scholarly journals Sleep Health, Depression, Pain and Quality of Life among Older Adults during the First Months of the Covid-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 865-865
Author(s):  
Rebecca Lorenz ◽  
Devita Stallings ◽  
Janice Palmer ◽  
Helen Lach

Abstract To slow the spread of Covid-19, many states instituted restrictions on group size for religious services, exercise, and social engagement. We are beginning to understand the effect of these mandates on older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between sleep health, depression, pain, and quality of life (QOL) among older adults during the initial months of the Covid-19 pandemic. Older adults completed an anonymous online survey to collect data including personal characteristics, behaviors, and health conditions during May-September 2020. Sleep Health was assessed with a survey of satisfaction, timing, efficiency, and duration of sleep along with daytime alertness. Pearson correlations were used to explore relationships between age, education, socioeconomic status, pain, depression, and QOL. Participants (N=509) were primarily female (n=392, 77%), white (n=466; 92%), college educated (n=471, 93%) and with a mean age of 75.6 years (SD=5.0; range 63-93 years). Mean Sleep Health score was 7.4 (SD=2.1; range 0-10). Higher (better) Sleep Health scores were associated with education (r=.15, p<01) and socioeconomic status (r=.17, p<.01) and lower scores with depression (r= -.35, p<.01), pain (r= -.23, p<.01), and QOL (r= -.26, p<.01). Poorer Sleep Health among older adults during the initial months of the pandemic were associated with depression, pain, and reduced QOL. Sleep, depression, and pain have reciprocal relationships that may have lasting consequences on physical and mental health among older adults. These findings suggest that poor sleep health should be identified and treated to improve QOL among older adults.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S211-S211
Author(s):  
Wendy Rogers

Abstract Evidence that loneliness and isolation are precursors to myriad negative health issues is accumulating. For older adults, social engagement may be particularly important due to life-changing events that can accompany older adulthood, including retirement, disease, or mobility limitations. Individuals vary in their levels of social engagement, and these differences may have consequential effects on quality of life. Technology has the potential to create and enhance social engagement opportunities for older adults at risk for social isolation. For such technology innovations to be effective and widely adopted, designers must consider the unique needs, capabilities, limitations, and preferences of older adults. I will describe technologies that currently exist (e.g., apps, mobile devices, social networking) or are being developed (e.g., robotics, telepresence, virtual reality) to support social engagement, connectedness, and community participation. I will discuss the potential of these technologies as well as the design and training challenges unique to older adults.


2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 991-1012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun-Jun Kim ◽  
Karen I. Fredriksen-Goldsen

We assessed factors contributing to ethnic and racial disparities in mental health quality of life (MHQOL) among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) midlife and older adults. We utilized cross-sectional survey data from a sample of non-Hispanic White and Hispanic LGB adults aged 50 and older. Structural equation modeling was used to test the indirect effect of ethnicity/race on MHQOL via explanatory factors including social connectedness, lifetime discrimination, socioeconomic status (SES), and perceived stress. Hispanics reported significantly lower levels of MHQOL, compared to non-Hispanic Whites. In the final model, the association between ethnicity/race and MHQOL was explained by higher levels of perceived stress related to lower SES, higher frequency of lifetime discrimination, and lack of social connectedness among Hispanic LGB adults. This study suggests that perceived stress related to social disadvantage and marginalization plays an important role in MHQOL disparities among Hispanic LGB midlife and older adults.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie E. Cherry ◽  
Laura Sampson ◽  
Sandro Galea ◽  
Loren D. Marks ◽  
Kayla H. Baudoin ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveExposure to multiple disasters, both natural and technological, is associated with extreme stress and long-term consequences for older adults that are not well understood. In this article, we address age differences in health-related quality of life in older disaster survivors exposed to the 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the role played by social engagement in influencing these differences.MethodsParticipants were noncoastal residents, current coastal residents, and current coastal fishers who were economically affected by the BP oil spill. Social engagement was estimated on the basis of disruptions in charitable work and social support after the 2005 hurricanes relative to a typical year before the storms. Criterion measures were participants’ responses to the SF-36 Health Survey which includes composite indexes of physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) health.ResultsThe results of logistic regressions indicated that age was inversely associated with SF-36 PCS scores. A reduction in perceived social support after Hurricane Katrina was also inversely associated with SF-36 MCS scores.ConclusionsThese results illuminate risk factors that impact well-being among older adults after multiple disasters. Implications of these data for psychological adjustment after multiple disasters are considered. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:90–96)


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 301-301
Author(s):  
Shelia Cotten

