scholarly journals Associations Between Secret-Keeping and Quality of Life in Older Adults

2018 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 250-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce Maas ◽  
Andreas A. J. Wismeijer ◽  
Marcel A. L. M. Van Assen

This study examined the effects of secrecy on quality of life in a sample consisting of older adults (>50 years; N = 301). Three key components of secrecy were examined with the Tilburg Secrecy Scale-25 (TSS25; possession of a secret, self-concealment, and cognitive preoccupation). The TSS25 distinguishes between the tendency to conceal personal information (self-concealment) and the tendency to worry or ruminate about the secret (cognitive preoccupation), thereby enabling investigation of the effects of secrecy on quality of life in detail. Confirming previous findings in younger samples, we found a positive effect of possession of a secret on quality of life, after controlling for both TSS25’s self-concealment and cognitive preoccupation. This suggests that keeping secrets may have a positive association with quality of life in older adults as well, as long as they do not have the tendency to self-conceal and are not cognitively preoccupied with their secret.

2021 ◽  
pp. 073346482098363
Author(s):  
Elham Esfandiari ◽  
William C. Miller ◽  
Maureen C. Ashe

Telehealth interventions improve health outcomes by increasing access to care. We conducted a systematic review to synthesize evidence on the effect of telehealth interventions compared with no intervention or usual care for older adults with pre-frailty or frailty for physical function, quality of life (QOL), and frailty. We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus. Two authors reviewed records and assessed risk of bias. A narrative synthesis of findings was conducted. When appropriate, the standard mean difference (SMD) was used to compare telehealth interventions with control conditions. We used GRADE to determine the certainty of the evidence. Twelve RCTs were included. Low certainty evidence highlighted positive effects for the function and mental component of QOL favoring telehealth interventions (SMD = 0.31, 95% CI = [0.15, 0.47]; and SMD = 0.43, 95% CI = [0.22, 0.64], respectively). Despite a small positive effect of telehealth interventions, insufficient, and low certainty evidence precludes making definitive recommendations.


GeroPsych ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-134
Author(s):  
Mechthild Niemann-Mirmehdi ◽  
Andreas Häusler ◽  
Paul Gellert ◽  
Johanna Nordheim

Abstract. To date, few studies have focused on perceived overprotection from the perspective of people with dementia (PwD). In the present examination, the association of perceived overprotection in PwD is examined as an autonomy-restricting factor and thus negative for their mental well-being. Cross-sectional data from the prospective DYADEM study of 82 patient/partner dyads (mean age = 74.26) were used to investigate the association between overprotection, perceived stress, depression, and quality of life (QoL). The analyses show that an overprotective contact style with PwD has a significant positive association with stress and depression, and has a negative association with QoL. The results emphasize the importance of avoiding an overprotective care style and supporting patient autonomy.


GYNECOLOGY ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatyana Yu. Pestrikova ◽  
Elena A. Yurasova ◽  
Igor V. Yurasov

Relevance. Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease that affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide and is the main cause of pain and infertility. Endometriosis is a disease, although it has been known for a long time, nevertheless, in many ways it represents terra incognita for modern medicine. Aim. Analysis of literature on the feasibility of long-term and the use of the drug dienogest 2 mg (Vizanne), which has a positive effect on the quality of life of patients with endometriosis. Materials and methods. To write this review, a search was made for domestic and foreign publications in Russian and international search engines (PubMed, eLibrary, etc.) over the past 13 years. The review included articles from peer-reviewed literature. Results. The review presents data on the difficulties of verifying the diagnosis of endometriosis due to a combination of this pathology with pain, infertility, abnormal uterine bleeding. The pathogenesis of the origin of endometriosis-associated pain is presented. The efficacy of the use of the drug dienogest (Vizanne), which has a powerful antiproliferative effect that reduces the main symptoms of endometriosis (pain, bleeding), is substantiated. The expediency of long-term and safe use of the drug dienogest (Vizanne), which has a positive effect on the quality of life of patients with endometriosis, has been proved. Conclusions. Numerous scientific publications confirm the feasibility of prolonged use of the drug dienogest (Vizanne), to achieve remission during endometriosis.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Farina ◽  
Marc Patrick Bennett ◽  
James William Griffith ◽  
Bert Lenaert

Evidence concerning the impact of fear of memory decline on health-related outcomes is limited. To determine the relationship between fear-avoidance of memory decline, quality of life and subjective memory in older adults using a novel scale to measure fear of memory decline. Sixty-seven older adults (59-81 years) completed a 23-item self-report questionnaire designed to capture experiential, cognitive and behavioral components of fear of memory decline, known as the fear and avoidance of memory decline (FAM) scale. Memory performance was assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-IV) and the Memory Failures Scale (MFS). General anxiety was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS) and the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI). Quality of life was assessed using the Older Person’s Quality of Life scale (OPQOL-35). The FAM scale demonstrated good reliability and validity. Three latent factors were observed including: (1) fear-avoidance, (2) problematic beliefs and (3) resilience. After adjusting for age, education, memory performance and general anxiety, higher fear-avoidance predicted lower quality of life (p=.021) and increased memory failures (p=.022). Increased fear of memory decline predicts lower quality of life and subjective memory failures in healthy older adults. Based on these findings, we propose a preliminary fear-avoidance model that explains the development and maintenance of dementia-related functional disability in terms of psychological processes.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaojie Li ◽  
Yongtian Yin ◽  
Lijun Chen ◽  
Guanghui Cui ◽  
Jiaqin Li ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Older adults’ health literacy levels are crucial to improving health outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the impact of eHealth literacy on HRQoL in older adults is unclear. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine the association between eHealth literacy and HRQoL of older adults and provide reference for the development of network intervention measures related to the health quality of life of the older adults. METHODS An anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,201 adults aged 60 or older from Jinan, China. The eHealth Literacy Scale and Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) were used to measure eHealth literacy and HRQoL. We used linear regression to test the adjusted association between eHealth literacy and HRQoL. RESULTS Most participants (88.9%) had inadequate eHealth literacy. Lower eHealth literacy was related to older age ( F=12.618, P<.001), female gender( t=3.303, P<.01), living in rural areas( F=11.356, P<.001), having less education( F=59.084, P<.001), being unmarried, divorced or widowed( t=4.416, P<.001), having a lower family income( F=38.017, P<.001), living with others(χ2=4.319, P<.05), and not having health insurance( F=12.713, P<.001). There were significant differences across physical functioning( t=-4.862, P<.001), role- physical( t=-2.485, P<.05), bodily pain( t=-3.470, P<.01), general health( t=-4.449, P<.001), vitality( t=-3.498, P<.001), role-emotional( t=-2.654, P<.01), mental health( t=-4.150, P<.001), physical component summary( t=-6.350, P<.001) and mental component summary( t=-4.483, P<.001) between adequate eHealth literacy and inadequate eHealth literacy. After controlling for age, gender, and other covariates, adequate eHealth literacy was positively related to physical component summary ( beta=7.6, P<.001) and mental component summary(beta=4.6, P=.001). CONCLUSIONS This study showed that Chinese older adults with higher eHealth literacy were more likely to contribute to higher HRQoL. Thus, Older adults’ eHealth literacy levels need to be taken into account when formulating health education and promotion programs for older adults, especially when the expected outcome is to improve HRQoL.


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