scholarly journals Unique Effects of Perceived Neighborhood Physical Disorder and Social Cohesion on Episodic Memory and Semantic Fluency

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1346-1355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Afsara B Zaheed ◽  
Neika Sharifian ◽  
A Zarina Kraal ◽  
Ketlyne Sol ◽  
Alyssia Hence ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Cognitive Outcome ◽  
Physical Disorder ◽  
Semantic Fluency ◽  
Neighborhood Quality ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Neighborhood Social Cohesion ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Objective Objective measures of neighborhood quality are associated with physical and mental health outcomes for older adults, but the relationship between perceived neighborhood quality and cognitive health has not been fully explored. Furthermore, positive and negative neighborhood characteristics may influence cognition through different mechanisms. The present study aimed to determine whether perceptions of neighborhood quality predict cognitive functioning in two domains, above and beyond individual-level risk factors, in a nationally representative sample of older adults. Method Using cross-sectional weighted data from 13,919 participants aged 51 and older from the Health and Retirement Study, linear regression models tested independent associations between perceived neighborhood quality (physical disorder and social cohesion) and cognition (episodic memory and semantic verbal fluency), controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, chronic disease burden, and depressive symptoms. Interaction terms tested whether neighborhood social cohesion moderated the relationship between neighborhood physical disorder and each cognitive outcome. Results Perception of greater neighborhood physical disorder was significantly associated with worse episodic memory, while perception of lower neighborhood social cohesion was significantly associated with worse semantic fluency. There were no significant interactions between physical disorder and social cohesion. Conclusions Results provide preliminary evidence for different mechanisms underlying associations between aspects of neighborhood quality and cognition (e.g., stress vs. social interaction). Additional intervention work is needed to determine whether improving neighborhood physical conditions and promoting social cohesion at the neighborhood level could reduce cognitive morbidity among older adults.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF PERCEIVED NEIGHBORHOOD PHYSICAL DISORDER AND SOCIAL COHESION ON EPISODIC MEMORY AND SEMANTIC FLUENCY

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 930-930
Author(s):  
A Zaheed ◽  
N Sharifian ◽  
A Kraal ◽  
K Sol ◽  
A Hence ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Physical Disorder ◽  
Semantic Fluency

An Investigation into Resilience and its Relationship with Sleep and Neighborhood Social Cohesion among Older Pacific Islanders in Southern California

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Michelle Rainer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Pacific Islanders ◽  
Neighborhood Social Cohesion ◽  
The Relationship

The older adult population will continue to grow at an alarming rate and will comprise 21% of the population by the year 2030. Older Pacific Islanders (PIs) will experience a similar growth trajectory. By 2030, older PIs will account for 13.2% of the PI population, a two-fold increase from the 6.5% reported in 2010. Therefore, the overall well-being of older adults is a critical part of public health. Healthy aging is an approach that focuses on the strengths of older adults by reinforcing methods that improve or enhance intrinsic capacities and functional abilities of older adults, while minimizing the limitations, vulnerabilities, and losses. Resilience is a main contributor to healthy aging, yet research on the topic is emerging with noticeable gaps. In response, a pilot research project with older PIs residing in Southern California was conducted. The study goal was to investigate certain intrapersonal, social, cultural, and environmental factors that improve or hinder resilience. Based on this goal, the three main areas of study are: first, the impact sleep has on the relationship between resilience and self-reported health (SRH); second, an exploration of the ethno-cultural PI narrative of resilience and adaptation to adverse events among higher and lower resilient older adults; and third, an investigation into the effects social capital domains have on resilience. Results suggest that individual (sleep duration), intrapersonal (social support and religion), and community (neighborhood social cohesion and community engagement) level factors can affect resilience. Sleep duration had a small to moderate effect (R2 Change=.122) on the relationship between resilience and SRH (β = -0.012, t(9,23) = -2.27, p=.033). For older adults with short sleep duration, resilience was a positive influence on SRH but not among participants with long sleep. Social support from family and friends and religion were relied upon most frequently by the study population while dealing with adversity (80.0% and 74.3%, respectively), compared with 17.1% who tried to resolve the challenge on their own. Higher and lower resilient older PIs did not significantly differ on the methods employed to adapt to an adverse event. Neighborhood social cohesion was positively related to resilience (β=0.36, SE=0.14, p=.018) and explained 16.7% (Adj. R2 = .167) of the variance. Greater community engagement was also significantly associated with higher levels of resilience, but only when accounting for age and gender. Accordingly, public health professionals and other allied health care practitioners should incorporate a multilevel approach when designing initiatives to develop resilience among older PIs.

