scholarly journals Lifestyle differentiation among older adults: exploring the links between individuals’ behaviours, socio-demographic characteristics, health and wellbeing in later life

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Ewa Jarosz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Subjective Wellbeing ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Nottingham Health Profile ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Subjective Assessment ◽  
Class Membership ◽  
Activity Data

Abstract The association between everyday activities, health and subjective wellbeing in older adults has mostly been examined using different activities as separate variables. Which activities are likely to come together in individuals’ daily time-use patterns, or in what context, has not yet been analysed. This study looks at a broad range of spontaneously reported activities, their location and social context to identify latent behavioural classes. The data used in the study came from a sample of 200 non-institutionalised adults aged 65 and above. Activity data were collected using the Experience Sampling Method. Generalised structural equation modelling was used to identify the classes. Three distinctive behavioural classes, representing different lifestyles, emerged: passive domiciliary, active functional and social recreational. They constituted 30, 53 and 17 per cent of the sample, respectively. Class membership was related to individuals’ age, education and selected dimensions of health measured using the Nottingham Health Profile: energy levels and emotional response. There was consistency between the objectively measured class and an individual's subjective assessment of their physical and emotional health. While both class membership and subjective wellbeing were associated with health, the relationship between class and wellbeing was weak and fully explained by socio-demographic and health-related variables.

scholarly journals LONGITUDINAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RESOURCES, MOTIVATION, AND ENGAGEMENT IN COGNITIVELY DEMANDING ACTIVITIES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S309-S309
Author(s):  
Claire Growney ◽  
Thomas M Hess
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Personal Resources ◽  
Activity Engagement ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Motivation And Engagement

Abstract Selective Engagement Theory (SET; Hess, 2014) suggests that decreases in personal resources and increases in the costs associated with activity engagement in old age negatively influence the motivation to engage in cognitively demanding activities. Here we explore these ideas longitudinally including a wide range of personal resources (cognitive ability, physical health, emotional health, and sensory functioning), with the expectation that emotional health might be a particularly important resource for older adults given its relative preservation with age. Young (n=125; age 19-42 at Time 1) and older adults (n=183; age 60-85 at Time 1) were tested from two to five times between years 2010 and 2016. Resources, motivation, and self-reported activity engagement (VLS Activity Questionnaire) were assessed at each time point. Using multilevel structural equation modeling, we found that changes in emotional health and sensory functioning predicted changes in motivation to engage in cognitively demanding activities. Additionally, increases in motivation predicted increases in engagement in cognitively demanding activities (e.g., technical, developmental), but decreases in less demanding activities (e.g., TV watching). Lastly, motivation partially mediated the relationships between emotional health and these activities, as well as between sensory functioning and engagement in technical activities. Results provide support for SET, demonstrating associations between changes in resources, motivation, and engagement in activities that are particularly demanding of cognitive resources, with the strength of these relationships being stronger in older than in young adults. Our results suggest that emotional resources may be particularly influential in determining the motivation for activity engagement in later life.

The role of travel in enhancing life satisfaction among Chinese older adults in Hong Kong

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (9) ◽  
pp. 1824-1848 ◽  
Author(s):  
XUE BAI ◽  
KAM HUNG ◽  
DANIEL W. L. LAI
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
Travel Motivation ◽  
Travel Motivations

ABSTRACTLife satisfaction is an important indicator of wellbeing and successful ageing, while boosting life satisfaction in later life has long been a policy and service challenge. Based on a questionnaire survey with 415 Chinese older adults aged 60 years and over in Hong Kong, this study examined how older adults' travel motivations influenced their travel actions and how the travel affected their life satisfaction using structural equation modelling. A proposed ‘travel motivation–action–life satisfaction’ model showed an acceptable fit with the data. It was found that travel motivations stimulated older adults' travel actions, while their travels further contributed to greater life satisfaction. The findings of this study indicated the need for improved knowledge and understanding of older adults' travel preferences and requirements, and highlight the importance of enhancing awareness among professionals and service providers about the benefit of travelling in enhancing life satisfaction of older adults.

