An ecological systems analysis of food access barriers and coping strategies adopted by older adults in Ghana

BACKGROUND Older adults were amongst the first to experience the hazards of COVID-19 stress, from health to social isolation. This situation motivated research organizations and advocacy groups to promote Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to support seniors and to mitigate the risk of contagion. OBJECTIVE We used a multimethodological approach to examine how older adults appraised news articles about older adults' COVID-related stress and coping strategies, focusing on ICTs. METHODS This study involved targeted search of several international news media outlets for articles addressing older adults COVID-related stress, coping strategies, and ICTs. Articles that satisfied our selection criteria had more than 100 public comments on their website, Facebook and Reddit feeds. We scraped the comments and performed a quasi-automated social network analysis to identify and map the pattern of interrelations between the topics of age, stress, resources (for coping) and technology. RESULTS Having analyzed the themes emerging from 3390 valid comments in seven international news outlets, revealed that ICTs were not identified as the primary resource for coping with COVID-19 stress. Life experience and putting the discomfort of the pandemic for their age group in perspective (compared to its economic burdens for the younger members of the society) were more prevalent in comments addressing age-related COVID coping strategies. Socialization strategies and connections to people, especially friends and family, were also prominent. Although ICTs such as Zoom and social media platforms were identified as important for maintaining connections, they were not seen as a replacement for face-to-face or in-person experiences. The availability of technologically-mediated news, information and entertainment channels were linked to other activities that helped older adults cope, however these comments also revealed critical attitudes towards ICTs in general. An important finding from our study is that older adults passionately objected to uncritical and patronizing assumptions about the ability of older adults to deal with stress, and to the promotion of ICTs as the most important coping strategy. CONCLUSIONS Informed by media ecology and the appraisal theory of stress and coping, this interdisciplinary approach provides a nuanced understanding of what resources for coping are valued by a group of technologically-savvy older adults. Using social media as a data collection site, we showed that even amongst a digitally-connected group of older adults, ICTS were not positioned as the primary solution to COVID-related problems. As older commenters stated, in promoting ICT use it is necessary to acknowledge, their online and offline needs including their desire for face-to-face connections, their past experiences and perspectives on aging with ICTs, and the import of life experience as a key factor for mitigating stress. CLINICALTRIAL NA

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THE MEDIATING ROLES OF HEALTH LOCUS OF CONTROL AND COPING ON THE PAIN-DEPRESSION PATHWAY

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.579 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S162-S162

Author(s):

Kyrsten Costlow ◽

Patricia A Parmelee ◽

Tina Harralson

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Locus Of Control ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Health Locus Of Control ◽

Self Report ◽

Osteoarthritis Of The Knee ◽

Osteoarthritis Pain ◽

Serial Mediation ◽

Negative Coping ◽

And Coping

Abstract The literature on health locus of control (HLC) suggests that individuals who believe that their health is internally determined are more likely to use active coping strategies than those who believe their health is determined by chance or powerful others (Brosschot, Gebhardt, & Godaert, 1994; Gibson & Helme, 2000). Coping strategies (Klapow et al., 1995) and HLC (Campbell, Hope, & Dunn, 2017) have been found to influence the relation between chronic pain and depression. We hypothesized that the relation between osteoarthritis pain and depression would be serially mediated by HLC and coping. Self-report measures of osteoarthritis pain (Meenan, Mason, Anderson, Guccione, & Kazis, 1992; Parmelee, Katz, & Lawton), HLC (Wallston, Wallston, & DeVellis, 1978), coping strategies (Felton & Revenson, 1984; Rosenstiel & Keefe, 1983), and depression (Radloff, 1977) were examined in 367 older adults with osteoarthritis of the knee. Hayes’ (2013) PROCESS macro was used to test the hypothesized serial multiple mediation for three subscales of HLC: internality (IHLC), chance (CHLC), and powerful others (PHLC). After controlling for age, the hypothesized serial mediation was statistically significant for IHLC and CHLC but not PHLC. More specifically, osteoarthritis pain significantly increased CHLC, which increased negative coping and depression in turn. Osteoarthritis pain significantly decreased IHLC, which was associated with both positive and negative coping strategies in a complex serial mediation. These findings suggest that interventions targeting HLC and/or coping strategies may be able to alter the pain-depression pathway for older adults with chronic osteoarthritis pain. (Supported by R01-MH51800, P. Parmelee, PI).

