Chronic Illnesses and Depressive Symptoms Among Older People: Functional Limitations as a Mediator and Self-Perceptions of Aging as a Moderator

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1188-1204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jina Han
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
Older Americans ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
Longitudinal Mediation ◽  
Perceptions Of Aging ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Retirement Study

Objective: This research examined the mediation of functional limitations in the relationship between chronic illnesses and depressive symptoms among older Americans along with tests for the moderation of self-perceptions of aging. Method: Data from the Health and Retirement Study (2008, 2010, and 2012) were used. Longitudinal mediation models were tested using a sample of 3,382 Americans who responded to psychosocial questions and were over 65 years old in 2008. Results: Functional limitations mediated the linkage between chronic illnesses and depressive symptoms. Negative self-perceptions of aging exacerbated the effects of chronic illnesses on depressive symptoms. Discussion: Health care professionals should be aware of depressive symptoms in older adults reporting chronic illnesses and particularly in those reporting functional limitations. To decrease the risk of depressive symptoms caused by chronic illnesses, negative self-perceptions of aging may need to be challenged.

scholarly journals CHRONIC CONDITIONS, FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS, AND DEPRESSION IN OLDER ADULTS: ANALYSIS OF A LONGITUDINAL STUDY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S572-S572
Author(s):  
Jyotsana Parajuli ◽  
Diane Berish ◽  
Ying-Ling Jao
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Direct Effect ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Longitudinal Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Background: Chronic conditions, functional limitations, and depression are highly prevalent in older adults. Evidence suggests the links between chronic conditions, functional limitations, and depressive symptoms separately. However, few studies have considered these three conditions together longitudinally. This study examined the longitudinal relationship between chronic conditions and depressive symptoms and evaluated the mediation effect of functional limitations on the relationship between chronic conditions and depressive symptoms in older adults. Methods: This study analyzed longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study collected in 2012 and 2014. Mediation analysis was used to examine the direct and indirect effects of chronic conditions and functional limitations measured at the year 2012 on depressive symptoms measured at the year 2014 controlling for demographics. Results: Results revealed that chronic conditions predicted depressive symptoms. Specifically, one additional chronic condition in 2012 corresponded to an increase of 0.35 in depressive symptoms in 2014 (p<.001). After adding functional limitations as a mediator, the direct effect was reduced to 0.26 and the indirect effect was .088 (p<.001). In other words, functional limitations explained approximately 25% of the direct effect of chronic diseases on depression. Discussion: Findings reveal the longitudinal impact of chronic conditions and functional limitations on depressive symptoms in older adults. Findings help identify the high-risk population of depressive symptoms and intervene early.

scholarly journals What is the Relationship between Functional Limitations, Pain, and Self-Perceptions of Aging?

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 607-608
Author(s):  
Jillian Minahan ◽  
Ashley Blasi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
Perceptions Of Aging ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Self-perceptions of aging (SPA) influences health and mortality during older adulthood (e.g., Kotter-Grühn et al., 2009; Sargent-Cox et al., 2012). Westerhof and Wurm (2015) found that increasing functional limitations (FL) worsened older adults’ SPA. Additional research is needed to identify other factors that influence SPA. Although pain is common among older adults and is a frequent cause of disability (e.g., Brooks et al., 2019), it has not been examined as a factor influencing SPA. Pain is often misperceived as an inevitable part of aging because of widely held negative stereotypes about aging (Thielke et al., 2012). The experience of pain may activate internalized negative stereotypes about aging, which may worsen SPA. Thus, this study investigated: 1) the relationship between chronic and recent pain, FL, and SPA, and 2) the interactive effect of FL and pain on SPA within a sample of community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older. This study included 5,126 participants from the 2014 wave of the Health and Retirement Study. Controlling for covariates, chronic pain (β = .09, p < .001) and recent pain (β = .12, p < .001) were associated with negative SPA and were stronger than FL (β = .04, p < .01). There was also a small interaction between FL and recent pain on SPA (β = -.03, p < .01) such that the negative impact of FL on SPA was stronger among individuals who reported low pain. These findings highlight the importance of pain in older adults’ evaluation of their own aging.

scholarly journals Relationship Between Severity of Comorbidities and Self-Perceptions of Aging

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1053-1053
Author(s):  
DaJung Chang
Keyword(s):  
Estimating Equation ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Generalized Estimating Equation ◽  
Physical Limitation ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
Risk Of Mortality ◽  
Perceptions Of Aging ◽  
The Times ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract An older adult with negative self-perceptions of aging (SPA) can lead to lower self-rated health and a higher risk of mortality. To stay a positive SPA, keep a healthier status is very important. However, evidence also proved that health conditions, like a physical limitation, could predict the level of SPA. Older adults usually have a higher prevalence rate of chronic diseases than the younger population, which can adversely impact them. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between the severity of comorbidities and the change of SPA during a time. I examined data in 7,034 people from the 2012 wave Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and followed the respondents who have answer the SPA scale in the leave-behind questionnaire in 2016. The generalized estimating equation was used to analyze the relationship between the severity of comorbidities and SPA in different waves. To measure the severity of comorbidities, a reduced index of the comorbidities severity scale (CmSS) was created to collect the health condition from HRS. Results statistical model shows that an individual with more severity of comorbidities may have a more negative SPA. However, the relationship does not follow through with the times. These findings enhance the previous study that there are relationships between severity of comorbidities and SPA. The benefit of this study is to use a different measurement to identify the severity of comorbidities and extend to more in-depth research.

