scholarly journals The Roles of Marital Dissolution and Subsequent Repartnering on Loneliness in Later Life

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (8) ◽  
pp. 1796-1807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew R Wright ◽  
Anna M Hammersmith ◽  
Susan L Brown ◽  
I-Fen Lin
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Marital Dissolution ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Gerontological Research ◽  
Risk Of Mortality ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Using Data

Abstract Objectives Loneliness in later life is associated with poorer health and higher risk of mortality. Our study assesses whether gray divorced adults report higher levels of loneliness than the widowed and whether social support or repartnership offset loneliness. Method Using data from the 2010 and 2012 Health and Retirement Study, we estimated ordinary least squares regression models for women (n = 2,362) and men (n = 1,127) to examine differences in loneliness by dissolution pathway (i.e., divorce versus widowhood), accounting for social support and repartnership. Results Divorced men were lonelier than their widowed counterparts. Although social support reduced loneliness among men, the difference between the divorced and widowed persisted. Repartnership assuaged men’s loneliness and reduced the variation between divorced and widowed men. Among women, the results did not reveal differences in loneliness for the divorced and widowed although social support and repartnership linked to less loneliness. Discussion Later-life marital dissolutions increasingly occur through divorce rather than spousal death. Some older adults go on to form new partnerships. Our findings demonstrate the importance of gerontological research widening the lens beyond widowhood to consider the ramifications of later-life divorce and repartnership for well-being.

scholarly journals CHANGES IN SOCIAL SUPPORT AND THE INFLUENCE OF DRIVING CESSATION

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S753-S754
Author(s):  
Brittany M King
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Driving Cessation ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Emotional Social Support

Abstract Driving cessation has been shown to be a potentially isolating transition in life, with important implications for mental health, social isolation, and social support. Older adults who live alone are vulnerable to social isolation in the context of driving cessation. Although some research has examined the association between driving cessation and certain kinds of social engagement activities, no research has specifically examined changes in social support, particularly among older adults most vulnerable to social isolation – those who live alone . The present study addresses this gap, using data drawn from the 2006-2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine how social support changes in the context of driving cessation among older adults who live alone (N=412). This study specifically focuses on instrumental and emotional social support, and how different sources of the support (children, friends, and other family) are influenced by loss of driving. I use a series of ordinary least squares regression (OLS) to examine four-year changes in various forms of social support among those who live alone, comparing those who lose the ability to drive relative to their continuously driving counterparts. Preliminary results indicate that driving cessation is associated with decline in perceived instrumental support of friends (-0.984, p<01) for older adults who live alone. However, these effects did not extend to children or other family members. These results suggest that loss of driving may perpetuate vulnerabilities facing individuals who live alone by leading to lower levels of perceived support from non-family members.

Loneliness Following Widowhood: The Role of the Military and Social Support

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany M King ◽  
Dawn C Carr ◽  
Miles G Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Support Structures ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Veteran Status

Abstract Objectives Increased loneliness is a common consequence of widowhood in later life. However, individuals with high levels of perceived social support from friends tend to cope more effectively following major social losses like widowhood. Military service is associated with cultivation of strong social support structures. This effect may not only influence those who serve, but also their spouses. Roughly half of older women today are married to veterans, which could shape how they cope with widowhood. We tested two hypotheses: (a) widows of veterans will be less lonely following widowhood compared to their nonveteran counterparts, and (b) this effect will be explained by perceived social support from friends. Methods We used the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine changes in loneliness following widowhood among wives of veterans and nonveterans. We used Ordinary Least Squares regression and mediation tests to address our hypotheses. Results Net of baseline differences, widows of veterans reported statistically lower levels of loneliness (p < .05) following widowhood compared to widows of nonveterans. Widows of veterans retained the same level of perceived social support from friends pre- and postwidowhood, whereas nonveteran wives experienced a loss. Perceived social support from friends mediated the association between veteran status of the deceased spouse and loneliness. Discussion Our findings suggest wives of veterans may have more resilient social support structures than nonveteran spouses, helping them cope at widowhood. Future research should explore whether these effects persist in association with other major stressful events in later life.

