scholarly journals FEELING AUTHENTIC DURING PLAYING PICKLEBALL IN LATER LIFE: PREDICTING POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S518-S519
Author(s):  
Jungsu Ryu ◽  
Jinmoo Heo ◽  
Chungsup Lee ◽  
Amy Chan Hyung Kim ◽  
Kyung Min Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Positive Psychological Functioning ◽  
Healthy Functioning

Abstract Authenticity, being trustful with oneself, is regarded as a principle predictor of healthy functioning. However, the association between authenticity and psychological functioning has not been examined, even though leisure is an ideal context within which to experience authenticity. Therefore, this study examined the association between authenticity and psychological functioning in older adults playing pickleball. A convenience sample of 112 males and 96 females (64.11±6.56, 50 to 82yrs) was recruited from the 2017 U.S. Open Pickleball Championship which is an annual international pickleball tournament. The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire primarily asking about their levels of authenticity (4-items) and psychological functioning measured by both perceived stress (4-items) and happiness (single item). The pearson correlation tests found higher levels of authenticity were significantly correlated with being less stressed (r = -.373, p < .01) and happier (r = .203, p < .01). A two-step hierarchical regression was used to determine the unique contribution of authenticity to either perceived stress or happiness, and found that authenticity uniquely contributed to 10% of the variance in perceived stress (F= 4.678, p <.001) and 2.3% of the variance in happiness (F= 3.046, p <.01). These results suggest that feeling authentic in older adults playing pickleball may play an important role in positive psychological functioning.

Leisure Activities and the Subjective Well-Being of Older Adults in Croatia

GeroPsych ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ljiljana Kaliterna Lipovčan ◽  
Tihana Brkljačić ◽  
Zvjezdana Prizmić Larsen ◽  
Andreja Brajša-Žganec ◽  
Renata Franc
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Perceived Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Financial Status

Abstract. Research shows that engagement in leisure activities promotes well-being among older adults. The objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between subjective well-being (flourishing) and leisure activities (total number of different activities in the previous year) in a sample of older adults in Croatia, thereby considering the variables of sex, marital status, financial status, and self-perceived health. The differences in the examined variables between the groups of older adults who reported to be engaged in new activities with those who did not were also examined. The sample of N = 169 older adults aged 60 years and above was drawn from a convenience sample of adult internet users in Croatia. Participants reported their self-perceived health and the number of leisure activities they engaged in over the previous year as well as completing the Flourishing Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that older adults who were engaged in more various leisure activities, who perceived better financial status, and who were married reported higher levels of flourishing. A comparison of the two groups of older adults with and without engagement in leisure activities showed that those engaged in at least one leisure activity were more likely to be women, reported higher levels of flourishing, and perceived their own financial status as better. This study indicated that engaging in leisure activities in later life might provide beneficial effects for the well-being of older adults.

Feeling authentic during playing pickleball in later life: Predicting positive psychological functioning

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-205
Author(s):  
Jungsu Ryu ◽  
Jinmoo Heo ◽  
Chungsup Lee ◽  
Amy Chan Hyung Kim ◽  
Kyung Min Kim
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Positive Psychological Functioning

scholarly journals Continuing to participate in the dance of life as oneself: The lived experience of meaning in life for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Dewitte ◽  
Els van Wijngaarden ◽  
Tine Schellekens ◽  
Mathieu Vandenbulcke ◽  
Jessie Dezutter
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Personal Perspective ◽  
Positive Psychological Functioning ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Original Insight

Abstract Background and Objectives Meaning in life is an important aspect of positive psychological functioning for older adults. Limited work suggests the relevance of the experience of meaning for people with dementia, but research into this experience from their personal perspective is lacking. The current study provides an in-depth investigation of the lived experience of meaning in life for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease. Research Design and Methods The study was conducted following the phenomenological reflective lifeworld approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with sixteen older adults (+65) with Alzheimer’s disease living either at home or in a nursing home in Belgium. Data-analysis was an iterative process aimed at illuminating the constituents and essence of the phenomenon. Results The essence of the experience of meaning in life for participants was understood as ‘continuing to participate in the dance of life as oneself.’ This experience was further clarified in four closely intertwined constituents: (1) feeling connected and involved, (2) continuing everyday life as oneself, (3) calmly surrendering and letting go, and (4) desiring freedom, growth, and invigoration. Discussion and Implications Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of meaning in life as experienced by older adults with Alzheimer’s disease themselves. They emphasize the relevance of the concept for psychological dementia research and offer original insight for the inclusion of meaning in life as an important aspect of holistic dementia care.

