scholarly journals NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL FUNCTION: EVIDENCE OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIFFERENCES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S279-S280
Author(s):  
Roberto J Millar
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Ethnic Differences ◽  
Neighborhood Effects ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Physical Disorder ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Racial And Ethnic Differences

Abstract Empirical and theoretical scholarship suggest that as individuals age and their physical, cognitive, and social needs change, their neighborhood environment becomes increasingly important to their health and well-being. Despite recent advances in this area of research, a number of critical gaps remain. Namely, few studies examine the associations between neighborhood social environments and performance-based physical function. Furthermore, racial and ethnic differences are widely understudied. The objectives of this study are (1) to examine the association between neighborhood social cohesion and physical disorder on physical function in older adults, and (2) to identify potential racial/ethnic differences in these associations. Data come from round five (collected in 2015) of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS; N=5,619). A series of adjusted linear regression models were used to predict performance-based physical function based on characteristics of the neighborhood social environment (i.e., cohesion, disorder). Results showed that only neighborhood physical disorder was statistically significantly associated with poorer physical function (p < 0.05). Similarly, when stratified by race/ethnicity, only neighborhood physical disorder was associated with poorer physical function in Whites (p < 0.05). There was no significant association for either neighborhood social environment characteristic and physical function for Black or Hispanic older adults. Racial and ethnic differences warrant closer investigation in studies of neighborhood effects on health. Community-level interventions, policy makers, and researchers should consider the interactions between minority membership and neighborhood social environments when addressing issues of health and physical function.

scholarly journals Perceived Discrimination, Social Environment, and Older Adults’ Psychological Well-Being

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 462-462
Author(s):  
Min-Kyoung Park ◽  
Christine Mair
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Perceived Discrimination ◽  
Country Of Origin ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Older Americans ◽  
The Social

Abstract Experiencing discrimination can have detrimental effects on psychological well-being. For older adults in the U.S., discrimination on the basis of country of origin may be a particularly alienating experience. A positive social environment, however, has been shown to buffer associations between discrimination and poorer psychological well-being. However, this hypothesis has not been tested in a sample of older Americans who perceive discrimination because of country of origin. As the United States continues to diversify and politically polarize, understanding older adults’ experiences with discrimination and identifying potential buffers to these negative effects is increasingly important. We analyze 942 older Americans (aged 50+) from the Psychosocial Module of the most recent wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, 2020). Specifically, we analyze associations between perceived discrimination on the basis of country of origin and three psychological well-being outcomes: loneliness, anxiety, and life satisfaction. We further test if the social environment buffers negative effects by examining interactions between discrimination and social support as well as discrimination and neighborhood environment. Our results reveal clear and consistent associations between older adults’ perceived discrimination and increased loneliness and decreased life satisfaction. These negative associations, however, appear to be buffered by social support and positive neighborhood environment, respectively. The potential buffering effect of positive social environments on psychological well-being is particularly pronounced for older adults under the age of 65. We discuss these findings in light of the prevalence of discrimination in the U.S. and consider potential mechanisms for improving the social environment of older adults.

scholarly journals Social Isolation, Depressive Symptoms and Perceived Neighborhood Environment of Older Adults During COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 727-727
Author(s):  
Ke Li ◽  
Fengyan Tang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Physical Disorder ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Perceived Neighborhood Environment

Abstract Social isolation has been recognized as a social problem with negative effects on psychological well-being. Older adults are disproportionately affected by social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study COVID-19 Project, this study examined the relationship between social isolation and depressive symptoms among two groups of respondents differentiated by whether themselves or their social relationships were diagnosed with COVID-19. This study also explored the moderating role of perceived neighborhood environment. Depressive symptoms were measured using the eight-item CES-D. The index of social isolation was generated using five indicators, including living alone, no social participation, and less than monthly contact with children, family members, and friends. The moderator assessed two aspects of the neighborhood environment, including physical disorder and social cohesion. The results of bivariate analyses showed that respondents who were affected by COVID-19 were younger, more likely to be female, Hispanic, and Non-Hispanic Black, and with lower levels of social isolation. The results of multiple regression analyses indicated that social isolation was associated with more depressive symptoms, but this relationship was found to be only significant among respondents who were affected by COVID-19. Perceived neighborhood environment significantly moderated the relationship, as the effect of social isolation on depressive symptoms was stronger for respondents with more neighborhood physical disorders and less social cohesion. This study has implications for practice and policy, in that it underscored the importance of enacting strategies to improve the neighborhood environment, particularly for socially isolated older adults during the COVID-19.

