scholarly journals CHATTIER WITH FRIENDS: OLDER ADULTS’ DAILY SOCIAL CONTACT AND CONVERSATION

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S172-S173
Author(s):  
Yee To Ng ◽  
Meng Huo ◽  
Karen Fingerman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Social Partner ◽  
Social Partners ◽  
Ecological Momentary

Abstract Studies suggest conversation improves cognitive skills among older adults. While contact with family members is common in late life, contact with friends and acquaintances is relatively less frequent. Yet, we know little about how often older adults engage in conversation when they have contact with different social partners. This study used data from the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study to investigate how older adults talk with different social partners on a daily basis. Participants (N = 303) completed an initial interview about their social partners and reported on their contact with each social partner in ecological momentary assessments every 3 hours across 5 to 6 days. Participants also wore Electronically Activated Recorders (EAR), which captured snippets of their daily conversation. Findings revealed that contact with family members (e.g., spouse, children, siblings) occurred most often, with less frequent contact with other social partners (e.g., acquaintances, neighbors), and then friends. Multilevel models also revealed that participants talked more (i.e., saying more words in each 30-second snippet and had a greater proportion of snippets when they talked) when they had contact with their friends than when they had contact with family members or other social partners. Results from these multiple methods suggest that daily contact with friends could potentially encourage conversation that may facilitate cognitive functioning among older adults.

scholarly journals Social Encounters and Mood: The Moderating Role of Narcissism

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 250-250
Author(s):  
Karen Fingerman ◽  
Shiyang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Positive Mood ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
Social Partners ◽  
Social Encounters ◽  
Ecological Momentary

Abstract Social contacts may lead to more positive and less negative emotions in late life, yet we know little about how narcissism influences such associations, and whether contacts with close and not-close social partners impact mood differently. This study examined associations between social contacts, narcissism, and mood on the within- and between- person level. Older adults aged 65 + (N = 303) completed ecological momentary assessments in which they reported social contacts and mood every 3 hours for 5 to 6 days. Older adults had higher positive mood after contacting either close or not-close social partners, but only not-close social partners reduced negative mood. Multilevel models found positive associations between average social contacts number and positive mood among people scored lower on narcissism, and positive associations between social contacts and negative mood for those who scored higher on narcissism. Findings suggest the necessity of considering interpersonal differences in interventions targeting well-being.

scholarly journals Friendships in Old Age: Daily Encounters and Emotional Well-Being

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yee To Ng ◽  
Meng Huo ◽  
Marci E Gleason ◽  
Lisa A Neff ◽  
Susan T Charles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Social Partners ◽  
Stressful Experiences ◽  
Ecological Momentary

Abstract Objectives Having friends in old age is linked to higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. Yet, we know little about older adults’ emotional experiences when they encounter friends throughout the day. This study examined whether older adults reported (a) more pleasantness, (b) fewer conversations about stressful experiences, and (c) better mood when they had contact with friends compared to when they had contact with other social partners or were alone throughout the day. We also examined whether these experiences varied by the friendship closeness. Method Adults aged 65+ (n = 313) from the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study provided background information and listed and described their close social partners. Participants then completed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) surveys every 3 hr for 5 to 6 days where they reported their encounters with social partners, rated the pleasantness and indicated whether they discussed stressful issues during these encounters, and rated positive and negative mood. Results Multilevel models revealed that encounters with friends were more pleasant and were associated with fewer discussions about stressful experiences compared to encounters with romantic partners or family members throughout the day. Encounters with friends were also associated with better mood, though this link only held for encounters with friends who were not considered close. Discussion Findings are discussed in terms of functionalist theory, socioemotional selectivity theory, relationship ambivalence, and the benefits of less close ties. This work facilitates the understanding of how daily contact with friends can promote older adults’ emotional well-being.

scholarly journals Relationship Status, Social Interactions, and Conversations in Late Life

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 414-414
Author(s):  
Yee To Ng ◽  
Meng Huo ◽  
Shiyang Zhang ◽  
Karen Fingerman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Relationship Status ◽  
Never Married ◽  
Social Partners ◽  
Social Encounters ◽  
Ecological Momentary

Abstract Studies suggest spending more time interacting with and talking to others is associated with better well-being. Older adults with partners (e.g., married, cohabitated) may spend more time with their romantic partners and rely on them for support, whereas older adults without partners (e.g., widowed, divorced, never married) may have a greater reliance on other family members (e.g., grown children, siblings) and non-kin (e.g., friends). Yet, we know little about how older adults’ relationship status affects their time spending alone or with other social partners, and the frequency of conversation throughout the day. Adults aged 65+ (N = 313) completed an interview about their relationship status and social partners. They then reported social encounters in ecological momentary assessments every 3 hours for 5 to 6 days. Participants also wore Electronically Activated Recorders which captured snippets of their conversation throughout the day. Older adults with partners reported 85% of time was with their romantic partners. Multilevel models revealed that compared to older adults with partners, older adults without partners were more likely to spend time alone and have encounters with friends throughout the day. Older adults without partners also engaged in fewer conversations throughout the day. Further, older adults without partners talked significantly more when they encountered friends than did older adults with partners. Findings suggest that friends are important in older adults’ social networks particularly for those who do not have romantic partners. Daily contact with social partners facilitates conversations and that could have implications for emotional or cognitive health.

