Discovering Grace at the Table? Prayers at Mealtime, Marital Status, and Life Satisfaction in Later Life

2021 ◽  
pp. 016402752198909
Author(s):  
Jong Hyun Jung ◽  
Christopher G. Ellison
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Benefits ◽  
Representative Sampling ◽  
Marital Partner ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Positive Effects

This study examines the effects of prayers at mealtime on change in life satisfaction among older U.S. adults. In addition, it assesses the ways that marital status conditions these psychological effects of prayers at mealtime. Using two waves of longitudinal data from the Religion, Aging, and Health Survey (2001–2004), a representative sampling of adults aged 65 and older, the analyses reveal that the frequency of prayers at mealtime is associated with an increase in life satisfaction over time. Further, the positive effects of prayers at mealtime on change in life satisfaction are greater for nonmarried older adults than their married counterparts. The findings in the study reinforce claims of the beneficial effects of religion on mental well-being in later life. Moreover, they elaborate on the resource substitution thesis by showing that religion provides greater psychological benefits for older adults who do not have alternative resources for well-being—a marital partner.

scholarly journals Comparing the Protective Value of Human and Pet Social Support on Well-Being of Older Adults During COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 936-936
Author(s):  
Juliet Sobering ◽  
Lisa Brown
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Behavioral Activation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Benefits ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Media Reports

Abstract Older adults are vulnerable to particular risk factors that contribute to lower well-being and poorer functioning. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of social support has been highlighted in media reports because of its well-known beneficial effects on overall well-being. However, as adults age, social networks, contacts, and activities naturally decrease. These age-related losses are often difficult, if not impossible, to replace. Pets have recently been recognized as a valuable source of social support for many older adults, providing both physical and psychological benefits through mutual connection and behavioral activation. Previous studies have examined how human social support or pet social support enhance older adults’ well-being (i.e., positive emotions, engagement, relationships, accomplishment, and meaning). However, there is a gap in our scientific knowledge as previous research has not evaluated if pet social support can serve as a protective factor in the absence of adequate human social support. Current analyses, with 141 older adult participants, suggests that pet owners with a positive attachment to their pet experience higher well-being as pets serve as a coping resource that protects against common life stressors. Similar to human social support, pet social support appears to be a protective factor that also promotes and fosters a sense of well-being in older adults. Support in late life is especially important for families and agencies to be attuned to, especially during a global pandemic.

Intergenerational Coresidence and Depressive Symptoms of Rural and Urban Older Adults in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1282-1306
Author(s):  
Jinyu Liu ◽  
Lydia Li ◽  
Zhenmei Zhang ◽  
Hongwei Xu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Intergenerational Coresidence

Objectives: This study aimed to examine whether gender and marital status of coresiding adult children are associated with depressive symptoms of Chinese older adults. Methods: Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, linear regression analysis was conducted to identify longitudinal associations of intergenerational coresidence with depressive symptoms in rural and urban older Chinese. Results: Both rural and urban older adults living with unmarried sons had significantly higher depressive symptoms at four-year follow-up than those who did not live with children. Living with married sons was significantly associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms at four-year follow-up among rural elders only. Discussion: This study sheds light on the heterogeneity in the relationship between intergenerational coresidence and Chinese older adults’ psychological well-being by the gender and marital status of coresiding children. Further research is needed to understand the complex and dynamic household structures and health outcomes in later life.

scholarly journals Older Adults’ Engagement in Senior University Lectures and the Effect of Individual Motivations

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Peter Ackermann ◽  
Alexander Seifert
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Intention To Use ◽  
Older Learners ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Life Circumstances ◽  
University Of Zurich ◽  
The University

Among older adults, engagement in education can potentially have positive effects on cognition and psychological well-being and can prevent social isolation. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of individual motivations specific to older learners that underlie the frequency of participation at a senior university and how health or socioeconomic dimensions may affect the possibilities for participation. With data on participants from the senior university program at the University of Zurich (N = 811), we show that greater individual motivations regarding different aspects of learning have an effect on the frequency of lecture attendance, while other life circumstances do not. However, the findings show that when different forms of motivation are compared, instrumental motivation—meaning that the intention to use the gained knowledge now or in the future is responsible for the participant’s learning aspirations—is the only motivation that significantly increases lecture attendance. Hence, we conclude that to increase people’s engagement in this specific form of education in later life and to intensify lecture attendance, these programs should meet participants expectations.

scholarly journals I GOT THIS! SUCCESSFUL AGING THROUGH THE MAINTENANCE OF AUTONOMY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S719-S720
Author(s):  
Alexandria G Nuccio ◽  
Ashely M Stripling
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Measurement System ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Functional Autonomy ◽  
The Impact