scholarly journals Social Support Changes in Response to Retirement

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 442-442
Author(s):  
Brittany King
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Social Lives ◽  
Negative Change ◽  
Significant Positive Change ◽  
Received Social Support ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Retirement is an influential life course transition, that has potential to impact overall well-being as well as our social lives. The extent to which our social lives are changed is dependent upon the resources available both pre- and post-retirement. Research on retirement has focused on how well-being is changed, through measures such as depression, and conceptualize social support as a resource that can help offset some of the associated negative consequences. However, it is unclear how that resource of social support is itself being impacted. This study uses 2008-2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data to assesses if how social support changes is dependent upon timing of retirement or whether the individual was forced to retire (N=1,933). Ordinary least squares regression (OLS) and marginal effects are used to assess the change in support and to test if the effects differentially impact certain groups. Preliminary results from this study show that men who have been retired for two waves report a significant negative change (p<0.05) in their in-person interactions with children, whereas women who have been retired for the same amount of time report a significant positive change (p<0.01) in their interactions with children. Additionally, women who are forced to retire report a significant (p<0.05) increase in their in-person interactions with children. These findings suggest that factors such as timing of retirement and forced retirement are important factors in understanding how received social support changes.

scholarly journals REDUCING THE IMPACT OF CHILDHOOD MISFORTUNE: THE ROLE OF ADULT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON LATER OBESITY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S57-S57
Author(s):  
Kenneth F Ferraro ◽  
Madison R Sauerteig ◽  
Monica M Williams-Farrelly
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Activity Frequency ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract This study investigates the effects of childhood misfortune and adult physical activity on later-life body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. We use ordinary least squares regression to examine the impact of childhood misfortune (30 indicators), and adult physical activity (frequency and intensity) on waist circumference and BMI (kg/m²) using data from the Health and Retirement Study (N=5,732). Results emphasize that experiencing childhood misfortune is associated with a larger waist circumference and BMI in later life, while adjusting for social status and lifestyle variables. Adjusting for adult physical activity decreases the effect of childhood misfortune on waist circumference, suggesting mediation. The analysis reveals that the effects of childhood misfortune on BMI and abdominal adiposity are remediable. Although childhood misfortune is associated with larger waist circumference and BMI in later life, regular physical activity reduces the risk on both indicators of obesity.

Perceived social support and burden of care of male and female caregivers of patient with schizophrenia

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Narendra Kumar Singh ◽  
Nishant Goyal
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Burden Of Care ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Difference

Background: Schizophrenia is associated with a high familial, social and economic burden. Schizophrenia is also associated with a high level of disability which may create impediments on the social and economic areas of the patients as well as on their respective family networks. Families with schizophrenia may encounter problems such as impairment of health and well being of other family members, restriction of social activities of the family members and shrinking of support from the social network. Aims: The present study examined the difference in perceived social support and burden of care between the male and female caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study examining the difference in perceived social support and burden of care between the male and female caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. The sample consisted of 60 (30 male and 30 female) caregivers of the patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia as per ICD-10-DCR. Results and Conclusion: This study revealed that male caregivers perceived more social support and less burden of care as compared to female caregivers. Key words: Gender, social support, burden

Let’s Drink to Being Socially Active: Family Characteristics, Social Participation, and Alcohol Abuse across Mid- and Later-life

2020 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-469
Author(s):  
Eric M. Vogelsang ◽  
Joseph T. Lariscy
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Alcohol Abuse ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
Marital Dissolution ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Linked Lives ◽  
Using Data

Researchers and practitioners often extol the health benefits of social relationships and social participation for older adults. Yet they often ignore how these same bonds and activities may contribute to negative health behaviors. Using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (16,065 observations from 7,007 respondents), we examined how family characteristics, family history, and social participation predicted three measures of alcohol abuse between ages 53 and 71. Results indicate that, generally, greater social participation is associated with increased drinking days per month. We also found that religious participation and having ever lived with an alcoholic are each associated with reporting possible alcohol dependence but not with alcohol consumption itself. Lastly, we identified gendered associations between marital dissolution and drinking behavior. These findings contextualize the increasing rates of alcohol abuse among older adults by emphasizing the possible negative consequences of “linked lives” on health via relationship stress and group norms.

