The Case of Thematic Tests Adapted to Older Adults

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoît Verdon
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Mental Processes ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Projective Tests ◽  
New Material ◽  
Older Men And Women ◽  
Latent Content

Since the 1950s, the growing interest of clinicians in using projective tests to study normal or pathological aging processes has led to the creation of several thematic tests for older adults. This development reflects their authors’ belief that the TAT is not suitable to the concerns and anxieties of elderly persons. The new material thus refers explicitly to situations related to age; it aims to enable older persons to express needs they cannot verbalize during consultations. The psychodynamic approach to thematic testing is based on the differentiation between the pictures’ manifest and latent content, eliciting responses linked to mental processes and issues the respondent is unaware of. The cards do not necessarily have to show aging characters to elicit identification: The situations shown in the pictures are linked to loss, rivalry, helplessness, and renunciation, all issues elderly respondents can identify with and that lead them to express their mental fragilities and resources. The article first explains the principles underlying four of these thematic tests, then develops several examples of stories told for card 3BM of the TAT, thus showing the effectiveness of this tool for the understanding and differentiation of loss-related issues facing older men and women.

scholarly journals A CROSS-NATIONAL COMPARISON OF THE SOCIAL SUPPORT NETWORKS OF OLDER MEN AND WOMEN WHO LACK TRADITIONAL FAMILY TIES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S564-S564
Author(s):  
Christine Mair ◽  
Kasey Knopp
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Family Ties ◽  
Traditional Family ◽  
The Social ◽  
Older Men And Women ◽  
Cross National

Abstract Existing literature on “aging alone” focuses on potential lack of support to “kinless” older adults who do not have traditional family ties (e.g., child, spouse; Margolis & Verdery, 2018), as well as the ways in which childless or unpartnered older adults may construct non-kin networks of support (e.g., friendship; Djundeva et al., 2018; Mair, 2019). In addition, older men’s and women’s social networks vary, with women reporting more network growth than men and potentially lower family involvement (Schwartz & Litwin, 2018). Finally, patterns of support (e.g., family care, friend interactions) differ by country context. However, it is unknown if and how the social networks of older adults who lack traditional family ties may differ by gender, as well as what forms of cross-national variation exist in these patterns. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE, N=17 nations, N=53,247 adults aged 50+), we take advantage of a unique social support network module in this cross-national dataset to compare closeness, proximity, quality, and type of ties by gender among older childless and unpartnered men and women by country. Among those without traditional family ties, we find that older women may be advantaged in terms of social support compared to older men, but that this advantage varies by nation. We discuss the details and implications of these results regarding potential policy implications about the differential risks faced by older men and women who lack traditional family ties in various country contexts.

scholarly journals Sympathetic neural responsiveness to sleep deprivation in older adults: sex differences

2019 ◽  
Vol 317 (2) ◽  
pp. H315-H322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason R. Carter ◽  
Ida T. Fonkoue ◽  
Ian M. Greenlund ◽  
Christopher E. Schwartz ◽  
Babak Mokhlesi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Total Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Older Men And Women

Our laboratory has previously reported that total sleep deprivation (TSD) modifies muscle sympathetic neural activity (MSNA) differently in young men and women. Because postmenopausal women are among the highest risk for hypertension, this study compares MSNA responses with TSD in older men and women. We hypothesized that TSD would alter MSNA in older adults, with greater sympathoexcitation in postmenopausal women. Twenty-seven participants (14 men and 13 women) between the ages of 55 and 75 yr were tested twice, once after 24-h TSD and once after normal sleep (randomized, crossover design). Our primary outcome measure of MSNA (microneurography) was successful across both conditions in 20 participants (10 men and 10 women). Secondary outcome measures included seated blood pressure, heart rate, and fasting plasma testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone. Age (60 ± 1 vs. 61 ± 2 yr) and BMI (27 ± 1 vs. 26 ± 1 kg/m2) were not different between groups. TSD increased systolic blood pressure in both men (124 ± 5 to 130 ± 4 mmHg) and women (107 ± 5 to 116 ± 4 mmHg), but the increases were not different between groups (condition, P = 0.014; condition × sex, P > 0.05). In contrast, TSD elicited divergent MSNA responses in older men and women. Specifically, MSNA burst frequency increased in postmenopausal women (28 ± 3 to 34 ± 3 burst/min), but not older men (38 ± 3 to 35 ± 3 bursts/min; condition × sex, P = 0.032). In conclusion, TSD elicited sympathoexcitation in postmenopausal women but not age-matched men. These findings provide new mechanistic insight into reported links between sleep deprivation and hypertension. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Epidemiological studies report that sleep deprivation is more strongly associated with hypertension in women than in men. In the present study, 24-h total sleep deprivation (TSD) increased blood pressure in postmenopausal women and age-matched men. In contrast, only women demonstrated increases in muscle sympathetic nerve activity after TSD. The sympathoexcitation observed in postmenopausal women suggests a potential contributing mechanism for epidemiological observations and advances our understanding of the complex relations between sleep, sex, and hypertension. Listen to this article’s corresponding podcast at https://ajpheart.podbean.com/e/total-sleep-deprivation-and-msna-in-older-adults/ .

