scholarly journals Ageism Predicts Prioritizing COVID-19 Vaccines for Older Adults and LTC Residents

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 602-602
Author(s):  
Carly Pullen ◽  
Jenessa Steele ◽  
Julie Hicks Patrick
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Priority Group ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The Us ◽  
Perceptions Of Aging ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Abstract Ageism and ageistic stereotypes regarding older adults have become widespread and influence many policies and practices. Benevolent ageism includes attitudes or behaviors that appear overtly positive but are actually patronizing (Cary et al., 2017). Hostile ageism, usually expressed through negative stereotypes, highlights older adults' poor physical and mental functioning (Cary et al., 2017). The aim of the current study was to examine the role of benevolent and hostile ageism on perceptions of vaccination priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of a larger longitudinal study on perceptions of aging, measures of benevolent and hostile ageism were collected in January 2020, before the pandemic began in the US. In March 2021, the same participants were asked to identify top vaccine priorities by ranking groups (e.g., adults 65 and older, school teachers, etc.). Participants who put older adults in the lowest priority group expressed more benevolent ageism before the pandemic than those who put older adults in the top priority group, F(2, 88) = 3.93, p < .05. Participants who put older adults in the lowest priority group expressed more hostile ageism prior to the pandemic, compared to those who put older adults in the top priority group, F(2, 88) = -3.34, p < .05. Similar to Vale and colleague (2020) findings, our results suggest that ageism influences people's ideas about triage for the vaccine. Notably, neither form of ageism related to prioritization for other high-risk groups, including members of racial/ethnic minority groups or health care workers.

scholarly journals The Role of Self-Perceptions of Aging for Recovery of Older Adults After a Hospital Stay

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 588-588
Author(s):  
Anne Blawert ◽  
Ellen Freiberger ◽  
Susanne Wurm
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hospital Stay ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Health Events ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
Perceptions Of Aging ◽  
One Year ◽  
Psychological Pathway

Abstract For older adults, a hospital stay can lead to loss of physical function and frailty. It is therefore important to investigate factors for recovery after hospitalization. Recent studies suggest negative self-perceptions of aging (SPA) as a potential risk factor in the context of serious health events. This ongoing longitudinal study investigates how negative SPA might contribute to worse physical recovery (assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery) after hospital stay in a sample of 244 German adults aged 75 to 96. Preliminary mediation analysis based on available data of the first 50 participants indicate that negative SPA is related to increased fear of falling after 6 months, which predicts worse physical function one year after hospitalization (indirect effect: B = -0.70, SE = 0.41, p = .09). The results stress the importance of SPA for health recovery in old age and introduce fear of falling as a psychological pathway.

Close social relationships and loneliness: the role of subjective age

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naama Spitzer ◽  
Dikla Segel-Karpas ◽  
Yuval Palgi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Subjective Age ◽  
Perceptions Of Aging ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

Abstract Loneliness is considered a major issue, often negatively influencing the quality of life of individuals of all ages, and of older adults, in particular. The aims of this study are: (1) to assess the association between close social relationships and loneliness; and (2) to examine the moderating role of subjective age in this association. Married or cohabiting community-dwelling Israelis in the second half of life (N = 360) were interviewed and reported on their close social relationships, their level of loneliness, and their subjective age. The number of close social relationships was found to have a negative relationship with loneliness. Moreover, subjective age was found to moderate the relationship between close social relationships and loneliness, such that the association was weaker for those with older subjective age. Those with older subjective age are often not able to benefit from close social relationships to alleviate loneliness as much as their younger-subjective-age counterparts. Efforts to address older adults’ loneliness should consider focusing on older adults’ perceptions of aging.

scholarly journals Promoting Equity, Social Justice, and Saving Lives with Life Jacket and Clothing Policies

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Beale-Tawfeeq ◽  
Linda Quan ◽  
Elizabeth Bennett ◽  
Roy Fielding
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Diverse Populations ◽  
Racial And Ethnic Minorities ◽  
The Us ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Equity And Inclusion ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Worldwide, diverse racial/ethnic groups have disproportionately higher drowning rates. Learning to swim and wearing life jackets decrease drowning risk. We evaluated aquatic facilities’ policies regarding use of life jackets, clothing, and diapers through a lens of social justice, equity, and inclusion to ensure they met the needs of the diverse high-risk groups they serve and changing aquatic activities and programs. Public recreational pools, beach and waterpark facilities in the US and international organizations were surveyed regarding their policies on life jacket use, clothing, and diapers between 2015 and 2016. A total of 562 facilities responded, mostly pools. Almost all facilities allowed wearing life jackets in the shallow end but less so in the deep end, and wearing of T-shirts, shorts, and clothes for modesty reasons. Policies varied most on wearing non-swim clothes. Almost universal requirement of diapers applied to infants only. Respondents’ reported themes included cost, access, safety, hygiene and equipment maintenance. Reviewed policies generally reflected facilities’ responsiveness to diverse populations’ specific needs. However, policy variations around wearing clothing and swim diapers could be costly, confusing, and impede participation in aquatic activities by vulnerable populations, specifically young children and racial and ethnic minorities. Standardization of these policies could assist aquatic facilities and their users. A best-practices-based policy is outlined.