4. Social and interpersonal aspects of ageing

2016 ◽  
pp. 66-86
Author(s):  
Nancy A. Pachana
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Role Changes ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Societal Context ◽  
Over Time

How we interact with others, with the physical and social environment, as well as how well we cope with life events, role changes, and positive and negative stresses all affect how we age. Later life is also intimately connected to, and affected by, circumstances and decisions earlier in life. Social support and engagement are critical for physical and emotional well-being. ‘Social and interpersonal aspects of ageing’ explores ageing in a social and societal context. The ways in which older adults engage with younger cohorts and their contribution to their family, communities, and society more broadly have changed over time and have also been affected by social and technological advances.

Relationship Quality Among Older Cohabitors: A Comparison to Remarrieds

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (8) ◽  
pp. 1808-1817
Author(s):  
Matthew R Wright
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Two Measures ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Union Type ◽  
Quality Relationships

Abstract Objectives Later life marital patterns have undergone shifts over the past few decades, including a rapid growth of cohabiting unions. Despite the increase in older adult cohabitation, research on this population has been slow to keep up. Intimate relationships are linked to well-being and relationship quality is especially important because high-quality relationships offer a number of benefits for well-being, whereas poor-quality relationships often are detrimental. This study compares cohabiting and remarried individuals on two measures of relationship quality. Method Using data from the 2010 and 2012 Health and Retirement Study, I investigate the positive and negative relationship quality of cohabitors relative to their remarried counterparts and whether the association of union type and relationship quality varies by race. Results Across both positive and negative relationship quality, I found few differences between cohabiting and remarried individuals. Black cohabitors report higher positive relationship quality than remarrieds, whereas White cohabitors and remarrieds do not differ. Discussion These findings suggest that cohabiting unions and remarriages are comparable among White older adults, but that Black cohabitors may gain more in terms of positive relationship quality than their remarried counterparts.

scholarly journals Exploring the Association between Life Perceptions and Emotional Profiles in Taiwan: Empirical Evidence from the National Well-Being Indicators Survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 4209
Author(s):  
Mei-Yin Kuan ◽  
Jiun-Hao Wang ◽  
Yu-Chang Liou ◽  
Li-Pei Peng
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emotional Regulation ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Life Domains ◽  
Least Squares Regression

Most of the studies on subjective well-being have focused on positive emotions. The adverse effect of negative emotions on mental health has been overlooked. This study investigates the extent to which specific life perceptions are associated with emotional profiles, and explores relevant factors that effectively enhance subjective well-being. The data were drawn from 4656 respondents in the 2015 National Well-being Indicators Survey in Taiwan. T-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and ordinary least squares regression were conducted. The results reveal that perceptions of all life domains are positively associated with life satisfaction and happiness. Depression and worry are negatively associated with most of the life perceptions, except for environmental quality. These results demonstrate that the emotional profile approach sheds light on current literature on subjective well-being, and suggests that strategies to increase well-being should take positive and negative emotion into account simultaneously. The findings contribute by confirming which life domains can produce the best or worst outcomes in emotional regulation and positively influence mental health. Given that personal safety and the future security of external types is the most crucial factor within the emotional profiles, social welfare and protection programs would be an important strategy to increase subjective well-being.

The Relationship Between Social Support and Morale: Comparisons of the Widowed and Never Married in Later Life

1991 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Martin Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
Never Married ◽  
The Relationship

Through an analysis of data from 152 widowed and 62 never-married elderly residents of southern Ontario, this paper examines the relationship between social support and well-being, measured in terms of morale. The data indicate that while perceived social support is related to morale, particularly among the widowed, measures of available support are not directly associated with well-being among the widowed and never-married elderly. Indeed, reliance upon others for support is, in some circumstances, associated with decreased well-being among the elderly.

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