The Impact of Epidemic Outbreak

Background: Previous studies revealed that there was a significant increase in suicide deaths among those aged 65 and over in 2003. The peak coincided with the majority of SARS cases being reported in April 2003. Aims: In this paper we examine the mechanism of how the SARS outbreak resulted in a higher completed suicide rate especially among older adults in Hong Kong. Methods: We used Qualitative data analysis to uncover the association between the occurrence of SARS and older adult suicide. Furthermore, we used a qualitative study based on the Coroner Court reports to provide empirical evidence about the relationship between SARS and the excessive number of suicide deaths among the elderly. Results: SARS-related older adult suicide victims were more likely to be afraid of contracting the disease and had fears of disconnection. The suicide motives among SARS-related suicide deaths were more closely associated with stress over fears of being a burden to their families during the negative impact of the epidemic. Social disengagement, mental stress, and anxiety at the time of the SARS epidemic among a certain group of older adults resulted in an exceptionally high rate of suicide deaths. Conclusions: We recommend that the mental and psychological well-being of the community, in particular older adults, be taken into careful account when developing epidemic control measures to combat the future outbreak of diseases in the community. In addition, it is important to alert family members to vulnerable individuals who are at potential risk because of their illnesses or anxieties.

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When Grandparents Move In

Social Psychology ◽

10.1027/1864-9335/a000415 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (5) ◽

pp. 299-308 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brian T. Smith ◽

Kelly Charlton

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Aging Process ◽

Negative Impact ◽

The Elderly ◽

Growing Up ◽

Attitudes Toward Older Adults ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. This paper explores the impact of growing up with an older adult in the home on one’s attitudes toward older adults. We surveyed 309 participants for their opinions on older adults, whether they grew up living with an older adult, and whether the older adult they lived with was ill. Those who grew up with an older adult had significantly lower opinions of the elderly but had less anxiety around their own aging process. This negative impact of contact seemed especially pronounced if the older adult was ill. Results indicate that although contact in and of itself can have a positive benefit on opinions toward the elderly, the nature of the relationship impacts the effectiveness of the contact.

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COVID-19 Pandemic and Quality of Life among Romanian Athletes

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18084065 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 4065

Author(s):

Germina-Alina Cosma ◽

Alina Chiracu ◽

Amalia Raluca Stepan ◽

Marian Alexandru Cosma ◽

Marian Costin Nanu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Trait Anxiety ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Quality Of Life Scale ◽

Life Scale ◽

Personality Item ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

The aim of this study was to analyze athletes’ quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved 249 athletes between 15 and 35 of age, M = 21.22, SD = 5.12. The sample was composed of eight Olympic Games medalists, three European medalists, 67 international medalists, and 63 national medalists. The instruments used were: (1) COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, (2) Athlete Quality of Life Scale, (3) Impact of Pandemic on Athletes Questionnaire, and (4) International Personality Item Pool (IPIP Anxiety, Depression, and Vulnerability Scales). The results indicate significant differences in COVID-19 anxiety depending on the sport practiced, F (9239) = 3.81, p < 0.01, showing that there were significant differences between sports. The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic mediates the relationship between trait anxiety and the athletes’ quality of life. The percentage of mediation was 33.9%, and the indirect effect was −0.11, CI 95% (−0.18, −0.03), Z = −2.82, p < 0.01. Trait anxiety has an increasing effect on the intensity of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 0.23, CI 95% (.10, 0.35), Z = 3.56, p < 0.01, and the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has a decreasing effect on quality of life, −0.47, CI 95% (−0.67, −0.27), Z = −4.62, p < 0.01. Gender and age did not moderate the relationship between the negative impact of COVID-19 and athletes’ quality of life. The results of the study highlighted the impact that social isolation and quarantine have on athletes’ affective well-being.

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Supporting Caregivers of Older Adults Through Education in Mindful Gratitude Practice

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.053 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 16-16

Author(s):

Sungsim Lee

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Positive Influence ◽

Mindfulness Practice ◽

Practice Research ◽

Relevant Research ◽

Won Buddhism ◽

The Relationship

Abstract This presentation describes a supportive mindfulness practice for caregivers of older adults based on the principles of Won Buddhism (an integrative, a modernized Buddhism). As the aging population grows, there is a significant increase in recognition of the negative impact of caregiver stress on older adults’ quality of life. The ability for caregivers to deal compassionately with stress is essential, as caring for older adults can awaken feelings about one’s own vulnerability and mortality. The ‘Mindful Gratitude Practice’ offers a way to cope with stress, cultivate self-care, and improve the care of others. Relevant research will be summarized, which shows mindfulness and gratitude practice respectively benefit positive influence in both physical and emotional well-being. Mindful Gratitude Practice as a spiritual approach that fosters caregivers' emotional stability, reduces their stress and improves the relationship between older adults and their caregivers. In this presentation, three processes of Mindful Gratitude Practice will be described: 1. Understanding a mindfulness practice by establishing intention, attention, and attitude, 2. Learning the principles of a gratitude practice and implementation, and 3. Incorporating mindfulness into a gratitude practice. Research results have demonstrated that through this learning process, caregivers have acquired the concept of interconnectedness, experience grateful moments, and a deep feeling of appreciation in their caregiving relationships. The presenter will guide participants in a short experience of Mindfulness Gratitude Practice. Further readings and resources will be provided for those who are interested.

