Health and Subjective Views on Aging: Longitudinal Findings from the ActiFE Ulm Study

Abstract Objectives Previous research supports that subjective views on aging (VoA), such as older subjective age (SA) and negative attitudes toward own aging (ATOA) go along with negative outcomes. A differentiated treatment of health and disease as antecedents of VoA is largely lacking. Therefore, our objective was to estimate the relationship between generally framed physical, affective, and cognitive health as well as specific diseases and VoA, operationalized both as SA and ATOA. Methods Data was drawn from the ActiFE-Ulm study for which a representative sample of community-dwelling older people (65-90 years) was recruited at baseline. Follow-ups were conducted 7.7 years (median) after recruitment (N=526). Health and disease related data at baseline, based on established assessment procedures for epidemiological studies, were regressed on VoA (1-item SA indicator, 5-item ATOA scale) measures at follow-up. Results Reported severity of affective health problems such as depression was the strongest general risk-factor for both older SA and negative ATOA. Also, some but not all major diseases considered were associated with VoA. Notably, back pain predicted negative ATOA, while cancer was associated with older SA. Rheumatism was linked with more negative ATOA along with higher SA. Throughout analyses, explained variance in ATOA was considerably higher than in SA. Conclusions Affective health problems, such as depression, should be regarded as a major correlate of subjective aging views. Interestingly, diseases do not have to be life-threatening to be associated with older SA or negative ATOA.

Download Full-text

Are Different Diseases in Old Age Connected With Different Attitudes Toward Own Aging and Subjective Age?

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1972 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 589-589

Author(s):

Anton Schönstein ◽

Hans-Werner Wahl ◽

Michael Denkinger ◽

Dhayana Dallmeier ◽

Dietrich Rothenbacher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Daily Living ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Subjective Age ◽

Community Dwelling Older People ◽

Subjective Views

Abstract Subjective views on aging (VoA; e.g., subjective age, attitude toward own aging “ATOA”) are regarded as important biopsychosocial markers of aging but their antecedents are not entirely clear. Besides general risk factors (depression, cognition, activities of daily living), we compared multiple disease groups to establish connections between specific morbidities and risk for negative VoA. Data was drawn from the ActiFE-Ulm study for which a representative sample of community-dwelling older people (65-90 years) was recruited. Follow-ups were conducted 7.7 years (median) after recruitment (T2; N=526). Self-reported depression at T1 was the strongest general risk-factor for negative VoA at follow-up (both subjective age and ATOA). Back pain predicted negative ATOA, whereas rheumatism was associated to both negative ATOA and older subjective age. We conclude that diseases are differentially associated with VoA. Further, mental health problems such as depression seem to be of higher importance for VoA as compared to other factors.

Download Full-text

Subjective Age in Older Korean Americans: The Impact of Functional Disability Mediated by Attitudes Toward Aging

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.1177/0091415019887677 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 91 (4) ◽

pp. 563-580

Author(s):

Eun Y. Choi ◽

Yuri Jang

Keyword(s):

Confidence Interval ◽

Functional Disability ◽

Korean Americans ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Subjective Age ◽

Negative Attitudes ◽

Significant Bias ◽

Attitudes Toward Aging ◽

The Impact ◽

Older Korean Americans

The present study aims to examine how subjective age of older Korean Americans would be affected by functional disability and attitudes toward aging. We hypothesized that (a) both functional disability and attitudes toward aging would have a direct effect on subjective age and (b) the effect of functional disability on subjective age would be mediated by attitudes toward aging. Our analyses of the survey data with 208 community-dwelling Korean Americans aged 60 and older (mean age = 69.6, SD = 7.51) showed that the indirect effect of functional disability on subjective age through attitudes toward aging [–.020 (.009)] was significant (bias-corrected 95% confidence interval [–.039, –.006]). The findings suggest that functional disability fosters negative attitudes toward aging, which in turn leads to the feelings of being older than actual age. Our study suggests ways to preserve and promote positive perceptions of age and aging.

Download Full-text

Acculturation and Subsequent Oral Health Problems Among Foreign-Born Older Chinese Americans: Does Neighborhood Disorder Matter?

Research on Aging ◽

10.1177/01640275211018785 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 016402752110187

Author(s):

Weiyu Mao ◽

Bei Wu ◽

Iris Chi ◽

Wei Yang ◽

XinQi Dong

Keyword(s):

Oral Health ◽

Chinese Americans ◽

Health Problems ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Neighborhood Disorder ◽

Foreign Born ◽

Lagged Dependent Variable ◽

Older Chinese ◽

Older Chinese Americans

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between acculturation and subsequent oral health problems in older Chinese Americans and to further test the moderating role of neighborhood disorder in such a relationship. Methods: The working sample included 2,706 foreign-born community-dwelling older Chinese Americans aged 60 years or older who participated in the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago at baseline between 2011 and 2013 and the 2-year follow-up between 2013 and 2015. Stepwise Poisson regressions with lagged dependent variable were conducted. Results: Behavioral acculturation was protective against subsequent oral health problems, and the protective role was stronger among individuals reporting lower levels of neighborhood disorder. Residence in Chinatown was associated with an increase in the risk of subsequent oral health problems. Discussion: To reduce oral health symptoms and related burdens, it is important to consider, in practice and policy, the role of acculturation and the neighborhood on subsequent oral health outcomes.

