Daily associations among aging perceptions, perceived health, and perceived stress in older adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Brenda R. Whitehead ◽  
Jessica M. Blaxton
SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A254-A254
Author(s):  
Eunjin Tracy ◽  
Brian Chin ◽  
H Matthew Lehrer ◽  
Lucas Carroll ◽  
Daniel Buysse ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic is an enormous stressor that can impact various dimensions of health, including sleep health. Older adults may be particularly vulnerable. Coping strategies to manage stress can also impact health outcomes by modifying the relationships between perceived stress and health outcomes. This study examined concurrent and longitudinal associations between perceived stress and sleep health, mental health, physical health, and overall perceived health outcomes among older adults. We also examined whether coping strategies moderate these associations. Methods Older adults (n = 115; Mage = 68.62, 58.3% female) reported perceived stress (PSS), coping strategies (Brief COPE), global sleep quality (PSQI global sleep quality score and dichotomous good/poor sleep quality), depressive symptoms (CES-D), and perceived mental, physical, and overall health (RAND-12) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results The number of individuals with poor sleep quality was greater during the COVID-19 pandemic than before (50% vs. 36.5%). Participants also reported poorer physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic than before. Hierarchical linear regression and hierarchical logistic regression revealed that higher perceived stress was cross-sectionally associated with poorer sleep (e.g., higher total PSQI score and dichotomous sleep quality category). Higher perceived stress was associated with worse depressive symptoms and global mental health concurrently and longitudinally. Coping strategies moderated the relationships between perceived stress and physical health and overall perceived health. For example, higher perceived stress was associated with poorer overall perceived health for those who have lower problem-focused coping—but not for those with higher problem-focused coping—both concurrently and longitudinally. Conclusion Perceived stress influences cross-sectional and longitudinal measures of sleep health and general health among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Coping strategies can moderate the effects of perceived stress on health outcomes. Older adults may benefit from prevention and intervention strategies targeting stress management and problem-focused coping strategies. Support (if any) This research was supported by the National Institute of Aging (R01AG047139), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (T32HL007560; T32HL082610), and the National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH019986)


GeroPsych ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ljiljana Kaliterna Lipovčan ◽  
Tihana Brkljačić ◽  
Zvjezdana Prizmić Larsen ◽  
Andreja Brajša-Žganec ◽  
Renata Franc

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. S29-S30
Author(s):  
John Solder ◽  
Kevin Manning ◽  
Rong Wu ◽  
Lihong Wang ◽  
David Steffens

Author(s):  
Afsara B. Zaheed ◽  
Neika Sharifian ◽  
A. Zarina Kraal ◽  
Ketlyne Sol ◽  
Jennifer J. Manly ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: Stress is a risk factor for numerous negative health outcomes, including cognitive impairment in late-life. The negative association between stress and cognition may be mediated by depressive symptoms, which separate studies have identified as both a consequence of perceived stress and a risk factor for cognitive decline. Pathways linking perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and cognition may be moderated by sociodemographics and psychosocial resources. The goal of this cross-sectional study was to identify modifying factors and enhance understanding of the mechanisms underlying the stress–cognition association in a racially and ethnically diverse sample of older adults. Method: A linear regression estimated the association between perceived stress and episodic memory in 578 older adults (Mage = 74.58) in the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project. Subsequent models tested whether depressive symptoms mediated the stress–memory relationship and whether sociodemographics (gender, race, and ethnicity) or perceived control moderated these pathways. Results: Independent of sociodemographics and chronic diseases, greater perceived stress was associated with worse episodic memory. This relationship was mediated by more depressive symptoms. Higher perceived control buffered the association between stress and depressive symptoms. There was no significant moderation by gender, race, or ethnicity. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms may play a role in the negative association between perceived stress and cognition among older adults; however, longitudinal analyses and studies using experimental designs are needed. Perceived control is a modifiable psychological resource that may offset the negative impact of stress.


2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 987-996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie M. Jiang ◽  
Elizabeth K. Seng ◽  
Molly E. Zimmerman ◽  
Martin Sliwinski ◽  
Mimi Kim ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 63-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flora Pereira Guerra ◽  
Rosângela Corrêa Dias ◽  
Leani Souza Máximo Pereira ◽  
Luciana de Oliveira Assis ◽  
Marcella Guimarães Assis

Abstract Introduction: Low back pain is a common condition among older adults and an important cause of disability. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between functional performance of older adults with low back pain and the following variables: sociodemographic and clinical factors, self-perceived health and back pain beliefs. Methods: A cross-sectional study that used data from the Back Complaints in the Elders international consortium. Information about sociodemographic factors (sex, age, marital status, formal education), clinical factors (intensity and frequency of pain, comorbidities), self-perceived health, back pain beliefs and functional performance (measured by the disability component of the Late Life Function and Disability Instrument - LLFDI) were collected through self-report. 191 older adults above 60 years with a new episode of back complaints who did not have any cognitive disorder, visual or hearing impairment, or motor disabilities participated in the study. A bivariate analysis was conducted between each independent variable and each outcome. Associations with p < 0.20 were selected for the multiple linear regression analysis, which was carried out for each LLFDI domain. Results: The multiple regression coefficients of determination were significant despite the modest magnitude. The variables related to functional performance were back beliefs, self-perceived health, formal education, pain frequency and marital status. Conclusion: These results may contribute to the expansion of health professionals’ work in the therapeutic approach of low back pain, broadening its focus beyond clinical aspects in order to value beliefs of older adults and their self-perceived health.


Author(s):  
Brenda R Whitehead

Abstract Objectives The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic is appraised as a stressor influences perceived stress (PS) and psychological well-being during the event. Here, the association of older adults’ expectations concerning the pandemic’s duration and impact with PS and negative affect (NA) is investigated. Based on the stress and coping framework, PS is expected to mediate the association between COVID-19 expectations and NA. Methods Seven hundred fourteen residents of the United States and aged 60 and older completed an anonymous online survey in late March 2020 reporting PS, NA, and expectations regarding the pandemic. Results Regression analyses controlling for demographic factors revealed that more dire pandemic expectations significantly predicted PS and NA directly, and the effects on NA were significantly mediated by PS. Discussion Findings provide evidence that expectations about a pandemic influence the extent to which older adults experience stress and NA in the midst of a pandemic event. Implications for mental health are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-22
Author(s):  
Veronica Corral Barrio ◽  

En 2019 se inició una pandemia debido al Coronavirus o Covid-19. Las consecuencias de las limitaciones sociales impuestas en los ancianos con la ausencia total o parcial del contacto físico han provocado una disminución de la salud mental debido al aumentodel estrés percibido llegando a desembocar en un aumento de la sintomatología depresiva o ansiosa. Esta investigación consta de 22 personas entre 70 y 90 años con deterioro cognitivo leve o moderado distribuidos al azar en G.E. y G. C. Se llevan a cabo 15sesiones de relajación con la herramienta de un robot social en G.E. y solamente relajación en el G.C. La evaluación se realiza con una medición a través del Cuestionario de Estrés Percibido antes y después del proceso, además de una medición de la frecuencia cardiaca antes y después de la última sesión. Los resultados muestran una disminución significativa en el estrés percibido en el G.E. mientras que no es significativa en el G.C. En ambos grupos disminuye significativamente la frecuencia cardiaca. Por lo tanto, el robot social como herramienta terapéutica puede tener un papel relevante en el tratamiento de la salud mental de las personas mayores.


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