Abstract Though a digital divide still exists, older adults are increasingly using a range of information and communication technologies (ICTs) – smartphones, apps, tablets, and computers – to communicate and engage with social ties. This symposium focuses on modalities of interaction – whether online or offline – that older adults use to interact with social ties. The research projects detailed examine the frequency of different interaction modalities, as well as impacts of these interaction modalities on older adults’ perceptions of social support and quality of life. Kadylak and colleagues focus on social robots and how older adults may engage with this evolving technology to improve social engagement and aging in place. Kim and Fingerman investigate whether daily social media use is associated with same-day negative or positive mood in later life. Xie and colleagues examine older adults’ patterns of both online and offline social interaction during COVID-19, and how older adults perceive these interactions. Schuster and Cotten, using a national sample of individuals aged 65 and older, examine whether social media use may be related to a range of quality of life indicators. Each of these studies provides additional insights into the ways through which older adults interact and communicate with social ties, and potential impacts of the different ways through which they interact, which may provide insights into groups seeking to increase social engagement among older adults in general and during times when social isolation may be exacerbated due to societal stressors, such as pandemics.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-24
Author(s):  
Nidup Dorji ◽  
Michael P. Dunne ◽  
Charrlotte Seib ◽  
Sibnath Dep

Introduction: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a multi-dimensional construct that assesses an individual’s and group’s perceived physical and mental health over time. Measurement of HRQoL is an important medical outcome study and its study among older adults in Bhutan is limited. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study aimed to assess HRQoL and its sociodemographic and health correlates, among older adults in Bhutan. Data for this study was collected from the four major towns of Thimphu, Phuntsholing, Gelephu, and Samdrupjongkhar, Bhutan, from November 2014 - February 2015, using structured questionnaire with face-to-face interview. A total of 337 Bhutanese older adults participated in this study. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical package for social science version 21.0. Results: The overall mean score for the HRQoL among older adults in this study was 0.67 (SD: 0.13) significantly different between the gender (p-value<0.001). A significantly low scores inthe areas of role limitations (p<0.05), pain (p<0.01), mental health (p<0.001), and vitality (p<0.05) of the HRQoL was observed for the female gender. Frequent back pain (67.1%), memory decline (60.5%), depression (46.0%) mobility impairment (45.4%), insomnia (42.1%), and problem affecting breathing (31.8%) were common health problems and were significantly higher among the female gender. Better health conditions was positively related with better HRQoL (p-value<0.001). Conclusions: Low HRQoL was reported higher among female gender and was linked to multiple and cumulative health morbidities. Members of the family, community and healthcare providers could incorporate holistic approach to foster positive health outcomes and HRQoL of the older adults.


2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 511-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Restorick Roberts ◽  
Kathryn Betts Adams

Quality of life (QoL) in the face of declining health, mobility, and social losses is a central issue for older adults. Our study examined changes in QoL over time for older adults residing in independent senior housing within continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) and estimated how residents’ social engagement during their first year influenced QoL over the next 4 years. Data were drawn from a 5-year panel study of 267 older adults who moved into senior housing within four CCRCs. Although initial QoL varied between individuals, QoL declined for the group over time. One component of early social engagement—participating in a greater number of formal social activities organized by the CCRC—significantly slowed the rate of decline in QoL. Findings suggest that senior housing residents may benefit from early participation in organized social and leisure activities soon after move-in to forestall declines in QoL over the long term.


2022 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepthi Thumuluri ◽  
Robert Lyday ◽  
Phyllis Babcock ◽  
Edward H. Ip ◽  
Robert A. Kraft ◽  
...  

Alzheimer's disease has profound effects on quality of life, affecting not only cognition, but mobility and opportunities for social engagement. Dance is a form of movement that may be uniquely suited to help maintain quality of life for older adults, including those with dementia, because it inherently incorporates movement, social engagement, and cognitive stimulation. Here, we describe the methods and results of the pilot study for the IMOVE trial (NCT03333837, www.clinicaltrials.gov), a clinical trial designed to use improvisational dance classes to test the effects of movement and social engagement in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or early-stage dementia. The pilot study was an 8-week investigation into the feasibility and potential effects of an improvisational dance intervention on people with MCI or early-stage dementia (PWD/MCI) and their caregivers (CG). The pilot aimed to assess changes in quality of life, balance, mood, and functional brain networks in PWD/MCI and their CG. Participants were recruited as dyads (pairs) that included one PWD/MCI and one CG. Ten total dyads were enrolled in the pilot study with five dyads assigned to the usual care control group and five dyads participating in the dance intervention. The intervention arm met twice weekly for 60 min for 8 weeks. Attendance and quality of life assessed with the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's disease (QoL-AD) questionnaire were the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included balance, mood and brain network connectivity assessed through graph theory analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Class attendance was 96% and qualitative feedback reflected participants felt socially connected to the group. Increases in quality of life and balance were observed, but not mood. Brain imaging analysis showed increases in multiple brain network characteristics, including global efficiency and modularity. Further investigation into the positive effects of this dance intervention on both imaging and non-imaging metrics will be carried out on the full clinical trial data. Results from the trial are expected in the summer of 2022.