Download Full-text

Bidirectional Relationship Between Subjective Age and Frailty: Findings From the NHATS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.867 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 271-271

Author(s):

Yuxiao Li ◽

Minhui Liu ◽

Christina Miyawaki ◽

Xiaocao Sun ◽

Tianxue Hou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Clinical Syndrome ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Chronological Age ◽

Subjective Age ◽

Bidirectional Relationship ◽

Study Participants ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

The Relationship ◽

Hispanic White

Abstract Frailty is a clinical syndrome that becomes increasingly common as people age. Subjective age refers to how young or old individuals experience themselves to be. It is associated with many risk factors of frailty, such as increased depression, worse cognitive function, and poorer psychological wellbeing. In this study, we examined the relationship between subjective age and frailty using the 2011-2015 waves of the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Participants were community-dwelling older adults without frailty in the initial wave (N=1,165). Subjective age was measured by asking participants, “What age do you feel most of the time?” Based on the Fried five phenotypic criteria: exhaustion, unintentional weight loss, low physical activity, slow gait, and weak grip strength, frailty was categorized into robust=0, pre-frail=1 or 2; frail=3 or more criteria met. Participants were, on average, 74.1±6.5 years old, female (52%), and non-Hispanic White (81%). Eighty-five percent of the participants felt younger, and 3% felt older than their chronological age, but 41% of them were pre-frail/frail. Generalized estimating equations revealed that an “older” subjective age predicted a higher likelihood of pre-frailty and frailty (OR, 95%CI= 1.01, 1.01-1.02). In contrast, frailty predicted an “older” subjective age (OR, 95%CI= 2.97, 1.65-5.35) adjusting for demographics and health conditions. These findings suggest a bidirectional relationship between subjective age and frailty. Older people who feel younger than their chronological age are at reduced risk of becoming pre-frail/frail. Intervention programs to delay frailty progression should include strategies that may help older adults perceive a younger subjective age.

Download Full-text

Views on Aging and Well-Being in the Covid Crisis – A Longitudinal Study in Luxembourg

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3513 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 961-961

Author(s):

Anna Kornadt ◽

Martine Hoffmann ◽

Elke Murdock ◽

Josepha Nell ◽

Isabelle Albert

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Well Being ◽

Subjective Health ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Individual Development ◽

Subjective Age ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Social Loss ◽

Physical Decline

Abstract During the Covid-Crisis, stereotypes of older adults as helpless and vulnerable were spread, and intergenerational conflict was stirred more or less openly. We thus focused on perceived ageism during the crisis and its effects on well-being and health of older adults. Since views on aging are multifaceted and can be both, risk and resource for individual development, we assessed people’s self-perceptions of aging (SPA) as social loss, continued growth and physical decline and subjective age (SA). We hypothesized that people with SPA of social loss and physical decline would be more susceptible to negative effects of perceived ageism, whereas those with SPA of continued growth and younger SA would be less affected. NT1 = 611 community-dwelling adults aged 60 – 98 (Mage = 69.92 years) were recruited in June 2020 online and via phone in Luxembourg. In September 2020, participants will be contacted again for a follow-up. Analyses with cross-sectional data show that participants who felt more discriminated reported lower life satisfaction after the onset of the crisis (r = -.35) and worse subjective health (r = -.14). SPA of social loss and higher SA increased the negative effect of ageism on well-being (beta = -.57) and subjective health (beta = -.53), respectively. Our results point to mid- and long-term consequences of age discriminatory and stereotype-based crisis communication for the well-being of older adults and the importance of individual SPA in critical situations.

Download Full-text

Cardiac small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels in health and disease

Pflügers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology ◽

10.1007/s00424-021-02535-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 473 (3) ◽

pp. 477-489 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xiao-Dong Zhang ◽

Phung N. Thai ◽

Deborah K. Lieu ◽

Nipavan Chiamvimonvat

Keyword(s):

Ventricular Myocytes ◽

Pulmonary Veins ◽

Differential Sensitivity ◽

Sk Channels ◽

Sk Channel ◽

Ventricular Cells ◽

Intracellular Ca ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Health And Disease ◽

Small Conductance

AbstractSmall-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK, KCa2) channels are encoded by KCNN genes, including KCNN1, 2, and 3. The channels play critical roles in the regulation of cardiac excitability and are gated solely by beat-to-beat changes in intracellular Ca2+. The family of SK channels consists of three members with differential sensitivity to apamin. All three isoforms are expressed in human hearts. Studies over the past two decades have provided evidence to substantiate the pivotal roles of SK channels, not only in healthy heart but also with diseases including atrial fibrillation (AF), ventricular arrhythmia, and heart failure (HF). SK channels are prominently expressed in atrial myocytes and pacemaking cells, compared to ventricular cells. However, the channels are significantly upregulated in ventricular myocytes in HF and pulmonary veins in AF models. Interests in cardiac SK channels are further fueled by recent studies suggesting the possible roles of SK channels in human AF. Therefore, SK channel may represent a novel therapeutic target for atrial arrhythmias. Furthermore, SK channel function is significantly altered by human calmodulin (CaM) mutations, linked to life-threatening arrhythmia syndromes. The current review will summarize recent progress in our understanding of cardiac SK channels and the roles of SK channels in the heart in health and disease.

