scholarly journals Gender Differences in Attitudes Toward Aging and Its Longitudinal Impact on Psychological Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 324-325
Author(s):  
Eun Young Choi ◽  
Yujin Franco ◽  
Elizabeth Zelinski
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Longitudinal Impact ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Individuals with negative attitudes towards own aging (ATOA) experience worse psychological health in later life. At the intersection of sexism and ageism, women are likely to have greater concerns about growing older and hold more negative views of aging than their men counterparts. However, the impact of gender on the relationship between ATOA and psychological health is unclear. Moving forward, the current study aims to examine 1) gender differences in longitudinal changes in ATOA and 2) whether gender moderates the association of ATOA with cognitive function and depressive symptoms. Using three waves (2008, 2012, and 2016) from the Health and Retirement Study, a total of 6,675 adults aged 50+ (60% female) were analyzed. A series of multilevel growth curve analyses were performed to investigate the 8-year changes in ATOA and within- and between-person effects of ATOA on cognitive function and depressive symptoms. The models controlled for demographic, socio-economic, and physical health characteristics. Women had more negative ATOA at baseline compared to men, but not in rates of change. When levels of ATOA were more negative, both cognitive performance and depressive symptoms were poorer over time between individuals as well as within-person. We found that the detrimental effects of negative ATOA on depressive symptoms were stronger for women, but there were no significant gender differences in relation to cognitive functioning. Our findings demonstrated that women view aging more unfavorably than men, and the effects of endorsing negative ATOA are more pronounced on women’s mental health.

scholarly journals EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS: DOES GENDER MATTER?

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S931-S931
Author(s):  
Celeste Beaulieu ◽  
Jeffrey E Stokes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Everyday Activities ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Previous research has suggested that informal socializing can be beneficial for mental health, whereas prior findings concerning solitary activities and mental health have been equivocal. Activity theory posits that involvement in activities – particularly social activities – can improve adults’ self-concept and self-esteem, leading to improved well-being. Solitary activities may perform the same function, though without any social reinforcement. However, social engagement and mental health may both vary by gender. Thus, we examined associations of informal socializing and solitary activities with depressive symptoms among 13,387 respondents of the 2012/2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, and further assessed potential gender differences. Results revealed that both informal socializing and solitary activities were significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms when analyzed separately. However, when both types of activities were modeled simultaneously, only informal socializing remained significant. Further, stratified analyses revealed that informal socializing was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms among women but not men, although these coefficients were not significantly different from each other. Overall, findings suggest that both informal socializing and solitary activities may be beneficial for mental health, yet results were clearly stronger for informal socializing. Socializing may benefit mental health not only by bolstering one’s self-concept, but also by linking adults with social ties and support networks that are instrumental for well-being in mid- and later life. Moreover, gender differences in effects were minimal and largely non-significant, indicating that activity involvement can bolster mental health for men and women alike.

scholarly journals CHRONIC CONDITIONS, FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS, AND DEPRESSION IN OLDER ADULTS: ANALYSIS OF A LONGITUDINAL STUDY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S572-S572
Author(s):  
Jyotsana Parajuli ◽  
Diane Berish ◽  
Ying-Ling Jao
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Direct Effect ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Longitudinal Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Background: Chronic conditions, functional limitations, and depression are highly prevalent in older adults. Evidence suggests the links between chronic conditions, functional limitations, and depressive symptoms separately. However, few studies have considered these three conditions together longitudinally. This study examined the longitudinal relationship between chronic conditions and depressive symptoms and evaluated the mediation effect of functional limitations on the relationship between chronic conditions and depressive symptoms in older adults. Methods: This study analyzed longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study collected in 2012 and 2014. Mediation analysis was used to examine the direct and indirect effects of chronic conditions and functional limitations measured at the year 2012 on depressive symptoms measured at the year 2014 controlling for demographics. Results: Results revealed that chronic conditions predicted depressive symptoms. Specifically, one additional chronic condition in 2012 corresponded to an increase of 0.35 in depressive symptoms in 2014 (p<.001). After adding functional limitations as a mediator, the direct effect was reduced to 0.26 and the indirect effect was .088 (p<.001). In other words, functional limitations explained approximately 25% of the direct effect of chronic diseases on depression. Discussion: Findings reveal the longitudinal impact of chronic conditions and functional limitations on depressive symptoms in older adults. Findings help identify the high-risk population of depressive symptoms and intervene early.

scholarly journals AGING-RELATED CHANGES IN MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND COGNITIVE HEALTH: THE IMPACT OF THE RETIREMENT TRANSITION