scholarly journals The Role of Intergenerational Neighborhood Relations for Precarious Aging During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 531-531
Author(s):  
Anna Wanka
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Neighborhood Relations ◽  
Do So

Abstract Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the immediate living environment has significantly gained importance - particularly for people framed as ‘risk-groups’, such as older adults. Effects of contact restrictions to contain the spread of the virus have affected inequalities, uncertainties and loneliness in later life differently depending on the intergenerational relations, informal infrastructures of provisioning and networks of solidarity given in a certain neighborhood. The paper presents findings from a recent mixed-methods study in Frankfurt, Germany, combining a quantitative survey (n=1.000) with a longitudinal qualitative study (n=60). Results show how intergenerational neighborhood relations can play a crucial role in mediating risks of pandemic precariousness in later life, but also how older adults themselves significantly contributing to neighborhood networks of provisioning. Strengthening such very local relations is key to protecting all age groups from the effects of crises beyond the pandemic, and, in conclusion, ways to do so are being discussed.

scholarly journals The New Faces and New Places of Geroscience

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 300-300
Author(s):  
Felipe Sierra
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
The Us ◽  
Significant Interest ◽  
Basic Biology

Abstract The field of geroscience is rapidly evolving, as well as expanding worldwide. The Program will highlight new approaches and players in the field. Notably, geroscience was initiated as an effort to improve recognition of the role played by basic aging biology in our efforts to improve the health of older adults. Substantial recognition by multiple players of that role of basic aging biology have resulted in significant interest on the part of clinicians and translational biology practitioners. The program will highlight examples of hand-picked efforts in industry and academia, both in the US and in Europe, and will bring into the same stage researchers interested in the various facets of geroscience, from basic biology, translation, clinical and, ultimately, industry viewpoints.

scholarly journals 1062 The Role of Sleep in Sex and Racial/Ethnic Differences in 10-Year CVD Risk in the Sleep Heart Health Study: The Use of Machine-Learnt and Precision Insights to Understand Racial/Ethnic and Sex Differences in Sleep-CVD Disparity

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A403-A405
Author(s):  
A Seixas ◽  
P Jin ◽  
M Liu ◽  
J Nunes ◽  
M Grandner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Total Cholesterol ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Cluster Analyses ◽  
Blacks And Whites ◽  
Level 1 ◽  
Racial Ethnic ◽  
Level 2

Abstract Introduction The current study investigated whether insufficient sleep (<7 hrs.) explains differences in 10-year CVD risk, using Framingham risk (FRS) and Reynolds risk (RRS) scores, between blacks and whites and characterized risk and protective CVD risk profiles. Methods Using the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS) (N=6,441) data, we investigated the independent role of insufficient sleep in explaining differences in 10-years CVD between blacks and whites via a proportional odds model of four 10-year CVD risk groups: low (<5%), low-medium (5% to <10%), medium-high (10% to <20%) and high (≥20%), adjusting for age, sex, and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). We performed two levels of cluster analyses; via hierarchical cluster algorithm with entire sample (Level 1), and latent profiles in the low (protective profiles) and high (risk profiles) CVD risk groups (Level 2) to determine overall CVD risk, and risk and protective CVD profiles. Results Blacks had a higher prevalence of smoking behavior, diabetes, mean systolic blood pressure, body mass index, total cholesterol compared to whites. Conversely, whites had a higher mean HDL cholesterol, sleep hours, and sleep efficiency compared to blacks. Men had higher 10-year CVD risk than women. AHI and race/ethnicity-sleep interaction were positively associated, while sleep was negatively associated with FRS and RRS. Across all CVD risk groups, whites who slept less than 5.5 hrs. had a higher CVD risk and those who slept more than 6.5 hrs. had a lower CVD risk compared to blacks. In Level 1 cluster analyses, we found two clusters: Cluster 1 (n= 3233): 6.17 sleep hours, apnea-index 11.84, age 59, SBP 125.43, total cholesterol 209, HDL 51.39, BMI 29.03, and slightly more than 50% female; and Cluster 2 (n=1657): 5.61 sleep hours, apnea-index 13.41, age 74, SBP 131, total cholesterol 204, HDL 50.30, BMI 26.45, and slightly less than 50% female. In Level 2 cluster analyses, we found two profiles within the low and high CVD risk groups. Conclusion These findings suggest that blacks may not receive full protection from long-term CVD risk with longer sleep duration, as their white counterparts. Support K01HL135452, R01MD007716, R01HL142066, K07AG052685