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204 - Psychological distress and support needs of community residing older adults in urban India – An exploratory study

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610221001381 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. 8-9

Author(s):

Jayashree Dasgupta ◽

Meenakshi Chopra

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Well Being ◽

Support Needs ◽

Urban India ◽

And Coping

Background:COVID pandemic in India, lockdowns and an unprepared health system has affected wellbeing of older adults. Low public awareness about mental health issues and stigma also contribute to low help seeking. Exploring impact of COVID on mental health of older adults and understanding support needs is essential.Research Objective:To examine mental wellbeing and coping strategies used by urban community residing older adults during the pandemic in India.Method:As part of an ongoing community engagement initiative with older adults and their families, an online survey was conducted during the first wave of the pandemic in April/May 2020. Sociodemographic details and information on coping strategies were gathered. The five-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was used to screen for psychological distress and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Respondents were contacted again in May 2021 during the second COVID wave for a telephonic interview to understand current levels of distress and coping strategies. Consent was taken for audio recording and interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis.Preliminary results of the ongoing study:Respondents (N=54) aged between 40-86 years (Mn = 60; SD = 18.9). Majority were male (61%), retired or homemakers (57%) and widowed/unmarried (52%). Of the sample 70% had one or more pre-existing medical conditions. A score of ≥ 2 on GHQ in 66% respondents indicates psychological distress. Stressors included health and well-being of family (62%), difficulty managing household work (42%) and increase in family conflicts (17%). Although 72% discussed their worries with family/friends, only 25% considered speaking with a mental health professional indicating low help seeking. Of respondents contacted again, 40% citied ill health or being busy as reasons for refusal to participate. Of those who agreed, 33% reported psychological distress. In-depth interviews, showed use of online mental wellness sessions and yoga/meditation to be beneficial coping strategies. Need for more online support groups was also highlighted.Conclusion:Psychological distress is present amongst community residing older adults in urban India. A change in attitude towards tele mental health must be leveraged to provide support for adults experiencing psychological distress.

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A Qualitative Pilot Study of the Perceptions in Older Adults with End-Stage Kidney Disease on Hemodialysis*

Canadian Geriatrics Journal ◽

10.5770/cgj.22.342 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Seki A. Balogun ◽

Natalie B. May ◽

Meagan Briley ◽

Allison Bosch ◽

Isabelle Duerr ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Chronic Hemodialysis ◽

End Stage Kidney Disease ◽

Patient Centered ◽

Positive Coping ◽

End Stage ◽

Trust In Physicians ◽

And Coping

BackgroundLittle is known about the perceptions of older adults with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on chronic hemodialysis (HD) even though this could potentially influence how treatment is received. This study explores the perceptions of older adults with ESKD on HD, specifically their decision to initiate HD, preconceptions and expectations of HD, perceived difficulties with HD, and coping strategies.Design: Cross–sectionalSetting: Outpatient chronic dialysis units Participants: Older adults with ESKD on HD Intervention: Open-ended interviews were conducted with 15 participants. Inclusion criteria were age 60 years and older, HD duration of at least three months, and ability to consent and participate in the interview process.Results: We report on four identified domains: decision to initiate HD; preconceptions and expectations of HD; drawback of HD; and coping strategies. All participants were reluctant to initiate HD, but made the decision on advice from their physicians for varying reasons. Trust in physicians’ opinions also played a role for some. Some participants had positive preconceptions of HD, while a few had negative preconceptions or unrealistic expectations. Even though the majority of participants identified several difficulties with being on HD, they also had positive coping strategies, and the majority indicated that they would make the same decision to initiate HD.Conclusion: As clinicians are turning more to patient-centered medicine, understanding patients’ perceptions of HD is of crucial importance. Our study highlights the importance of improving pre-hemodialysis education to ensure that patients’ expectations are realistic, as well as identifying individualized coping strategies by patients.

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Personalidad y afrontamiento. ¿Qué rasgos predicen las estrategias adaptativas?