Ageing in the Modern Arabic Novel

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samira Aghacy
Keyword(s):  
Older Persons ◽  
Arab World ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Cultural Significance ◽  
Simone De Beauvoir ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Feminist Theories ◽  
Modern Arabic ◽  
Older Men And Women ◽  
Shed Light

There are more than 15 million people over age 65 currently living in the Arab world, yet little attention has been paid to the cultural significance of growing old. The book recognizes the widespread silence by countering the critical corpus that reads the modern Arabic novel as a political discourse with an emphasis on youth achievement. By offering close readings of 16 fictional works from different parts of the Arab world such as novels by Alia Mamdouh, Sahar Khalifah, Iman Kachachi, Rashid al-Daif and Alaa al-Aswany, the study utilizes biological and cultural theories of ageing- particularly from the perspective of gender and feminism- that shed light on the representation of ageing in the Arabic novel. The study makes use of feminist theories of ageing and gerontology that focus on sexism and ageism, including works by Simone de Beauvoir and Margaret Marganroth Gullette to present aging as a relational formation between men and women, and their idiosyncratic experiences of the process of ageing, revealing that there is no prototype of oldness in the Arabic novel and that older men and women manifest a multiplicity of identities, concerns and experiences. The study challenges the ungendered image generally attributed to older persons and examines how they navigate old age and subvert it. As they grow older men and women manifest a multiplicity of identities, concerns, and experiences revealing that the ageing process is an ongoing inherently unstable project.

Temperament and Personality as Functions of Age

1996 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Mehrabian ◽  
Jeffrey S. Blum
Keyword(s):  
Older Women ◽  
Psychological Adjustment ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Older Men And Women ◽  
Temperament Trait

Age-related differences in three temperament (Trait Pleasure-displeasure, Trait Arousability, Trait-Dominance-submissiveness), and four personality (Achieving Tendency, Conformity, Shyness, Loneliness), scales were explored in three studies. Results, generally, were consistent with the hypothesis that scores on Trait Dominance and on trait measures that correlated positively with Trait Dominance (e.g., achievement) were lower for older persons. Achieving Tendency (assessed in Studies One and Three) was lower for older persons. Trait Dominance (assessed in 2 studies) was lower for older men and women in Study Two and lower for older women only in Study Three. In Study Three, two strong negative correlates of Trait Dominance (Conformity, Shyness) were higher for older women. Based on a consistent absence of age/Trait Pleasure relationships, no age-related differences in psychological adjustment-maladjustment were implied by the findings.

scholarly journals 0838 Sex Specific Changes in Sleep Macro-Structure With Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a Large Clinical Population of Older Adults

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A319-A319
Author(s):  
A E Mullins ◽  
N Bagchi ◽  
A Parekh ◽  
K Kam ◽  
J Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Sleep Scoring ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Older Men And Women

Abstract Introduction Sleep architecture is influenced by age and sex and is disrupted by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and periodic limb movements (PLM) of sleep. Although increasing OSA severity is thought to decrease both REM and slow wave sleep (SWS), it may do so in non-linear ways. Here, we aim to 1) compare sleep macrostructure between older men and women, 2) compare metrics of total and REM-specific OSA severity between older men and women, and 3) examine associations between metrics of OSA severity and REM sleep and SWS in a clinical sample. Methods Clinical in-lab diagnostic polysomnography (PSG) in adults ≥64 years of age from the greater New York area recorded between 2006- 2016 were collated including demographic and traditional sleep scoring metrics. Studies where TST < 4 hours were removed. Demographic, sleep macrostructure, OSA (AHI4% & AHI3A criteria), pulse oximetry (SpO2) nadir and PLM measures were compared according to sex. Results PSGs from 1282 older adults (average age 70 years in both sexes, 41% female) were included in the analyses. Women had a significantly greater SWS% (14.5 vs 7.9, p<0.001) and less N1% (18.2 vs 24.4, p<0.001), without significant differences in TST, N2%, REM%, sleep efficiency or SpO2 nadir. Men had significantly higher all-sleep OSA (median AHI4% 8.8 vs 11.1, p=0.0004; median AHI3A 24.4 vs 27.9, p=0.003) and PLM’s (4.0 vs 7.6/hour, p=0.008) but women had significantly more OSA during REM sleep (median REM AHI4% 16.7 vs 14.0, p=0.01; median REM AHI3A 32.6 vs 27.4, p=0.0002). Inverse non-linear associations were observed between OSA severity and %SWS and %REM with a unique pattern for each sleep stage. The pattern between men and women within each stage appeared similar. Conclusion In this clinical sample of older adults, women exhibit a greater proportion of SWS and worse REM-related OSA then men. Increasing OSA severity is associated with non-linear reductions in %SWS and %REM, and we plan to further investigate these relationships and sexual dimorphism by using quantitative analysis of PSG signals for more precise measures of slow wave activity and breathing physiology than traditional sleep scoring metrics. Support R01AG056682

