scholarly journals Life in the Living Room: An Expression of Personality in Late Life?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 652-652
Author(s):  
Karen Fingerman ◽  
Yee To Ng ◽  
Shiyang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Room ◽  
Psychological Processes ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Point Scale ◽  
Daily Experiences ◽  
Emotional Aspects

Abstract Recent research has found that micro environments (i.e., residential spaces) provide information about psychological processes in young adults. This study examined older adults’ living spaces. Participants (N = 171) from the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study completed measures of personality. Interviewers took 3 to 4 photographs of the room where participant spends the most time. Independent coders rated the rooms for 33 features (e.g., cleanliness, light, clutter) on a 5 point scale. Regression analyses revealed that personality was associated in anticipated ways. For example, conscientiousness was associated with rooms in better condition, neuroticism with less brightness, and by contrast, extraversion with greater brightness and more color. Discussion focuses on bidirectional emotional aspects of home environments that may contribute to well-being. Macro environments (e.g., neighborhoods) shape late life well-being, but understanding micro environments where older adults spend the majority of their time also may contribute to advances in the field.

scholarly journals Narcissism, Social Encounters, and Mood in Late Life

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 388-388
Author(s):  
Shiyang Zhang ◽  
Yee To Ng ◽  
Karen Fingerman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Interaction Terms ◽  
Social Events ◽  
Social Encounters

Abstract Social contacts have a strong impact on older adult’s well-being. However, narcissism (i.e., feelings of self-importance) may undermine interpersonal connections. Research with young adults has found that being narcissistic may generate feelings of boredom, irritation, and pride because narcissistic young adults oftentimes have difficulty maintaining attention, have greater sensitivity to negative social events (e.g. social rejections), and have an exaggerated sense of self-worth. Yet, we know little about narcissism in late life, particularly in a daily context. This study examined the associations between narcissism, social encounters, and mood (i.e., bored, irritated, lonely, proud) throughout the day. Older adults aged 65 + (N = 307) from the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study completed a measure of narcissism in a baseline interview. Then, in ecological momentary assessments (EMA), they reported social encounters and mood every 3 hours for 5 to 6 days. We found no significant associations between narcissism and number of social encounters throughout the day. Multilevel models revealed that older adults who scored higher on narcissism felt more bored and prouder throughout the day. Interaction terms involving narcissism and social encounters showed that during assessment periods when they had social encounters, participants who scored higher on narcissism reported a similar level of loneliness as when they were alone, whereas their peers who scored lower on narcissism experienced decreases in loneliness. Findings suggest that narcissism does not predict social encounters. However, older adults who are higher in narcissism may be less likely to be influenced by their social encounters.

scholarly journals DOES RECEIVING SUPPORT HURT? PAIN AND SLEEP IN OLDER ADULTS’ EVERYDAY LIVES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S779-S779
Author(s):  
Meng Huo ◽  
Jamie l Fuentecilla ◽  
kate Leger ◽  
Karen l Fingerman
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Everyday Lives ◽  
Daily Experiences ◽  
Negative Impacts

Abstract Pain is prevalent in late life and may cast negative impacts on older adults’ sleep. We examined this link in older adults’ everyday lives and asked whether receiving support on days when older adults had pain improved or worsened their sleep. We drew on the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study; over 300 adults aged 65+ reported on their pain, sleep and social support received throughout each day across 5 days. Multilevel models revealed that older adults in greater pain were more likely to nap throughout the day and to incur sleep disturbances at night. Older adults who slept better at night reported less pain the next day. The link between pain and sleep disturbances was stronger on days when older adults received support compared to days when they did not. This study adds to the literature regarding pain and sleep and explores what roles social factors play in this link.

scholarly journals Virtual Reality Representations of Nature to Improve Well-Being amongst Older Adults: a Rapid Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josca Van Houwelingen-Snippe ◽  
Somaya Ben Allouch ◽  
Thomas J. L. Van Rompay
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Intervention Strategy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Psychological Processes ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Representations Of Nature

Abstract Poor well-being amongst older adults poses a serious health concern. Simultaneously, research shows that contact with nature can improve various facets of well-being, including physical, social, and mental well-being. However, nature is not always accessible for older adults due to mobility restrictions and related care needs that come with age. A promising strategy aims at bringing nature inside through pervasive technologies. However, so far, there is little academic understanding of essential nature characteristics, psychological processes involved, and means for implementation in practice. The current study used a three-folded rapid review to assess current understanding and strategies used for improving well-being for older adults through virtual reality representations of nature. Searches were performed across three databases, followed-up by content-based evaluation of abstracts. In total, a set of 25 relevant articles was identified. Only three studies specifically focus on digital nature as an intervention strategy for improving well-being amongst older adults. Although these studies provide useful starting points for the design and (technological) development of such environments, they do not generate understanding of how specific characteristics of virtual nature representations impact social well-being measures in particular, and of the underlying psychological processes involved. We conclude that follow-up research is warranted to close the gap between insights and findings from nature research, gerontology, health research, and human-technology interaction.

