scholarly journals Discrimination and Social Isolation Among African Americans Across the Lifespan

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 581-581
Author(s):  
Ann Nguyen ◽  
Harry Taylor
Keyword(s):  
African Americans ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Systematic Investigation ◽  
Early Mortality ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
African American Adults ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Nationally Representative

Abstract Social isolation is associated with a wide range of health problems, including early mortality. However, little is known about the risk factors for social isolation specifically among African Americans. This study examined 1) the associations between discrimination and objective and subjective social isolation and 2) how these associations vary by age in a nationally representative sample of African American adults from the National Survey of American Life (N=3570). Multinomial logistic regression analyses indicated that discrimination was positively associated with being subjectively isolated from friends only and family only. Discrimination did not predict objective isolation. A significant interaction revealed that the association between discrimination and subjective isolation from friends only varied by age, with older adults being most vulnerable to the effects of discrimination. These findings argue for a more nuanced and systematic investigation of the detrimental effects of discrimination on older African Americans’ social relationships, especially perceptions of relationships.

scholarly journals Polypharmacy in African American Adults: A National Epidemiological Study

Pharmacy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Hamid Helmi ◽  
Mohsen Bazargan
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
Multiple Chronic Conditions ◽  
Poverty Index ◽  
African American Adults ◽  
Medical Disease ◽  
Nationally Representative

Background: Despite the association between polypharmacy and undesired health outcomes being well established, very little is known about epidemiology of polypharmacy in the African American community. We are not aware of any nationally representative studies that have described the socioeconomic, behavioral, and health determinants of polypharmacy among African Americans. Aims: We aimed to investigate the socioeconomic and health correlates of polypharmacy in a national sample of African American adults in the US. Methods: The National Survey of American Life (NSAL, 2003–2004) included 3,570 African American adults. Gender, age, socioeconomic status (SES; education attainment, poverty index, and marital status), access to the healthcare system (health insurance and having a usual source of care), and health (self-rated health [SRH], chronic medical disease, and psychiatric disorders) in addition to polypharmacy (5 + medications) as well as hyper-polypharmacy (10 + medications) were measured. Logistic regressions were applied for statistical analysis. Results: that About 9% and 1% of all African American adults had polypharmacy and hyper-polypharmacy, respectively. Overall, higher age, higher SES (education and poverty index), and worse health (poor SRH, more chronic medical disease, and psychiatric disorders) were associated with polypharmacy and hyper-polypharmacy. Individuals with insurance and those with a routine place for healthcare also had higher odds of polypharmacy and hyper-polypharmacy. Conclusions: Given the health risks associated with polypharmacy, there is a need for systemic evaluation of medication use in older African Americans with multiple chronic conditions. Such policies may prevent medication errors and harmful drug interactions, however, they require effective strategies that are tailored to African Americans.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing the Stages of Frailty among Korean Older Adults Focusing on Objective and Subjective Social Isolation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Song Yi Han ◽  
Hye Young Jang ◽  
Young Ko
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Regular Exercise ◽  
Multiple Logistic Regression ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Background: Although many studies have investigated the factors influencing frailty, studies on factors affecting transition between frailty stages are insufficient. This study was conducted to identify factors influencing the stages of frailty in Korean older adults, focusing on objective and subjective social isolation. Methods: This study analyzed the data of 10,041 older adults from the 2017 National Survey of Older Koreans. Two multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors influencing the frailty stages.Results: Among Korean older adults, 6% were in a frail stage, and 42.5% were in the pre-frail stage. The progression to the pre-frail stage was influenced by sociodemographic and health-related characteristics and by objective and subjective social isolation. Contrastingly, the transition from the pre-frail to frail stage was influenced by factors including objective social isolation, declining hearing, and lack of regular exercise.Conclusions: In the development of future interventions, researchers should consider differences in factors that influence the stages of frailty among Korean older adults. Interventions that help older people maintain existing social relationships or connect to new social networks can delay the transition from the pre-frail to frail stages.

scholarly journals Trajectories of Homebound Status in Medicare Beneficiaries Aged 65 and Older

2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoling Xiang ◽  
Jieling Chen ◽  
MinHee Kim
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Medicare Beneficiaries ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Design And Methods

