scholarly journals Relationship with Grandparents and Young Adults’ Attitudes About Aging and Future-Oriented Tendencies

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 883-883
Author(s):  
Tianyuan Li ◽  
Pok Man Siu

Abstract It is important but always challenging to restrain from immediate temptations and behave conscientiously for long-term goals. Constructive interactions with older adults may promote young adults’ positive attitudes about aging. With a brighter later adulthood in mind, young adults may then demonstrate a higher level of future-oriented tendency in their behaviors. The current study recruited 371 college students (Mage = 22.43, SDage = 2.88; 203 females) from Hong Kong. They completed an online survey about their interaction with the closest grandparent, attitudes about aging, and measures related to future-oriented tendencies (i.e., consideration of future consequences, healthy lifestyle, and impulsiveness). Parental intimacy and demographic information were assessed as potential covariates. Supporting the hypotheses, more interaction with grandparents was related to more positive attitudes about aging, β = .40, SE = .11, p < .001. More positive attitudes about aging was then related to more consideration of future consequences, β = .14, SE = .07, p = .03, healthier lifestyle, β = .16, SE = .06, p = .005, and less impulsivity, β = -.10, SE = .03, p < .001. Bootstrapping tests for the indirect effects from interaction with grandparents to the future-oriented outcomes through positive attitudes about aging were all significant as well. Although the current cross-sectional data could not confirm the causal links among the variables, the results provide some initial insight on how older adults can foster a long-term orientation in younger generations and contribute to the sustainable development of our societies through constructive intergenerational interactions.

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 282-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon E. Jarrott ◽  
Jyoti Savla

Intergenerational contact can promote positive attitudes towards elders. However, contact with older adults often fosters multiple stereotypes, which may contribute to ambivalence about aging and poorer health in late life. Online survey data from 457 young adults ( M age = 19.4 years; 74% female) were used to explore the relationship between intergenerational contact and ambivalence about self as a future elder. Multiple mediator path analysis was used to test the hypothesis that anxiety, knowledge, and empathy would mediate the impact of intergenerational contact on aging self-ambivalence. Ratings of intergenerational contact predicted ambivalence, but anxiety and empathy mediated the relationship (knowledge did not). Higher ratings of intergenerational contact, lower aging anxiety, and higher empathy predicted lower aging self-ambivalence, which reflected positive expectations for late life in our sample. Intergenerational contact can influence expectations for old age; exchange that fosters empathy and reduces anxiety may encourage individuals to exercise strategies that positively impact health in late life.


2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 402-418
Author(s):  
Shivaani Prakash ◽  
Cameron Hatcher ◽  
Saul Shiffman

Objectives: In this paper, we estimate the prevalence of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and JUUL brand ENDS use among adults in the US, overall and by smoking history. Methods: We obtained 2019 cross-sectional online surveys assessing smoking, use of any ENDS, and JUUL specifically, in a national probability sample of 11,833 US adults. Data were analyzed for young adults (YA; aged 18-24) and older adults (OA; aged 25+). Results: Past 30-day ENDS prevalence was 8.0% in YA and 4.7% in OA; equivalent JUUL figures were 3.1% and 1.2%. ENDS/JUUL use was more prevalent among current and former smokers than never smokers, where prevalence was ≤ 2% (YA: 2.0%/0.9%; OA: 0.9%/0.1%). JUUL use was higher among recent (< 1 year) quitters than among long-term (≥ 1 year) quitters. Among those who had ever used both ENDS and other tobacco, strong majorities reported using other tobacco first. Among JUUL users who also had used other tobacco ≥ 95% had used other tobacco first. Conclusions: Past-30-day ENDS use (including JUUL) was ≤ 8% among young adults and ≤ 5% in older adults. Most (> 98%) ENDS and JUUL users were current or former smokers, which is relevant to assessment of the population impact of these products.


Author(s):  
Adrianos Golemis ◽  
Panteleimon Voitsidis ◽  
Eleni Parlapani ◽  
Vasiliki A Nikopoulou ◽  
Virginia Tsipropoulou ◽  
...  