4. Social and interpersonal aspects of ageing

2016 ◽  
pp. 66-86
Author(s):  
Nancy A. Pachana
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Role Changes ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Societal Context ◽  
Over Time

How we interact with others, with the physical and social environment, as well as how well we cope with life events, role changes, and positive and negative stresses all affect how we age. Later life is also intimately connected to, and affected by, circumstances and decisions earlier in life. Social support and engagement are critical for physical and emotional well-being. ‘Social and interpersonal aspects of ageing’ explores ageing in a social and societal context. The ways in which older adults engage with younger cohorts and their contribution to their family, communities, and society more broadly have changed over time and have also been affected by social and technological advances.

Neighborhood Effects on the Health of Chinese Older Adults: Beyond the Rural and Urban Dichotomy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuekang Li ◽  
Yi Wang ◽  
Nancy Morrow-Howell
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Neighborhood Effects ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Physical Frailty ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Neighborhood Level

Abstract Background and Objectives The associations between physical frailty and depressive symptoms among older individuals were established in the existing literature. Taking the person–environment perspective, we argue that neighborhood environment could either buffer the stress derived from being physically vulnerable or worsen it by adding another layer of stressors in the environmental context when physical health declined. The objectives of this study were to explore to what extent the neighborhood-level characteristics moderate the relationship between physical frailty and depressive symptoms. Research Design and Methods Using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011 wave, 6,245 individuals aged 60 years and older were included for analyses. Multilevel mixed-effects models were fitted to examine the moderating effects of urbanicity and neighborhood-level socioeconomic status (SES) on the relationship between frailty and depressive symptoms among older adults, controlling for individual-level characteristics. Results Results showed a stronger relationship between deterioration in physical health and depressive symptoms in rural neighborhoods and neighborhoods with lower SES, after controlling for individual-level SES. Also, the moderating effects of the neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors remained after controlling for urbanicity, indicating that neighborhood SES works beyond the rural–urban contexts. Discussion and Implications Findings from this study demonstrate the important roles of neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics in reshaping, and the need to redefine, China’s rural–urban dichotomy. The findings also identified neighborhoods with low SES as potential targets for policy and practice to reduce the stress associated with health decline.

scholarly journals Aging With HIV: Inflammation Is Associated With Pain, Poorer Physical Function, and Frailty

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 334-334
Author(s):  
Heather Derry ◽  
Carrie Johnston ◽  
Chelsie Burchett ◽  
Eugenia Siegler ◽  
Marshall Glesby
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Well Being ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Cognitive Complaints ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Comorbidity Burden ◽  
Ifn Γ