Abstract Background and Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the trajectories of homebound status in older adults and to investigate the risk factors in shaping the pattern of these trajectories. Research Design and Methods The study sample was a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older (N = 7,607) from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (Round 1–Round 7). Homebound state was defined as never or rarely went out the home in the last month. Homebound trajectories were identified using an enhanced group-based trajectory modeling that accounted for nonrandom attrition. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine risk factors of homebound trajectories. Results Three trajectory groups were identified: the “never” group (65.5%) remained nonhomebound; the “chronic” group were largely persistently homebound (8.3%); and the “onset” group (26.2%) had a rapid increase in their risk of being homebound over the 7-year period. The following factors increased the relative risk for being on the “onset” and “chronic” versus the “never” trajectory: older age, Hispanic ethnicity, social isolation, past or current smoking, instrumental activities of daily living limitations, probable dementia, and use of a walker or wheelchair. Male sex and living alone were associated with a lower risk of being on the “chronic” trajectory, whereas depression and anxiety symptoms, chronic conditions, and activities of daily living limitations increased the risk. Discussion and Implications The progression of homebound status among community-dwelling older adults followed three distinct trajectories over a 7-year period. Addressing social isolation and other risk factors may prevent or delay the progression to homebound state.

scholarly journals THE ISOLATION OF OLDER ADULTS: A COMPARISON OF JAPANESE GENDERS AND HOUSEHOLDS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S528-S528
Author(s):  
Keiko Katagiri
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
White Paper ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Single Male ◽  
Older Couples ◽  
Social Network Size ◽  
Nationally Representative

Abstract As the aging population increases, large changes have occurred among household structures in Japan. Half of older adults lived with their children’s families in 1980. Now around 60 percent of them live by themselves: 27% in single households and 31% as older couples alone. Older adults in single households are said to be at higher risk of social isolation. A Japanese white paper reported that they had scanty of social interactions compared to other types of households. This study examines differences in the social relationships and health statuses among household types by gender and explores the risk factors of social isolation. Nationally representative 2012 Japanese Social Survey data were used for analyses; a subsample comprised participants aged 60 to 74 years. A series of ANCOVAs were conducted. The distribution of the gender and household types were single male 105 (10.0%), married male 387 (36.8%), single female 180 (17.1%), and married female 381 (36.2%); the main effects were being female and married. An interaction effect between them (single males were less happy than married males) was observed. Neighborhood relationships were better among females and married participants. Married participants were more active in community meetings, social participation, and volunteering. However, no difference was observed in social network size. Thus, network size alone was not related to social isolation, but being active in social relationships and the quality of relationships influenced social isolation and well-being. Being married and female may facilitate higher quality relationships and may lead to activity and buffer social isolation.

scholarly journals Are Loneliness and Social Isolation Equal Threats to Health and Well-being? An Outcome Wide Longitudinal Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 935-936
Author(s):  
Tatiana Henriksson ◽  
Julia Nakamura ◽  
Eric Kim
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychosocial Health ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Isolation Measure ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract The detrimental effects of loneliness and social isolation on health and well-being outcomes are well documented. In response, governments, corporations, and community-based organizations have begun leveraging emerging tools to create interventions and policies aimed at reducing loneliness and social isolation at-scale. However, these efforts are frequently hampered by a key knowledge gap: when attempting to alleviate specific health and well-being outcomes, decision-makers are unsure whether to target loneliness, social isolation, or both. Participants (N=13,752) were from the Health and Retirement Study- a diverse nationally representative, and longitudinal sample of U.S. adults aged > 50 years. We examined how changes in loneliness and social isolation over a 4-year follow-up period (from t0:2008/2010 to t1:2012/2014) were associated with 32 indicators of physical-, behavioral-, and psychosocial-health outcomes 4-years later (t2:2016/2018). We used, multiple logistic-, linear-, and generalized-linear regression models, and adjusted for sociodemographics, personality traits, pre-baseline levels of both exposures (loneliness and social isolation), and all outcomes (t0:2008/2010). After adjusting for a wide range of covariates, we observed that both loneliness and social isolation have similar effects on physical health outcomes and health behaviors, whereas loneliness is a stronger predictor of psychological outcomes. In particular, behavioral dimensions of the social isolation measure (i.e., participation in social/religious activities, social interaction frequency) were most strongly associated with the largest number of health and well-being outcomes, including all-cause mortality. Loneliness and social isolation have independent effects on various health and well-being outcomes, thus, should be distinct targets for interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being.

