scholarly journals Perceived Accomplishment in Later Life: The Influence of Past Decisions Between Family and Work

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 29-29
Author(s):  
Jeongsoo Park ◽  
Marina Larkina ◽  
Jacqui Smith
Keyword(s):  
Early Life ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Positivity Effect ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Family And Work ◽  
Life Regrets ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Whereas previous studies have investigated life regrets, little attention has been paid to the important accomplishments older adults include in their autobiographic life narratives. Phenomenon such as the memory positivity effect suggest that accomplishments should be observed. We used a Health and Retirement Study 2017 Life History Mail Survey (N = 2,165) to examine the characteristics of participants over age 65 who reported accomplishments (max = 3), what was reported, and whether early-life decisions about balancing family and work are associated with the reports. Women, whites, and people with at least high school education and normal cognitive status were more likely to report accomplishments (67%). We categorized reports as family-related (39%), personal (19%), combined family/personal (25%) or other (16%). Multinominal logistic regression models revealed that participants who themselves favored family over work in early life or whose spouse decided for family, were more likely to report family-related accomplishments.

scholarly journals The Differential Effects of Caregiving Intensity on Overnight Hospitalization in the Previous 2 Years

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 76-76
Author(s):  
Kylie Meyer ◽  
Zachary Gassoumis ◽  
Kathleen Wilber
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
P Value ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Spousal Caregiving ◽  
Health Insurance Status ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Self Assessed Health ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Caregiving for a spouse is considered a major stressor many Americans will encounter during their lifetimes. Although most studies indicate caregiving is associated with experiencing diminished health outcomes, little is known about how this role affects caregivers’ use of acute health services. To understand how spousal caregiving affects the use of acute health services, we use data from the Health and Retirement Study. We apply fixed effects (FE) logistic regression models to examine odds of experiencing an overnight hospitalization in the previous two years according to caregiving status, intensity, and changes in caregiving status and intensity. Models controlled for caregiver gender, age, race, ethnicity, educational attainment, health insurance status, the number of household residents, and self-assessed health. Overall, caregivers were no more likely to experience an overnight hospitalization compared to non-caregivers (OR 0.92; CI 0.84 to 1.00; p-value=0.057). However, effects varied according to the intensity of caregiving and the time spent in this role. Compared to non-caregivers, for example, spouses who provided care to someone with no need for assistance with activities of daily living had lower odds of experiencing a hospitalization (OR 0.77; CI 0.66 to 0.89). In contrast, caregivers who provided care to someone with dementia for 4 to <6 years had 3.29 times the odds of experiencing an overnight hospitalization (CI 1.04 to 10.38; p-value=0.042). Findings indicate that, although caregivers overall appear to use acute health services about as much as non-caregivers, large differences exist between caregivers. Results emphasize the importance of recognizing diversity within caregiving experiences.

Episodic Memory in Later Life: Benefits of Prayer and Meditation

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-40
Author(s):  
Nirmala Lekhak ◽  
Tirth R. Bhatta ◽  
Jaclene A. Zauszniewski
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Estimating Equation ◽  
Generalized Estimating Equation ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Retirement Study ◽  
Over Time

Purpose: To examine the effects of prayer and meditation on the episodic memory of older adults. Design: Secondary analysis of Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Method: Drawing from a subsample of HRS ( n = 1,135), this study utilized generalized estimating equation regression models to examine the effects of meditation and prayer on changes in episodic memory of older adults over time. Findings: Findings show a statistically significant positive effect of the use of prayer (0.50, p < .05) on episodic memory score at baseline. We also observed a slight gain in episodic memory over time for older adults who used prayer (0.04, p = .05). Meditation was not found to have a statistically significant effect on changes in memory in later life. Conclusion: This study illustrates the benefits of prayer in preserving memory and provides much needed empirical basis for community-level interventions to enhance memory in later life.