Summary COVID-19 and the related quarantine disrupted young adults’ academic and professional life, daily routine and socio-emotional well-being. This cross-sectional study focused on the emotional and behavioural responses of a young adult population during the COVID-19-related quarantine in April 2020, in Greece. The study was conducted through an online survey. A total of 1559 young adults, aged 18−30 years, completed Steele’s Social Responsibility Motivation Scale and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and answered questions about compliance with instructions, quarantine-related behaviours and coping strategies. According to the results, participants displayed a relatively high sense of social responsibility (M = 16.09, SD = 2.13) and a trend towards moderate feeling of loneliness (M = 2.65, SD = 1.62); young women reported significantly higher levels of loneliness than men. The majority complied with instructions often (46.4%) or always (44.8%). Significantly more women created a new social media account and used the social media longer than 5 h/day, compared with men. Resorting to religion, practicing sports and sharing thoughts and feelings about COVID-19 with others predicted higher levels of social responsibility; humour, practicing sports and sharing thoughts and feelings about COVID-19 with others predicted lower levels of loneliness. Conclusively, COVID-19 is expected to have a significant psychological impact on young adults. Currently, Greece is going through the second quarantine period. This study raises awareness about loneliness in young adults during the COVID-19-related quarantine and highlights the importance of developing online programmes, attractive to younger people, to nurture adaptive coping strategies against loneliness.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2151
Author(s):  
Berna Rahi ◽  
Hermine Pellay ◽  
Virginie Chuy ◽  
Catherine Helmer ◽  
Cecilia Samieri ◽  
...  

Dairy products (DP) are part of a food group that may contribute to the prevention of physical frailty. We aimed to investigate DP exposure, including total DP, milk, fresh DP and cheese, and their cross-sectional and prospective associations with physical frailty in community-dwelling older adults. The cross-sectional analysis was carried out on 1490 participants from the Three-City Bordeaux cohort. The 10-year frailty risk was examined in 823 initially non-frail participants. A food frequency questionnaire was used to assess DP exposure. Physical frailty was defined as the presence of at least 3 out of 5 criteria of the frailty phenotype: weight loss, exhaustion, slowness, weakness, and low physical activity. Among others, diet quality and protein intake were considered as confounders. The baseline mean age of participants was 74.1 y and 61% were females. Frailty prevalence and incidence were 4.2% and 18.2%, respectively. No significant associations were observed between consumption of total DP or DP sub-types and frailty prevalence or incidence (OR = 1.40, 95%CI 0.65–3.01 and OR = 1.75, 95%CI 0.42–1.32, for a total DP consumption >4 times/d, respectively). Despite the absence of beneficial associations of higher DP consumption on frailty, older adults are encouraged to follow the national recommendations regarding DP.


Author(s):  
Timo-Kolja Pförtner ◽  
Holger Pfaff ◽  
Kira Isabel Hower

Abstract The Corona pandemic poses major demands for long-term care, which might have impacted the intention to quit the profession among managers of long-term care facilities. We used cross-sectional data of an online survey of long-term care managers from outpatient and inpatient nursing and palliative care facilities surveyed in April 2020 (survey cycle one; n = 532) and between December 2020 and January 2021 (survey cycle two; n = 301). The results show a significant association between the perceived pandemic-specific and general demands and the intention to leave the profession. This association was significantly stronger for general demands in survey cycle two compared with survey cycle one. The results highlight the pandemic’s immediate impact on long-term care. In view of the increasing number of people in need of care and the already existing scarcity of specialized nursing staff, the results highlight the need for initiatives to ensure the provision of long-term care, also and especially in such times of crisis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 954-955
Author(s):  
Brittany Derynda ◽  
Mary Goodyear ◽  
Jade Kushner ◽  
Nicole Cook