scholarly journals Personality and Other Lifelong Influences on Older–Age Health and Wellbeing: Preliminary Findings in Two Scottish Samples

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 438-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathew A. Harris ◽  
Caroline E. Brett ◽  
John M. Starr ◽  
Ian J. Deary ◽  
Wendy Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Subjective Wellbeing ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Early Life Factors

Recent observations that personality traits are related to later–life health and wellbeing have inspired considerable interest in exploring the mechanisms involved. Other factors, such as cognitive ability and education, also show longitudinal influences on health and wellbeing, but it is not yet clear how all these early–life factors together contribute to later–life health and wellbeing. In this preliminary study, we assessed hypothesised relations among these variables across the life course, using structural equation modelling in a sample assessed on dependability (a personality trait related to conscientiousness) in childhood, cognitive ability and social class in childhood and older age, education, and health and subjective wellbeing in older age. Our models indicated that both health and subjective wellbeing in older age were influenced by childhood IQ and social class, via education. Some older–age personality traits mediated the effects of early–life variables, on subjective wellbeing in particular, but childhood dependability did not show significant associations. Our results therefore did not provide evidence that childhood dependability promotes older–age health and wellbeing, but did highlight the importance of other early–life factors, particularly characteristics that contribute to educational attainment. Further, personality in later life may mediate the effects of early–life factors on health and subjective wellbeing. © 2016 The Authors. European Journal of Personality published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Association of Personality Psychology

scholarly journals MOTIVATION TO LEARN, LITERACY, NUMERACY, AND LATER-LIFE ADULT EDUCATION PARTICIPATION IN THE U.S.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S664-S664
Author(s):  
Takashi Yamashita ◽  
Phyllis Cummins ◽  
Roberto J Millar ◽  
Shalini Sahoo ◽  
Thomas J Smith
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Adult Education ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Basic Skills ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Motivation To Learn ◽  
Latent Construct ◽  
Education Participation ◽  
The U.S

Abstract The objective of this study is to examine the associations between the motivation to learn, basic skills (i.e., literacy and numeracy), and organized formal and non-formal adult education and training (AET) participation among middle-aged and older adults in the U.S. Rapid technological advancement and globalization requires that adults engage in lifelong learning to actively participate in society. However, little is known about the roles of motivation to learn and basic skills in AET participation among aging adults in the U.S. We obtained restricted data from the 2012/2014 Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies, and included adults aged 50 years and older (n = 2,580) in the analysis. Structural equation models were used to examine (1) any AET, (2) formal AET and (3) non-formal AET participation as a function of the latent construct of motivation to learn, literacy and numeracy scores (0 – 500), and covariates. Per the confirmatory factor analysis, the motivation to learn latent construct was a valid measure among the older adults. Results from the structural equation models showed that the motivation to learn (b = 0.35, p < 0.05), literacy (b = 0.05, p < 0.05) and numeracy (b = 0.03, p < 0.05) are all positive predictors of non-formal AET participation. However, only motivation to learn (b = 0.47, p < 0.05) is associated with formal AET participation. Findings from this study inform future interventions as well as policy changes to promote specific types of organized AET programs among the aging populations in the U.S.

scholarly journals eMental Health Literacy and the Relationship to Barriers to Mental Health Care