scholarly journals EARLY-LIFE MILITARY EXPOSURES AND HEALTH AMONG OLDER VETERANS: THE BUFFERING EFFECT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S320-S320
Author(s):  
Miles G Taylor ◽  
Stephanie Ureña ◽  
Dawn Carr ◽  
Stella N Min
Keyword(s):  
Functional Impairment ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Military Training ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Psychological Resilience ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
The Face ◽  
Life Course Framework ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objectives Drawing on the life course framework and theoretical concept of resilience, we examine the impact of early-life service-related exposures (SREs) on later-life functional impairment trajectories among older U.S. male veterans. We conceptualize resilience as a psychological resource potentially moderating the lasting negative consequences of traumatic military exposures. Method Using the 2013 Veterans Mail Survey linked to the Health and Retirement Study 2006–2014 Leave Behind Questionnaire and RAND Data File (v.N), we estimate latent growth curve models of functional impairment trajectories. Results SRE to death has a persistent positive effect on functional limitations and activities of daily living limitations. Psychological resilience significantly moderates this association, such that veterans maintaining higher levels of resilience in the face of adverse exposures have considerably less functional impairment over time compared to their counterparts with low levels of resilience. Discussion Our findings point to the importance of psychological resilience in later life, especially within the realm of traumas occurring in early life. We discuss implications for current military training programs, stressing the importance of research considering individual resources and processes that promote adaptation in the face of adverse life events.

scholarly journals LIFE COURSE ORIGINS OF FRAILTY IN LATER LIFE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S59-S59
Author(s):  
Monica Williams-Farrelly ◽  
Kenneth F Ferraro
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Parental Behavior ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Clinical State ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Health Outcomes Research ◽  
Age Related ◽  
And Function ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Frailty, generally characterized as a clinical state of increased vulnerability resulting from age-related decline in reserve and function across multiple physiologic systems, has been gaining attention in recent years due to its high correlates with a number of poor health outcomes including falls, hospitalization, and mortality. Similar to other adult health outcomes, research on the etiology of frailty has begun to move from proximal risk factors only to those more distal in time. This research uses data from the Health and Retirement study (2004-2016) to examine whether childhood exposures predict developing frailty in later life. A series of ordinal logistic regression models were estimated to test whether six domains of childhood exposures (socioeconomic status, infectious disease, chronic disease, impairments, risky adolescent behavior, and risky parental behavior) were associated with frailty, composed of five components: unintentional weight loss, weakness, slowness, exhaustion, and low energy expenditure (Fried et al., 2001). After adjusting for demographic factors, experiencing multiple SES misfortunes or risky adolescent behaviors in childhood are associated with higher odds of frailty in later life (OR= 1.24 and 2.37, respectively), while experiencing any infectious diseases is associated with lower odds of frailty (OR= 0.67 and 0.72). After further adjusting for adult characteristics, experiencing 2 or more chronic diseases in childhood is associated with a 1.35 higher odds of incident frailty over an 8-year period. These results reveal some of the early exposures that may raise frailty risk in later life but also the mid-life factors that mediate those risks.

scholarly journals Examining the Association of Pain and Financial Hardship Among Older Men by Race in the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 155798832110496
Author(s):  
Chiho Song ◽  
Gillian L. Marshall ◽  
Alyssa Reed ◽  
Tamara A. Baker ◽  
Roland J. Thorpe
Keyword(s):  
Regression Models ◽  
African American Men ◽  
White Men ◽  
Older Men ◽  
The United States ◽  
Financial Hardship ◽  
Composite Score ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Retirement Study

Pain associated with financial hardship among older men varies by race. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of financial hardship with the presence of pain in men 50 years and older by race. Using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 2010 wave, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between four financial hardship indicators and total financial hardship as a composite score, and the presence of pain by race. Among White men, the association between the presence of pain and hardship controlling for demographic factors was statistically significant across four indicators and one composite score: ongoing financial hardship (OR = 1.29, 95% CI [1.02, 1.64]), food insecurity (OR = 2.55, 95% CI [1.51, 4.31]), taking less medication due to cost (OR = 2.12, 95% CI [1.40, 3.22]), difficulty paying bills (OR = 1.36, 95% CI [1.07, 1.73]), and total financial hardship (OR = 1.27, 95% CI [1.12, 1.44]). Among African American men, the association between the presence of pain and taking less medication due to cost (OR = 2.99, 95% CI [1.31, 6.85]) was significant. With increasing comorbidities among older adults, particularly African Americans, it is imperative to fully understand the mechanisms of this underexplored area in both the pain and financial hardship literature.