Download Full-text

Associations Between Subjective Age, Contact With Older Adults, and Age Stereotypes Among Younger Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1037 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 324-324

Author(s):

Maria Kurth ◽

Robert Intrieri

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Subjective Age ◽

Point Scale ◽

Negative Attitudes ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Age Stereotypes ◽

Contact Frequency ◽

Physical And Psychological Health

Abstract Subjective aging (SA) has generally focused on middle-age and older adults in relation to physical and psychological health for the last 70 years (see Barak & Stern, 1986). Kornadt et al. (2019) recently called for more research examining: co-development of age stereotypes and SA, and this association across the lifespan. Literature examining SA and age stereotypes among younger adults is limited and suggests that age stereotypes are not directly associated with SA (Packer & Chasteen, 2006). Increased contact with older adults, however, is associated with less ageist attitudes (Bousfield & Hutchinson, 2010). This study examined SA and the associations between contact frequency and ageism. The sample consisted of 467 undergraduate students (Mage = 21.48, SDage = 2.63). Subjective age was assessed by asking How old do you feel compared with others your age?, and was scored on a 5-point scale from younger all the time (5) to older all the time (1). Ageism was assessed with the Aging Semantic Differential (ASD), which contains four factors. Results showed significant effects across felt age for contact frequency (F(4, 406) = 3.841, p = .004). Results for the ASD factors were mixed with Autonomy and Integrity showing significant effects for SA (F(4, 405) = 2.763, p = .027; F(4, 405) = 2.773, p = .027 respectively). Instrumentality and Acceptance were nonsignificant. Results suggested feeling older all the time is related to more contact, but more negative attitudes- this increased contact might providing priming for more ageist attitudes (Eibach et al., 2010).

Download Full-text

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Self-Perception of Aging Among Older Adults

Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine ◽

10.1177/2333721421999320 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 233372142199932

Author(s):

Alexander Seifert

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Multivariate Analysis ◽

Data Collection ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Living Alone ◽

Self Perception ◽

Before And After ◽

Subjective Views ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a pattern of physical distancing worldwide, particularly for adults aged 65+. Such distancing can evoke subjective feelings of negative self-perception of aging (SPA) among older adults, but how this pandemic has influenced such SPA is not yet known. This study, therefore, explored SPA at different time phases of the COVID-19 pandemic to explain the pandemic’s impact on SPA among older adults. The analysis employed a sample of 1,990 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 to 95 (mean age = 72.74 years; 43% female) in Switzerland. Data collection from different older adults within one study occurred both before and after Switzerland’s first confirmed COVID-19 case. The descriptive analysis revealed that negative SPA increased, and positive SPA decreased, after the Swiss government recommended physical distancing. After the Federal Council decided to ease these measures, negative SPA slightly decreased and positive SPA increased. According to the multivariate analysis, individuals interviewed after the lockdown were more likely to report greater levels of negative SPA and lower levels of positive SPA. Age, income, and living alone also correlated with SPA. The results suggest that the pandemic has affected older adults’ subjective views of their own aging, and these findings help illustrate the pandemic’s outcomes.

Download Full-text

Measuring child exposure to violence and mental health reactions in epidemiological studies: challenges and current issues

Ciência & Saúde Coletiva ◽

10.1590/s1413-81232009000200017 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 487-496 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Cristiane Seixas Duarte ◽

Isabel Altenfelder Santos Bordin ◽

Genevieve Rachel Green ◽

Christina W. Hoven

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Child Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Physical Violence ◽

Exposure To Violence ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Health Problems ◽

Traumatic Grief ◽

Child Exposure ◽

Grief In Children

This paper examines challenges and current issues involved in measuring exposure to different types of violence which are associated mental health problems in children and adolescents. Standardized measures suitable for epidemiological studies, selected based on their relevance in the current literature, are briefly described and commented. The assessment of child's exposure to violence may focus on a specific event (e.g., kidnapping), a specific context (e.g., war) or even of a certain type of exposure (e.g., intrafamilial physical violence). The assessment of child mental health after exposure to violence has traditionally focused on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - most frequently measured through non-diagnostic scales. However, other mental health reactions may be present and screening as well as diagnostic instruments which may be used to assess these reactions are also described. Two issues of emerging importance - the assessment of impairment and of traumatic grief in children - are also presented. Availability of culturally appropriate instruments is a crucial step towards proper identification of child mental health problems after exposure to violence.

Download Full-text