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 Loving Others: The Impact of Compassionate Love on Later-Life Psychological Well-being

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Kahana ◽  
Tirth R Bhatta ◽  
Boaz Kahana ◽  
Nirmala Lekhak
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Compassionate Love ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Objectives Existing scholarship in social gerontology has paid relatively little attention to broader loving emotions, such as compassionate and altruistic love, as potentially meaningful mechanisms for improving later-life psychological well-being outside a family framework. Method Drawing from a 3-wave longitudinal survey of community-dwelling older residents (n = 334) of Miami, Florida, we utilized generalized estimating equation models to examine the influence of changes in compassionate love (i.e., feeling love toward other persons and experiencing love from others) on depressive symptoms over time. We also explored cross-sectional relationship between compassionate love and positive and negative affects. Results An increase in the feeling of being loved (β = −0.77, p < .001) and feeling love for others (β = −0.78, p < .001) led to a decline in odds of reporting greater levels 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 = .63, p < .001) and expressed love for other people (β = 0.43, p < .05). Older adults who felt loved and expressed love for other people, respectively, had 0.71 and 0.54-point lower ordered log odds of reporting higher negative affect than those who reported lower levels of love. The statistically significant impact of feeling loved on all well-being outcomes was maintained even after adjustment for altruistic attitudes and emotional support. Except for depressive symptoms, such adjustments explained the positive influence of love for others on well-being outcomes. Discussion Our findings underscore the powerful influence of both receiving and giving loving emotions for the maintenance of later-life psychological well-being.

scholarly journals How Gender Shapes the Effects of Immediate Family Members’ Deaths on Adults’ Psychological Well-Being

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 93-93
Author(s):  
J Jill Suitor ◽  
Megan Gilligan ◽  
Catherine Stepniak ◽  
Yifei Hou ◽  
Robert Frase
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Time Since Death ◽  
Multilevel Regression ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
The Face ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The deaths of family members constitute one of the most serious negative life events experienced in adulthood. The impact of these losses on psychological well-being may differ considerably by the structural relationship between the deceased and the survivors, and by the genders of both family members; however, few studies have been able to explore these variations by generation, gender, and time since death. In this paper, we use mixed-methods data to explore how depressive symptoms are affected differentially in adulthood by the deaths of mothers, fathers, and siblings, as well as by the gender of survivors. We address these questions using data collected from approximately 600 adult children nested within 250 later-life families, in which approximately 55% experienced the death of at least one parent and 15% experienced the death of a sibling in the previous decade. Preliminary multilevel regression analyses showed that deaths of siblings predicted sisters’ but not brothers’ depressive symptoms. In the case of parents, only mothers’ deaths were found to predict daughters’ depressive symptoms, whereas neither parents’ deaths predicted sons’ well-being. Further, these patterns differed little by time since death. Qualitative data revealed that women were more likely to report that both their mothers’ and siblings’ deaths had led to higher conflict within the sibling network, which previous research has shown predicts psychological well-being. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the salient role of gender in shaping well-being in the face of events of deaths of parents and siblings in adulthood.

scholarly journals Moderating Effect of Psychological Resilience on Functional Impairment in Relation to Subsequent Depression

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 484-484
Author(s):  
Shinae Choi ◽  
Eun Ha Namkung
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Functional Impairment ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Psychological Resilience ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The growing prevalence of functional impairment is a serious concern due to its relation to decreased quality of life in later life. Guided by the social convoy model and the stress process model, the present study investigated whether psychological resilience, particularly optimism and mastery moderated an association between functional impairment and subsequent depressive symptoms in later life. This study used data derived from two population-based national studies in the United States: 2012 and 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 5,035) and 2004 and 2013 waves of the Midlife in the United States (N = 2,476). Ordinary least squares regression was used to estimate the impact of optimism and mastery, respectively, on the associations between functional impairment (baseline measure at wave(t-1), changes over the study period from wave(t-1) to wave(t)) on subsequent changes in depressive symptoms. Across both studies, we found that having and developing functional impairment are related to increased number of depressive symptoms. Optimism independently predicted decreased depressive symptoms over the study periods and buffered the negative effects of functional impairment on depressive symptoms across the two studies. Specifically, the mitigating effects of optimism on depressive symptoms were greater for those with more numbers of functional limitations. The findings suggest that psychological resilience plays a key role in decreasing depressive symptoms, especially for midlife and older adults with functional impairment. The results also demonstrate the importance of examining both optimism and mastery when investigating psychological resilience and emotional well-being in older adults.