scholarly journals MIDLIFE HEALTH FACTORS AND LATER-LIFE COGNITIVE DISEASE: RESULTS FROM THE 1998-2014 HEALTH AND RETIREMENT STUDY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S950-S951
Author(s):  
Benson Wu ◽  
Mohammad Usama Toseef ◽  
Wassim Tarraf ◽  
Hector M González
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Fine Motor ◽  
Health And Retirement Study ◽  
Reported Health ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Understanding lifecourse determinants of older-age health outcomes is indispensable for resources planning and optimizing public health in light of continued gains in longevity in the US and worldwide. Data increasingly points to midlife health and modifiable risk factors as critical targets for improving older-age health outcomes and mitigating potential cognitive impairment and disease. We used 16-years of biennial data (1998-2014) from the Health and Retirement Study (unweighted-n=6,724), to examine how a comprehensive battery of midlife (age 50-64 years) health measures (disability, physical function, comorbid conditions, and self-reported health) affect cognitive status (using Langa-Weir criteria: Normal, Cognitively Impaired Not Dementia (CIND), and Dementia) and death 16-years later. Additionally, we test for racial/ethnic and gender modifications in the effects of these conditions on the outcomes of interest. We used survey multinomial logistic regression models adjusting for predisposing sociodemographic factors, health-enabling economic characteristics and health behaviors. Relative risk ratios (RRR) across all unadjusted models varied from 1.36-4.84 and 1.36-3.31 for those with dementia and who died in 2014 respectively, suggesting worse health outcomes in midlife are associated with higher dementia/mortality risk in later-life. After covariates-adjustment, comorbidities (RRR=1.15[1.04,1.27]) and Self-reported Health (RRR=1.36[1.22,1.52]) were associated with CIND, and attenuation was particularly pronounced for IADLS (RRR=3.15[2.25,4.43]) and Fine Motor Skills (RRR=1.94[1.46,2.57]) for individuals with dementia in 2014. Neither sex nor race/ethnicity modified these associations. Modifying the midlife health profile of US adults can yield important public health savings and reductions in structural and social health burdens through extenuating the prevalence of dementias and reducing excess mortality.

scholarly journals Associations between Early-Life Food Deprivation and Risk of Frailty of Middle-Age and Elderly People: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 3066
Author(s):  
Chen Ye ◽  
Sumiya Aihemaitijiang ◽  
Ruoyu Wang ◽  
Mairepaiti Halimulati ◽  
Zhaofeng Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Food Deprivation ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Middle Age ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Ordered Logistic Regression ◽  
Loss Of Weight ◽  
Increased Risk

Background: The association between childhood food deprivation (FD) and health in later life has been extensively studied; however, studies on the association between childhood food deprivation and frailty are scarce. This study assessed the associations between childhood FD and the risk of frailty at middle-age and old age. Methods: Three waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), including 11,615 individuals aged over 45 years, were used for this research. Frailty was operationalized according to the FRAIL scale as a sum of fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illness, and the loss of weight. Childhood FD experiences and levels were measured by self-reported FD and historical content. Logistic mixed-effects models and proportional odds ordered logistic regression models were used to analyse the association between childhood FD and frailty. Findings: Childhood FD increased the odds of frailty at old age (1.30, 95% CI: 1.26–1.36). Compared with subjects with mild FD, those with extreme FD experiences had increased risks of frailty (1.34, 95% CI: 1.26–1.43). Subjects exposed to hunger at different ages all had an increased risk of frailty, and subjects who had FD during ages 6–12 (1.15, 95% CI: 1.09–1.22) were more likely to have an increased risk of frailty than those who had experienced FD in younger ages. The interaction of experience of FD at ages 0–6 and the experience of FD at ages 6–12 is not statistically significant after adjusting all covariates. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that childhood FD exerts long-lasting effects on frailty among older adults in China. The prevention of childhood FD may delay or even avert the emergence of frailty in people of middle-age and old age.

