Health, Longevity, and Welfare Inequality of Older Americans

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-45
Author(s):  
Ray Miller ◽  
Neha Bairoliya
Keyword(s):  
Expected Utility ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Cost Of Living ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Older Americans ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Welfare Inequality ◽  
Health And Mortality ◽  
Over Time

Abstract We estimate the distribution of well-being among the older U.S. population using an expected utility framework that incorporates differences in consumption, leisure, health, and mortality. We find large disparities in welfare that have increased over time. Incorporating the cost of living with poor health into elderly welfare substantially increases the overall inequality. Disparity measures based on cross-sectional income or consumption underestimate the growth in aggregate welfare inequality. Moreover, health is a better indicator of an individual's relative welfare position than income or consumption.

PREREQUISITES FOR THE FORMATION OF A MECHANISM FOR STATE REGULATION OF SOCIAL GUARANTEES IN THE REGION

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitaly Lobas ◽  
◽  
Elena Petryaeva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Protection ◽  
Well Being ◽  
State Regulation ◽  
The State ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Periodic Review ◽  
Cost Of Living ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
State Management ◽  
The Cost

The article deals with modern mechanisms for managing social protection of the population by the state and the private sector. From the point of view of forms of state regulation of the sphere of social protection, system indicators usually include the state and dynamics of growth in the standard of living of the population, material goods, services and social guarantees for the poorly provided segments of the population. The main indicator among the above is the state of the consumer market, as one of the main factors in the development of the state. Priority areas of public administration with the use of various forms of social security have been identified. It should be emphasized that, despite the legislative conflicts that exist today in Ukraine, mandatory indexation of the cost of living is established, which is associated with inflation. Various scientists note that although the definition of the cost of living index has a well-established methodology, there are quite a lot of regional features in the structure of consumption. All this is due to restrictions that are included in the consumer basket of goods and different levels of socio-economic development of regions. The analysis of the establishment and periodic review of the minimum consumer budgets of the subsistence minimum and wages of the working population and the need to form state insurance funds for unforeseen circumstances is carried out. Considering in this context the levers of state management of social guarantees of the population, we drew attention to the crisis periods that are associated with the market transformation of the regional economy. In these conditions, there is a need to develop and implement new mechanisms and clusters in the system of socio-economic relations. The components of the mechanisms ofstate regulation ofsocial guarantees of the population are proposed. The deepening of market relations in the process of reforming the system of social protection of the population should be aimed at social well-being.

scholarly journals Compassion toward others and self-compassion predict mental and physical well-being: a 5-year longitudinal study of 1090 community-dwelling adults across the lifespan

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen E. Lee ◽  
Tushara Govind ◽  
Marina Ramsey ◽  
Tsung Chin Wu ◽  
Rebecca Daly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Over Time

AbstractThere is growing interest in the role of compassion in promoting health and well-being, with cross-sectional data showing an inverse correlation with loneliness. This is the first longitudinal study examining both compassion toward others (CTO) and compassion toward self (CTS) as predictors of mental and physical health outcomes including loneliness, across adult lifespan. We followed 552 women and 538 men in San Diego County for up to 7.5 (mean 4.8 and SD 2.2) years, using validated rating scales for CTO, CTS, and loneliness. Linear mixed-effects models were employed to examine age- and sex-related trajectories of CTO and CTS over time. Linear regression models were used to evaluate baseline and longitudinal relationships of CTO and CTS with mental well-being, physical well-being, and loneliness. CTS and CTO were weakly intercorrelated. Women had higher baseline CTO than men. While CTO was stable over time and across the lifespan, CTS scores had an inverse U-shaped relationship with age, peaking around age 77. There were significant baseline × slope interactions of both CTO and CTS predicting improvements in physical well-being in adults <60 years old. Increases in CTO and CTS predicted improvements in mental well-being. Higher baseline CTO and CTS as well as increases in CTO and CTS scores predicted lower loneliness scores at follow-up. Thus, CTO and CTS were associated with better mental well-being and loneliness across the adult lifespan, and physical well-being in younger adults, and are promising targets for interventions to improve health outcomes.