The ageing process in older adults’ narratives of family violence

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-66
Author(s):  
Ana João Santos ◽  
Ana Paula Gil ◽  
Oscar Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Ageing Process ◽  
Chronological Age ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Thematic Content Analysis ◽  
The Social

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine, through a qualitative lens, how community elder abuse and the ageing process are represented in the older adults’ narratives reporting abuse perpetrated by family members. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative study of a convenience sample of 22 interviews from 24 older adults (two couples) aged 60 years or older who had experienced one or more types of abuse and had sought help about the victimisation experience. A general inductive approach of thematic content analysis was employed. Findings The four main emergent themes related to the passage of time or the perception of becoming old within the process of abuse were: abuse grown old, abuse after entering later life, vulnerability to abuse and responses to abuse. Ageing was found to be associated with an increase vulnerability to abuse and an important element in shaping how older adults experience, report and cope with victimization. The social and contextual issues of being older also influenced the decision of ending (or not) the abuse and the victims’ repertoire of responses. Originality/value Despite the little suitability of chronological age to define and delimit elder abuse, understanding the phenomenon demands the recognition of ageing (both as a process and as a product) in order to more accurately identify aetiology processes and develop interventions.

scholarly journals AGING SEXUAL STEREOTYPES AND SEXUAL EXPRESSION IN MID- AND LATER LIFE: EXAMINING THE STEREOTYPE MATCHING EFFECT

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S888-S888
Author(s):  
Maggie Syme ◽  
Tracy Cohn
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Sexual Stereotypes ◽  
Matching Effect ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Sexual Stigma ◽  
The Life Course

Abstract Ageist sexual stereotypes are culturally embedded and may prohibit midlife and older adults from achieving sexual wellness when internalized over the life course (i.e., stereotype embodiment), which was examined in the current study. A cross sectional, convenience sample of 972 adults aged 50 and older was recruited online via a crowdsourcing platform. Participants completed an online survey assessing aging sexual stigma and their participation in a spectrum of sexual and intimate behaviors. Two hierarchical linear regressions examined study hypotheses predicting a) sexual and b) intimate behaviors among middle age and older adults, while accounting for several known covariates (e.g., education, relationship status, health). Results suggest that older age (β = -.24, p < .001), being a woman (β = -.29, p < .001), and higher levels of aging sexual stigma (β = -.30, p < 0.001) were associated with less sexual activity (F(19, 945) = 32.51, p < .001, R2 = 0.40). For intimate behaviors, older age (β = -0.14, p < .05) and higher levels of aging sexual stigma (β = -0.24, p < .001) were significantly associated with lower levels of intimate activity (F(19, 945) = 39.80, p < .001, R2 = 0.45). Contrary to expectations, neither gender nor age cohort moderated the effect of aging sexual stigma. Ageist sexual stereotypes appear to affect individual sexual health and wellness via internalized beliefs. Future studies should focus on the potential malleability of aging sexual stigma beliefs, and at what point(s) in the life course they are modifiable.

scholarly journals Feasibility and Acceptability of App-Based Mindfulness-Meditation Training for Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 411-411
Author(s):  
Leeann Mahlo ◽  
Tim Windsor
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Body ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Study Interval

Abstract Few studies have focused on the utility of mindfulness-meditation for well-being in older adults. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of an app-based mindfulness-meditation program for community-based older adults. A convenience sample of 46 participants aged between 63 and 81 (M = 70.85, SD = 4.70) was recruited from the community. Participants were invited to engage with a 30-day app-based mindfulness-meditation program for 10-minutes daily on their smartphones. Each meditation session comprised focusing on the breath, mentally scanning the body, monitoring the mind’s activity, and cultivating a nonjudgmental attitude toward experience. Participants completed psychosocial questionnaires at baseline, day 10, and day 30. On average, participants completed 25 sessions and almost 4 hours of application use across the 30-days. Results of linear mixed effects models showed significant improvements in positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction across the study interval, but no meaningful change in total or facet-level mindfulness or perceived stress. Furthermore, relative to high levels of smartphone efficacy, low smartphone efficacy was associated with higher perceived stress and negative affect, and less life satisfaction at baseline; and steeper improvements on these outcomes across the study interval. Results indicated that, on average, older adults found app-based mindfulness-meditation training interesting, enjoyable, valuable, and useful. The findings provide preliminary support for the feasibility and acceptability of an app-based mindfulness-meditation program with community-based older adults and demonstrate potential benefits for well-being. Furthermore, older adults’ perceptions of smartphone competency may play an important role in the outcomes of app-based programs.