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 305-305
Author(s):  
Eve Root ◽  
Grace Caskie
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Amazon Mechanical Turk ◽  
Correlated Errors ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract According to the American Psychological Association (2017), one in four individuals who are 65 years and older experience a mental health problem; however, many older adults do not receive the services they need and deserve (Karlin, 2008). The current study utilizes a new concept similar to eHealth Literacy called eMental Health Literacy, defined as the degree to which individuals obtain, process, and understand basic mental health information and services needed to aid their recognition, management, or prevention of mental health issues. The relationship of eMental Health Literacy to perceived barriers to receiving mental health services was examined in a sample of middle-aged and older adults. We hypothesized that higher eMental Health Literacy would predict fewer reported barriers to mental health services. A sample of 243 participants (M=63.33, range=55-80 years) were recruited online through Amazon Mechanical Turk to complete measures assessing eMental Health Literacy (eMHEALS) and mental health barriers (BMHSSS-R). After adding two correlated errors, a structural equation model specifying eMHEALS as a predictor of extrinsic and intrinsic barriers to mental health services achieved good fit (χ2(60)=170.014, p<.001, SRMR=.068, CFI=.944, GFI=.901, TLI=.927, RMSEA=.087). All indicators were significantly related to their latent construct (p<.001). The results indicate higher eMental Health Literacy significantly predicted fewer reported intrinsic and fewer extrinsic barriers to mental health services. These relationships were statistically significant even when examined across differing socioeconomic status and age. These findings indicate eMental Health Literacy may have significant impact on the way individuals in later life navigate through the mental healthcare system.

The Creative Benefits Scale

2017 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn E. Adams-Price ◽  
Danielle K. Nadorff ◽  
Linda W. Morse ◽  
Katherine T. Davis ◽  
Melanie A. Stearns
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Older People ◽  
Factor Structure ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Proposed Model

Long-term participation in creative activities has benefits for middle-aged and older people that may improve their adaptation to later life. We first investigated the factor structure of the Creative Benefits Scale and then used it to construct a model to help explain the connection between generativity and life satisfaction in adults who participated in creative hobbies. Participants included 546 adults between the ages of 40 and 88 (Mean = 58.30 years) who completed measures of life satisfaction, generativity, and the Creative Benefits Scale with its factors of Identity, Calming, Spirituality, and Recognition. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the connection of age with life satisfaction in older adults and to explore the effects of creativity on this relation. The proposed model of life satisfaction, incorporating age, creativity, and generativity, fit the data well, indicating that creativity may help explain the link between the generativity and life satisfaction.

scholarly journals Sleep and Loneliness as Mechanisms Through Which Marital Quality Predicts Depression Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 34-35
Author(s):  
Christina Marini ◽  
Lynn Martire ◽  
Orfeu Buxton
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being

Abstract Pathways through which spousal support and strain influence older adults’ well-being are poorly understood. We examined sleep quality and loneliness as mechanisms through which support and strain predict depressive symptoms across ten years utilizing National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project data. Our sample included partnered participants at waves 1 and 2 (N = 1,293; 39% female, M age = 66, SD = 6.93). Support (e.g., rely on spouse) and strain (e.g., spouse criticizes you) were measured at W1, loneliness (UCLA) and sleep quality (restless sleep) were measured at W2, and depression (CES-D) was measured at W3. We estimated latent-variable structural equation models, controlling for age, gender, and W1 depression. Indirect effects of support and strain on depressive symptoms through loneliness were significant. There was an additional trend-level indirect effect of spousal strain on depressive symptoms through restless sleep. Findings highlight multiple pathways through which marital quality predicts later-life well-being.

scholarly journals Associations between Community Cohesion and Subjective Wellbeing of the Elderly in Guangzhou, China—A Cross-Sectional Study Based on the Structural Equation Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 953
Author(s):  
Shulin Lai ◽  
Yuquan Zhou ◽  
Yuan Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Subjective Wellbeing ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Community Cohesion ◽  
Community Interaction ◽  
Socio Economic Status ◽  
The Relationship