The Impact of Regional Differences in Prices and Wages on Economic Growth: The United States in 1890

1979 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip R. P. Coelho ◽  
James F. Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
City Size ◽  
Cost Of Living ◽  
Real Wages ◽  
Industrial Growth ◽  
Wage Earners ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

Differences in regional prices and wages are examined for the United States in 1890, together with the relationship between the cost of living and city size, and the determinants of regional industrial growth. Results indicate that regional cost-of-liying differences were sufficiently large so that money wages cannot be used for purposes of comparing the economic well-being of wage earners across regions. Except for the South, money wages and the cost of living were positively correlated. The relative differences in money wages, however, were greater; consequently real wages in high wage-price areas were generally higher.

scholarly journals SOCIAL STRATIFICATION AND TRAJECTORIES OF LIVING ARRANGEMENTS AMONG OLDER AMERICANS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S281-S281
Author(s):  
Jersey Liang ◽  
BoRin Kim ◽  
Xiao Xu ◽  
James Raymo ◽  
Mary Beth Ofstedal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Social Stratification ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Older Americans ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Young Old

Abstract Living arrangements are critical to intra-family exchanges that affect older persons’ health and well-being. The conventional conceptualization of living arrangements has emphasized coresidence with children, while overlooking proximate residence from children. Additionally, existing research often relied on cross-sectional data which confound intrapersonal differences with interpersonal variations. This study examined the dynamics of living arrangements in old age by depicting their trajectories as a function of social stratification (i.e., age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, income, and wealth). Data came from the Health and Retirement Study and included a national sample of 7,822 older Americans with at least one living child from 1998 to 2014. Multi-level mixed effects models were employed to analyze the trajectories of living arrangements and their key determinants for the young-old and the old-old separately. Among the young-old (age 65-74, N=4,917), the probability of coresidence increased slightly over time, whereas the probabilities of proximate residence and distant residence decreased slightly and remained stable respectively, and the risk for institutionalization increased moderately. Similar but more accelerated trajectories were observed among the old-old (age 75+, N=2,905). Age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, income, and asset were significantly associated with not only the levels of the probabilities of various living arrangements but also their slopes. For instance, among the old-old, Hispanics had a lower level of nursing home residence as well as a slower rate of increase in the risk of institutionalization than Whites. These findings may inform public policies to strengthen family-based support and long-term care for older people.

scholarly journals Concurrent and Longitudinal Predictors of Adolescent Delinquency in Mainland Chinese Adolescents: The Role of Materialism and Egocentrism

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (20) ◽  
pp. 7662
Author(s):  
Daniel T. L. Shek ◽  
Xiang Li ◽  
Xiaoqin Zhu ◽  
Esther Y. W. Shek
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Process Analysis ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Delinquent Behavior ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Adolescent Delinquency ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mainland Chinese ◽  
Being There ◽  
Over Time

Background: Although studies have examined the influence of materialism on adolescent well-being, there are several methodological limitations: studies examining the influence of materialism on adolescent delinquency are almost non-existent; researchers commonly used cross-sectional designs; the sample size in some studies was not large; validated measures on materialism in non-Western contexts are rare; there are very few Chinese studies. Besides, no study has examined the hypothesis that egocentrism is the mediator in the influence of materialism on adolescent delinquency. Methods: Using a short-term longitudinal design, two waves of data were collected from 2648 early adolescents in mainland China. At each wave, students completed validated measures of materialism, egocentrism and delinquent behavior. Results: Materialism and egocentrism positively predicted adolescent delinquency at Wave 1 and Wave 2 and over time. While materialism at Wave 1 positively predicted increase in delinquency over time, egocentrism did not. However, PROCESS analysis showed that egocentrism mediated the longitudinal influence of materialism on adolescent delinquent behavior. Conclusions: Materialism and egocentrism are predictors of adolescent delinquency, with egocentrism serving as a mediator in the influence of materialism on adolescent delinquency.

Women and Development

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kevane
Keyword(s):  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Initial Phase ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Male Privilege ◽  
The Status ◽  
Policies And Programs ◽  
The Cost ◽  
International Social ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Status Of Women

Development is a process that transforms societies. Despite considerable variation across world regions and over time, one commonality of development has been that the initial phase, from 1950 to 1975, likely led to growing inequality between men and women in both opportunities and well-being. The first decades of planning and promotion of development largely excluded women, partly as a result of unequal gender relations in many societies as development began: the slave trade, colonial indifference to women’s rights, and missionary activities may have worsened the status of women. More importantly, the men who controlled the late colonial and early post-independence state saw little reason to promote a pro-woman agenda in development. The initial phase of development thus reinforced male privilege. After 1975, national and international social movements arose to pressure governments and institutions to undo the legacies of gender inequality. Women-centered development flourished in the 2000s. There have been uncertainties, however, over the cost-effectiveness of some of the various policies and programs implemented as a result of the movements to include women in development.