Perceived neighbourhood safety and volunteerism among older adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Erin G. Grinshteyn ◽  
Judith A. Sugar
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
The United States ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Perceptions Of Safety ◽  
Fair Poor ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Previous research shows the benefits of volunteerism to individuals and communities. The purpose of this study was to determine whether lower perceived neighbourhood safety is associated with reduced volunteerism and whether this association differs by sex. Data from the 2008 Health and Retirement Study in the United States of America were used (N = 13,009 adults 60 years and older). Multivariate logistic regression models were estimated to assess the association between perceived neighbourhood safety and volunteerism while controlling for potential confounders. Perceived neighbourhood safety was associated with volunteering. The odds of volunteering were higher for those rating their perceived neighbourhood safety as excellent compared with those rating their perceived neighbourhood safety as fair/poor. Those rating their perceived neighbourhood safety as very good also had greater odds of volunteering than those rating their perceived neighbourhood safety as fair/poor. Results differed somewhat by gender. Men who perceived their neighbourhood safety as excellent had increased odds of volunteering. The association of neighbourhood safety with volunteerism was significant for women rating their perceived neighbourhood safety as excellent or very good. Among men, being married was associated with increased odds of volunteering; being completely or partly retired was associated with increased odds of volunteering among women. Initiatives aimed at improving older adults’ perceptions of safety would help improve volunteerism, which is beneficial to both older adults and communities.

scholarly journals Association of Dog and Cat Ownership with Incident Frailty among Community-Dwelling Elderly Japanese

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Taniguchi ◽  
Satoshi Seino ◽  
Mariko Nishi ◽  
Yui Tomine ◽  
Izumi Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regression Models ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Social Benefits ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Dog Walking ◽  
Animal Interaction ◽  
Elderly Japanese ◽  
Stratified Analysis

AbstractAccumulating evidence from studies of human–animal interaction highlights the physiological, psychological, and social benefits for older owners of dogs and cats. This longitudinal study examined whether experience of dog/cat ownership protects against incident frailty in a population of community-dwelling older Japanese. Among 7881 non-frail community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older who completed a mail survey in 2016, 6,197 (mean [SD] age, 73.6 [5.3] years; 53.6% women) were reevaluated in a 2018 follow-up survey. Frailty was assessed with the Kaigo-Yobo Checklist. Incident frailty was defined as a score of four or higher in the follow-up survey. Overall, 870 (14.0%) were current dog/cat owners, 1878 (30.3%) were past owners and 3449 (55.7%) were never owners. During the 2-year follow-up period, 918 (14.8%) developed incident frailty. Mixed-effects logistic regression models showed that the odds ratio for incident frailty among dog/cat owners, as compared with never owners, current owners were 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.69–1.09) and past owner were 0.84 (0.71–0.98), after controlling for important confounders at baseline. In stratified analysis, the risk of incident frailty was lower for past dog owners than for cat owners. Longer experience of caring for a dog requires physical activity and increases time outdoors spent dog walking and thus may have an important role in maintaining physical and social function and reducing frailty risk among older adults.

scholarly journals Education in early life markedly reduces the probability of cognitive impairment in later life in Colombia

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary O’Donovan ◽  
Mark Hamer ◽  
Olga L. Sarmiento ◽  
Philipp Hessel
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Population Attributable Fraction ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
National Study ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
State Examination

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate associations between education in early life and cognitive impairment in later life in Colombia. Participants were community-dwelling adults aged 60 years or older from the National Study of Health, Wellbeing and Ageing. Trained interviewers administered a shorter version of the mini-mental state examination. Cognitive impairment was defined as the lowest tertile in the main analysis and as a score of 12 or less out of 19 in the sensitivity analysis. Logistic regression models were adjusted for education, other early life characteristics, and later life characteristics. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 17.93% in the main analysis (n = 16,505). Compared with participants with no education, the fully adjusted odds ratio for cognitive impairment was 0.57 (95% confidence interval: 0.52, 0.63) in those with some primary education and 0.29 (95% confidence interval: 0.25, 0.34) in those with some secondary education or more. The population attributable fraction for education suggests that at least 10% of cases of cognitive impairment would be eliminated if all children received an education. Similar results were observed in the sensitivity analysis (n = 20,174). This study suggests that education in early life markedly reduces the probability of cognitive impairment in late life in Colombia.

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