A Social Ecological Model of Vulnerability and Resilience in Older Adults During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract Objectives We used a social ecological model to examine vulnerability and resilience among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We analyzed two open-ended questions included in a survey of 235 respondents, 51–95 years old (M = 71.35; SD = 7.39; 74% female), which asked about COVID-19-related difficulties and positive experiences during the past week. We identified three different levels for difficulties and positives at the personal, interpersonal, and/or societal levels. Results Fewer than half of the respondents reported on difficulties (41%) and positives (40%) just at the personal level. In terms of crossing levels, people were most likely to report events spanning the personal and interpersonal levels (14% and 18%, respectively). A few individuals reported difficulties and positives at the societal level. Discussion Older individuals were acutely aware of challenges and positives existing at all three levels, and contributed to resources at the interpersonal and community levels.

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Resilience in Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Socioecological Approach

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbab058 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Heidi Igarashi ◽

Maria L Kurth ◽

Hye Soo Lee ◽

Soyoung Choun ◽

Dylan Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Social Solidarity ◽

The Past ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Personal Level ◽

Societal Level ◽

Positive Experiences ◽

Interpersonal Level

Abstract Objectives We examined sources of vulnerability and resilience among older adults early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods We surveyed 235 respondents, 51–95 years old (M = 71.35; SD = 7.39; 74% female), including 2 open-ended questions concerning COVID-19-related difficulties and positive experiences during the past week. Using inductive coding, we found 9 final codes for difficulties and 12 for positives and grouped them into socioecological levels: personal, interpersonal, and societal. Results Difficulties were reported by 94% of the sample, while 63% described positives. Difficulties and positive responses were made at all socioecological levels and illustrated a dialectic between personal-level constraints and opportunities, interpersonal-level social isolation and integration, and societal-level outrage, sorrow, and social optimism. Discussion Respondents described sources of vulnerabilities and resilience that supported a socioecological approach to understand resilience during this pandemic. A notable example was resilience derived from witnessing and contributing to the community and social solidarity, highlighting the potential of older adults as resources to their communities during the global pandemic.

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Developing a Social-Ecological Model for Promoting Physical Activity Among Older Adults Based on the Experiences of 50+ Adults

SAGE Open ◽

10.1177/21582440211032943 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 215824402110329

Author(s):

Peeter Lusmägi ◽

Kadri Aavik

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Focus Group ◽

Ecological Model ◽

Social Ecological Model ◽

Older Age ◽

Focus Group Interviews ◽

Social Ecological ◽

Group Interviews ◽

Definition Of

Various programs have been developed in different countries to encourage physical activity (PA) of older adults; however, older adults themselves have rarely been included in the development of such interventions. This article explores the meanings that people aged 50 years and above attribute to PA and their own engagement in PA, in the framework of a social-ecological model (SEM). In particular, we focus on the motivations and barriers they identified to their PA. We draw on focus group interviews with 44 older adults between the ages of 50 and 80 years, based in Estonia. Our findings suggest that it is important to use an expanded definition of PA (in older age), to include the diverse and perhaps unexpected ways in which people use their bodies and keep fit in different contexts. Based on our findings, we offer developments to existing versions of the SEM, highlighting the interconnectedness of all of its levels and propose ways to encourage PA of older adults.

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Creating an enabling environment for accelerating condominium energy retrofitting: case studies in Grenoble (FR) and Brussels (BE)

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/855/1/012020 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 855 (1) ◽

pp. 012020

Author(s):

S Monfils ◽

A van Zeijl-Rozema

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Case Studies ◽

Social Acceptance ◽

Ecological Model ◽

Social Ecological Model ◽

Policy Recommendations ◽

Enabling Environment ◽

Social Ecological ◽

The Social ◽

Different Levels

Abstract Energy retrofitting in condominiums involves collective decision making, the complexity of which is believed to be one of the main barriers to retrofitting projects. A strong heterogeneity among the occupants in terms of age, education, income, or occupancy status, as well as varying interests and perceptions, can make it difficult to gather people around and agree on a common project. In this paper, we present the results of two in depth case studies about condominium renovation projects that took place in Grenoble (France) and Brussels (Belgium). Those in-depth case studies investigate the elements that are needed to create an enabling environment stimulating the acceleration of energy retrofitting of condominiums, and took place within the Interreg NWE “ACE Retrofitting” project. The enabling environment surrounding a successful retrofit is shown in these case studies to be more than just providing process facilitation or a financing scheme. It takes time to put an enabling environment in place. For different locations across Europe, different enabling environments are needed. Clearly, this requires giving more attention to condominiums at the local, regional, national and European levels. Among other crucial element to look for, social acceptance is at the heart of decision-making in retrofitting projects. This study concludes with propositions and policy recommendations, at the different levels of the social-ecological model.