Abstract Evidence suggests that nearly one-third of older adults experience loneliness and/or social isolation; an increase in these rates during the current pandemic is anticipated. The Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in South Florida has worked to engage seniors in fun learning activities and social opportunities since 1977. When “stay at home” orders went into effect in March, 2020 the LLI moved to online program delivery via Zoom. To understand the implementation of zoom among LLI members, NSU students, researchers and LLI member advisory committee developed a cross-sectional research study using an online survey that was administered to LLI members three months post-zoom implementation in May, 2020. Results among the 127 responders demonstrated that a majority of members were not comfortable using zoom (57%) especially the chat, reactions or camera features. More than 80% of responders did report that zoom helped them keep their spirits up. Respondents had specific feedback to improve Zoom programming including Youtube videos on use, retraining, training on features (e.g. chat, camera, reaction), closed captioning, program reminders and links sent out more frequently and within 30 minutes of start time. There were also several comments about internet connectivity, identifying opportunities for router and internet plan education. Finally, respondents noted new opportunities to enhance virtual programming including engaging speakers from across the nation and world. In summary, direct feedback from seniors on how to improve the online social and learning environment is pivotal to improving experience, programming and social connection during COVID-19.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-386
Author(s):  
Marina Miranda Borges ◽  
Ana Julia de Lima Bomfim ◽  
Marcos Hortes Nisihara Chagas

ABSTRACT Empathy is an important factor to guarantee the quality of care provided in the long-term care institutions (LTCIs) for older adults, and depression is a factor that affects the health of the professional and, consequently, the care. Thus, it is important that studies are conducted on the relationship of these variables in this context. Objective: The aim of this study is to verify the relationship between empathy and depressive symptoms among health professionals working in the LTCIs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at LTCIs in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The final sample was constituted by 101 health professionals (i.e., caregivers and nursing technicians) with direct participation in the care of institutionalized older adults. The instruments were used as follows: the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) to assess empathy and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for the diagnosis of depression. For the analyses, the patients were divided into groups with and without depression, according to the score of the PHQ-9. Results: The prevalence of depression among health professionals was 19.8%. Significant statistical differences were found between the groups for the total score of the IRI (p=0.029), for the emotional domain (p=0.023), and for the personal distress (p=0.009). Conclusions: The findings indicate that the presence of depression among health professionals at LTCIs is related to the higher levels of empathy, especially in the emotional domain. Thus, future studies that contribute to understanding how care must be provided with empathy, but without harming the health of the professional, should be carried out.


Author(s):  
Catherine Egan ◽  
Andria Jones-Bitton ◽  
Jan Sargeant ◽  
J Scott Weese

Background: While Clostridium difficile infection is a significant concern in healthcare settings, there is increasing evidence that transmission does not solely occur in hospitals and long-term care homes. Hospital patients are regularly discharged home following or during treatment, and it is likely that many excrete spores into their household environment, posing risks of reinfection to themselves and transmission of spores to others. Hence, recommendations on household hygiene might be important for control of C. difficile. The objective of this study was to investigate the information provided by Ontario hospitals to patients who have laboratory-confirmed symptomatic C. difficile infection with respect to household hygiene advice once they are discharged from hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and August 2018 and included an anonymous online survey, a website scan of Ontario hospitals, and a content analysis of information provided to patients on discharge. The survey was distributed to practicing infection control professionals in Ontario hospitals through the IPAC Canada listserv. One response per hospital corporation was accepted. Results: Responses were obtained from 46/145 (32%) Ontario hospital corporations. The majority (30/46; 65%) of respondents indicated they personally believed the household environment was important or very important in the transmission of C. difficile. Almost half (22/46; 48%) of respondents reported that their hospital had a policy to provide household hygiene advice to patients when discharged home. However, analysis of 31 hospital information sheets from the website scan identified that 27/31 (88%) contained a statement that suggested there is little risk of transmission in households, and only 2/31 (6.5%) provided the specific dilution of bleach that is known to be sporicidal. Conclusion: The household hygiene advice provided by Ontario hospitals downplayed the likelihood of transmission of C. difficile spores in household environments and described a level of hygiene that is likely inadequate to prevent transmission of C. difficile spores in the home. This may contribute to recurrent infection and colonization of household contacts.


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