scholarly journals Interpersonal Tensions and Pain Among Older Adults: The Mediating Role of Negative Mood

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 105-114
Author(s):  
Jamie L. Fuentecilla ◽  
Meng Huo ◽  
Kira S. Birditt ◽  
Susan T. Charles ◽  
Karen L. Fingerman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Physical Pain ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Social Partners ◽  
Social Encounters ◽  
Ecological Momentary ◽  
Daily Pain

Objectives: To examine whether (a) negative social encounters and physical pain are linked throughout the day, (b) negative mood mediates these associations, and (c) these associations vary by closeness with social partners. Method: Adults aged 65+ ( n = 313) completed ecological momentary assessments and reported their negative social encounters, physical pain, and mood every 3 hr throughout the day for 5–6 days. Results: Multilevel models revealed that negative social encounters were associated with greater pain at each 3-hr interval and that this association was mediated by negative mood during the same interval. Negative encounters with less close partners were associated with pain, but negative encounters with close partners were not. Discussion: Regulating older adults’ negative emotions may be crucial to improving their daily pain. Further, interventions focusing on negative encounters with less close partners in daily life may help mitigate older adults’ experiences of pain throughout the day.

scholarly journals Better Off Alone: Daily Solitude Is Associated With Lower Negative Affect in More Conflictual Social Networks

2018 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 1152-1161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kira S Birditt ◽  
Jasmine A Manalel ◽  
Heidi Sommers ◽  
Gloria Luong ◽  
Karen L Fingerman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Adaptive Strategy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Network Quality ◽  
Ecological Momentary ◽  
Design And Methods

Abstract Background and Objectives Older adults are often considered at risk for social isolation. Little is known, however, about how often older adults lack social contact (in person, phone, electronic) throughout the day, the implications of lacking contact (i.e., solitude), and whether the effects of solitude vary by the broader social context. Research Design and Methods Participants were from the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study (DEWS) which included 313 older adults (aged 65+) who completed baseline interviews followed by 5–6 days of ecological momentary assessments approximately every 3 hr. Results Individuals reported having no social contact (i.e., solitude) on 11% of the occasions. Solitude predicted lower negative and positive affect on those occasions. The solitude-negative affect link varied by social network quality. Solitude predicted lower negative affect among individuals with more conflictual social networks but not among those with less conflictual networks. Discussion and Implications Overall, solitude may serve as an adaptive strategy for individuals embedded in demanding or irritating social contexts.

scholarly journals Ecological Momentary Assessment of Social Contact Satisfaction and Momentary Affect in Chinese Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 816-816
Author(s):  
Huiying Liu ◽  
Vivian Lou
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Ecological Momentary Assessment ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Multilevel Modelling ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Older Chinese ◽  
Ecological Momentary ◽  
Momentary Assessment

Abstract Previous researches have examined the influences of satisfaction with social relations on affective well-being on a long time-frame among older adults. Using the Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) method, we examined within-person changes in social contact satisfaction in relation to momentary affect on short time-scales in 78 community-dwelling older Chinese. Each participant provided up to 7 EMA surveys per day during a one-week period and reported his/her satisfaction, positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). Multilevel modelling was used for testing the within-person concurrent and time-lagged relations of social interactions and affect. Higher satisfaction was concurrently associated with more PA and less NA. The satisfaction of prior contact was predictive of greater low-arousal PA during the next contact. Prior NA was predictive of lower satisfaction at the next contact. Such dynamic interplays of social and affective experiences should be considered to support the maintenance of affective well-beings in older Chinese.

scholarly journals Positive Peripheral Social Network Members in Older Age: Global and Daily Appraisals of Social Partners

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 922-922
Author(s):  
Claire Growney ◽  
Tammy English
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Social Partner ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Relationship Closeness ◽  
Social Partners