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SOCIAL NETWORKS, HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.277 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S71-S71

Author(s):

Eleanor S McConnell ◽

Kirsten Corazzini ◽

T Robert Konrad

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Well Being ◽

Sensor Technology ◽

Web Based ◽

Use Of Technology ◽

Care Partners ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship ◽

Health And Well Being

Abstract Although the impact of dementia on the health and well-being of those living with Alzheimer’s Disease and related Disorders (ADRD) and their care partners has been widely studied, less attention has been paid to how the disease impacts individuals within the context of their larger social networks. This symposium presents findings from a series of integrated studies aimed at strengthening measurement of health and well-being among older adults with living with dementia and well-being among members of their social networks. Findings will be presented from five studies: (1) a scoping review of social network measurement in older adults in chronic illness, including dementia, that emphasizes the use of technology in measuring older adults’ social networks; (2) a simulation study to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of sensor technology to measure social interaction among a person living with dementia and others in their immediate surroundings; (3) development of a web-based application that allows older adults to map and activate their social networks; (4) a qualitative analysis of interviews from persons living with dementia, their unpaid caregivers, and paid caregivers from an adult day health program concerning well-being focused outcomes; and (5) a mixed methods analysis of the feasibility of using both traditional and novel measures of health and well-being deployed among networks of people living with dementia. Emerging technologies for measuring social networks health and well-being hold promise for advancing the study of the relationship-based nature of care for people living with dementia.

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Sedentary behaviors and psychological outcomes among older adults: a systematic review

Motricidade ◽

10.6063/motricidade.12223 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 73 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

André Ramalho ◽

João Petrica ◽

António Rosado

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

Well Being ◽

The Elderly ◽

Psychological Outcomes ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Sedentary Behaviours ◽

The Relationship ◽

Sedentary Activities

This systematic review aimed to synthesize the scientific evidence about the relationship between sedentary behaviours and various psychological outcomes in older adults. The study searches were conducted in the following databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, ISI Web of Knowledge and ScienceDirect. We selected 15 observational quantitative studies according to specific eligibility criteria. The data extraction was performed independently by different authors, including the evaluation of the risk of bias of the studies and the classification of the force of evidence. The results showed a tendency of showing no associations between the sedentary behaviours, the well-being and quality of life of the elderly. Concerning life satisfaction and perceived stress, it seems that active sedentary activities have positive effects on these indicators. Evidence has also suggested that some sedentary behaviours may help maintain some cognitive functions in the elderly population, namely in different types of memory. In other studies, it has been demonstrated a tendency that too much time in passive sedentary activities has been associated with depressive symptomatology. However, this review suggested that the evidence is not yet consistent in the relationship between the sedentary behaviours of the elderly and the indicators analysed, and more research is needed.

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INTERACTIONS OF OPTIMISM WITH SOCIAL RELATIONS FOR WOMEN'S WELL-BEING

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.776 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S212-S212

Author(s):

Aurora M Sherman

Keyword(s):

Native American ◽

Social Relations ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Process Models ◽

Social Strain ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship ◽

Variance Explained

Abstract The impact of personality on the relationship between social relations and well-being has been understudied. We assessed optimism, social support, and social strain in association with self-esteem, depressive symptoms and life satisfaction for a sample of 247 women (Mean age = 57.56, range 45-89 years) from three race groups (42% Native American, 34% African American, 24% European American). PROCESS models revealed significant interactions between optimism and support suggesting that high support buffers the risk of low optimism for all three dependent variables, and two interactions of optimism with social strain, showing that low optimism exacerbated the negative impact of high strain for CES-D and self-esteem scores. The full models accounted for 30-50% of the variance explained in each outcome. We discuss important resources for resilience shown by the women in the sample.

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Emotion regulation processes as mediators of the impact of past life events on older adults’ psychological distress

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610219002084 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 199-209

Author(s):

Virginia Fernández-Fernández ◽

Andrés Losada-Baltar ◽

María Márquez-González ◽

Teresa Paniagua-Granados ◽

Carlos Vara-García ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Life Events ◽

Personal Growth ◽

Experiential Avoidance ◽

Well Being ◽

The Elderly ◽

Past Life ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACTObjective:Although it is known that certain emotion regulation processes produce a buffering effect on the relationship between life events and well-being, this issue has been poorly studied in the elderly population. Thus, the aim of the present study is to test and confirm a comprehensive model of the impact that past life events have on older adults’ psychological distress, exploring the possible mediating roles of emotion regulation processes. These include rumination, experiential avoidance, and personal growth.Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 387 people over 60 years old residing in the community were assessed on life events, physical functioning, emotion regulation variables, psychological well-being, as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression.Results:The structural model tested achieved a satisfactory fit to the data, explaining 73% of the variance of older adults’ psychological distress. In addition, the main results suggest possible mediation effects of both the physical functioning and the emotional variables: rumination, experiential avoidance, and personal growth in the face of hardship.Conclusions:These findings confirm the importance of emotion regulation processes in the final stages of life. They reveal the various adaptive and maladaptive mechanisms that underlie the relationship between life events and psychological distress. The findings suggest – both in the explanatory models of psychological well-being and in psychotherapeutic interventions – the importance of emotion regulation in the elderly population’s health.