Anales de Psicología ◽

10.6018/analesps.349591 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 39-45

Author(s):

Juan C. Melendez ◽

Encarnación Satorres ◽

Iraida Delhom

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Problem Solving ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Emotional Expression ◽

Regression Models ◽

Openness To Experience ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Positive Reappraisal ◽

Adaptive Traits ◽

And Coping

El manejo y las estrategias utilizadas desempeñan un papel esencial en la adaptación a los cambios, y los rasgos de la personalidad son factores predictivos importantes de estas estrategias. El objetivo de este estudio es estudiar qué rasgos predicen diferentes estrategias de afrontamiento en adultos mayores. Los participantes fueron 226 adultos mayores (60 a 88 años). Los instrumentos utilizados fueron el NEO-FFI para evaluar la personalidad y el Cuestionario de estrategias de afrontamiento (CAE). Se realizaron modelos de regresión lineal múltiple. El neuroticismo predijo positivamente las estrategias orientadas a la emoción: autofocalización negativa, expresión abierta de emociones, evitación y religión. Las estrategias orientadas a los problemas fueron predichas positivamente: apertura a la experiencia (resolución de problemas), la amabilidad (reevaluación positiva) y la responsabilidad (resolución de problemas y reevaluación positiva). Además, la amabilidad y la responsabilidad predijeron de manera negativa las estrategias orientadas a la emoción: expresión emocional abierta y autofocalización negativa. La extraversión no predijo ninguna estrategia de afrontamiento. Estos hallazgos muestran que el neuroticismo es un rasgo desadaptativo durante el envejecimiento, mientras que la apertura a la experiencia, la amabilidad y la conciencia son rasgos adaptativos en los adultos mayores. Coping and strategies used play an essential role in the adaptation to changes, and personality traits are important predictors of these strategies. The aim of this study is to find out what traits predict different coping strategies in older adults. Participants were 226 older adults (60 to 88 years old). Data on personality and coping strategies were obtained through the NEO-FFI and the Coping Strategies Questionnaire. Multiple linear regression models were conducted. Neuroticism positively predicted emotion-oriented strategies: negative self-focused, overt-emotional expression, avoidance, and religious. Problem-oriented strategies were positively predicted by openness to experience (problem-solving focused), agreeableness (positive reappraisal), and conscientiousness (problem-solving focused and positive reappraisal). In addition, agreeableness and conscientiousness negatively predicted emotion-oriented strategies: overt-emotional expression and negative self-focused. Extraversion did not predict any coping strategy. These findings show that neuroticism is a maladaptive trait during aging, whereas openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness are adaptive traits in older adults.

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STRESS IN OLDER ADULTS–CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND COPING STRATEGIES

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnw162.2957 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 56 (Suppl_3) ◽

pp. 725-725 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

And Coping

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Are changes in pain, cognitive appraisals and coping strategies associated with changes in physical functioning in older adults with joint pain and chronic diseases?

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research ◽

10.1007/s40520-018-0978-x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 377-383 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Outi E. Ilves ◽

Lotte A. H. Hermsen ◽

Johannes C. van der Wouden ◽

Jasmijn F. M. Holla ◽

Marike van der Leeden ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Joint Pain ◽

Cognitive Appraisals ◽

And Coping

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Perceptions of memory problems are more important in predicting distress in older adults with subjective memory complaints than coping strategies

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s104161021100038x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 23 (8) ◽

pp. 1334-1343 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Catherine S. Hurt ◽

Alistair Burns ◽

Christine Barrowclough

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Illness Perceptions ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Subjective Memory Complaints ◽

Subjective Memory ◽

Common Sense Model ◽

Memory Complaints ◽

Memory Problems ◽

And Coping

ABSTRACTBackground: There is a high prevalence of subjective memory complaints (SMCs) amongst older adults, many of whom experience significant distress. It remains unclear why some older adults with SMCs experience more distress than others. The Common Sense Model of Illness Perceptions has been used to explain patients’ differential response to illness based on the beliefs they hold about their illness and subsequent selection of coping strategies. The present study aimed to examine the role of perceptions and coping styles in predicting anxiety and depression in older adults with SMCs.Methods: 98 participants with SMCs completed the Illness Perception Questionnaire for Memory Problems (IPQ-M), Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the contribution of illness perceptions and coping to the explanation of variance in depression and anxiety.Results: Perceptions of SMCs were found to predict both depression and anxiety while coping strategies did not. Perceptions of serious consequences of SMCs and causal attributions predicted greater depression, while attribution of memory problems to lack of blood to the brain was the only predictor of increased anxiety.Conclusions: Illness perceptions predicted depression and anxiety in older adults with SMCs. Contrary to the Common-Sense Model coping style was not found to be an important determinant of psychological distress. The findings provide a basis for developing interventions to reduce psychological distress in older adults with subjective memory complaints. Targeting causal attributions and perceived consequences of SMCs may help to improve well-being.

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