scholarly journals Perceived Discrimination Trajectories and Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Black Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kellee White ◽  
Bethany A Bell ◽  
Shuo J Huang ◽  
David R Williams
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Racial Discrimination ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Perceived Discrimination ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Time Point

Abstract Background and Objectives Perceived discrimination is a risk factor for poor mental health. However, most studies measure discrimination at one time point, which does not account for heterogeneity in the cumulative patterning of exposure to discrimination. To address this gap, we examine the association between discrimination trajectories and depressive symptoms among black middle-aged and older adults. Research Design and Methods Data were analyzed from a subsample of black Health and Retirement Study respondents (2006–2018, N = 2926, older than 50 years). General discrimination and racial discrimination trajectories were constructed based on the Everyday Discrimination Scale using repeated measures latent profile analyses. We examined the extent to which the association between discrimination trajectories are differentially associated with depressive symptoms (8-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale) using negative binomial regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Effect modification by age and gender was tested. Results Individuals in the persistently high (incident rate ratio [IRR]: 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49–1.95) and moderate general discrimination trajectories (IRR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.06–1.33) were more likely to have elevated depressive symptoms in comparison to those in the persistently low trajectory. This relationship was strongest among older adults aged older than 65 years. Respondents in the persistently high racial discrimination trajectory (IRR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.29–1.73) had a higher risk of elevated depressive symptoms in comparison to respondents in the persistently low trajectory. Sensitivity analyses indicated that there was an independent association between persistently high racial discrimination trajectory class and elevated depressive symptoms, after adjusting for racial discrimination measured at a single time point. Discussion and Implications Characterizing longitudinal patterns of perceived discrimination may facilitate the stratification of mental health risk and vulnerability among black middle-aged and older adults. Trajectories of racial discrimination may inform risk of worse depressive symptoms more accurately than a single assessment of discrimination.

scholarly journals Changes in Quality of Life and Loneliness Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults Participating in Therapist-Guided Digital Mental Health Intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine E. Gould ◽  
Chalise Carlson ◽  
Ana Jessica Alfaro ◽  
Christina F. Chick ◽  
Martha L. Bruce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Mental Health Interventions

Background: This study aimed to examine the effects of a 12-week multicomponent mobile app-delivered intervention, the Meru Health Program (MHP), on mental health quality of life (QoL) and loneliness among the middle-aged and older adults with depression symptoms.Methods: The eligible participants (M age = 57.06, SD = 11.26 years) were enrolled in the MHP, a therapist-supported mobile intervention. Using a non-randomized pre-post design, change in mental health QoL [WHO QoL Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) psychological health] and loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale) from baseline to post-treatment were examined. Time of enrollment [pre- vs. post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)] was included as a between-subjects factor in the repeated measures analyses.Results: Forty-two participants enrolled prior to the COVID-19 pandemic; eight enrolled after the pandemic began. Among the pre-COVID-19 enrollees, increase in mental health QoL, F(1, 38) = 12.61, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.25 and decreases in loneliness emerged, F(1, 38) = 5.42, p = 0.025, η2 = 0.13. The changes in mental health QoL, but not loneliness, held for the combined sample, such as post-COVID-19 enrollees, F(1, 44) = 6.02, p = 0.018, η2 = 0.12. The regression analyses showed that increases in mindfulness were associated with the increased mental health QoL and decreased loneliness.Conclusion: Therapist-supported digital mental health interventions, such as the MHP, have the potential to improve mental health QoL and decrease loneliness among the middle-aged and older adults. The findings for loneliness may not hold during the periods of mandated isolation. Instead, therapists supporting digital interventions may need to tailor their approach to target loneliness.

scholarly journals Substitutions of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep: associations with mental health in middle-aged and elderly persons

2021 ◽  
pp. jech-2020-215883
Author(s):  
Amy Hofman ◽  
Trudy Voortman ◽  
M. Arfan Ikram ◽  
Annemarie I Luik
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sedentary Behaviour ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Accelerometer Data ◽  
Middle Aged