scholarly journals COVID-19 as a Stressor: Pandemic Expectations, Perceived Stress, and Negative Affect in Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda R Whitehead
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
And Coping

Abstract Objectives The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic is appraised as a stressor influences perceived stress (PS) and psychological well-being during the event. Here, the association of older adults’ expectations concerning the pandemic’s duration and impact with PS and negative affect (NA) is investigated. Based on the stress and coping framework, PS is expected to mediate the association between COVID-19 expectations and NA. Methods Seven hundred fourteen residents of the United States and aged 60 and older completed an anonymous online survey in late March 2020 reporting PS, NA, and expectations regarding the pandemic. Results Regression analyses controlling for demographic factors revealed that more dire pandemic expectations significantly predicted PS and NA directly, and the effects on NA were significantly mediated by PS. Discussion Findings provide evidence that expectations about a pandemic influence the extent to which older adults experience stress and NA in the midst of a pandemic event. Implications for mental health are discussed.

scholarly journals Perceived personal deadlines for late-life preparation across adulthood

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frieder R. Lang ◽  
Fiona S. Rupprecht
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Data ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Multilevel Regression ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Opportunity Structures ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Throughout adulthood, individuals follow personal timetables of deadlines that shape the course of aging. We examine 6-year-longitudinal data of perceived personal deadlines for starting with late-life preparation across adulthood. Findings are based on a sample of 518 adults between 18 and 88 years of age. Multilevel regression analyses were conducted to explore changes in personal deadlines for preparation in five domains (i.e., finances, end of life, housing, social connectedness, caregiving) in relation to calendar age, self-rated health, subjective position in life, and sociodemographic variables. Findings suggest that personal deadlines for starting preparatory activities differ depending on calendar age and domain of late-life preparation. Older adults as compared to younger adults are likely to report narrower deadlines for beginning with late-life preparation. Perceived deadlines for late-life preparation were furthermore found to be preponed and slightly dilated over time. Findings suggest that depending on age-graded opportunity structures, individuals flexibly adjust their personal deadlines for late-life preparation.

scholarly journals KNOWLEDGE OF AGING, NEGATIVE AGE BIAS, AND POSITIVE AGE BIAS: AGE GROUP DIFFERENCES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S80-S81
Author(s):  
Grace Caskie ◽  
Anastasia E Canell ◽  
Hannah M Bashian
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Age Bias ◽  
Negative Beliefs ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Abstract Attitudes towards aging include both positive and negative beliefs about older adults (Iverson et al., 2017; Palmore, 1999). Palmore’s (1998) Facts on Aging Quiz, a widely used assessment of knowledge about aging, also identifies common societal misconceptions about aging. Findings regarding age group differences in attitudes toward aging are mixed (Bodner et al., 2012; Cherry & Palmore, 2008; Rupp et al., 2005). The current study compared knowledge of aging, negative age bias, and positive age bias between young adults (18-35 years, n=268) and middle-aged adults (40-55 years; n=277). Middle-aged adults reported significantly greater average knowledge of aging than young adults (p=.019), although both groups had relatively low knowledge (MA: M=13.0, YA: M=12.2). Middle-aged adults also showed significantly less negative age bias (p<.001) and significantly more positive age bias than young adults (p=.026). Although the total sample was significantly more likely to be incorrect than correct on 23 of the 25 facts (p<.001), young adults were significantly more likely than middle-aged adults (p<.001) to respond incorrectly for only 2 of 25 facts. Both facts reflected greater negative age bias among young adults than middle-aged adults. These facts concerned older adults’ ability to work as effectively as young adults (fact 9) and frequency of depression in older adults (fact 13). Results demonstrate that age bias is not limited to young adults and may continue through midlife, though negative age bias in particular may be lower for individuals approaching older adulthood, which could have implications for their psychological and physical well-being.

scholarly journals Differences Between Young and Older Adults in Working Memory and Performance on the Test of Basic Auditory Capabilities†

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry E. Humes ◽  
Gary R. Kidd ◽  
Jennifer J. Lentz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Age Related