Abstract Socioemotional selectivity theory suggests older adults maintain relationships with close social partners with whom they experience positive emotions. It is unclear how age and closeness predict social partner appraisals in different contexts. We examine semantic and experiential appraisals of positivity, as well as emotional outcomes. Participants (N = 258) aged 25-85 (M = 52.05, SD = 16.31) reported their general experience of enjoyment and conflict with social partners of varying closeness. In an experience sampling procedure (6x/day for 10 days), participants reported their current experience of emotions and information about their most recent social interaction: pleasure, discomfort, and relationship closeness with their social partner. Semantic (global) appraisals of relationships positively predicted experiential (daily) appraisals, and this association was stronger among relatively older adults. Results revealed older adults gave less negative appraisals compared to younger adults, regardless of closeness. Older adults reported more positive appraisals than younger adults for non-close relationships, whereas close relationships were evaluated positively regardless of age. For younger adults, interaction pleasure with non-close partners was less strongly linked to subsequent positive emotions than pleasure with close partners. For older adults, however, interaction pleasure predicted greater subsequent positive emotions regardless of relationship closeness. Overall, these findings suggest older adults’ positive appraisals of partners are not simply the result of emotionally gratifying memory distortions. Older adults may be able to derive emotional benefits from a wider variety of social interactions than younger adults, suggesting peripheral social network members can be leveraged to enhance emotional well-being in later adulthood.

scholarly journals Does Empathy Have a Cost? Older Adults and Social Partners Experiencing Problems

2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 617-627
Author(s):  
Meng Huo ◽  
Jamie L Fuentecilla ◽  
Kira S Birditt ◽  
Karen L Fingerman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Social Lives ◽  
Daily Experiences ◽  
Life Problems ◽  
Social Partners ◽  
Design And Methods

Abstract Background and Objectives Empathy underlies older adults’ awareness and responses to their social partners’ needs, but it is unclear whether such awareness is beneficial or harmful to older adults’ well-being. We examined whether older adults’ empathy was associated with having encounters with social partners incurring problems and their own well-being throughout the day. Research Design and Methods Participants were adults aged more than 65 years from the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study. These older adults (n = 313) rated empathy and indicated social partners’ problems (e.g., health, emotional, and financial problems) in a baseline interview. They also reported encounters with social partners and their mood every 3 hr over 5–6 days. Results Multiple regressions showed that more empathic older adults reported a greater proportion of social partners with major life problems than less empathic older adults. Older adults’ empathy was not associated with their contact or negative encounters with social partners experiencing problems. Multilevel models revealed that encounters with these social partners had negative consequences for older adults’ mood throughout the day; however, these consequences were reduced in more empathic older adults. Discussion and Implications This study emphasizes the importance of empathy in late life and refines our understanding of older adults’ social lives and well-being. Findings carry implications for interventions that aim to protect older adults’ well-being when their close others incur crises.

scholarly journals HIS AND HER EVERYDAY LIFE: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN OLDER ADULTS’ SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S58-S58
Author(s):  
Meng Huo ◽  
Karen L Fingerman ◽  
Yee To Ng
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Social Partners ◽  
Reduced Physical Activity ◽  
Older Men And Women

Abstract The literature links social integration to better physical health, but little research asks how contact with diverse social partners influences older adults’ physical activity in a daily context. We examined this link using the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study and explored whether this link varied by gender. The sample included 175 older women and 138 older men who reported their contact with close partners (e.g., family/friend) and not-close partners (e.g., acquaintances) throughout each day across 5 days. Participants also wore Actical accelerometers to track physical activity. Multilevel models revealed significant gender differences. Older men had reduced physical activity when having contact with close partners, whereas older women maintained physical activity during such contact. Both older men and women had increased physical activity when having contact with not-close partners, but this link was stronger for men. This study advances our understanding of gender differences in older adults’ social experiences and well-being.

scholarly journals Perception Versus Reality: Subjective and Objective Neighborhood Characteristics and Cognitive Function in REGARDS

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 703-703
Author(s):  
Jessica Finlay ◽  
Philippa Clarke ◽  
Lisa Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Racial Differences ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Functional Mobility ◽  
Neighborhood Size ◽  
Regards Study

Abstract Does the world shrink as we age? The neighborhood captures a spatial area someone inhabits and moves through on a daily basis. It reflects a balance between internal perceptions and abilities, and the external environment which may enable or restrict participation in everyday life. We frequently hear that older adults have shrinking neighborhoods given declining functional mobility. This is associated with declines in physical and cognitive functioning, depression, poorer quality of life, and mortality. Knowledge of the interplay between objective and subjective neighborhood measurement remains limited. This symposium will explore these linked yet distinct constructs based on secondary data analyses of the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, a racially diverse sample of 30,000+ aging Americans. Finlay investigates how someone’s perceived neighborhood size (in number of blocks) varies by individual and geographic characteristics including age, cognitive function, self-rated health, and urban/rural context. Esposito’s analyses focus on neighborhood size in relation to race and residential segregation. Clarke compares subjective perceptions of neighborhood parks and safety from crime to objective indicators, and examines variations by health and cognitive status. Barnes will critically consider implications for how older adults interpret and engage with their surrounding environments. The symposium questions the validity of neighborhood-based metrics to reflect the perspectives and experiences of older residents, particularly those navigating cognitive decline. It informs policy-making efforts to improve physical neighborhood environments and social community contexts, which are critical to the health and well-being of older adults aging in place.

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