BackgroundPhysical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep are potential risk factors of mental health disorders, but previous studies have not considered the dependency between these activity domains. Therefore, we examined the associations of reallocations of time among older adults’ physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep with depressive and anxiety symptoms using compositional isotemporal substitution analyses.MethodsWe included 1943 participants (mean age 71 years, SD: 9; 52% women) from the population-based Rotterdam Study. Between 2011 and 2016, we collected accelerometer data (mean duration 5.8 days, SD: 0.4) on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep and self-reported data on depressive symptoms and anxiety.ResultsA reallocation of 30 min more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with a −0.55 (95% CI −1.04 to −0.06) points lower depressive symptoms score when replacing sleep and a −0.59 (95% CI −1.06 to −0.12) points lower score when replacing sedentary behaviour, but not when replacing light physical activity (−0.70, 95% CI −1.63 to 0.24). No associations were found for anxiety.ConclusionReplacing sedentary behaviour or sleep with more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with less depressive symptoms, suggesting that mainly intensive types of physical activity are important for middle-aged and older adults in relation to depressive symptoms.

scholarly journals Type of tea consumption and depressive symptoms in Chinese older adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yao Yao ◽  
Huashuai Chen ◽  
Lele Chen ◽  
Sang-Yhun Ju ◽  
Huazhen Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Green Tea ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Tea Consumption ◽  
Chinese Older Adults

Abstract Background Existing research indicates that tea drinking may exert beneficiary effects on mental health. However, associations between different types of tea intake and mental health such as depression have not been fully examined. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of green tea, fermented tea, and floral tea consumption with depressive symptoms. Methods We used data from the 2018 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, a nationwide survey on older adults in mainland China. A total of 13,115 participants (mean age 83.7 years, 54.2% were women) with valid responses were included in the analysis. The type (green, fermented [black, Oolong, white, yellow, dark, and compressed teas], and floral) and the frequency of tea consumption were recorded, and depressive symptoms were assessed using 10-item of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10). We examined the associations between the type and the frequency of tea intake and depression, controlling for a set of demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, behavioral, and health-related variables. Results Overall, intakes of green tea, fermented tea, and floral tea were all significantly associated with lower prevalence of depressive symptoms, independent of other risk factors. Compared with the group of no tea intake, the adjusted ORs of depressive symptoms for daily green tea, fermented tea, and floral tea intake were 0.85 (95% CI: 0.76–0.95), 0.87 (95% CI: 0.76–0.99), and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.59–0.82), respectively. Linear associations were observed between the frequencies of all three types of tea intake and depressive symptoms (P < 0.05 for trends for all three types). The associations of the type and the frequency of tea intake and depressive symptoms were robust in several sensitivity analyses. Conclusions Among Chinese older adults, regularly consumed any type of tea (green, fermented, or floral) were less likely to show depressive symptoms, the associations seemed more pronounced among floral tea and green tea drinkers.

scholarly journals Mobile Intervention Outcomes Compared Pre and Post-Shelter-in-Place for Middle Aged and Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 861-861
Author(s):  
Chalise Carlson ◽  
Ana Alfaro ◽  
Christina Chick ◽  
Martha Bruce ◽  
Valerie Forman Hoffman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Behavioral Skills ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Health Quality

Abstract The Meru Health Program (MHP), a mobile app-based intervention targeting depressive symptoms, teaches mindfulness and cognitive behavioral skills through video lessons and practices. MHP includes integrated asynchronous therapist and peer support. Our aim was to examine whether using the MHP reduced loneliness and improved mental health quality of life (QoL) in middle-aged and older adults with depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionairre-9 [PHQ-9] ≥ 7). The timing of this study partially overlapped with the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic resulting in California’s shelter-in-place (SIP) orders. Fifty participants (42 enrolled prior to SIP) completed baseline assessments with a mean age of 57.06 (SD = 11.26; Range: 40-81 years) exhibiting mild to moderate depression symptoms (PHQ-9: M = 12.28, SD = 5.47). Participants enrolled pre-SIP exhibited significant improvements in QoL, F(1,38) = 12.61, p = .001, η2 = .25, and significant declines in loneliness, F(1,38) = 5.42, p = .03, η2 = .13. Improvements in QoL were found for post-SIP participants as well, F(1,44) = 6.02, p = .02, η2 = .12. In contrast, loneliness did not improve for the post-SIP cohort, perhaps alluding to the increased impact of social isolation during SIP. Our findings indicate MHP can improve QoL symptoms before and during SIP. It is possible that middle-aged and older individuals may require more individualized support during SIP to help alleviate loneliness when social connection is severely restricted. MHP remains a promising and scalable solution for those middle-aged and older adults struggling with mental health symptoms.