Skilled Nursing Facilities Modify the Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Hospital Readmissions but Not Health Outcomes Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 089826432110131
Author(s):  
Leah R. Abrams ◽  
Geoffrey J. Hoffman
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Hospital Readmissions ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Skilled Nursing Facilities ◽  
Nursing Facilities ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
Health Rehabilitation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Health Hospital ◽  
Retirement Study

Objectives: Despite detrimental effects of depressive symptoms on self-care and health, hospital discharge practices and the benefits of different discharge settings are poorly understood in the context of depression. Methods: This retrospective cohort study comprised 23,485 hospitalizations from Medicare claims linked to the Health and Retirement Study (2000–2014). Results: Respondents with depressive symptoms were no more likely to be referred to home health, whereas the probability of discharge to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) went up a half percentage point with each increasing symptom, even after adjusting for family support and health. Rehabilitation in SNFs, compared to routine discharges home, reduced the positive association between depressive symptoms and 30-day hospital readmissions (OR = 0.95, p = 0.029) but did not prevent 30-day falls, 1-year falls, or 1-year mortality associated with depressive symptoms. Discussion: Depressive symptoms were associated with discharges to SNFs, but SNFs do not appear to address depressive symptoms to enhance functioning and survival.

scholarly journals Reciprocal Effects Between Loneliness and Sleep Disturbance in Older Americans

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 1156-1164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah C. Griffin ◽  
Allison Baylor Williams ◽  
Samantha N. Mladen ◽  
Paul B. Perrin ◽  
Joseph M. Dzierzewski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Disturbance ◽  
Path Analysis ◽  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Current Theory ◽  
Reciprocal Effects ◽  
Older Americans ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Retirement Study ◽  
Item Scale ◽  
Over Time

Objectives: To model the relationship between loneliness and sleep disturbance over time. Method: Data came from the Health and Retirement Study (2006, 2010, 2014 waves; age ≥ 65 years; n = 5,067). Loneliness was measured via the Hughes Loneliness Scale and sleep disturbance via a four-item scale assessing sleep and restedness. Cross-lagged panel modeling (path analysis) was used to jointly examine reciprocal effects between loneliness and sleep disturbance. Results: Higher loneliness correlated with higher sleep disturbance at baseline. There was evidence of reciprocal effects between loneliness and sleep across timepoints. These associations overall remained when accounting for demographics, objective isolation, and depression. Discussion: Although causality cannot be established, the findings indicate that the relationship between loneliness and sleep disturbance is bidirectional. This requires revision to the current theory on sleep disturbance as a mechanism for the relationship between loneliness and health and indicates that effective treatment of sleep disturbance may reduce loneliness.

scholarly journals Measuring Self-Perceptions of Aging: Differences Between Measures When Predicting Health Outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 481-481
Author(s):  
Jordan Boeder ◽  
Dwight Tse
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Physiological Indicators ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Ongoing Development ◽  
Perceptions Of Aging ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract The majority of self-perceptions of aging (SPA) research uses either a combination of the Age-related Cognition (AgeCog) scales of Ongoing Development and Physical Loss, or the Attitudes Towards Own Aging (ATOA) subscale to assess views on aging. Although these scales are used interchangeably, the valence (positive/negative) and the specificity of the view on aging (domain-based/general) being assessed are not consistent. This study investigates how different measures of SPA relate to one another and whether they differentially predict various types of health outcomes (psychological/physiological; well-being/ill-being). Data from the 2008 and 2014 waves of the German Aging Survey (DEAS; n=3,745), a population-based representative survey of adults aged 40 to 95, was used to examine the relationship between the AgeCog scales and the ATOA subscale, as well as the differences in the types of health outcomes each predicts. The correlations between the AgeCog scales and the ATOA were higher than the correlation between the AgeCog scales (p < .001). The AgeCog scale of Ongoing Development significantly predicted psychological health outcomes across a six-year period, while the AgeCog scale of Physical Loss and the ATOA subscale predicted both physiological and psychological health outcomes. Evidence supports using the AgeCog scale of Ongoing Development to predict domain-relevant, psychological health outcomes. However, the multidimensionality of SPA is best measured by the ATOA subscale or a combination of the two AgeCog scales. Both forms of measurement were found to maximize the amount of explained variance for psychological and physiological indicators of well-being and ill-being.

scholarly journals The influence of self-perceptions of aging on cognitive functioning in older adult dyads

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Hanamori F. Skoblow
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Social Influences ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Delayed Recall ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
Cohabiting Couples ◽  
Perceptions Of Aging ◽  
Retirement Study

Older adults who report negative self-perceptions of aging (SPA) perform worse on memory tests and perceive their memory abilities to be worse than their counterparts who report positive SPA. Research suggests that romantic partners influence one another's experience and appraisal of aging. Thus, this study examined whether individuals' SPA impacted their own and their partner's memory longitudinally. Using three waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we conducted actor-partner interdependence models with 933 married or cohabiting couples aged 50 to 88 to determine whether positive and negative dimensions of SPA influenced change in episodic memory (i.e., immediate and delayed recall) and self-rated memory over eight years. Partners' SPA were positively correlated at baseline (positive [equals] .393, p [less than] .001; negative [equals] .441, p [less than] .001), however, we did not find evidence that SPA was associated with change in episodic or self-rated memory in either the actor or the partner. These findings indicate that individuals' SPA is related to their partners', but researchers should continue to investigate the degree to which social influences of SPA impact cognitive functioning in older adulthood.

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