Older Adults’ Behavior Intentions Once a COVID-19 Vaccine Becomes Available

2021 ◽  
pp. 073346482110192
Author(s):  
Michael A. Callow ◽  
Daniel D. Callow
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Behavior Intention ◽  
The Impact

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of antecedent variables on older adults’ intention to get a CORONAVIRUS DISEASE-2019 vaccine. Older adults are at higher risk of severe illness from the disease and face an increasingly ageist general population who misrepresent the pandemic as an older adult problem. We use the Theory of Planned Behavior framework to examine vaccine behavior intention. Method: A convenience sample ( n = 583) of adults aged 60 and older in the United States participated in an online survey using vignettes. Hierarchical regression and analysis of covariance were used to test our model. Results: Results suggest that perceived risk of the pandemic, general vaccine beliefs, and political affiliation influence respondents’ attitude toward the vaccine. Respondents’ attitudes toward the vaccine and their physician’s recommendation help shape vaccine intention. Conclusion: The results provide partial support to the proposed model in shaping vaccine intention among older adults.

scholarly journals Effects of Loneliness and Stress Management on Perceived Stress in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 924-924
Author(s):  
Angela Gifford ◽  
Hayley Fouche ◽  
Janelle Beadle
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract In older adulthood, individuals may experience acute and chronic stressors, such as the loss of independence, mobility, or the experience of chronic diseases. Loneliness is also a concern in older adulthood as many experience the loss of close others and smaller social networks. Loneliness is well-established as being associated with higher stress levels in younger adults, but there are mixed findings on the impact in older adulthood. Furthermore, while older adults may engage in behaviors designed to reduce and manage stress, it is not known whether these behaviors modulate the relationship between loneliness and chronic stress. The current study examined the relationship between loneliness and stress in older adulthood and the degree to which stress-management moderated this relationship (note: data collected prior to COVID-19 pandemic). We hypothesized that loneliness and perceived stress would be positively associated, but that stress-management would moderate this relationship. Participants included 40 healthy older adults (Mage= 69.18, Range:55-86yrs; 29 females) who completed the UCLA-Loneliness Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the NEO-FFI (to assess neuroticism), and demographic information about participation in stress management activities. We found that loneliness was significantly associated with chronic stress, r(38) = .539, p < .001. Furthermore, loneliness and neuroticism were significant predictors of perceived stress, F(2, 37) = 10.657, p < .001, R2 = .366. These findings demonstrate that loneliness is a significant predictor of perceived stress in older adulthood and point to a need for further exploration of effective stress-management tools in later life.

Personality, Interpersonal Problems, and Anxiety Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 003329412110616
Author(s):  
Olivia R. Noel ◽  
Daniel L. Segal ◽  
Katie L. Granier
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Big Five ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Interpersonal Problems ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Big Five Personality Traits ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Clinical Syndromes

Introduction: This study examined relationships between personality disorder (PD) features, Big Five personality traits, and interpersonal problems with anxiety. Method: Older adults ( N = 130) completed the Geriatric Anxiety Scale, Coolidge Axis Two Inventory, Big Five Inventory-2, and Circumplex Scales of Interpersonal Problems. Pearson correlation analyses were used to assess simple relationships between anxiety with PD features (CATI scales), Big Five personality domains (BFI-2 scales), and interpersonal problems (CSIP scales). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the extent to which the PD scales of the CATI, the personality scales of the BFI-2, and the scales of the CSIP explained variance in anxiety. Results: Anxiety was positively correlated with 13 of 14 PD scales, ranging from .23 (Narcissistic) to .61 (Depressive). Regarding Big Five personality traits, anxiety was negatively associated with Agreeableness (−.23), Conscientiousness (−.30), and Extraversion (−.31) but was positively associated with Negative Emotionality (.56). Regarding interpersonal problems, anxiety was positively related to all eight CSIP scales, ranging from Self-sacrificing (.30) to Distant/Cold (.62). Regression analyses indicated that PD features accounted for the most variance in anxiety symptoms (53%), followed by interpersonal problems (46%), and Big Five personality traits (33%). Discussion: Anxiety appears to be meaningfully associated with PD features, several aspects of Big Five personality traits, and interpersonal problems, suggesting that these variables may play important roles in the development and maintenance of anxiety, or vice versa. Our findings especially speak to the growing awareness of the deleterious impact of PD features on clinical syndromes in later life, as evidenced by strong comorbidities with anxiety.

Engaging in Community Dialogues on Low-Risk Alcohol Use Guidelines for Older Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 1332-1339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Canham ◽  
Joe Humphries ◽  
Anthony L. Kupferschmidt ◽  
Emily Lonsdale
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Knowledge Dissemination ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Qualitative Research Study ◽  
Community Stakeholders ◽  
Age Related

Despite widespread use and acceptance of alcohol, discussions of age-related changes that impact alcohol consumption behaviors are rare. The objective of this community-engaged qualitative research study was to gain insight into how to promote knowledge dissemination regarding newly developed low-risk drinking guidelines for older adults. A convenience sample of 66 older adults and service providers participated in three Knowledge Café dialogue workshops and discussed their opinions about alcohol use in later life and ideas for sharing alcohol-related research evidence with the community. Participants discussed (a) low-risk drinking knowledge dissemination, (b) personal choice in drinking alcohol and adherence to low-risk drinking guidelines, and (c) preferences for engaging in discussions about alcohol use. Community dialogues fostered knowledge dissemination while participants engaged in rich conversations about a rarely discussed topic. Sharing evidence-based clinical advice with community stakeholders through dialogue events offers an innovative opportunity for health promotion efforts.

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