scholarly journals Blood Donation across the Life Course: The Influence of Life Events on Donor Lapse

2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tjeerd W. Piersma ◽  
René Bekkers ◽  
Wim de Kort ◽  
Eva-Maria Merz
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Blood Donation ◽  
Longitudinal Survey ◽  
Blood Collection ◽  
Longitudinal Survey Data ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Human And Social Capital ◽  
The Life Course

This article examines how blood donation loyalty changes across the life course as a result of life events. Previous studies have shown that life events affect involvement in prosocial behavior, possibly as a result of loss of human and social capital. Using registry data from the blood collection agency in the Netherlands, linked to longitudinal survey data from the Donor InSight study (N = 20,560), we examined whether life events are related to blood donor lapse. Childbirth, losing a job, and starting a job increase the likelihood of donor lapse, while health-related events (i.e., blood transfusion in a family member, death of a family member) decrease the likelihood of donor lapse. Moreover, results showed how social and practical concerns explain donors’ decisions to donate blood after the occurrence of life events. We discuss theoretical implications for further studies on prosocial and health-related behavior.

scholarly journals Blood donation across the life course: the influence of life events on donor lapse

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tjeerd W. Piersma ◽  
Rene Bekkers ◽  
Wim de Kort ◽  
Eva-Maria Merz
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Blood Donor ◽  
Blood Donation ◽  
Blood Collection ◽  
Longitudinal Survey Data ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Human And Social Capital ◽  
The Life Course

This paper examines how blood donation loyalty changes across the life course as a result of life events. Previous studies have shown that life events affect involvement in prosocial behavior, allegedly as a result of loss of human and social capital. Using registry data from the blood collection agency in the Netherlands, linked to longitudinal survey data from the Donor InSight study (n = 20,560), we examined whether life events are related to blood donor lapse. Childbirth, losing a job and starting a job increase the likelihood of lapse; health-related events (i.e., blood transfusion for a family member, death of a family member) decrease the likelihood of lapse. Increasing difficulty to plan a donation, decreasing perceived health status, and knowing fewer other donors partially explain why donors are more likely to lapse after the occurrence of life events. Blood donor identity did not mediate effects of life events on lapse.

scholarly journals PREDICTORS OF SELF-CONTINUITY IN LATER LIFE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S308-S308
Author(s):  
Charikleia Lampraki ◽  
Dario Spini ◽  
Daniela Jopp
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Childhood Adversity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Life Course Perspective ◽  
Future Expectations ◽  
Critical Life Events ◽  
Multilevel Hierarchical Models ◽  
The Life Course

Abstract Self-continuity is an identity mechanism that inter-connects past and present experiences with future expectations, creating a coherent whole. However, research is limited regarding inter-individual differences and life course determinants of change in self-continuity. Using a life-course perspective on vulnerability, we investigate how the accumulation of resources (e.g., social, hopeful attitude) and the occurrence of critical life events (e.g., childhood adversity, divorce) across the life course may affect changes in self-continuity. Data derived from the LIVES Intimate Partner Loss Study conducted in Switzerland from 2012 to 2016 (3 waves). The sample consisted of individuals having experienced divorce (N = 403, Mage = 55.43) or bereavement (N = 295, Mage = 69.91) in the second half of life, using a continuously married group as a reference (N = 535, Mage = 65.60). Multilevel hierarchical models were used. Results indicated that as individuals grew older they experienced more self-continuity. More childhood adversity was negatively associated with inter-individual differences in self-continuity for all groups. Divorcees with more childhood adverse events felt significantly less self-continuity as they grew older than divorcees with less childhood adversity. In the bereaved group, more childhood adversity and less hope was linked to lower levels of self-continuity. More hopeful married individuals felt more self-continuity as they grew older than less hopeful ones. In sum, findings demonstrate that self-continuity changes as a function of age, but also differs with regard to the critical life events experienced across the life course and the availability of resources.

scholarly journals FAMILY-MEMBER LOSS AS A CUMULATIVE BURDEN FOR HEALTH AMONG BLACK AND WHITE OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S604-S604
Author(s):  
Rachel Donnelly
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Black Americans ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Cardiometabolic Health ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Family Loss ◽  
The Life Course

Abstract The health consequences of multiple family member deaths across the life course has received less attention in the bereavement literature. Moreover, recent research shows that black Americans are more likely than white Americans to lose multiple family members. I analyze longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (1992-2014) to assess how multiple family member losses across the life course are associated with declines in health among older adults. Findings suggest that multiple family losses prior to midlife are associated with a number of indicators of poor health (e.g., functional limitations, cardiometabolic health) and steeper declines in health as individuals age. Losses after midlife additionally undermine health declines for older adults. Thus, family member loss functions as a cumulative burden of stress across the life course that erodes health in mid- and later-life. Family loss disproportionately burdens black Americans and serves as a unique source of disadvantage for black families.

scholarly journals Health inequalities and the welfare state: perspectives from social epidemiology

2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
George A. Kaplan
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Social Epidemiology ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
Inequality Of Opportunity ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
The Welfare State

It might be assumed that welfare states that have done so much to reduce inequality of opportunity have also reduced inequality of health outcomes. While great advances have been seen in reducing the rates of many diseases in welfare states, disparities in health have not been eliminated. Is it the case that lowering risks overall will leave disparities that cannot be remediated, and that such efforts are at the point of diminishing returns? The evidence suggests that this is not true. Instead the lens of social epidemiology can be used to identify groups that are at unequal risk and to suggest strategies for reducing health inequalities through upstream, midstream, and downstream interventions. The evidence suggests that these interventions be targeted at low socioeconomic position, place-based limitations in opportunities and resources, stages of the life course and the accumulation of disadvantage across the life course, and the underlying health-related factors that are associated with the marginalization and exclusion of certain groups. In their commitment to the values of equity and social justice, welfare states have unique opportunities to demonstrate the extent to which health inequalities can be eliminated.

Using Longitudinal Survey Data to Estimate Mental Health Related Transitions to a Disability Pension

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. e166-e172
Author(s):  
Timothy P. Schofield ◽  
Kim M. Kiely ◽  
Arnstein Mykletun ◽  
Samuel B. Harvey ◽  
Peter Butterworth
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Disability Pension ◽  
Longitudinal Survey ◽  
Longitudinal Survey Data ◽  
Health Related

scholarly journals Family Member Death and Subjective Life Expectancy Among Black and White Older Adults

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 143-153
Author(s):  
Rachel Donnelly ◽  
Debra Umberson ◽  
Tetyana Pudrovska
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Well Being ◽  
White Americans ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Survival Expectations ◽  
The Life Course

Objective: To examine whether exposure to family member deaths throughout the life course is associated with subjective life expectancy—a person’s assessment of their own mortality risk—at age 65, with attention to differences by race. Method: We analyzed 11 waves of data from a study of men and women above age 50 (Health and Retirement Study; n = 13,973). Results: Experiencing the deaths of multiple family members before the respondent is 50 years old is negatively associated with subjective life expectancy at age 65. Discussion: Understanding the life-course predictors of older adults’ subjective life expectancy is particularly important because survival expectations influence long-term planning, health, and longevity. Moreover, Black Americans are exposed to more family member deaths earlier in their life compared with White Americans, with implications for long-term health and well-being.

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