scholarly journals Emotion Regulation Resources Explain Middle-Aged and Older Adults' COVID-19-Related Distress

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 130-131
Author(s):  
Cystal Park ◽  
Beth Russell ◽  
Michael Fendrich
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Stress Exposure ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Initial Peak

Abstract As the pandemic caused widespread disruption across the world, studies suggested younger adults were faring more poorly than other adults. We hypothesized that younger adults might possess fewer emotion regulation resources and skills, accounting for their greater distress. In a national sample of 1528 adults, we examined how baseline resources (in mid-April, during initial peak infections) predicted distress (depression, anxiety, PTSD symptoms) five weeks later, when states began initial reopenings. Younger adults reported greater distress and less social support, mindfulness, and emotion regulation skills than did middle aged and older adults.. Controlling for stress exposure, younger adults’ distress was predicted by impulsivity and lack of perceived strategies while middle-aged and older adults’ distress was predicted by acceptance of negative emotions; perceived social support was related to lower distress for both groups but mindfulness was unrelated. Results suggest that emotion regulation skills are a promising prevention and intervention focus.

scholarly journals Religiosity and Perceived Social Support Enhance Older Adults’ Resilience after the 2016 Flood

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 929-929
Author(s):  
Katie Cherry ◽  
Matthew Calamia ◽  
Emily Elliott ◽  
Angelina Cantelli
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Severe Weather ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Age Related

Abstract In 2016, catastrophic flooding destroyed homes and property across south Louisiana. This study is part of a larger program of research that addresses the role of prior hurricane and flood experiences on current health and well-being in later life. Participants were predominately middle-aged and older adults who varied in current and prior severe weather experiences (M age=49.6 years, age range 18-88 years). All were tested during the immediate aftermath of the 2016 flood (Wave 1; N=223) and most participated in a follow-up assessment 9 (+/- 3) months later (Wave 2; N=202). Cherry et al. (2021) reported that greater flood stressors at Wave 1, such as displacement, flood-related losses, and damage to homes and property, were associated with more symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that age, religiosity, and perceived social support would be positively associated with post-flood resilience at the Wave 2 follow-up. Results indicated that age was positively associated with religiosity and resilience, and negatively correlated with symptoms of PTSD. Additionally, faith community involvement, non-organizational religiosity, and religious beliefs and practices were all significantly correlated with post-flood resilience. Perceived social support was positively associated with resilience, and inversely correlated with PTSD symptoms. These data suggest that religiosity and perceived social support are valuable resources that foster post-disaster resilience among middle aged and older adults. Implications of these data for current views on age-related strengths and vulnerabilities after severe weather events are discussed.

scholarly journals Personality and change in perceived control across the first four months of the coronavirus pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 726-726
Author(s):  
Amanda Sesker ◽  
Ji Hyun Lee ◽  
Martina Luchetti ◽  
Damaris Aschwanden ◽  
Yannick Stephan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Perceived Control ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
National Sample ◽  
World Health ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Objective: This study examined change in perceived control (PC) across the first four months of the global coronavirus pandemic and whether change varied significantly by age and personality traits during the first four months of the pandemic. Methods: Personality was assessed prior to the pandemic in a large national sample of 2,455 American adults (18-100 years) from a preregistered online survey (https://osf.io/q8cpd), first conducted between January 31, 2020 and February 10, 2020. Three additional follow-up waves were conducted: mid-March 2020 (following the World Health Organization declaration of the coronavirus a pandemic), late April 2020 (toward the end of the White House’s 30 Days to Slow the Spread guidance), and late July 2020 (when patient deaths in the U.S. reached 132,918). PC was assessed in Waves 2-4. Results: There were age differences in the trajectory of PC such that PC increase for middle-aged and older adults, whereas younger adults had lower PC and did not increase over the follow-ups. All personality traits but Openness were associated with PC at the first assessment. Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Agreeableness positively predicted PC change over time. The association between Conscientiousness and Extraversion and increased PC over time was stronger at older ages. Conclusion: Pre-pandemic personality predicted PC and PC change during the first four months of the pandemic, with middle-aged and older adults showing better adaption than younger adults. This study provides new evidence for PC change and associations between personality and PC during the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Age Differences in Beliefs About Emotion Regulation Strategies

2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 316-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly M Livingstone ◽  
Vanessa L Castro ◽  
Derek M Isaacowitz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Latent Profile Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Regulation Strategies

Abstract Objectives Age shifts in emotion regulation may be rooted in beliefs about different strategies. We test whether there are age differences in the beliefs people hold about specific emotion regulation strategies derived from the process model of emotion regulation and whether profiles of emotion beliefs vary by age. Method An adult life-span sample (N = 557) sorted 13 emotion regulation strategies either by (a) how effective the strategies would be or (b) how likely they would be to use them, in 15 negative emotion-eliciting situations. Results Younger adults ranked attentional and cognitive distraction more effective than older adults, and preferred avoidance, distraction, and rumination more (and attentional deployment less) than middle-aged and older adults. Latent profile analysis on preferences identified three distinct strategy profiles: Classically adaptive regulators preferred a variety of strategies; situation modifiers showed strong preferences for changing situations; a small percentage of people preferred avoidance and rumination. Middle-aged and older adults were more likely than younger adults to be classically adaptive regulators (as opposed to situation modifiers or avoiders/ruminators). Discussion These findings provide insight into the reasons people of different ages may select and implement different emotion regulation strategies, which may influence their emotional well-being.