Abstract As America ages, an increased interest has been placed on understanding the development and maintenance of autonomy in later life. This is of particular importance given the impact of autonomy on vitality, well-being, and mood within older adults (Warner et al., 2011). However, the research examining which aspects of autonomy directly impact successful aging remains underexplored. As such, the current study utilizes the Functional Autonomy Measurement System (SMAF) to better understand which facets of autonomy promote life satisfaction in older adults. Data included assessments of the Functional Autonomy Measurement System and data was derived from the Survey of Midlife in the US Database (MIDUS 3). Participants were primarily White/Caucasian (88.7%) and female (54.0%); with a mean age of 63.64 years (SD=11.35). A series of hierarchical multiple linear regressions revealed that higher levels of Mental Functions predicted increased life satisfaction scores in models adjusted for age, sex, race, marital status, and education (F=54.152,p<0.001) and that higher levels of Communication (F=37.553,p<0.001), Activities of Daily Living (F=33.495,p<0.001), Mobility (F=37.311,p<0.001), and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (F=8.630,p<0.001) also predicted increases in life satisfaction scores but to a lesser extent. The present findings suggest that higher levels of autonomy, both physically and mentally, result in higher satisfaction with life; with perceptions of cognitive independence producing the highest levels. Implications of the current findings include increased understanding of the multifaceted nature of autonomy, and provision of recommendations which could increase autonomous behavior in later life, thus increase life satisfaction and promote successful aging.

scholarly journals Family status and later-life depression among older adults in urban Latin America and the Caribbean

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-261
Author(s):  
Nekehia T. Quashie ◽  
Flavia C.D. Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Parental Status ◽  
The Caribbean

AbstractRapid fertility declines in Latin American and Caribbean countries since the 1960s have contributed to smaller family sizes among the current cohorts of older adults. This may have mental health implications in these societies as the family unit is highly valued as a source of social support. Utilising data from the 2000 Survey of Health, Well-being and Aging in Latin America and the Caribbean (SABE), this study examines the association between parental status, marital status and the likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms among adults 60 years and older in seven cities within Latin America and the Caribbean (N = 9,756): Buenos Aires, Bridgetown, São Paulo, Santiago, Havana, Mexico City and Montevideo. Results from multivariate logistic regressions indicate that parental status is not significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Nonetheless, unmarried older adults, both those living alone and those living with others, are more vulnerable to experiencing depressive symptoms than their married counterparts. Marriage is especially protective for older adults in Havana and Montevideo. Older adults’ perceived income adequacy significantly moderates the relationship between marital status and depressive symptoms. Other significant covariates, such as experiencing disability and comorbidity, showed positive associations with depressive symptoms. While families may still represent a critical component for the mental health of older adults, broader investments in health across the lifespan are needed to improve individual psychological wellbeing.

scholarly journals Types of social networks and starting leisure activities in later life: A longitudinal Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0254828
Author(s):  
Takuya Sekiguchi ◽  
Katsunori Kondo ◽  
Mihoko Otake-Matsuura
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Latent Classes ◽  
Beneficial Effects

Considering beneficial effects of leisure activities in later life on well-being and health, we investigated which type of social network among older adults is associated with starting their participation in leisure activities. We used data from a longitudinal Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) conducted in Japan every three years from 2010 to 2016. We extracted types of social networks of older adults who did not participate in leisure activities in 2013 and responded to items related to social networks (n = 3436) relying on latent class analysis to examine changes in leisure activity participation over a three-year period within each latent class while controlling for participants’ activity in 2010. As a result, we identified five latent classes of social networks: the Neighborhood network, the Restricted network, which is characterized by limited social contacts, the Colleagues network, the Same-Interest network, and the Diverse network, from the most to the least prevalent. We found that members of the Neighborhood (Cohen’s d = 0.161) and Same-Interest networks (d = 0.660) were significantly more likely to, and members of the Diverse (d = 0.124) and Colleague networks (d = 0.060) were not significantly more likely to start leisure activities than those in the Restricted network. Furthermore, we found that lower age, better mental health, and higher education level were positively associated with starting participation in leisure activities in some latent classes. Horticulture or gardening was most likely to be chosen across all latent classes. Supporting the formation of social networks facilitating leisure activities, and recommending activities that were likely to be selected could be one solution for getting and keeping older adults active.

scholarly journals Life Satisfaction in Later Life: The Interplay of Marital Condition and Income among Elderly Koreans

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3483
Author(s):  
Sung-Ha Lee ◽  
Jiyoun Lee ◽  
Incheol Choi
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Marital Satisfaction ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Beneficial Effects