Author(s):  
Timothy A. McGuine ◽  
Kevin Biese ◽  
Scott J. Hetzel ◽  
Labina Petrovska ◽  
Stephanie Kliethermes ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Context: In the spring of 2020, schools closed to in-person teaching and sports were cancelled to control the transmission of CoVID-19. The changes that took place to the physical and mental health among young athletes during this time remain unknown, however. Objective: Identify changes in the health (mental health, physical activity and quality of life) of athletes that occurred during the CoVID-19 pandemic. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Sample recruited via social media. Patients or Other Participants: 3243 Wisconsin adolescent athletes (age=16.2±1.2 yrs., female=58% female) completed an online survey in May 2020 (DuringCoVID-19). Health measures for this cohort were compared with previously reported data for Wisconsin adolescent athletes (n=5231, age=15.7±1.2, 47% female) collected in 2016–2018 (PreCoVID-19). Main Outcome Measure(s): Demographic information included: sex, grade and sports played. Health assessments included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item (PHQ-9) to identify depression symptoms, the Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (PFABS) for physical activity, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL) for health related quality of life (HRQoL). Univariable comparisons of these variables between groups were made via t-tests or chi-square tests. Means and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each group were estimated by survey weighted ANOVA models. RESULTS: Compared to PreCoVID-19, a larger proportion of the During-CoVID-19 participants reported rates of moderate to severe levels of depression (9.7% vs 32.9%, p&lt;0.001). During-CoVID-19 participants reported 50% lower (worse) PFABS scores (mean:12.2 [95%CI: 11.9, 12.5] vs 24.7 [24.5, 24.9] p&lt;0.001) and lower (worse) PedsQL total scores compared to the PreCoVID-19 participants (78.4 [78.0, 78.8] vs. 90.9 [90.5, 91.3] p&lt;0.001). CONCLUSIONS: During the CoVID-19 pandemic, adolescent athletes reported increased symptoms of depression, decreased physical activity and decreased quality of life compared to adolescent athletes in previous years.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanping Duan ◽  
D. L.I.H.K. Peiris ◽  
Min Yang ◽  
Wei Liang ◽  
Julien Steven Baker ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundOlder adults’ quality of life (QoL) is facing huge challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. New normal lifestyle behaviors, including getting adequate physical activity (PA), consuming sufficient fruits and vegetables (FV) and enacting individual preventive behaviors (frequent hand washing, facemask wearing, and social distancing), as a significant determinant for QoL, have not been adequately addressed in older adults during the pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of QoL in Chinese older adults after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei China, to examine the associations of lifestyle behaviors with QoL, and to identify the moderating role of socioeconomic indicators in the associations. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Hubei, China, from June 15, 2020, to July 10, 2020. 516 older adults completed an online survey (mean age = 67.6 ± 6.6; 57.9% women). The questionnaire consisted of demographic information, covariates (chronic diseases and infected cases of acquaintances), lifestyle behaviors (PA stage, FV intake (FVI) stage and three preventive behaviors) and QoL. T-tests, ANOVA tests, hierarchical multiple linear regression models with simple slope analyses were used to test the hypotheses. ResultsQoL significantly differed in relation to economic situation, chronic diseases, marital status, education, living situation, age group and professional status. Participants’ economic situation (β average vs. below average = 0.17, p < 0.01; β above average vs. below average = 0.15, p < 0.01), chronic diseases (β yes vs. no = 0.19, p < 0.001), FVI stage (β = 0.21, p < 0.001) and preventive behaviors (β = 0.10, p < 0.05) indicated a significant association with QoL. Education level and economic situation significantly interacted with preventive behaviors on QoL respectively (β preventive behaviors x educational level = -1.3, p < 0.01; β preventive behaviors x economic situation = -0.97, p < 0.05). ConclusionsFindings emphasize the importance of enhancing FVI and preventive behaviors on QoL improvement in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Older adults who are in a lower economic situation with lower education levels should be given priority when implementing interventions to improve preventive behaviors and QoL in older adults.


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