The Effect of Gender on Foot Anthropometrics in Older People

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Paiva de Castro ◽  
José Rubens Rebelatto ◽  
Thaís Rabiatti Aurichio
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Arch Index ◽  
Older Adult Population ◽  
Older Men And Women

Context:Some questions remain regarding the anthropometric differences between the feet of young men and women, but the gap is much greater when dealing with older adults. No studies were found concerning these differences in an exclusively older adult population, which makes it difficult to manufacture shoes based on the specific anthropometric measurements of the older adult population and according to gender differences.Objective:To identify differences between the anthropometric foot variables of older men and women.Design:Cross-sectional.Participants:154 older women (69.0 ± 6.8 y) and 131 older men (69.0 ± 6.5 y).Main Outcome Measures:The foot evaluations comprised the variables of width, perimeter, height, length, 1st and 5th metatarsophalangeal angles, the Arch Index (AI), and the Foot Posture Index (FPI). A data analysis was performed using t test and a post hoc power analysis.Results:Women showed significantly higher values for the width and perimeter of the toes, width of the metatarsal heads, and width of the heel and presented significantly lower values for the height of the dorsal foot after normalization of the data to foot length. The 1st and 5 th metatarsophalangeal angles were smaller in the men. There were no differences between men and women with respect to AI and FPI.Conclusions:Overall, the current study shows evidence of differences between some of the anthropometric foot variables of older men and women that must be taken into account for the manufacture of shoes for older adults.

scholarly journals Assessing prediction of diabetes in older adults using different adiposity measures: a 7 year prospective study in 6,923 older men and women

Diabetologia ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 890-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Wannamethee ◽  
O. Papacosta ◽  
P. H. Whincup ◽  
C. Carson ◽  
M. C. Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Prediction Of Diabetes ◽  
Older Men And Women

Description of Older Adults as Depicted in Magazine Advertisements

1999 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 1051-1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmin Tahmaseb McConatha ◽  
Frauke Schnell ◽  
Amy McKenna
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Print Media ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Social Stereotypes ◽  
News Magazines ◽  
One Year ◽  
Older Men And Women

Negative attitudes about aging have been widespread and films, television, radio, and print media may serve as an important source of socialization or reflect the current views of older adults. This study focused on examination of the frequency of depictions of older men and women in 765 advertisements appearing in Time and Newsweek national weekly news magazines, and on an analysis of their roles suggested in photographs depicting a total of 2,505 persons. These were collected over a one-year period and coded by three persons. Analysis indicated that older adults, especially older women, were not only presented infrequently but, when presented roles, were often passive or dependent as is consistent with social stereotypes.

Gender Differences in Dual Task Gait Performance in Older Adults

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
John H. Hollman ◽  
James W. Youdas ◽  
Desiree J. Lanzino
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Dual Tasks ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Gait Performance ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Older Men And Women

Although attention-dividing dual tasks hinder gait performance in older persons, gender differences in gait have not been examined. The purpose of this study was to examine whether gait performance differs between older men and women during dual task walking. A total of 44 healthy adults (20 men and 24 women) aged 65 years or older participated in the study. Participants walked under normal and dual task (backward spelling) conditions at self-selected speeds. Mean gait speed and stride-to-stride variability in gait speed were quantified with GAITRite ® instrumentation. Whereas gait speed decreased and variability in gait speed increased in both groups during dual task walking, men walked with greater variability during dual task walking than did women. The magnitude of the increase in variability in gait speed observed in men indicates that stride-to-stride variability in gait speed during dual task walking requires more investigation as a potential risk factor for falls in older men.

Self-image and intergenerational relationships as correlates of life satisfaction in Chinese older adults: will gender make a difference?

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 1502-1519 ◽  
Author(s):  
XUE BAI ◽  
YU GUO ◽  
YUAN YUAN FU
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Intergenerational Relationships ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Self Image ◽  
Older Men And Women

ABSTRACTPromoting life satisfaction in later life has long been both a policy and practice challenge. This study examined the association between older adults' self-image and life satisfaction, and that between their intergenerational relationships and life satisfaction. Given that sources of wellbeing for older men and women may vary due to socially constructed realities in early life, gender differences were also investigated in the correlates of life satisfaction. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted in 2014 with a sample of 1,099 older adults aged 60 years and over from four cities in China. Findings of this study showed that older adults’ self-image and intergenerational relationships were significantly associated with their life satisfaction after controlling for certain socio-demographic characteristics, and health and self-care ability. The correlates of life satisfaction were shown to differ between older men and women. Programmes and Services should be developed for older adults to explore and identify positive aspects of themselves, to improve their relationships with their adult children, and to foster a more positive image of ageing in wider society. In addition, service providers should take gender differences in correlates of life satisfaction into account in service and intervention programme development.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document