Although both marital status and economic conditions significantly contribute to life satisfaction in later life, the effect of their interaction (or moderating) on life satisfaction has been understudied. Our goal was to examine whether marriage buffers the negative consequences of low income among elderly people. Using two large national survey datasets, the Korean Community Health Survey (n = 126,936) and the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) (n = 5687), we examined the relationship between household income, marital condition (marital status and marital satisfaction), and life satisfaction in Korean adults over 50. We found that increases in life satisfaction among individuals aged 50 and over were associated with higher income, marital status, and spousal satisfaction. We also determined that the beneficial effects of marriage, as well as marital quality, on life satisfaction are stronger in men. Moreover, separated/divorced status, but not bereavement or single status, moderated the effects of household income, such that the adverse effects of poverty were particularly pronounced among those who were separated/divorced. Furthermore, spousal satisfaction also moderated the effect of household income on life satisfaction among married men, indicating that marital satisfaction amplifies the effect of favorable economic conditions on life satisfaction. Because economic condition and relationship status are two key determinants of life satisfaction, understanding their interactions can improve overall predictions of life satisfaction.

scholarly journals Effects of Leisure Participation on Life Satisfaction in Older Korean Adults: A Panel Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 4402
Author(s):  
Hyejin Yoon ◽  
Won Seok Lee ◽  
Kyoung-Bae Kim ◽  
Joonho Moon
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Leisure Participation ◽  
Korean Adults

South Koreans’ life expectancy has dramatically increased over the last four decades. However, the life satisfaction index of older Korean adults has been in the bottom third globally. The large majority of older Koreans spend most of the day watching television at home. However, concrete evidence regarding the effects of leisure involvement on older adults’ quality of later life is scant. Only a few existing studies have examined the link via cross-sectional survey data. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether meaningful leisure participation outside the home in older age plays an essential role in improving life satisfaction. To achieve the research aim, nationally representative panel data from the Korea Employment Information Service were used for the data analysis. The results indicated that social and productive leisure participation in religious activity, social gatherings, and volunteering was significantly related to quality of life in older adults. Moreover, frequent participation in travel and cultural activities outside the home were positively related to life satisfaction. These findings suggest that participation in meaningful leisure activities is a critical factor contributing to subjective well-being and good mental health in older Korean adults and should be encouraged.

scholarly journals Double Consciousness: Explaining Racial Paradox in Later Life Psychological Well-Being

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 654-655
Author(s):  
Timothy Goler ◽  
Tirth Bhatta
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Race Differences ◽  
Coping Resources ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Overall Life Satisfaction

Abstract A substantial number of studies have documented paradoxical findings when examining race differences in later life psychological well-being. Despite experiencing significant structural disadvantages, Black older adults have been found to report significantly higher overall life satisfaction and lower depressive symptoms than White adults. This study relies on double consciousness framework which allows us to understand why satisfaction with material conditions (e.g., domain-specific life satisfaction) among Black older adults could differ from their evaluation of overall well-being (e.g., overall life satisfaction). Based on a survey of successful aging (n=409 aged 60 years or older) conducted by the Elderly Care Research Center (ECRC) in Cleveland, Ohio, we examined race differences in coping resources, and their role in shaping overall life satisfaction, domain-specific life satisfaction, and depressive symptoms. Findings show that Blacks on average have a higher likelihood of experiencing recent negative life events than their White counterparts. Despite adverse life circumstances, Blacks older adults expressed significantly higher overall life satisfaction than Whites. They, however, reported significantly lower domain-specific life satisfaction than their White counterparts. The differences in depressive symptoms between Black and White older adults was not statistically significant. The race differences in overall life satisfaction was explained by religiosity, religious coping, and social support. Education, income, and adverse life events were found to contribute to such differences in domain-specific life satisfaction. Our findings underscore the need to consider the unique role of racialized life course circumstances and coping resources in shaping disparities in later life psychological well-being.

Leisure Activities and the Subjective Well-Being of Older Adults in Croatia

GeroPsych ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ljiljana Kaliterna Lipovčan ◽  
Tihana Brkljačić ◽  
Zvjezdana Prizmić Larsen ◽  
Andreja Brajša-Žganec ◽  
Renata Franc
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Perceived Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Financial Status

Abstract. Research shows that engagement in leisure activities promotes well-being among older adults. The objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between subjective well-being (flourishing) and leisure activities (total number of different activities in the previous year) in a sample of older adults in Croatia, thereby considering the variables of sex, marital status, financial status, and self-perceived health. The differences in the examined variables between the groups of older adults who reported to be engaged in new activities with those who did not were also examined. The sample of N = 169 older adults aged 60 years and above was drawn from a convenience sample of adult internet users in Croatia. Participants reported their self-perceived health and the number of leisure activities they engaged in over the previous year as well as completing the Flourishing Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that older adults who were engaged in more various leisure activities, who perceived better financial status, and who were married reported higher levels of flourishing. A comparison of the two groups of older adults with and without engagement in leisure activities showed that those engaged in at least one leisure activity were more likely to be women, reported higher levels of flourishing, and perceived their own financial status as better. This study indicated that engaging in leisure activities in later life might provide beneficial effects for the well-being of older adults.

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