectory of internet use over time. Rates of internet use are consistently lower for women than men and for those in poorer financial circumstances, independently of age cohort. The findings demonstrate the importance of ensuring older people can remain digitally included throughout later life, including after the onset of poorer health, especially as some of these individuals might benefit the most from some of the services the internet can provide.

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Annie Jamieson, Sarah Harper and Christina Victor (eds.), Critical Approaches to Ageing and Later Life, Milton Keynes: Open University Press, 1997, £45.00 (paperback £14.99), x+195 pp. (ISBN 0-33519-725-6).

Sociology ◽

10.1017/s0038038598290134 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 613-637

Author(s):

GERALDINE LEE-TREWEEK

Keyword(s):

Later Life ◽

Open University ◽

Critical Approaches ◽

Milton Keynes

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Leisure Activities and the Subjective Well-Being of Older Adults in Croatia

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000179 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 31-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ljiljana Kaliterna Lipovčan ◽

Tihana Brkljačić ◽

Zvjezdana Prizmić Larsen ◽

Andreja Brajša-Žganec ◽

Renata Franc

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Later Life ◽

Perceived Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Financial Status

Abstract. Research shows that engagement in leisure activities promotes well-being among older adults. The objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between subjective well-being (flourishing) and leisure activities (total number of different activities in the previous year) in a sample of older adults in Croatia, thereby considering the variables of sex, marital status, financial status, and self-perceived health. The differences in the examined variables between the groups of older adults who reported to be engaged in new activities with those who did not were also examined. The sample of N = 169 older adults aged 60 years and above was drawn from a convenience sample of adult internet users in Croatia. Participants reported their self-perceived health and the number of leisure activities they engaged in over the previous year as well as completing the Flourishing Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that older adults who were engaged in more various leisure activities, who perceived better financial status, and who were married reported higher levels of flourishing. A comparison of the two groups of older adults with and without engagement in leisure activities showed that those engaged in at least one leisure activity were more likely to be women, reported higher levels of flourishing, and perceived their own financial status as better. This study indicated that engaging in leisure activities in later life might provide beneficial effects for the well-being of older adults.

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Images of Aging in the Psychotherapeutic Context

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000129 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 47-55 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Eva-Marie Kessler ◽

Catherine E. Bowen

Keyword(s):

Old Age ◽

Diagnostic Tests ◽

Aging Process ◽

Developmental Psychology ◽

Mental Representations ◽

Later Life ◽

Future Research ◽

Psychotherapeutic Process ◽

Images Of Aging ◽

Client Communication

Both psychotherapists and their clients have mental representations of old age and the aging process. In this conceptual review, we draw on available research from gerontology, social and developmental psychology, and communication science to consider how these “images of aging” may affect the psychotherapeutic process with older clients. On the basis of selected empirical findings we hypothesize that such images may affect the pathways to psychotherapy in later life, therapist-client communication, client performance on diagnostic tests as well as how therapists select and apply a therapeutic method. We posit that interventions to help both older clients and therapists to reflect on their own images of aging may increase the likelihood of successful treatment. We conclude by making suggestions for future research.

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Can a Theory of Suicide Predict All “Suicides” in the Elderly?

Crisis ◽

10.1027//0227-5910.24.1.7 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 7-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Antoon A. Leenaars

Keyword(s):

Sigmund Freud ◽

Terminally Ill ◽

Later Life ◽

Psychological Theory ◽

The Elderly ◽

Theory Building ◽

Personality Factors ◽

Comprehensive Model ◽

Suicide Notes ◽

Psychiatric Study

Summary: Older adults consistently have the highest rates of suicide in most societies. Despite the paucity of studies until recently, research has shown that suicides in later life are best understood as a multidimensional event. An especially neglected area of research is the psychological/psychiatric study of personality factors in the event. This paper outlines one comprehensive model of suicide and then raises the question: Is such a psychiatric/psychological theory applicable to all suicides in the elderly? To address the question, I discuss the case of Sigmund Freud; raise the topic of suicide and/or dignified death in the terminally ill; and examine suicide notes of the both terminally ill and nonterminally ill elderly. I conclude that, indeed, greater study and theory building are needed into the “suicides” of the elderly, including those who are terminally ill.

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Negative Life Events Associated With Deliberate Self-Harm in an African Population in Uganda

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910.26.1.4 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 4-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

E. Kinyanda ◽

H. Hjelmeland ◽

S. Musisi

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Negative Life Events ◽

Life Time ◽

Later Life ◽

Dose Effect ◽

Deliberate Self Harm ◽

Time Period ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Self Harm ◽

Suicide Interventions

Abstract. Negative life events associated with deliberate self-harm (DSH) were investigated in an African context in Uganda. Patients admitted at three general hospitals in Kampala, Uganda were interviewed using a Luganda version (predominant language in the study area) of the European Parasuicide Study Interview Schedule I. The results of the life events and histories module are reported in this paper. The categories of negative life events in childhood that were significantly associated with DSH included those related to parents, significant others, personal events, and the total negative life events load in childhood. For the later-life time period, the negative life events load in the partner category and the total negative life events in this time period were associated with DSH. In the last-year time period, the negative life events load related to personal events and the total number of negative life events in this time period were associated with DSH. A statistically significant difference between the cases and controls for the total number of negative life events reported over the entire lifetime of the respondents was also observed, which suggests a dose effect of negative life events on DSH. Gender differences were also observed among the cases. In conclusion, life events appear to be an important factor in DSH in this cultural environment. The implication of these results for treatment and the future development of suicide interventions in this country are discussed.

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