The Association of Hearing Impairment and Its Severity with Physical and Mental Health among Chinese Middle-aged and Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Ye ◽  
Dawei Zhu ◽  
Siyuan Chen ◽  
Ping He
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Middle Aged

Abstract Background: Hearing loss is a common chronic condition which can be closely related with people’s health. However, current studies on this topic are quite limited in developing countries, and few with standardized audiometric measurement and multiple health outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to explore the association between hearing impairment and its severity with physical and mental health among Chinese middle-aged and older adults. Methods: We obtained data from two sources: (1) China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2011, 2013, and 2015, in which hearing impairment was measured by asking whether participants aged 45 years old had hearing problems; and (2) Hearing Survey 2019, the baseline survey of a randomized controlled trial conducted in Shandong Province of China, including 376 middle-aged and older participants. The severity of hearing impairment was identified by pure tone average of hearing thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. Results: In CHARLS, 1248 (8.36%) participants suffered from hearing impairment at baseline, and hearing-impaired individuals were more likely to have chronic diseases, impaired activities of daily living (ADLs), impaired instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and depressive symptoms. For the 376 hearing-impaired participants in Hearing Survey 2019, 30.32%, 38.30% and 31.38% of them had moderate, severe and profound hearing impairment, respectively. As the severity of hearing impairment increased, individuals were likely to have impaired ADLs, impaired IADLs and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Hearing impairment and its severity were closely related to multiple physical and mental health outcomes among Chinese middle-aged and older adults. Actions should be taken to prevent and treat hearing impairment, so as to improve people’s health and well-being.

scholarly journals Perceived discrimination and health outcomes among middle-aged and older adults in India: results of a national survey in 2017–2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Supa Pengpid ◽  
Karl Peltzer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Perceived Discrimination ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Risk Behaviours ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Poor Physical Health ◽  
Health Risk Behaviours

Abstract Background The study aimed to estimate the associations between perceived discrimination and poor physical health, poor mental health, and health risk behaviours in middle-aged and older adults in a national population survey in India. Methods The sample included 72,262 middle-aged and older adults from a cross-sectional national community dwelling survey in India in 2017–2018. Results The prevalence of moderate (1–2 types) perceived discrimination was 10.7%, and high (3–6 types) perceived discrimination was 6.6%. In the final adjusted logistic, linear or Poisson regression analyses, moderate and/or high perceived discrimination was significantly positively associated with poor mental health (low life satisfaction, poor cognitive functioning, insomnia symptoms, and depressive symptoms), poor physical health (pain conditions count, and functional limitations), and health risk behaviours (heavy episodic drinking and physical inactivity). Conclusion Perceived discrimination is associated with poor mental health, poor physical health, and health risk behaviour, emphasising the need to consider perceived discrimination in various physical and mental health contexts.

A dose response relationship between accelerometer assessed daily steps and depressive symptoms in older adults: a two-year cohort study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Chun Hsueh ◽  
Brendon Stubbs ◽  
Yun-Ju Lai ◽  
Chi-Kuang Sun ◽  
Li-Jung Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Geriatric Depression Scale ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Negative Binomial Regression ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Daily Step ◽  
Daily Step Count ◽  
The Stability