Abstract With advances in antiretroviral therapies, people living with HIV have life expectancies similar to their HIV-negative peers. Yet, they experience elevated multi-morbidity that can compromise quality of life as they age. Links between inflammation and accelerated aging may inform interventions, but these links are understudied in older adults with HIV. We investigated cross-sectional relationships between inflammation, well-being, and geriatric syndromes among 161 HIV-positive older adults. Participants provided fasting blood samples (for serum cytokines and CRP) and completed surveys (MOS-HIV; falls) and cognitive (MoCA) and frailty assessments (using Fried criteria). Adjusted linear and logistic regression models tested relationships between inflammatory markers and age-related health outcomes, controlling for age, gender, BMI, race, comorbidity burden, statin use, and smoking status. 93% had suppressed viral load. 11% had CRP levels suggesting possible acute illness (>10 mg/L) and were excluded from analyses. Participants with higher IFN-γ reported greater pain (p=0.003), greater cognitive complaints (p=.02), and worse physical function (p=0.04), than those with lower IFN-γ. Similarly, higher IL-6 levels were related to worse physical function (p=0.01) and slightly greater cognitive complaints (p=0.06), but were not significantly related to pain in adjusted models. Compared to those with lower IL-6, those with higher IL-6 levels were more likely to be frail (p=0.04). CRP was not significantly related to these outcomes. Six-month fall history and objective cognitive scores were not significantly related to the assessed inflammatory markers. Our results illustrate key, expected links between inflammatory processes, frailty, physical function, and pain among older adults with HIV.

scholarly journals Association of Physical Function With Driving Space and Crashes Among Older Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda S Ng ◽  
Jack M Guralnik ◽  
Cora Man ◽  
Carolyn DiGuiseppi ◽  
David Strogatz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Prevalence Ratio ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Longitudinal Effects ◽  
Driving Outcomes

Abstract Background and Objectives Balancing both driver mobility and safety is important for the well-being of older adults. However, research on the association of physical function with these 2 driving outcomes has yielded inconsistent findings. This study examined whether physical functioning of older drivers, as measured by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), is associated with either driving space or crash involvement. Methods Using cross-sectional data of active drivers aged 65–79 years from the AAA Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD) study (n = 2,990), we used multivariate log-binomial and logistic regressions to estimate the associations of the SPPB with either self-reported restricted driving space in the prior 3 months or any crashes in the past year. Interaction with gender was assessed using likelihood ratio tests. Results After adjustment, older drivers with higher SPPB scores (higher physical functioning) had lower prevalence of restricted driving space (8–10 vs. 0–7, prevalence ratio [PR] = 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78–0.99; 11–12 vs. 0–7, PR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.61–0.99). Fair (8–10), but not good (11–12), scores were significantly associated with reduced crash involvement (8–10 vs. 0–7, odds ratio [OR] = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.60–0.84). Gender was not a significant effect modifier. Discussion and Implications This study provides evidence that higher physical functioning is associated with better driving mobility and safety and that the SPPB may be useful for identifying at-risk drivers. Further research is needed to understand physical functioning’s longitudinal effects and the SPPB’s role in older driver intervention programs.

Assessment of the Well-being of Children in their Social Environment

1988 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 8-16
Author(s):  
Yvonne Darlington
Keyword(s):  
Family Therapy ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Family Law ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Family Assessment ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Family Practitioners ◽  
The Common

The assessment of the well-being of children in their family and wider social environments is the common brief of social workers and other family practitioners across a variety of agency settings. Whether the focus is child protection, family therapy, family assessment in family law matters or a combination of the above, the practitioner finds the necessity to derive an accurate and sensitive assessment of how a particular child is faring in his or her social environment.

scholarly journals Neighborhood Cohesion, Disorder, and Physical Function in Older Adults: An Examination of Racial/Ethnic Differences

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 1133-1144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto J. Millar
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Ethnic Differences ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
Neighborhood Disorder ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Neighborhood Cohesion ◽  
Subgroup Analyses ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Objectives: This study examined the link between neighborhood social cohesion, disorder, and physical function in older adults, and identified potential racial/ethnic differences in these associations. Method: Data come from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS; N = 5,619). A series of linear regression models were used to predict physical function. Subgroup analyses and neighborhood/race interactions were used to examine differences. Results: Neighborhood disorder was associated with poorer physical function ( p < .05), while neighborhood cohesion was not ( p = .06). Although tests of interactions were not significant, subgroup analyses showed that neighborhood disorder, and not social cohesion, was associated with poorer physical function only in Whites. Discussion: Disadvantaged neighborhood social environment may contribute to differences in physical function among older adults. Racial and ethnic differences warrant closer investigation in studies of neighborhoods and functional health.

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