Workability and Requests for Flexible Work Arrangements Among Older Adults: The Role of a Time and Place Management Intervention

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 1370-1392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremiah C. Morelock ◽  
Tay K. McNamara ◽  
Jacquelyn B. James
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Flexible Work ◽  
Place Management ◽  
Work Arrangements ◽  
Management Intervention ◽  
Flexible Work Options ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
And Control

This article investigates the effect of an intervention on the workability of older adults (i.e., the competence, health, and other mental and physical characteristics that workers need to meet the demands of their jobs). We used data from health care workers ( N = 437) who participated in a “time and place management” (TPM) intervention. Although related to flexible work options that aim to give workers more choice and control over the time and place of their work, TPM is conceptually distinct in that it focuses on the processes and guidelines necessary to the successful management of choice and control rather than the options alone. We focused on how the TPM intervention moderated the relationship between age and workability over time, with a particular focus on variation by baseline workability. Our results indicated that the intervention can benefit older workers with low workability.

scholarly journals The role of optimal conditions and intergroup contact in promoting positive intergroup relations in and out of the workplace: A study with ethnic majority and minority workers

2021 ◽  
pp. 136843022110109
Author(s):  
Gian Antonio Di Bernardo ◽  
Loris Vezzali ◽  
Michèle D. Birtel ◽  
Sofia Stathi ◽  
Barbara Ferrari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Intergroup Contact ◽  
Minority Group ◽  
Social Policies ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Contact Conditions ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Positive Contact

A field study was conducted with majority and minority group members to test whether the effects of optimal contact conditions and of intergroup contact generalize across situations, and extend to the support of intergroup equality in terms of agreement with social policies benefitting the minority group. Participants were 163 Italian and 129 immigrant workers in three corporate organizations. Results from structural equation modelling analyses revealed that, for the majority group, positive contact stemming from optimal contact conditions was indirectly associated, via reduction in negative stereotypes, with more positive behavior that generalized across situations. For both majority and minority groups, positive contact stemming from optimal contact conditions was associated with less negative stereotypes, and in turn with greater support for social policies favoring the minority. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, also in relation to the significance of the present results for research investigating the relation between intergroup contact and social change.

There Is Still Time to Be Active: Self-Perceptions of Aging, Physical Activity, and the Role of Perceived Residual Lifetime Among Older Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 807-815
Author(s):  
Ann-Kristin Beyer ◽  
Maja Wiest ◽  
Susanne Wurm
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Residual Lifetime ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Perceptions Of Aging ◽  
Health Promotion Interventions ◽  
The Relationship

Self-perceptions of aging (SPA) are a resource in later life. As aging is accompanied with perceptions of the finitude of life, it is assumed that perceived residual lifetime may play a role in the relationship between SPA and health behavior. Among older adults aged 65 years and older, the present study tested whether the relationships between gain- and loss-related SPA and two kinds of physical activity are moderated by perceived residual lifetime. Data were based on 2.367 participants over a 3-year period. Participants with less gain-related SPA were less likely to walk on a regular basis; however, a longer residual lifetime compensated for this negative effect. In addition, participants did sports more often if they not only held less loss-related SPA but also perceived a longer residual lifetime. These results emphasize the importance of perceived residual lifetime in health promotion interventions targeting physical activity in older adults.

scholarly journals Racial/Ethnic Health Disparity in the U.S.: A Decomposition Analysis

Econometrics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Kajal Lahiri ◽  
Zulkarnain Pulungan
Keyword(s):  
Health Disparity ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Decomposition Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Alaska Natives ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
Racial Ethnic ◽  
Public Health Initiatives

Following recent econometric developments, we use self-assessed general health on a Likert scale conditioned by several objective determinants to measure health disparity between non-Hispanic Whites and minority groups in the United States. A statistical decomposition analysis is conducted to determine the contributions of socio-demographic and neighborhood characteristics in generating disparities. Whereas, 72% of health disparity between Whites and Blacks is attributable to Blacks’ relatively worse socio-economic and demographic characteristics, it is only 50% for Hispanics and 65% for American Indian Alaska Natives. The role of a number of factors including per capita income and income inequality vary across the groups. Interestingly, “blackness” of a county is associated with better health for all minority groups, but it affects Whites negatively. Our findings suggest that public health initiatives to eliminate health disparity should be targeted differently for different racial/ethnic groups by focusing on the most vulnerable within each group.

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