Abstract Objectives this study investigated the prospective associations of accelerometer assessed daily steps with subsequent depressive symptoms in older adults. Methods a 2-year prospective study was performed in the community. A total of 285 older adults ≥65 years (mean age = 74.5) attended the baseline assessment in 2012. The second wave of assessment was carried out in 2014 including 274 (96.1%) participants. Daily step counts were measured with a triaxial accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X+), and participants were divided into three categories (&lt;3,500, 3,500–6,999 and ≥ 7,000 steps/day). The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms. Negative binomial regression models with multivariable adjustment for covariates (baseline depressive symptoms, accelerometer wear time, age, gender, education, chronic disease, activities of daily living) were conducted to examine the association between daily steps and subsequent depressive symptoms. Results each 1,000-step increase in daily walking was linearly associated with a reduced rate of subsequent depressive symptoms (rate ratio [RR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.92–0.98). Participants with daily step count in 3,500–6,999 (RR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.70–0.99) and ≥7,000 steps (RR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.55–0.92) per day had fewer depressive symptoms at follow-up. Sensitivity analyses assessing confounding and reverse causation provided further support for the stability of our findings. Conclusion older adults engaging in more daily steps had fewer depressive symptoms after 2 years. Even as few as 3,500–6,999 steps a day was associated with a protecting effect. Accumulating ≥7,000 steps a day could provide the greatest protection against depressive symptoms.

scholarly journals The Impact of Work Hours on Depressive Symptoms among Koreans Aged 45 and Over

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 853
Author(s):  
Juyeong Kim ◽  
Eun-Cheol Park
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Work Hours ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Health Studies ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Impact

Background: Given the documented importance of employment for middle-aged and older adults’ mental health, studies of the association between their number of work hours and depressive symptoms are needed. Objectives: To examine the association between the number of work hours and depressive symptoms in Korean aged 45 and over. Methods: We used data from the first wave to fourth wave of the Korea Longitudinal Study of Aging. Using the first wave at baseline, data included 9845 individuals. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. We performed a longitudinal analysis to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms by work hours. Results: Both unemployed males and females aged 45–65 years were associated with higher depressive symptoms (β = 0.59, p < 0.001; β = 0.32, p < 0.001). Females working ≥ 69 h were associated with higher depressive symptoms compared to those working 41–68 h (β = 0.25, p = 0.013). Among those both middle-aged and older adults, both males and females unemployed were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Those middle-aged female working ≥69 h were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Conclusions: An increase in depressive symptoms was associated with unemployed males and females working ≥69 h compared to those working 41–68 h. Although this association was found among middle-aged individuals, a decrease in depressive symptoms in both sexes was associated with working 1–40 h. Depressive symptoms should decrease by implementing employment policies and social services to encourage employers to support middle-aged and older adults in the workforce considering their sex and age differences.

scholarly journals Profile Groups Based on Lifestyle and Differences in Mental Health and Cognition

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 404-404
Author(s):  
Joseph Kim ◽  
Kyuree Kim
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Mean Differences

Abstract The purpose of this study was to identify the profiles of older adults according to lifestyle. Data for the study were from the 2017 Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS). CAMS 2017 is a questionnaire mailed to a sub-sample of respondents from the Health and Retirement Study. Participants were limited to older adults 65 and older, and the final sample consisted of 1136 older adults. The sample included 443 men and 693 women. Caucasians comprised 82.0% of the participants. Lifestyle was measured through items assessing the amount of time spent on activities. Due to high skewness, the items were dichotomized, 0=no time spent on activity and 1=time spent on the activity. Latent class analysis (LCA) was performed to identify groups based on lifestyle. LCA is a person-centered approach for identifying unobserved subgroups based on similarity in responses to items. Three lifestyle groups were identified. Group 1 was “Outgoing” with 471 individuals. Group 2 was “Adequate” with 229 individuals. Group 3 was “Inactive” with 436 individuals. An ANOVA was then conducted to assess mean differences in self-rated health, cognition, depressive symptoms, and loneliness for the three lifestyle groups. The “Outgoing” and “Adequate” groups had significantly higher scores on self-rated health and cognition, and in addition, significantly lower scores on depressive symptoms and loneliness compared to the “Inactive” group. No significant differences were observed between the “Outgoing” and “Adequate” groups. An implication from this study is the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle in later life for better mental health and cognition.

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