The Test of Basic Auditory Capabilities (TBAC) is a battery of auditory-discrimination tasks and speech-identification tasks that has been normed on several hundred young normal-hearing adults. Previous research with the TBAC suggested that cognitive function may impact the performance of older adults. Here, we examined differences in performance on several TBAC tasks between a group of 34 young adults with a mean age of 22.5 years (SD = 3.1 years) and a group of 115 older adults with a mean age of 69.2 years (SD = 6.2 years) recruited from the local community. Performance of the young adults was consistent with prior norms for this age group. Not surprisingly, the two groups differed significantly in hearing loss and working memory with the older adults having more hearing loss and poorer working memory than the young adults. The two age groups also differed significantly in performance on six of the nine measures extracted from the TBAC (eight test scores and one average test score) with the older adults consistently performing worse than the young adults. However, when these age-group comparisons were repeated with working memory and hearing loss as covariates, the groups differed in performance on only one of the nine auditory measures from the TBAC. For eight of the nine TBAC measures, working memory was a significant covariate and hearing loss never emerged as a significant factor. Thus, the age-group deficits observed initially on the TBAC most often appeared to be mediated by age-related differences in working memory rather than deficits in auditory processing. The results of these analyses of age-group differences were supported further by linear-regression analyses with each of the 9 TBAC scores serving as the dependent measure and age, hearing loss, and working memory as the predictors. Regression analyses were conducted for the full set of 149 adults and for just the 115 older adults. Working memory again emerged as the predominant factor impacting TBAC performance. It is concluded that working memory should be considered when comparing the performance of young and older adults on auditory tasks, including the TBAC.

scholarly journals Internet Use in Old Age: Results of a German Population-Representative Survey

10.2196/15543 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. e15543
Author(s):  
Janine Quittschalle ◽  
Janine Stein ◽  
Melanie Luppa ◽  
Alexander Pabst ◽  
Margrit Löbner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Internet ◽  
German Population ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related

Background The internet has the potential to foster healthy lifestyles and to support chronic disease management. Older adults could benefit from using the internet and other information and communication technology to access health-related information and interventions available online. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate factors influencing internet use in older and oldest age groups and to determine the frequency of internet use for health-related purposes. Methods Using data from a nationally representative telephone survey of older adults aged 75 years and over, a sample of 999 people was assessed using structured clinical interviews. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses were performed. Results Overall, 42.6% (418/999) of participants used the internet. Among those, 55.7% (233/417) searched the internet for health-related information. Regression analyses revealed that internet use was significantly associated with younger age (odds ratio [OR] 0.89, 95% CI 0.85-0.92; P<.001), male gender (OR 2.84, 95% CI 2.02-4.00; P<.001), higher education levels (OR 6.69, 95% CI 4.48-9.99; P<.001), a wider social network (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07; P=.01), higher health-related quality of life (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.03; P=.006), lower levels of depressive symptoms (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.80-0.99; P=.04), and higher rates of chronic illness (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04-1.21; P<.004). Conclusions This study provides population-representative data on internet use in old age in Germany. People in the older and oldest age groups participate in online activities. Understanding the factors that are associated with older adults internet use can contribute to developing tailored interventions and eHealth (electronic health) services to improve well-being in older adults.

scholarly journals Need to Belong and Social Ties in Late Life

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 926-926
Author(s):  
Zexi Zhou ◽  
Yijung Kim ◽  
Shiyang Zhang ◽  
Karen Fingerman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Need To Belong ◽  
Social Encounters

Abstract According to socioemotional selectivity theory, older adults are more selective and tend to shrink their social network to their closest ties. However, a heightened need to belong, which is characterized by a stronger desire for acceptance and motivation to affiliation, may alter this common pattern. We know little about how the need to belong shapes social network structure, especially in late life. This study investigated the associations between the need to belong, size of social network, and engagement with social ties among older adults. Participants (N = 314) aged over 65 years from the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study completed a baseline interview regarding their close ties (i.e., social convoy members), and weak ties, as well as a self-report measure of need to belong. They completed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) surveys reporting their social encounters every 3 hours over 5 to 6 days. Need to belong was unrelated to the number of close ties. In contrast, participants with a higher need to belong reported more less close (but still important) ties and weak ties than those with a lower need to belong, but spent a similar amount of time (i.e., proportion of EMA involving social encounters) with either their close ties or weak ties. These results suggest that the need to belong may motivate older adults to go beyond their closest ties to weaker ties, and highlight the discrepancies between the sense of being connected to social partners and the actual engagement with them in this process.

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