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Socioeconomic Status and Sleep

The Social Epidemiology of Sleep ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190930448.003.0010 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 235-256

Author(s):

Michael A. Grandner

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Ecological Model ◽

Social Ecological Model ◽

Sleep Health ◽

Future Directions ◽

Individual Level ◽

Social Ecological ◽

Socioeconomic Drivers ◽

Societal Level ◽

Racial Ethnic

This chapter focuses on how socioeconomic status (SES) can influence sleep health. The chapter overviews traditional SES factors, which include education, income, and employment. Beyond this, the chapter discusses other (less studied) SES factors such as financial hardship and subjective social status among various populations. Socioeconomic sleep disparities in the context of racial/ethnic sleep disparities are considered, and a social ecological model of sleep is discussed, which includes (a) individual-level socioeconomic drivers, which are embedded within (b) social-level socioeconomic drivers, which themselves are embedded within (c) societal-level socioeconomic drivers. The chapter concludes with thoughts for future directions in research.

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Using the Social Ecological Model to Explore Nutritional Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

10.26226/morressier.5cdc25c8bf4ffc6205421072 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Christine Mills

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Ecological Model ◽

Social Ecological Model ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Nutritional Risk ◽

Social Ecological ◽

The Social ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

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Using the Social Ecological Model to Identify Drivers of Nutrition Risk in Adult Day Settings Serving East Asian Older Adults

Research in Gerontological Nursing ◽

10.3928/19404921-20191210-02 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 146-157

Author(s):

Tina R. Sadarangani ◽

Jordan J. Johnson ◽

Stella K. Chong ◽

Abraham Brody ◽

Chau Trinh-Shevrin

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Ecological Model ◽

East Asian ◽

Social Ecological Model ◽

Nutrition Risk ◽

Social Ecological ◽

The Social

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Taking Steps Toward Health Equity Through Physical Activity

Kinesiology Review ◽

10.1123/kr.2021-0063 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

NiCole R. Keith

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Best Practices ◽

Health Equity ◽

Ecological Model ◽

Social Ecological Model ◽

The Past ◽

Social Ecological ◽

Science Models ◽

The Social ◽

Improve Health

Health equity will be achieved when all demographics have a fair opportunity be healthy. This essay describes the possibility of achieving health equity through physical activity. It presents the social ecological model of physical activity and describes how both microenvironmental and macroenvironmental factors influence one’s ability to participate. There is then a description of watershed moments in American history that negatively influenced the ability of certain demographics to be active today. It then describes groups participating in less physical activity when compared to others. Several public health and political science models are then suggested with specific examples of how they have been implemented in the past to improve health or physical activity. The essay ends by describing the need to build the physical activity evidence among vulnerable populations that tend to be underrepresented in research and explains best practices in engaging these populations in investigative work.

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Older Adults’ Perceptions toward Walking: A Qualitative Study Using a Social-Ecological Model

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18147686 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (14) ◽

pp. 7686

Author(s):

Ka-Man Leung ◽

Kai-Ling Ou ◽

Pak-Kwong Chung ◽

Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Ecological Model ◽

Level Density ◽

Social Ecological Model ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Group Setting ◽

Perceived Safety ◽

Individual Level ◽

Walking Intervention ◽

Social Ecological

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate older adults’ perceptions of their walking experiences, using the social-ecological model as a guiding framework and to propose future walking intervention content. Methods: Thirty-eight participants (19 women; 47% from private elderly centers; mean age = 72.8 (SD = 7.4 years) took part in semi-structured interviews. Qualitative data analysis software QSR-NVivo was used for thematic coding. Results: Thematic deductive analysis revealed pertinent themes at the individual level (health benefits and barriers, fall risk, perseverance, and walking as a suitable activity for older adults), social environment level (social support and social interaction), physical environment level (density, land-use mix, and connectivity; perceived safety, pedestrian facilities (benches, quality of walking paths and sidewalks, and aesthetics), other pedestrian behaviors, and weather, and policy level (lack of walking programs in the community, and supportive culture for an active lifestyle). Discussion: Our findings provide insights for the planning of future multilevel walking intervention programs for older adults in Hong Kong. It is suggested that future walking intervention should include professionals (e.g., physiotherapist or coach) in a group setting, practical walking recommendations such as proper walking posture, and additional fun activities for older adults.

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