Video Games and Emotion Regulation

GeroPsych ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 205-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn L. Ossenfort ◽  
Derek M. Isaacowitz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Video Games ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Interactive Media ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
Media Preferences

Abstract. Research on age differences in media usage has shown that older adults are more likely than younger adults to select positive emotional content. Research on emotional aging has examined whether older adults also seek out positivity in the everyday situations they choose, resulting so far in mixed results. We investigated the emotional choices of different age groups using video games as a more interactive type of affect-laden stimuli. Participants made multiple selections from a group of positive and negative games. Results showed that older adults selected the more positive games, but also reported feeling worse after playing them. Results supplement the literature on positivity in situation selection as well as on older adults’ interactive media preferences.

Social Support and Depression in LGB Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Internalized Homophobia

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan J. W. Mueller ◽  
Nicole D. Ng ◽  
Hilary Sluis ◽  
Louis Y. Stephenson ◽  
Wendy Ratto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Internalized Homophobia ◽  
Middle Aged

The Impact of Stressful Life Events and Social Support on Drinking among Older Adults: A General Population Survey

1992 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen M. Jennison
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Prolonged Exposure ◽  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Stress Buffering ◽  
The Impact

This article is an analysis of stressful life events, the buffering hypothesis, and alcohol use in a national sample of 1,418 respondents 60 years of age and over. The results indicate that older adults who experience stressful losses are significantly more likely to drink excessively than those who have not experienced such losses or who have experienced them to a lesser extent. Increased drinking among older adults may therefore be a reaction to life circumstances in which alcohol represents an attempt to cope with traumatic loss, personal as well as within the kinship network. Supportive resources of spouse, family, friends, and church appear to have a stress-buffering effects that reduces the excessive-drinking response to life crisis. Data suggest, however, that older persons are vulnerable to the magnitude of losses experienced as they grow older and lose more of their family, friends, and peers. These stressors appear to seriously impact their drinking behavior and are not effectively buffered. Respondents report that drinking may increase during periods of prolonged exposure to emotionally depleting life change and loss, when supportive needs may exceed the capacities of personal and social support resources.

scholarly journals Social Support Patterns of Middle-Aged and Older Adults Within a Physical Activity App: Secondary Mixed Method Analysis

JMIR Aging ◽  
10.2196/12496 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. e12496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakkoyya H Lewis ◽  
Maria C Swartz ◽  
Eloisa Martinez ◽  
Elizabeth J Lyons
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
The Social ◽  
Method Analysis

Background Physical activity (PA) is critical for maintaining independence and delaying mobility disability in aging adults. However, 27 to 44% of older adults in the United States are meeting the recommended PA level. Activity trackers are proving to be a promising tool to promote PA adherence through activity tracking and enhanced social interaction features. Although social support has been known to be an influential behavior change technique to promote PA, how middle-aged and older adults use the social interaction feature of mobile apps to provide virtual support to promote PA engagement remains mostly underexplored. Objective This study aimed to describe the social support patterns of middle-aged and older adults using a mobile app as part of a behavioral PA intervention. Methods Data from 35 participants (mean age 61.66 [SD 6] years) in a 12-week, home-based activity intervention were used for this secondary mixed method analysis. Participants were provided with a Jawbone Up24 activity monitor and an Apple iPad Mini installed with the UP app to facilitate self-monitoring and social interaction. All participants were given an anonymous account and encouraged to interact with other participants using the app. Social support features included comments and likes. Thematic coding was used to identify the type of social support provided within the UP app and characterize the levels of engagement from users. Participants were categorized as superusers or contributors, and passive participants were categorized as lurkers based on the literature. Results Over the 12-week intervention, participants provided a total of 3153 likes and 1759 comments. Most participants (n=25) were contributors, with 4 categorized as superusers and 6 categorized as lurkers. Comments were coded as emotional support, informational support, instrumental support, self-talk, and other, with emotional support being the most prevalent type. Conclusions Our cohort of middle-aged and older adults was willing to use the social network feature in an activity app to communicate with anonymous peers. Most of our participants were contributors. In addition, the social support provided through the activity app followed social support constructs. In sum, PA apps are a promising tool for delivering virtual social support to enhance PA engagement and have the potential to make a widespread impact on PA promotion. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01869348; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01869348

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