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AGE, EXPERIENCE OF RACIAL MICROAGGRESSIONS, AND DISTRESS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2613 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S711-S712

Author(s):

Shayla Thompson ◽

Broderick Sawyer ◽

Suzanne Meeks

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Well Being ◽

Racial Microaggressions ◽

Amazon Mechanical Turk ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Anger Rumination ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Racial microaggressions are a common form of racial discrimination consisting of subtle or interpersonal slights. Racial microaggressions are linked to various kinds of psychological distress in younger adults, but have not been studied across the lifespan. We examined the relationship of racial microaggressions with psychological distress and anger rumination among younger and older adults identified as racial or ethnic minorities. We hypothesized that age would moderate the relationship between racial microaggressions and psychological distress and anger rumination, that is, the relationship would be weaker for older than for younger adults. Participants were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk and were compensated $1 for their participation. Preliminary tests of the hypotheses (N=220), using multiple regression analyses to test for moderation, failed to support the hypothesis that age would mitigate the impact of microaggressions on symptom severity. Both age and microaggressions were related to psychological distress and anger rumination, but contrary to prediction, older adults showed more exacerbation of distress in the face of microaggressions than younger adults. The results also differed by gender and ethnic groups, suggesting the importance of examining intersectional experiences of race, gender, and age in response to discrimination. These cross-sectional findings lend support to the importance of considering both subtle and overt discriminatory experiences in understanding the mental health challenges for minority groups in the U.S., but more work is needed to examine the intersection of ethnicity with other demographic variables, and to understand how the lifelong experiences of discrimination may shape older adults’ vulnerability, well-being, and resilience.

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Back Pain and Heart Failure in Older Adults: Findings From the Health ABC Study

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.656 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 203-203

Author(s):

Jie Chen ◽

Yiming Zhang ◽

Eleanor Simonsick ◽

Angela Starkweather ◽

Ming-Hui Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Back Pain ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Smoking Status ◽

The Elderly ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Negative Influence ◽

Epidemiologic Studies ◽

The Impact

Abstract Both back pain and heart failure (HF) have negative influence on all aspects of life. Little is known about the impact of back pain on older adults with HF. We include 1295 older adults who had data collected in the 11th year (2007-2008) of the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) study to evaluate the effect of back pain on health status among older adults with and without HF. The participants aged 79-91, 54.8% were female and 34.8% were African American. Among 94 participants with HF, 63 (67.0%) had back pain; among 1201 participants without HF, 649 (54.0%) had back pain. Females reporting back pain had 4.76 (95% CI: 1.83, 12.37) times the odds of having HF compared to those without back pain. Male with back pain, compared to those without back pain, had 1.14 times (95% CI: 0.65, 2.02) the odds of having HF. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale. Performance and functions were measured by the Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies in the Elderly (EPESE) performance score, the Health ABC performance battery score and self-reported difficulty with functional tasks. These symptom and performance measures were significantly associated with both back pain and HF, but not the interaction terms of back pain and HF after adjusting demographic variables including gender, race, smoking status and BMI category. The high incidence and negative impact of back pain highlighted the needs of developing strategies in pain management among older adults with and without HF.

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AN ELDERLY’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE IMPACT OF SPIRITUALITY TOWARDS DEATH ACCEPTANCE

Belitung Nursing Journal ◽

10.33546/bnj.955 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (6) ◽

pp. 212-217

Author(s):

Minnie Besin Mamauag

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Life Experiences ◽

The Elderly ◽

Spiritual Beliefs ◽

Sense Of Security ◽

Adult Participants ◽

Old Adult ◽

The Impact ◽

Death Acceptance

Objective: This study explored the religious or spiritual beliefs and behaviors of the elderly that could somehow translate to their level of death acceptance or lack thereof.Methods: A total of four (4) elderly participants, ages 60 and above whom meet the criteria set for this study was interviewed to assess their spiritual upbringing and experiences that resulted to their death acceptance. The study involves qualitative approach using thematic analysis. The narrative testimony of the old adult participants in this study which includes cases of older adult that believes in God, older adult having shifted from one religious organization to another, and older adults’ instilled spirituality comes from religious imprint from family members during childhood describes the three important patterns in the religious or spiritual standing of the participants.Results: The themes signified that (1) older adults are inherently religious and this nature is a subsequent factor in (2) their faith in God basing on their life experiences and life’s meaning. Furthermore, this (3) belief or faith in God offers them a sense of security and hope in the afterlife.Conclusion: These themes explain the pattern in the creation of a religious/ spiritual standing that leads to death acceptance among participants as evident in their interview results.

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