scholarly journals AFFECTIONATE TOUCH AND RELATIONAL, MENTAL, AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING IN OLDER COUPLES: A NATIONAL LONGITUDINAL STUDY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S792-S792
Author(s):  
Ruixue Zhaoyang ◽  
Lynn M Martire
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Older Couples ◽  
Unique Role ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being

Abstract Recent theories suggest that non-sexual physical contact with close others plays a key role in promoting health and well-being in adulthood. However, the impact of non-sexual physical contact in later life, especially the affectionate touch between romantic partners, has been largely unexplored. Using two waves of dyadic data (N=953 couples, Mage=71 years) from National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), we examined whether shared affectionate touch between spouses prospectively predicted both partners’ relational, mental and physical well-being five years later, independent of sex activity. Dyadic analyses results indicated that frequency of shared affectionate touch with the partner predicted increases in spouses’ own relationship satisfaction, life satisfaction and mental health, but not in physical health, over five years. No interpersonal (i.e., partner) effect of shared affectionate touch was found. Findings underscore the unique role of non-sexual physical contact between spouses in promoting relational and mental well-being for older couples.

The psychosocial sources of sexual interest in older couples

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 615-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Iveniuk ◽  
Linda J. Waite
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Sexual Interest ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sex Characteristics ◽  
Large Network ◽  
Older Couples ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact

Sexual activity with one’s partner is an important component of well-being and is linked to physical, emotional, and cognitive health. However, it is unclear why some older adults are more interested in sex and some less so. Their own characteristics, those of their partner, and characteristics of the relationship may all be important. We define sexual interest as consisting both of the motivation to seek sex with a partner and willingness to have sex when asked. We measure this construct using data from both members of 953 couples in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. We focus in this article on the impact of psychological and social factors on older adults’ interest in sex, as well as the impact of their partners’ characteristics on their own interest in sex. We find that individuals with high perceived positive marital quality, a more positive and open personality, a large network of family, and better physical health showed greater interest in sex. Characteristics of their partner generally had little association with sexual interest.

scholarly journals Effects of Late-Life Health Transitions on Spouses’ Psychological Well-Being

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 297-298
Author(s):  
Ruixue Zhaoyang ◽  
Christina Marini ◽  
Lynn Martire
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Actor Partner Interdependence Model ◽  
Spousal Health ◽  
Health Transitions

Abstract Declining physical health likely affects not only older adults’ own well-being, but also that of their spouse. Using two waves of data from 610 couples in the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, we examined effects of health declines over five years on change in self and spousal psychological well-being. Actor-Partner Interdependence Model findings showed that declines in spouses’ physical health (i.e., increased pain and decreased physical and cognitive function) predicted increases in older adults’ anxiety. Given the increasing importance of later-life social ties outside of marriage, we further considered the role of non-spousal health confidants. Preliminary findings suggest that effects of health declines on both partners’ well-being depend on the availability of these confidants. When older adults have people in addition to their spouse with whom they can talk about their health, detrimental effects of spouses’ declining health on older adults’ well-being are weakened for some health outcomes

scholarly journals FACETS OF CLOSE, ROMANTIC, AND INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS IN LATER LIFE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S792-S792
Author(s):  
Karolina Kolodziejczak ◽  
Denis Gerstorf ◽  
Karen Rook
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Older Couples ◽  
Dyadic Data ◽  
Age Related

Abstract Research on the role of close social relationships for physical health and well-being in later life has received increased attention over the past decades. Yet, we are still only beginning to understand potentially underlying mechanisms such as joint goals and affectionate touch. Likewise, we also know little about the relevance of particular social facets such as the role of friends and the nature of sexuality. In this symposium, we have compiled four empirical projects that showcase current and future endeavors to address some of these long-standing questions. Ungar et al. use dyadic data from older couples to examine how shared goals with the partners and positive illusions about these joint goals relate to goal progress and relationship satisfaction. Zhaoyang and Martire analyze long-term longitudinal dyadic data from older couples to examine if and how the frequency of affectionate touch between partners predicts physical health, well-being, and relationship satisfaction five years later. Fiori et al. make use of three-wave longitudinal data from a large and representative US sample to examine the unique roles that close social ties and weaker social ties have independently of one another for age-related changes in two central aspects of affective experience. Kolodziejczak et al. use time-lag data from two cohorts of adults in late midlife to capture historical changes in the perceived importance of sexuality and the evaluation of one’s sex life. Karen Rook will integrate the insights gained from these four papers, discuss their potential and limitations, and consider directions for future research.

