Effects of subjective successful aging on emotional and coping responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background Middle-aged and older adults are more vulnerable to hospitalization and mortality if they are infected with the COVID-19 virus. The present study investigates the longitudinal effects of subjective successful aging on middle-aged and older adults’ emotional and coping responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and explores an underlying mechanism through perceived time limitation during the pandemic. Methods A sample of 311 Hong Kong Chinese middle-aged and older adults (Mage = 64.58, SD = 10.14, Range = 45–90 years) were recruited from an Adult Development and Aging Project and participated in a questionnaire study via an online platform or phone interview. Their levels of subjective successful aging, perceived time limitation, and emotional and coping responses to the pandemic were measured. Results The respondents who perceived themselves as more successful in aging process reported more positive and fewer negative emotions compared with their counterparts with lower levels of subjective successful aging. The mediation analysis showed that perceived time limitation could partially account for the effects of subjective successful aging on emotional and coping responses. Conclusions Findings of this study unveil the beneficial effects of subjective views of successful aging on emotional and coping responses to the pandemic through alleviating their perception of time limitation.

Download Full-text

Effects of Subjective Successful Aging on Emotional and Coping Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic

10.21203/rs.3.rs-102941/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Dannii Yeung ◽

Edwin Chung ◽

Alfred Lam ◽

Alvin Ho

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Adult Development ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Underlying Mechanism ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Coping Responses ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Longitudinal Effects ◽

Development And Aging ◽

And Coping

Abstract Background: Middle-aged and older adults are more vulnerable to hospitalization and mortality if they are infected with the COVID-19 virus. The present study investigates the longitudinal effects of subjective successful aging on middle-aged and older adults’ emotional and coping responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and explores an underlying mechanism through perceived time limitation during the pandemic. Methods: A sample of 311 Hong Kong Chinese middle-aged and older adults (Mage=64.58, SD=10.14, Range=45–90 years) were recruited from an Adult Development and Aging Project and participated in a questionnaire study via an online platform or phone interview. Their levels of subjective successful aging, perceived time limitation, and emotional and coping responses to the pandemic were measured.Results: The respondents who perceived themselves as more successful in aging process reported more positive and fewer negative emotions compared with their counterparts with lower levels of subjective successful aging. The mediation analysis showed that perceived time limitation could partially account for the effects of subjective successful aging on emotional and coping responses. Conclusions: Findings of this study unveil the beneficial effects of subjective views of successful aging on emotional and coping responses to the pandemic through alleviating their perception of time limitation.

Download Full-text

Stressful Events and Coping Responses Among Older Adults in Two Sociocultural Groups

The Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1080/00223980.1985.10542895 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 119 (3) ◽

pp. 253-260 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Martha Jane Chovan ◽

William Chovan

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Stressful Events ◽

Coping Responses ◽

And Coping

Download Full-text

Risks and potentials of adult development and aging: Understanding the challenges and opportunities of successful aging.

The psychology of later life: A contextual perspective. ◽

10.1037/0000185-007 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 153-180

Author(s):

Manfred Diehl ◽

Hans-Werner Wahl

Keyword(s):

Adult Development ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Challenges And Opportunities ◽

Development And Aging

Download Full-text

Age Differences in Positive Event Appraisals during COVID-19: Evidence from a Daily Diary Study

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.3203 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 888-888

Author(s):

Patrick Klaiber ◽

Lydia Ong ◽

Anita DeLongis ◽

Nancy Sin

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Age Differences ◽

Adult Development ◽

Personal Responsibility ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Diary Study ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Positive Events ◽

Daily Diary Study ◽

Middle Aged Adults

Abstract Multiple studies suggest that community-dwelling older adults are psychologically resilient in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, during the initial weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak, older age was associated with engaging in more daily positive events (Klaiber et al., 2021, Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences). We followed up on these findings by exploring age differences in positive event appraisals during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 7-day diary study conducted between March and August 2020, 1036 participants (mean age = 45.95, SD = 16.04, range = 18-91) reported their positive events in nightly surveys. If at least one positive event occurred, participants rated their appraisals of the event on the following dimensions: importance, calmness, happiness, gratitude, personal responsibility, and control. Older adults (60 years+) rated their positive events to be more personally important and felt more calm and happy during these events, compared to younger (18-39 years) and middle-aged adults (40-59 years). Furthermore, older adults felt more grateful during positive events compared to younger but not middle-aged adults. There were no age differences in feelings of control or personal responsibility for positive events. These findings highlight the importance of daily positive events for older adults during a time of major stress. In line with theories on adult development, daily positive event processes in older adults are characterized by valuing positive and meaningful social connections, as well as a greater degree of positive event-specific emotions such as feeling calm, happy, and grateful.