Optical Properties of HVEM Accelerators

1975 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 180-181
Author(s):  
A. Strojnik ◽  
J.W. Scholl ◽  
V. Bevc
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Electron Accelerator ◽  
Systematic Investigation ◽  
Electron Source ◽  
High Brightness ◽  
The Past ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Optical Behavior

The electron accelerator, as inserted between the electron source (injector) and the imaging column of the HVEM, is usually a strong lens and should be optimized in order to ensure high brightness over a wide range of accelerating voltages and illuminating conditions. This is especially true in the case of the STEM where the brightness directly determines the highest resolution attainable. In the past, the optical behavior of accelerators was usually determined for a particular configuration. During the development of the accelerator for the Arizona 1 MEV STEM, systematic investigation was made of the major optical properties for a variety of electrode configurations, number of stages N, accelerating voltages, 1 and 10 MEV, and a range of injection voltages ϕ0 = 1, 3, 10, 30, 100, 300 kV).

Being Drunk to Have Fun or to Forget Problems?

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Kuntsche ◽  
Ronald Knibbe ◽  
Rutger Engels ◽  
Gerhard Gmel
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Drinking Motives ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Cluster Analyses ◽  
High Concordance ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Risky Single Occasion Drinking

Prevention programs in adolescence are particularly effective if they target homogeneous risk groups of adolescents who share a combination of particular needs and problems. The present work aims to identify and classify risky single-occasion drinking (RSOD) adolescents according to their motivation to engage in drinking. An easy-to-use coding procedure was developed. It was validated by means of cluster analyses and structural equation modeling based on two randomly selected subsamples of a nationally representative sample of 2,449 12- to 18-year-old RSOD students in Switzerland. Results revealed that the coding procedure classified RSOD adolescents as either enhancement drinkers or coping drinkers. The high concordance (Sample A: κ = .88, Sample B: κ = .90) with the results of the cluster analyses demonstrated the convergent validity of the coding classification. The fact that enhancement drinkers in both subsamples were found to go out more frequently in the evenings and to have more satisfactory social relationships, as well as a higher proportion of drinking peers and a lower likelihood to drink at home than coping drinkers demonstrates the concurrent validity of the classification. To conclude, the coding procedure appears to be a valid, reliable, and easy-to-use tool that can help better adapt prevention activities to adolescent risky drinking motives.

scholarly journals Characteristics of those most vulnerable to employment changes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationally representative cross-sectional study in Wales

2021 ◽  
pp. jech-2020-216030
Author(s):  
Benjamin J Gray ◽  
Richard G Kyle ◽  
Jiao Song ◽  
Alisha R Davies
Keyword(s):  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Employment Outcomes ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundThe public health response to the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a detrimental impact on employment and there are concerns the impact may be greatest among the most vulnerable. We examined the characteristics of those who experienced changes in employment status during the early months of the pandemic.MethodsData were collected from a cross-sectional, nationally representative household survey of the working age population (18–64 years) in Wales in May/June 2020 (n=1379). We looked at changes in employment and being placed on furlough since February 2020 across demographics, contract type, job skill level, health status and household factors. χ2 or Fisher’s exact test and multinomial logistic regression models examined associations between demographics, subgroups and employment outcomes.ResultsOf our respondents, 91.0% remained in the same job in May/June 2020 as they were in February 2020, 5.7% were now in a new job and 3.3% experienced unemployment. In addition, 24% of our respondents reported being placed on furlough. Non-permanent contract types, individuals who reported low mental well-being and household financial difficulties were all significant factors in experiencing unemployment. Being placed on ‘furlough’ was more likely in younger (18–29 years) and older (60–64 years) workers, those in lower skilled jobs and from households with less financial security.ConclusionA number of vulnerable population groups were observed to experience detrimental employment outcomes during the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Targeted support is needed to mitigate against both the direct impacts on employment, and indirect impacts on financial insecurity and health.

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