Secrets, Psychological Health, and the Fear of Discovery

2020 ◽  
pp. 014616722094619
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Davis ◽  
Hannah Brazeau ◽  
Elisabeth Bailin Xie ◽  
Kathleen McKee
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Multilevel Modeling ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Longitudinal Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Over Time

Keeping secrets from one’s partner has been associated with lower well-being and relationship satisfaction. Previous research has suggested that individual differences in self-concealment account for these effects. However, we propose that the fear of discovery (FoD)—defined as the fear that one’s secret may be revealed by means other than deliberate disclosure—predicts the extent to which secrets affect well-being beyond the effects attributable to individual differences. Both a cross-sectional and a longitudinal survey (combined N = 471; 54.4% female; Mage = 39.5) of adults in romantic relationships confirmed that FoD predicted greater preoccupation with the secret, more negative affect, and less relationship satisfaction and commitment beyond that of self-concealment. Multilevel modeling in Study 2 indicated that changes in FoD predicted changes in preoccupation over time. The data are consistent with the notion that FoD promotes greater preoccupation, greater negative affect, and lower levels of relationship well-being.

Changes in Sabbath-Keeping and Mental Health Over Time: Evaluation Findings From the Sabbath Living Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 009164712110462
Author(s):  
Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell ◽  
Beth Stringfield ◽  
Jia Yao ◽  
Jessica Choi ◽  
David Eagle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Personal Accomplishment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Spiritual Well Being ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Sabbath Keeping

Work-related stress is experienced at a high level in the United States. Clergy are particularly likely to over-extend themselves to act on their sacred call. Sabbath-keeping may offer a practice that is beneficial for mental health, yet many Protestant clergy do not keep a regular Sabbath. We examined whether United Methodist clergy who attended informative Sabbath-keeping workshops reported changes in spiritual well-being and mental health post-workshop. Compared to baseline, at 3 and 9 months post-workshop, participants reported an increase in Sabbath-keeping. In adjusted random effects and Poisson models, compared to not changing Sabbath-keeping frequency, increasing Sabbath-keeping was related to only one outcome: greater feelings of personal accomplishment at work. Decreasing Sabbath-keeping was related to worse anxiety symptoms, lower spiritual well-being in ministry scores, and a higher probability of having less than flourishing mental health. For four outcomes, there were no significant associations with changes in Sabbath-keeping over time. Although lacking a control group, this study adds to cross-sectional Sabbath-keeping studies by correlating changes in Sabbath-keeping with changes in mental health outcomes over time.

scholarly journals Within-Couple Personality Concordance Over Time: The Importance of Personality Synchrony for Perceived Spousal Support

2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-43
Author(s):  
Nathan A Lewis ◽  
Tomiko Yoneda
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Growth Models ◽  
Spousal Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Relationship Length ◽  
Couple Similarity ◽  
Baseline Levels ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Objectives Within-couple similarities in personality traits tend to be positively associated with relationship well-being. However, research in this area is typically based on cross-sectional designs, thereby limiting examination of longitudinal personality concordance. Given that life experiences shape within-person change in personality, and that partners within a couple often experience similar life events, investigation of within-couple personality synchrony and associations with marital outcomes is warranted. Methods Using data from 3,988 couples (mean age at baseline = 67.0 years, SD = 9.6), multilevel dyadic growth models estimated within-couple similarity in baseline levels, change, and occasion-to-occasion variability for each of the Big Five personality traits over an 8-year follow-up. Bivariate growth models examined the effect of within-couple similarity on perceived spousal support, accounting for dependency within couples. Results Adjusting for baseline age, education, functional ability, and relationship length, analyses revealed within-couple concordance between baseline levels of all 5 personality traits, as well as correlated within-couple fluctuations in neuroticism, extraversion, and openness over time. Similarity in openness, agreeableness, and neuroticism trajectories predicted spousal support. Couples were most similar in openness, showing correlated intercepts, change, and variability, and this longitudinal synchrony was particularly important for perceived spousal support in women. Discussion These findings provide evidence for longitudinal personality synchrony over time within older adult couples. Further, concordance in neuroticism, extraversion, and openness predicted perceived spousal support, though there may be some gender differences in personality dynamics and relationship well-being. Effects of similarity were relatively small compared to actor and partner effects of these traits.

scholarly journals Using REGARDS to Study Family Caregiver Well-Being, Health, and Mortality

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 856-856
Author(s):  
David Roth ◽  
William Haley
Keyword(s):  
Junior Faculty ◽  
Well Being ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Regards Study ◽  
Health And Mortality ◽  
Over Time

Abstract The REGARDS study has provided a unique opportunity to study both disease-specific (stroke) and broader samples of family caregivers, and to examine the effect of transitions to caregiving over time. Using REGARDS has afforded many advantages over conventional caregiving research, including the availability of biomarker and mortality data, a large sample of non-caregiving controls who can be carefully matched to caregivers, and ability to track onset of caregiving over time. Our findings illustrate the complex nature of caregiving-related effects. While caregiving leads to worse psychological well-being, we have found minimal physical health decreases and reduced mortality rates compared to matched non-caregiving samples. These findings have policy implications and have challenged the conventional beliefs about caregiving based on previous studies of convenience samples. Diverse students and junior faculty members from multiple universities have also gained experience and contributed to high impact papers from this work.

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