scholarly journals Social Isolation, Depressive Symptoms and Perceived Neighborhood Environment of Older Adults During COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 727-727
Author(s):  
Ke Li ◽  
Fengyan Tang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Physical Disorder ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Perceived Neighborhood Environment

Abstract Social isolation has been recognized as a social problem with negative effects on psychological well-being. Older adults are disproportionately affected by social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study COVID-19 Project, this study examined the relationship between social isolation and depressive symptoms among two groups of respondents differentiated by whether themselves or their social relationships were diagnosed with COVID-19. This study also explored the moderating role of perceived neighborhood environment. Depressive symptoms were measured using the eight-item CES-D. The index of social isolation was generated using five indicators, including living alone, no social participation, and less than monthly contact with children, family members, and friends. The moderator assessed two aspects of the neighborhood environment, including physical disorder and social cohesion. The results of bivariate analyses showed that respondents who were affected by COVID-19 were younger, more likely to be female, Hispanic, and Non-Hispanic Black, and with lower levels of social isolation. The results of multiple regression analyses indicated that social isolation was associated with more depressive symptoms, but this relationship was found to be only significant among respondents who were affected by COVID-19. Perceived neighborhood environment significantly moderated the relationship, as the effect of social isolation on depressive symptoms was stronger for respondents with more neighborhood physical disorders and less social cohesion. This study has implications for practice and policy, in that it underscored the importance of enacting strategies to improve the neighborhood environment, particularly for socially isolated older adults during the COVID-19.

Religiosity and Adaptation in the Oldest-Old

1992 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley C. Courtenay ◽  
Leonard W. Poon ◽  
Peter Martin ◽  
Gloria M. Clayton ◽  
Mary Ann Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Religious Coping ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Coping Mechanisms ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
And Coping ◽  
The Relationship

Previous research has yielded mixed results with respect to the relationship between religiosity and adaptation in older adults. Most studies show that religiosity is stable over the life span, but that religiosity may or may not be related to such factors as physical and mental health, life satisfaction, and coping. This study adds to earlier investigations by including centenarians among the sample. The preliminary results of this research project support earlier findings that religiosity does not change significantly as one ages, although there is a trend in the results that suggests otherwise. The results also indicate a significant relationship between religiosity and physical health but no significant relationship between religiosity and mental health and life satisfaction. Religiosity and coping are strongly related, and there is the suggestion that religious coping mechanisms might be more important in the oldest-old.

scholarly journals THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EXPERIENCE OF SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL EVENTS AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION AMONG OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S936-S937
Author(s):  
Stephanie M Bergren ◽  
Gabriella Dong
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Historical Event ◽  
Historical Events ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
Global Cognition ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Research has found relationships between experiencing stressful events and lower cognitive function in late life. However, there is little research about the cumulative experiences of significant historical events and cognitive function. Historical events may be unique compared to other life events due to their potential distal relationship to the individual. This study aims to examine the relationship between experiencing significant historical events and cognitive function among Chinese older adults. Data were drawn from the PINE Study, a cohort study of 3,126 US Chinese older adults collected from 2017-2019. Participants were asked if they experienced the Japanese invasion, famine, Great Leap Forward, Vietnam War, Cultural Revolution, and the Tian’anmen Square Protests. A composite score of 0-6 was calculated to count the number experienced. Cognitive function was measured through global cognition, episodic memory, working memory, processing speed, and Chinese MMSE. Linear and quantile regression were performed. Among the participants, 1908 (61.04%) were female with mean age of 75.33 (SD=8.22) years. The average number of historical events experienced was 2.36 (SD=1.44). After adjusting for covariates, every one additional historical event experience was associated with better global cognition (b=0.26, SE=0.009, p<.01), episodic memory (b = 0.045, SE=0.012, p<.001), and processing speed (b=0.383, SE=0.135, p<.01). Number of historical events was not significantly associated with working memory or C-MMSE. The positive relationship between historical events and some cognitive domains suggests a potential resilience effect after experiencing historical events. Future research should examine whether participants found events stressful and whether there are differential relationships to cognitive function.

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