Population aging has become one of the most prominent population trends in China and worldwide. Given the retirement and physical limitation of the elderly, the neighborhood has gradually become the center of their daily lives and communication. Community cohesion plays an essential role in improving the elderly’s subjective wellbeing. However, most present studies on the concept and relationship between different dimensions of community cohesion are mainly in western countries. Meanwhile, most of the studies on the relationship between community cohesion and subjective wellbeing only focused on one aspect of community cohesion such as community interaction. To address this research gap, this study sampled 20 communities in Guangzhou, conducted a questionnaire survey on 969 elderly people, and explored the relationship between four aspects of community cohesion (community interaction, environmental satisfaction, belonging, and participation) and their associations with subjective wellbeing using the Structural Equation Model (SEM). In addition, we performed multi-group analysis to study the association differences among older individuals in communities with different socioeconomic types. We found that: (1) The conceptual relationship between different aspects of community cohesion among older adults is significant; (2) Community environmental satisfaction, interaction, and belonging associate with the elderly’s subjective wellbeing, whereas there is no significant association between community participation and subjective wellbeing; (3) Mental health is an important mediating factor connecting community cohesion and subjective wellbeing, whereas physical health is not. (4) The association pattern of older adults in communities with different socio-economic status are identical, whereas the association strengths are different. In high Socio-Economic Status Index (SESI) communities (communities where older adults with relatively high socioeconomic attributes gather, such as high income and education level), community belonging and participation are significantly associated with community environmental satisfaction and interaction, respectively. In low SESI communities (communities in which older adults with relatively low socioeconomic attributes gather, such as low income and education level), community interaction, belonging, and participation considerably link to community environmental satisfaction, interaction, and belonging, respectively. Regarding the association between community cohesion and subjective wellbeing, community interaction has stronger linkage with the elderly’s subjective wellbeing of in high-SESI aging community than low-SESI aging community. While community environmental satisfaction has stronger association with the elderly’s subjective wellbeing of the elderly in low-SESI aging community than high-SESI aging community. Therefore, it is sensible for community planning to focus on community environment improvement and vibrant community activities organization.

scholarly journals ACTIVITY SELECTION AND ENGAGEMENT IN OLD AGE: MOTIVATIONAL AND GOAL-BASED INFLUENCES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S811-S812
Author(s):  
Thomas M Hess ◽  
Christopher Hertzog
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Personal Resources ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Subjective Perceptions ◽  
Aging Attitudes ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Research from a variety of perspectives has emphasized the central role played by activity in supporting a variety of positive outcomes in later life. For example, participation in activities that place demands on personal resources has been shown to be beneficial in promoting brain, cognitive, and physical health. From another perspective, older adults may also engage in certain activities to promote specific outcomes (e.g., emotional) in service of psychological well-being. Such findings highlight the adaptive significance of activity selection and engagement processes. Using a variety of approaches, the presentations in this symposium focus specifically on goal-based and motivational factors that may facilitate or impede such processes. Moored and colleagues examine adaptive characteristics—including motivational ones—of individuals whose activity patterns are protective against dementia. Using longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study, Lothary and colleagues explore the degree to which intrinsic motivation to engage cognitive resources mediates the effect of personal resources (e.g., physical and emotional health) on participation in challenging everyday activities. Growney and colleagues present research demonstrating that subjective perceptions of difficulty affect decisions to engage in challenging activities, but that such perceptions may reflect biases associated with negative aging attitudes as opposed to actual effort expenditure. Finally, Lind and Isaacowitz examine selection associated with affective aspects of the activities, finding that both middle-aged and older adults exhibited similar biases toward positive activities in congruence with emotion-regulation goals, though age differences were observed in non-affective aspects of the activities. The discussion by Hertzog will highlight common themes.

scholarly journals Neighborhood Walkability or Third Places? Determinants of Social Support and Loneliness among Older Adults

2019 ◽  
pp. 0739456X1987029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji Hei Lee ◽  
Teck Hong Tan
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Social Support Network ◽  
Third Places ◽  
Neighborhood Walkability

In the context of creating age-friendly communities, this paper examines the effects of neighborhood walkability and third places on older adults’ social connectedness. The subject was older adult homeowners aged sixty-five years and above in the context of American college towns. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used, controlling personal abilities and sociodemographic factors. Third places positively influenced older adults’ social support network, but it was not associated with loneliness. Objective and perceived neighborhood accessibility had no association with either social support network or loneliness in later life. Findings suggest that planners and developers should prioritize third places in designing for active living.

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