Download Full-text

SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT IN OLD AGE: IMPACTS OF AGING UNDER INTERPERSONAL, MORAL, AND POLITICAL CONTEXTS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2886 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S785-S785

Author(s):

Minjie Lu ◽

Xin Zhang

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Old Age ◽

Social Engagement ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Public Affairs ◽

Interpersonal Interaction ◽

Moral Issues ◽

Future Directions ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Unfamiliar Faces

Abstract To promote successful aging, social engagement has been encouraged among older adults. Yet, thus far, research on older adults’ social engagement have been preoccupied with the close and intimate relationships between older adults and their families, friends, or caretakers. Little attention is being paid to how older adults may engage in peripheral social networks, civic activities, or public affairs. This symposium features four presentations that investigate older adults’ social engagement in these contexts. First, with the focus on interpersonal interaction with strangers, Yi Lu and colleagues examine the age differences in trustworthiness perception of unfamiliar faces. The second and third presentations focus on moral and political contexts. Minjie Lu will present the divergent impacts of age on the cognitive evaluations and emotional responses towards moral issues. Wong and Fung analyze older adults’ engagements in political discussions and actions and the factors that may promote these engagements. Last but not least, Nicole Fung and colleagues will present findings that generativity among older adults can promote sense of meanings and death acceptance, demonstrating the beneficial effects of social engagement in old age. Finally, Zhang will provide closing discussions about the implications and future directions of these presentations.

Download Full-text

Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity Are Independent Predictors of Successful Aging in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Journal of Aging Research ◽

10.1155/2012/190654 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 102

Author(s):

Shilpa Dogra ◽

Liza Stathokostas

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Canadian Community Health Survey ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Middle Aged Adults

Background. Sedentary behavior is emerging as an important risk factor for poor health. Physical activity has proven to be important in determining overall successful aging (SA) among older adults; however, no data exists on the influence of sedentary behavior on SA. The purpose of this analysis was to determine whether there is an association between sedentary behavior and successful aging, independent of physical activity levels.Methods. 9,478 older (M= 4,245;F= 5,233) and 10,060 middle-aged (M= 4.621;F= 5,439) adults from the Healthy Aging cycle of the Canadian Community Health Survey were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted with SA and its three components as outcomes while physical activity and sedentary behavior were entered as main exposures.Results. Among older adults, compared to those who were sedentary (4 hours or more/day), those who were moderately (2–4 hours/day) and least sedentary (<2 hours/day) were 38% (OR: 1.38; CI: 1.12–1.69) and 43% (OR: 1.43; CI: 1.23–1.67) more likely to age successfully, respectively. Among middle-aged adults, those who were least sedentary were 43% (OR: 1.43; CI: 1.25–1.63) more likely to age successfully.Conclusions. These novel findings suggest that sedentary activities are significantly associated with lower odds of SA among middle-aged and older adults, potentially in a dose-dependent manner.

Download Full-text

The Relationship of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid on Mood and Coping Ability in Prediabetic Middle Aged and Older Adults

Geriatrics ◽

10.3390/geriatrics3020017 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 17

Author(s):

Rachael Aquino ◽

Michael Perez ◽

Payel Sil ◽

Terry Shintani ◽

Rosanne Harrigan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Aminolevulinic Acid ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Coping Ability ◽

And Coping ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

“Left Like Stones in the Middle of the Road”: Narratives of Aging Alone and Coping Strategies in Rural Albania and Bulgaria

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gby127 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 74 (8) ◽

pp. 1492-1500 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Nina Conkova ◽

Julie Vullnetari ◽

Russell King ◽

Tineke Fokkema

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Participant Observation ◽

Cultural Patterns ◽

Family Ties ◽

The Road ◽

Research Findings ◽

And Coping

Abstract Objectives We explore and compare older adults’ lived experiences and coping strategies in two postcommunist countries—Albania and Bulgaria. Wholesale youth outmigration and economic and institutional regional decline have led to decaying rural areas where older adults become “abandoned.” Aging alone, as couples or widowed, they are socially marginalized and in constant search for coping mechanisms which enable them to survive. Methods We adopt a social-psychology theoretical framework which distinguishes between problem-focused and emotion-focused coping. Data include 28 in-depth interviews with older residents and participant observation in selected rural areas of the two countries. Results In both countries, rural social isolation is expressed as a lack of close family ties—mainly due to the removal through outmigration of children and grandchildren—and detachment from society at large. The most prevalent coping mechanism consists of practical and emotional support from non-kin ties, especially neighbors. Remittances help to resolve material needs, especially in Albania, where most rural young people migrate abroad. In both settings, a range of emotion-focused coping strategies were identified, including perceptions of decreased needs, lowered expectations about relationships, and satisfaction at the achievements of the younger generations. Discussion Similarities between research findings in Albania and Bulgaria reflect their shared political and institutional history. Although few, differences relate to a combination of contrasting migration and cultural patterns. In both settings problem- and emotion-focused adaptive strategies are overlapping, and successful aging efforts seem to be of a communal rather than an individualistic nature.

Download Full-text