scholarly journals The Positive and Negative Affect Relation in the Context of Stress and Age

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 846-847
Author(s):  
Jessica Blaxton ◽  
Niccole Nelson ◽  
Cindy Bergeman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Inverse Relationship ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Midlife Adults ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Research suggests that the within-person inverse relationship between negative affect (NA) and positive affect (PA) indicates poorer emotional well-being, and this interaffect correlation fluctuates in relation to the context of the individual. Specifically, age, stress, and global PA all relate to changes in the interaffect correlation. The current study uses comprehensive data from the Notre Dame Study of Health & Well Being (NDHWB), which allows us to uniquely examine between-person differences in within-person change and variability in the interaffect correlation, thereby examining these constructs from a process-oriented perspective. Midlife and later life participants (N = 965) completed daily questionnaires assessing stress, NA, and PA. Three-level multi-level models illustrated that the interaffect correlation becomes more negative during times of stress, adults with greater global PA experience a stronger inverse interaffect correlation during times of stress, and days of higher stress relate to a stronger inverse interaffect correlation for older adults compared to midlife adults. The findings illustrate the idiographic nature of these relationships and suggest that later life adults and adults with high levels of global PA undergoing higher than typical stressful situations experience stronger inverse interaffect correlations.

scholarly journals Double Consciousness: Explaining Racial Paradox in Later Life Psychological Well-Being

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 654-655
Author(s):  
Timothy Goler ◽  
Tirth Bhatta
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Race Differences ◽  
Coping Resources ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Overall Life Satisfaction

Abstract A substantial number of studies have documented paradoxical findings when examining race differences in later life psychological well-being. Despite experiencing significant structural disadvantages, Black older adults have been found to report significantly higher overall life satisfaction and lower depressive symptoms than White adults. This study relies on double consciousness framework which allows us to understand why satisfaction with material conditions (e.g., domain-specific life satisfaction) among Black older adults could differ from their evaluation of overall well-being (e.g., overall life satisfaction). Based on a survey of successful aging (n=409 aged 60 years or older) conducted by the Elderly Care Research Center (ECRC) in Cleveland, Ohio, we examined race differences in coping resources, and their role in shaping overall life satisfaction, domain-specific life satisfaction, and depressive symptoms. Findings show that Blacks on average have a higher likelihood of experiencing recent negative life events than their White counterparts. Despite adverse life circumstances, Blacks older adults expressed significantly higher overall life satisfaction than Whites. They, however, reported significantly lower domain-specific life satisfaction than their White counterparts. The differences in depressive symptoms between Black and White older adults was not statistically significant. The race differences in overall life satisfaction was explained by religiosity, religious coping, and social support. Education, income, and adverse life events were found to contribute to such differences in domain-specific life satisfaction. Our findings underscore the need to consider the unique role of racialized life course circumstances and coping resources in shaping disparities in later life psychological well-being.

scholarly journals COVID-19 lockdown: impact on psychological well-being and relationship to habit and routine modifications

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Aymerich-Franch
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Notable Increase ◽  
Sleeping Habits ◽  
The Impact

Lockdowns have been imposed around the world to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. However, excessively stringent measures might be a threat to people’s mental health. This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on psychological well-being and its relationship to habit and routine modifications in a sample of 584 participants on lockdown in Spain. Habits and routines were explored in relation to media and social media use, household chores, eating, drinking and sleeping habits, working and studying, exercise and leisure, and personal care. Participants reported an important increase in negative affect as well as an important decrease in positive affect during the lockdown period, compared to before the lockdown. The decline in psychological well-being was more pronounced in younger participants. There was also a notable increase in media and social media consumption, home cleaning and tidying up, eating and sleeping, cooking and baking, reading for leisure, talking or doing activities with other people in the home, and handwashing. Increases in media and social media use, eating, and doing nothing, were significantly associated with an increase in negative affect and a decrease in positive affect. The results contribute to understanding the impact of the lockdown on psychological well-being and its relationship to habit and routine modifications during this period.