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S798-S798
Author(s):  
Robert S Stawski ◽  
Kelly D Chandler
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Cognitive Health ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Retirement Transition ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Retirement is an important transition in later life, associated with changes in social roles. It is unclear, however, whether the retirement transition modifies aging-related changes in mental, physical, and cognitive health. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we examined changes in depressive symptoms, self-rated health, and memory prior to, at, and after the retirement transition among 6,830 participants (Ages=50-97, 58% female) assessed biennially up to 10 times from 1992-2010. Preliminary results indicate a sudden and significant increase in depressive symptoms and decreases in self-rated health and memory at the transition to retirement (ps<.05). These effects increased among individuals retiring at older ages (ps<.01). Further, aging-related increases in depressive symptomatology became faster after retirement (p<.01). Aging-related decreases in self-rated health and memory were unchanged by the transition. Discussion will focus on the contribution of transitions to understanding trajectories of mental, physical, and cognitive health in later life.

scholarly journals Gender Differences in the Association between Childhood Socioeconomic Status and Cognitive Function in Later Life

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiyoung Lyu
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Growth Curve Models ◽  
Childhood Socioeconomic Status ◽  
The Impact

Objectives. This study was aimed to explore the gender differences in the association between childhood socioeconomic status (SES) and cognitive function in later life. Methods. Using a nationally representative sample from the Health and Retirement Study, 5,544 females and 3,863 males were analyzed separately. Growth curve models were used to examine memory status and change in memory from 1998 to 2010. Results. The results showed that SES disadvantage in childhood was associated with lower memory at baseline controlling for adult SES and other covariates. In addition, cumulated disadvantage in SES was associated with poor memory in both genders. Statistically, the impact of cumulative SES on memory function at baseline was significantly different by gender. Discussion. These findings suggest that childhood SES has long-term effects on cognitive function among both men and women, and cumulative SES from childhood to adulthood may be more important for men than women with respect to their memory performance.

scholarly journals Traumatic Events and Cognitive Function: Does Time When Traumatic Events Happen Matter?

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 428-428
Author(s):  
Gabriella Dong
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Memory Processing ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract People at different life stage may respond differently to traumatic events and result in different cognitive health. This study aims to examine the relationship between life stage at which one experiences traumatic events and cognitive function. The data were drawn from the 2017-2019 PINE study (N = 3,125). The time of life events happened was evaluated by childhood (<20), adulthood (20-59), and old age (60 and above). Cognition was measured through global cognition, episodic memory, working memory, processing speed, and MMSE. Linear regression was used. Individuals with the latest exposure to traumatic events at adulthood or old age have higher cognitive function than those without traumatic events over the life course. Exposure to traumatic events in middle or later life stimulates cognition, while trauma exposure in earlier life stage does not. Future research to understand the impact of traumatic events on health could consider the time when traumatic events happen

scholarly journals SPOUSAL DRIVING CESSATION AND VOLUNTEERING: MODERATING ROLE OF CAREGIVING AND DEPRESSION

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S947-S947
Author(s):  
Angela L Curl ◽  
Christine M Proulx ◽  
Teresa M Cooney
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Driving Cessation ◽  
Informal Volunteering ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role ◽  
Retirement Study ◽  
Volunteer Engagement

Abstract Driving cessation is a normative transition in later adulthood, yet previous research shows that having a spouse who ceases to drive, even when you are still able to, negatively impacts one’s own engagement (i.e., formal and informal volunteering). Little is known about the conditions under which volunteer engagement might vary after a spouse stops driving. We used longitudinal data from 10 waves (1998–2016) of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine whether depressive symptoms and caregiving demands moderate the association between a spouse’s driving cessation and one’s own formal and informal volunteering. Respondents were included if, at baseline, both spouses participated in HRS, both were age 65+, and both were still driving. Respondents were dropped at the time of their own driving cessation, to focus specifically on the impact of spousal driving cessation. Multilevel model results for 1,370 husbands and 1,368 wives show that moderation occurred only for wives who were still driving. After controlling for sociodemographic factors, physical health, and cognitive ability, husbands’ driving cessation negatively impacted formal volunteering but only for wives who were primary ADL and IADL caregivers for their spouses. Further, husbands’ driving cessation negatively impacted informal volunteering for wives who reported relatively high levels of depressive symptoms. Results suggest the importance of contextual factors like caregiving engagement/needs and psychological wellbeing, especially for wives, when examining the role of spousal driving cessation in partners’ volunteer engagement, and highlight the need for additional research on the relationship between spousal driving cessation and volunteering for husbands.

scholarly journals Loving Others: The Impact of Compassionate Love on Later-Life Psychological Well-Being