The price of mental well-being in later life: the role of financial hardship and debt

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian L. Marshall ◽  
Eva Kahana ◽  
William T. Gallo ◽  
Kim L. Stansbury ◽  
Stephen Thielke
Keyword(s):  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Financial Hardship ◽  
Mental Well Being

scholarly journals A Study on Impact of Covid-19 Over Employee Mental Wellness

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1585-1590
Author(s):  
Dr. Ankita Saxena
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Wellness ◽  
The People ◽  
Mental Wellness ◽  
Conceptual Study ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Made In

Due to the current unprecedented catastrophe situation, the entire world is struggling hard not only in terms of physical health but in terms of mental wellness too. The people are surrounded by various uncertainties. The present time is giving rise to various distress like anxiety, depression, mental burnout. With the help of conceptual study, we analyzed the influence of present epidemic condition on employee psychological wellness. By drawing certain stressors like unemployment, job cuts, isolation, financial worries, zoom fatigue, panic buying, we measured the impact on mental well-being logically by critically examining the available literature. The search for articles was made in Google scholar, Web of Science scholar. Further, the study reveals that individuals are such a lot of terrified of getting COVID-19 that they are even ending up their life because of panic stigma or due to socio-economic reasons. Finally, we have proposed that how the role of HRM can be used as a way of handling such problem by introducing various organizational initiatives like building a strong emotional and psychological connect with their employees, providing word of assurance to curtail the hitches which employees are facing.

scholarly journals Investigating Everyday Prospective Memory in Younger and Older Couples

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 561-562
Author(s):  
Tabea Meier ◽  
Zilla Huber ◽  
Matthias Kliegel ◽  
Andrea Horn ◽  
Maximilian Haas
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Prospective Memory ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Older Couples ◽  
Moderating Factors ◽  
The Social ◽  
Individual Concepts ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Daily events are not simply individual concepts, but shared by the social environment we live in. The present study investigates the role of romantic partners in the co-regulation of cognitive functioning by the example of prospective memory (PM), the ability to remember and correctly execute future intentions. In this context, we examined the impact of social proximity (i.e., physical closeness and psychological intimacy) on interpersonal regulation. Over the course of 21 days, 64 younger couples (18-33 years) and 52 couples of older adults (57-87 years) completed an ambulatory assessment comprising a daily pseudo-randomized PM task. Results reveal that couples’ PM performance was higher for younger than for older participants. Further, dyadic PM was correlated with psychological intimacy for both age groups, but the impact of time spent together on intimacy and PM performance, respectively, was stronger in older adults. Possible moderating factors and explanations for these findings will be discussed.

scholarly journals The Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on Mental Well-Being and Working Life among Faroese Employees

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4775
Author(s):  
Annika H. Davidsen ◽  
Maria S. Petersen
Keyword(s):  
Work Ability ◽  
Family Life ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Working Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being

The societal changes caused by COVID-19 have been far-reaching, causing challenges for employees around the world. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the COVID-19 restrictions on mental well-being, working life, family life and social life among Faroese employees within a broad range of professions. A total of 1328 Faroese employees answered an anonymous self-report survey from 13 April to 4 May 2020. Employee mental well-being was only modestly affected by the restrictions and the respondents had a mean score of 50.7 on the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale where a score between 41–44 is found to correspond with possible depression. Work commitment, work and family life, work satisfaction and work ability were all rated significantly worse after the COVID-19 outbreak than before (all p values < 0.005). Contrary to previous research, employees in health services assessed their work ability significantly higher than employees in teaching, and child and youth care (p < 0.05). Working parents had higher levels of stress and assessed their work ability significantly lower than employees without children (p < 0.05), and women tended to be more worried than men because of the pandemic. In conclusion, the overall mental well-being of Faroese employees was on an average level during lock-down in April and May 2020. Their working life seemed, however, to be worse than usual.

Impact of Upper and Lower Body Functional Ability on Affect in Older Couples

2021 ◽  
pp. 089826432110194
Author(s):  
Allison R. Heid ◽  
Maureen Wilson-Genderson ◽  
Rachel Pruchno ◽  
Francine P. Cartwright
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Functional Ability ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Functional Abilities ◽  
Lower Body ◽  
Older Couples ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
The Impact

Objective: We explore how upper and lower body functional ability of older adults and their partners relate to affect in later life. Methods: Data regarding own and partner’s upper and lower body functional abilities were reported by 1767 married/partnered persons aged 57–83. Using multilevel modeling to account for nesting within couples, we examined the impact of a respondent’s own functional abilities, their perception of their partner’s abilities, and the interaction of respondent’s and perceived partner’s abilities on respondent’s positive and negative affect. Results: Higher upper and lower body ability of both respondents and partners were associated with higher positive and lower negative affect. Moderating effects demonstrated a protective role of respondents’ ability on affect when their partners experienced lower ability. Discussion: There is a potential compensatory relationship between older couples adapting to functional changes; it is important to support the functional abilities of both partners in couples to maximize psychological well-being.

scholarly journals Navigating COVID-19: Insights from research on social ostracism

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 306-310
Author(s):  
Andrew H. Hales ◽  
Natasha R. Wood ◽  
Kipling D. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Ostracism ◽  
Being There ◽  
Mental Health Effects ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated social distancing and lockdowns has caused unprecedented changes to social life. We consider the possible implications of these changes for mental health. Drawing from research on social ostracism emphasizing the importance of social connection for mental well-being, there is reason for concern regarding the mental health effects of the crisis. However, there are also reasons for optimism; people can be surprisingly resilient to stressful situations, the impact of ostracism tends to depend on social norms (which are rapidly changing), and mental health depends primarily on having at least one or two close social connections. Given the scale and unprecedented nature of the social disruption that occurred, we see strong reason for concern, but not despair.

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