scholarly journals Connection to the Gay Community and Self-Appraisals Among Older Men Who Have Sex With Men

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 824-824
Author(s):  
Mark Brennan-Ing ◽  
Michael Plankey ◽  
Sabina Haberlen ◽  
Steven Meanley ◽  
Andre Brown ◽  
...  

Abstract Men who have sex with men (MSM) report greater body dissatisfaction compared with heterosexual men, which increases with age. This may result from internalized gay community values regarding ideal physiques and youth. Using structural equation modeling, we examined these relationships among 1,118 MSM men age 40 and older from the Healthy Aging Study (M age=59.9 years/50.1% HIV+/69.8% non-Hispanic White). We hypothesized gay community attachment would be related to self-appraisals (body dissatisfaction/internalized ageism), and that this relationship would be mediated by developmental regulation strategies (physical activity/exercise intentions). The model fit the data well (RMSEA = .048, 90% CI 0.017-0.079). Contrary to our hypothesis, connection to the gay community was related to positive self-appraisals (-.40, p<.001), with significant indirect effects via regulation strategies (-.12, p<.002). Thus, gay community connections are related to positive self-appraisals in older GB men and enhance strategies supporting physical and psychological health. Implications for practice will be discussed.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 823-824
Author(s):  
Mark Brennan-Ing ◽  
Michael Plankey ◽  
Deborah Gustafson

Abstract In 1984, the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) was started to identify factors in the HIV epidemic related to disease risk and treatment progression among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in four urban areas in the US: Baltimore, MD/Washington, D.C.; Chicago, IL; Pittsburgh, PA, and Los Angeles, CA. MACS participants complete biannual study visits involving HIV testing, biometric screenings, and psychosocial data collection. In 2015 a MACS sub-study, the Understanding Patterns of Healthy Aging among MSM Project (HAMSM), was started to better understand resiliencies promoting well-being among MSM age 40 and older, including those with HIV. HAMSM has helped us to understand aging trajectories among MSM, and provides a unique combination of physiological and psychosocial data that can inform efforts to support MSM in healthy aging. This symposium will present emerging findings from the HAMSM study. Our first paper examines the relationships between psychological connection to the gay community (PSOC) and developmental regulatory strategies associated with health behaviors and more positive self-appraisals. The second paper examines how PSOC is related to HIV risk reduction behaviors, and if there are differences in such behaviors based on HIV status. Our third paper considers how self-perceptions of aging (age discrepancy, aging satisfaction) are related to frailty and frailty transitions, and if these relationships differ by HIV status. The final paper examines the relationship of social support to frailty among MSM by HIV status. Implications of these findings for research, policy, and programs targeting MSM will be discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Auditya Purwandini Sutarto ◽  
Shanti Wardaningsih ◽  
Wika Harisa Putri

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore to what extent employees' mental well-being affects their productivity while working from home (WFH) during the COVID-19 crisis and whether mental well-being and productivity differ across some socio-demographic factors.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study with online questionnaires was designed with 472 valid responses in Indonesia. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ) were administered. Non-parametric tests and structural equation modeling were employed to analyze the data.FindingsThe prevalence of depression was 18.4%, anxiety 46.4% and stress 13.1%, with relatively good productivity. Gender, age, education level, job experiences, marital status, number of children and nature of the organization were associated with the employees' psychological health but not with their productivity, while the workspace availability influenced both outcomes. The study path model showed the negative correlation between WFH employees' psychological well-being and productivity.Research limitations/implicationsThis study may contribute to the implication of current mandatory WFH on mental well-being and productivity. Further studies need to address the representativeness and generalizability issues as well as incorporating potential stressors.Practical implicationsOrganizations may adopt WFH as a future working arrangement and identify the individual and occupational characteristics that provide the most impacts on productivity. It is also necessary for them to develop proper strategies to mitigate the psychological risks and overcome the WFH challenges.Originality/valueThere is still a lack of studies investigating the relationship between simultaneous effects of WFH on psychological well-being and productivity, and how they affect some socio-demographic variables in the context of COVID-19.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Sinan Yildirim ◽  
Ziya Koruç

The current study focuses on the effect of transformational leadership on athletes’ performance in the mediation of psychological need satisfaction, burnout, competition anxiety, life satisfaction, and positive–negative affect. The sample consisted of 391 soccer players aged between 16 and 20 years. Six scales were used in this study: Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, Needs Satisfaction Scale, Athlete Burnout Measure, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, and Sport Competition Anxiety Test. The method of Vallerand was preferred to measure performance, and structural equation modeling was employed to analyze data. The model data fit was also verified. It was found that the transformational leadership behaviors of coaches signally influence athletes’ performance either directly or indirectly. From another perspective, increasing the psychological health or well-being of  athletes has important effects on sport performance.


Author(s):  
Yinan Yang ◽  
Yingying Meng

Health is the key to the aging problem, and “healthy aging” depicts the overall changing trends in the health of all elderly individuals in a society. Based on the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) data from the years 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014, this article investigates whether there is a trend of “healthy aging” in China. A second-order factor model including four dimensions of physical health, functional status, mental health and social health was constructed to measure a latent variable, “Health_elders”. The further multigroup comparison results by structural equation modeling showed that, with the exception of 2008, the Health_elders in 2002, 2005, 2011 and 2014 displayed an upward trend, and the mean differences in Health_elders across five periods were significant. These findings indicate that on the whole, compared with older people in the past, older people in more recent periods are healthier, which supports the trend of “healthy aging” in China. In terms of cohorts, the average health levels of male, town-residing elderly populations are higher, while the healthy aging trends among female, rural and urban elderly populations are stronger. Moreover, the physical health levels of the 60–74 years-old cohort are decreasing, and the participation of elderly individuals in social activities is low, which are the weaknesses in the healthy aging process in China.