The Psychological Well-Being of Older, Recent Widows

1988 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas H. McGloshen ◽  
Shirley L. O'Bryant
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Multiple Regression Analysis ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Religious Involvement ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact

The impact of husband's death on the psychological well-being of 226 older widows was examined. Respondents were 60 to 89 years of age and had been widowed from 7 to 21 months at the time of interview. Using multiple regression analysis it was determined that 19 selected variables accounted for approximately 22% of the variance in positive affect and 18% of the variance in negative affect. Higher levels of positive affect were related to widows' religious involvement, number of siblings, and support from children and their families. Negative affect was more often associated with other deaths (in addition to that of husband), housing dissatisfaction, and a history of employment outside the home during marriage. Additional research is called for in light of the increasing numbers and potential vulnerabilities of older women who are recently widowed.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES ON DAILY SUPPORT TO FAMILY AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING IN ADULTHOOD

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S235-S235
Author(s):  
Jooyoung Kong ◽  
Yin Liu ◽  
David Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Well Being ◽  
National Study ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Extensive evidence suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can lead to negative health effects across a lifetime. This study examines the impact of ACEs on the frequency of providing daily support (i.e., unpaid assistance, emotional support, and disability-related assistance) to family members and the moderating effects of ACEs in the association between providing daily support to family and daily negative affect. Using the National Study of Daily Experiences II, we analyzed a total of 14,912 daily interviews from 2,022 respondents aged 56 on average. Key results showed that a greater number of ACEs were associated with providing more frequent emotional support to family. We also found the significant interaction effect that adults with more ACEs showed greater negative affect on the days when they provided assistance to family members with disabilities. The findings underscore the long-term negative impact of ACEs on daily well-being in the context of family relationships.

scholarly journals Intergenerational Relationships, Social Support, and Psychological Well-Being Among Korean Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 498-498
Author(s):  
Yooumi Lee ◽  
Janet Wilmoth
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Adult Child ◽  
Intergenerational Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being

Abstract This study investigates whether intergenerational relationships and social support improve the psychological well-being of Korean older adults. We examine whether intergenerational relationships and social support directly influence psychological well-being and the extent to which they mediate the distressing consequences of life events such as declining health and recent widowhood. Using longitudinal data from the 2006 to 2016 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, we explore depression trajectories among individuals who are 60 or older with at least one living adult child at baseline. Specifically, we converted data from 5,383 older adults into a person-period file with 24,726 observations over a ten-year period. Then we estimated linear growth curve models of depression trajectories separately for men and women using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results from the hierarchical linear models indicate that declining health and recent widowhood are positively related to depressive symptoms. Satisfactory intergenerational relationships and social support in the form of personal interactions and proximate living arrangements with adult children decrease depressive symptoms of older parents, especially among women. We conclude that the psychological benefits of intergenerational relationships and social support are contingent upon the vulnerability of older adults and discuss the implications for public policy.

scholarly journals SEPARATED KIN: RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION AND MENTAL HEALTH TRAJECTORIES OF OLDER ADULTS LEFT BEHIND IN RURAL CHINA

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S880-S880
Author(s):  
Zhiyong Lin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Migrant Children ◽  
Urban Migration ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
The Impact

Abstract As the processes of urbanization and globalization have intensified across the world, a burgeoning literature has documented the impact of emigration on the health of family members left behind in emigrant communities. Although the association between children’s migration and parental well-being is well documented, few have examined the health implications of children’s migration in the milieu of multiple children and further differentiated between children’s short-term and long-term migration. Therefore, I argue that it is not the geographic locality of a single child but the composition of all children’s location that matters. I further suggest that the impact of children’s migration on parental wellbeing is conditioned on the duration of children’s migration. Using a six waves longitudinal data (2001-2015) collected in rural China, this paper compares mental health (measured as depressive symptoms) trajectories of old adults (aged 60 and older) across different compositions of local and migrant children over a 14-year span. Results from growth curve models show that parents having more migrant children relative to local children experience a more rapid increase in depressive symptoms. In addition, older adults who have their most children migrate away for three or more waves of data have experienced the steepest rate of increase in depressive symptoms. These findings provide new evidence to support the life course processes of mental health disparities among older adults from the perspective of intergenerational proximity.

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