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 480-481
Author(s):  
Eva Kahana ◽  
Tirth Bhatta ◽  
Boaz Kahana ◽  
Nirmala Lekhak
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Compassionate Love ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Existing scholarship in social gerontology has surprisingly paid little attention to broader loving emotions, such as compassionate and altruistic love, as potentially meaningful mechanisms for improving later life psychological well-being. This study examined the influence of feeling love toward other persons and experiencing love from others on later life psychological well-being. We conducted a 3-wave longitudinal study of a representative sample of 340 ethnically heterogeneous community dwelling older residents of Miami, Florida. The increase in feeling of being loved (β=-1.53, p<0.001) and love for others (β=-1.43, p<0.001) led to decline in odds of reporting greater level of depressive symptoms over time. The odds of reporting higher level of positive affect were significantly greater for older adults who reported feeling loved by others (β=1.16, p<0.001) and expressed love for other people (β=1.18, p<0.01). Older adults who felt loved had 0.92-point lower ordered log odds of reporting higher negative affect than those who reported lower level of love. The impact of compassionate love on depressive symptoms and negative affect remained statistically significant even after adjustment for altruistic attitudes and emotional support. The influence of loving emotions on positive affect was, however, explained by altruistic attitudes and emotional support. Our findings underscore the powerful influence of both receiving and giving love for the maintenance of later life psychological well-being. We offer support for the expectation that love is a significant force in the lives of older adults that transcends intimate relationships.

scholarly journals The Relationship of Psychiatric Symptoms with Performance-Based and Self-Reported Cognitive Function After Ischemic Stroke

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Kliem ◽  
Elise Gjestad ◽  
Truls Ryum ◽  
Alexander Olsen ◽  
Bente Thommessen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Post Stroke ◽  
Cognitive Difficulties ◽  
Memory And Attention ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Objective: Findings on the relationship of psychiatric symptoms with performance-based and self-reported cognitive function post-stroke are inconclusive. We aimed to (1) study the relation of depression and anxiety to performance-based cognitive function and (2) explore a broader spectrum of psychiatric symptoms and their association with performance-based versus self-reported cognitive function. Method: Individuals with supratentorial ischemic stroke performed neuropsychological examination 3 months after stroke. For primary analyses, composite scores for memory and attention/executive function were calculated based on selected neuropsychological tests, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used. Psychiatric symptoms and self-reported cognitive function for secondary aims were assessed using the Symptom-Checklist-90 – Revised (SCL-90-R). Results: In a sample of 86 patients [mean (M) age: 64.6 ± 9.2; Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), 3–7 days post-stroke: M = 28.4 ± 1.7; National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) after 3 months: M = 0.7 ± 1.6] depressive symptoms (HADS) were associated with poorer memory performance after controlling for age, sex, and education (p ≤ .01). In a subsample (n = 41; Age: M = 65.7 ± 8.1; MMSE: M = 28.4 ± 1.8; NIHSS: M = 1.0 ± 1.9), symptoms of phobic anxiety (SCL-90-R) were associated with poorer performance-based memory and attention/executive function, and symptoms of anxiety (SCL-90-R) with lower attention/executive function. Higher levels of self-reported cognitive difficulties were associated with higher scores in all psychiatric domains (p ≤ .05). Conclusion: Even in relatively well-functioning stroke patients, depressive symptoms are associated with poorer memory. The results also suggest that various psychiatric symptoms are more related to self-reported rather than to performance-based cognitive function. Screening for self-reported cognitive difficulties may not only help to identify patients with cognitive impairment, but also those who need psychological treatment.

Skilled Nursing Facilities Modify the Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Hospital Readmissions but Not Health Outcomes Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 089826432110131
Author(s):  
Leah R. Abrams ◽  
Geoffrey J. Hoffman
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Hospital Readmissions ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Skilled Nursing Facilities ◽  
Nursing Facilities ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
Health Rehabilitation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Health Hospital ◽  
Retirement Study

Objectives: Despite detrimental effects of depressive symptoms on self-care and health, hospital discharge practices and the benefits of different discharge settings are poorly understood in the context of depression. Methods: This retrospective cohort study comprised 23,485 hospitalizations from Medicare claims linked to the Health and Retirement Study (2000–2014). Results: Respondents with depressive symptoms were no more likely to be referred to home health, whereas the probability of discharge to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) went up a half percentage point with each increasing symptom, even after adjusting for family support and health. Rehabilitation in SNFs, compared to routine discharges home, reduced the positive association between depressive symptoms and 30-day hospital readmissions (OR = 0.95, p = 0.029) but did not prevent 30-day falls, 1-year falls, or 1-year mortality associated with depressive symptoms. Discussion: Depressive symptoms were associated with discharges to SNFs, but SNFs do not appear to address depressive symptoms to enhance functioning and survival.

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