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 1712-1720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyulee Shin ◽  
Sukkyung You ◽  
Euikyung Kim

This research investigated the differential effects of sociocultural pressures from media, peers, and parents on the thin ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction of 472 Korean female college students using structural equation modeling. Results indicated that after controlling for body mass index and exercise, media pressure exerted the largest effects, followed by peer pressure and parental pressure, on thin ideal internalization, and in turn, body dissatisfaction. Furthermore, parent and media pressures were found to exert direct effects on body dissatisfaction as well as indirect effects through thin ideal internalization. The results and implications of the study are discussed.


Epidemiology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. S217
Author(s):  
Emmanuel S. Baja ◽  
Joel D. Schwartz ◽  
Brent A. Coull ◽  
Gregory A. Wellenius ◽  
Pantel S. Vokonas ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carissa J. Martinez ◽  
Andrew J. Martin ◽  
Gregory Arief D. Liem ◽  
Susan Colmar

The present longitudinal investigation explored the extent to which physical wellbeing predicts psychological wellbeing in a sample transitioning from school to postschool life. The study comprised 213 young people assessed in their final year of high school (T1) and then one year later (T2). Longitudinal structural equation modeling supported hypothesised paths at each time point, with physical health positively predicting psychological health and perceived life quality and satisfaction. At T2, physical health also positively predicted a sense of meaning and purpose in life. Supplementary analysis showed a significant cross-time effect from T1 psychological health to T2 physical health. Findings hold substantive and practical implications highlighting the importance of multidimensional and integrative approaches to understanding and enhancing the wellbeing of young people who are making the transition from late adolescence to early adulthood.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Zhao ◽  
Zongmei Fu ◽  
Xi Lian ◽  
Linning Ye ◽  
Wei Huang

Maintaining the emotional well-being of learners during a pandemic is important. This study explored the effects of two emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression) and perceived control on full remote learners' anxiety during Covid-19, and their relationship to perceived learning. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze 239 questionnaires completed by Chinese graduate students taking a course remotely from home for 13 weeks. This study showed that reappraisal was positively related to perceived control, whereas suppression was negatively related to perceived control. Reappraisers perceived more learning, whereas suppressors experienced more anxiety. Anxiety was significantly and negatively related to perceived learning. Mediation analyses showed the existence of different patterns of mediation in the pathways from the two types of emotion regulation to perceived learning. These findings are discussed in relation to relevant studies conducted during non-pandemic periods and Covid-19, and based on the results we highlight the need for interventions aimed at developing adaptive emotion regulation strategies and reducing anxiety in emergency remote learning.


2021 ◽  
Vol Volume 4 (Issue 3) ◽  
pp. 01-15
Author(s):  
Dr. Ayesha Qamar ◽  
Urwa Mahmmod butt ◽  
Dr. Samia Manzoor

The purpose of studying Instagram's influence is to evaluate the concept of a perfectly toned body that does not exist, as it has been promoted on Instagram. The image-based social networking site, i.e., Instagram, has become steadily popular among youth, especially young girls. Young girls use Instagram to spruce up images posted on it. A quantitative survey is used, and questionnaires are filled through an online examination. A convenient sampling method is used for data collection. The study included 204 young girls aged 18-25 from different universities in Islamabad. Social Comparison Theory helped to understand the influence of Instagram on changing body image and its disorder.Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is used through Amos. The analysis revealed that the relationship between the use of Instagram and body dissatisfaction is positive and significant. The more the use of Instagram, the higher the body dissatisfaction among young girls. The relationship between Instagram usage and eating disorders had some correlation. It revealed that young girls who use Instagram excessively adopt eating disorders. Moreover, the study analyzed that there are more physical health symptoms identifies when Instagram usage is increased. The relationship between physical health symptoms and the use of Instagram was positive and useful.


Author(s):  
Svenja Damberg ◽  
Lena Frömbling

AbstractThe social distancing required during Covid-19 times tended to make people feel lonelier than usual. Those with pets might, however, have experienced this less, because pets are known for fostering their owners’ subjective well-being. Building on a recently published structural equation model, our study enhances the understanding of subjective well-being by including the construct social distancing during Covid-19 times. In order to answer our research question—How does human-pet relationship need support influence subjective well-being by considering social isolation during Covid-19 times?—we build on the basic needs theory, assuming that humans as well as their pets have an inherent need of autonomy, relatedness, and competence. Using a multivariate data analysis method, namely partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), we establish a path model and examine the relationship between human-pet relationship need support and subjective well-being by including psychological distress and social isolation during Covid-19 times as mediators. We operationalize subjective well-being as a three-dimensional construct consisting of positive affect, happiness, and life satisfaction. In a sample of 215 pet owners in the USA, supporting their need increases subjective well-being, and decreases the psychological distress and loneliness caused by social isolation during Covid-19 times. Furthermore, psychological distress decreases subjective well-being, whereas perceived loneliness during Covid-19 times does not. Our main contributions are to not only enhance our knowledge on the importance of human-pet relationships in critical times, but also to provide policy makers with insights into what influences people’s subjective well-being, which is closely related to their psychological health.


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