scholarly journals Loneliness in older parents: marital transitions, family and social connections, and separate bedrooms for sleep

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi Chiao ◽  
Wen-Hsu Lin ◽  
Yu-Hua Chen ◽  
Chin-Chun Yi
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Marital Relationships ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Older Parents ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Marital Transitions ◽  
Social Domains ◽  
Social Loneliness

Abstract Objectives This research innovatively analyzed the marital transitions (i.e., divorce and widowhood) of older Taiwanese parents, their sleep problems and spousal specific characteristics (i.e., separate bedrooms for sleep and marital relationships) as well as their social and family connections, all of which were simultaneously reflected in emotional and social domains of loneliness. Methods Data are from 1645 older parents from Northern Taiwan. Loneliness was assessed by a De Jong-Gierveld short scale with emotional and social domains. We conducted multivariate logistic regression to examine the associations of marital transitions and family/social connections regarding sleep problems and psychological well-being with loneliness in social and emotional domains. Besides sleep problems and individual socioeconomic status, we included data on couples’ sleeping arrangements and marital relationships. Results Social loneliness was significantly associated with being divorced (AOR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.13–2.86) and living alone (AOR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.02–2.23). In contrast, strong family cohesion and frequent weekly contact with friends were associated with lower social loneliness. Married parents who slept in separate bedrooms were more likely than bed-sharing couples to feel emotional and social loneliness, despite adjusting for their sleep problems. Furthermore, satisfactory spousal relationships significantly decreased the magnitude of associations in the social domain. Discussion Our findings support significant associations between loneliness in later life and major marital transitions, family and social connections and sleep problems which differ in social and emotional domains. Independent of relationship satisfaction, separate bedrooms relate to higher risks of emotional loneliness in older adults.

scholarly journals Contributors to and Consequences of Poor Sleep in Older Adults: Biopsychosocial Perspectives

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 578-578
Author(s):  
Adam Spira ◽  
Katie Stone
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Older Parents ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Objectively Measured ◽  
Ecological Momentary

Abstract Sleep is a significant contributor to health and wellbeing across the lifespan, especially in later life. Poor sleep is common among older adults and can be both a risk factor for and consequence of numerous physical and mental health-related outcomes. In this symposium, we will present novel results from four studies that will advance understanding of the biological, psychological, and social factors that may contribute to or result from poor sleep in older adults. Specifically, Study 1 will present findings tying objectively measured sleep to performance on cognitive tasks administered using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in the day-to-day lives of older adults with or without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Study 2 will examine associations of personality dimensions and facets with insomnia symptoms in well-functioning older adults. Study 3 will examine psychological pathways linking parent-child relationships to subjective and objective sleep characteristics among older parents. Finally, study 4 will examine use patterns of cannabis for the treatment of sleep problems in older adults, and the ways in which this might differ from patients using cannabis for other reasons (e.g., pain). Together, this symposium will highlight novel links of an array of factors with sleep health in the aging population and their implications for prevention. Sleep, Circadian Rhythms and Aging Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.

Negative old-age life events and well-being in later life: the moderating and mediating role of loneliness

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Lise Switsers ◽  
Eva Dierckx ◽  
Joan Domènech-Abella ◽  
Liesbeth De Donder ◽  
Sarah Dury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Negative Life Events ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Events ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Emotional Loneliness

ABSTRACT Objectives: Although older adults often experience negative life events or loss experiences, they rarely experience large decreases in their quality of life or well-being. Emotionally satisfying relationships in older adults may serve as a protective factor that reduces the impact of negative events in decreasing well-being. The availability of these close social contacts is essential, and their potential for alleviating feelings of loneliness after negative events could have an important role in promoting well-being. The aim of this study was to test the hypothetical moderation and mediation effects of social and emotional loneliness on the occurrence of negative old-age life events and well-being in later life. Design: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted as part of the Detection, Support and Care for older people – Prevention and Empowerment research project (2015–2018). Setting: Participants were community-dwelling older adults in Flanders (Belgium). Participants: The sample composed of 770 participants aged 60 years and over. Measurements: Participant demographics, social and emotional loneliness, and subjective well-being were measured. Moderation and mediation analyses were performed using the regression-based approach as conducted by Hayes and Rockwood (2017). Results: Results indicated that a low degree of (social) loneliness is a protective, moderating factor and (emotional) loneliness is a mediating factor on the effects of negative life events on well-being in later life. Conclusions: Findings highlight the importance of emotionally and socially satisfying social contacts in order to maintain positive subjective well-being in later life when negative life events may occur.

scholarly journals Women's Experience of Child Death Over the Life Course: A Global Demographic Perspective

Demography ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Alburez-Gutierrez ◽  
Martin Kolk ◽  
Emilio Zagheni
Keyword(s):  
Child Death ◽  
Adult Child ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Population ◽  
Parental Bereavement ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Older Parents ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Offspring Mortality

Abstract The death of a child affects the well-being of parents and families worldwide, but little is known about the scale of this phenomenon. Using a novel methodology from formal demography applied to data from the 2019 Revision of the United Nations World Population Prospects, we provide the first global overview of parental bereavement, its magnitude, prevalence, and distribution over age for the 1950–2000 annual birth cohorts of women. We project that the global burden of parental bereavement will be 1.6 times lower for women born in 2000 than for women born in 1955. Accounting for compositional effects, we anticipate the largest improvements in regions of the Global South, where offspring mortality continues to be a common life event. This study quantifies an unprecedented shift in the timing of parental bereavement from reproductive to retirement ages. Women in the 1985 cohort and subsequent cohorts will be more likely to lose an adult child after age 65 than to lose a young child before age 50, reversing a long-standing global trend. “Child death” will increasingly come to mean the death of adult offspring. We project persisting regional inequalities in offspring mortality and in the availability of children in later life, a particular concern for parents dependent on support from their children after retirement. Nevertheless, our analyses suggest a progressive narrowing of the historical gap between the Global North and South in the near future. These developments have profound implications for demographic theory and highlight the need for policies to support bereaved older parents.

scholarly journals FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE: MARITAL TRANSITIONS AND SEXUAL LIFE IN MIDDLE AND OLDER AGE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S304-S305
Author(s):  
Jeffrey E Stokes ◽  
Elizabeth A Gallagher ◽  
Remona Kanyat ◽  
Cindy N Bui ◽  
Celeste Beaulieu
Keyword(s):  
Marital Status ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sexual Life ◽  
National Study ◽  
Marital Transitions ◽  
Baseline Values

Abstract Marital transitions have known implications for health and well-being. However, little research has examined the effects of such transitions on adults’ sexual lives. This study uses longitudinal data from the National Study of Midlife Development in the United States (1995–2014) to compare different marital status and transition groups’ sexual activity, satisfaction, control, and effort throughout mid-and-later life. Across all outcomes, effects of marital status/transitions were contingent upon baseline values of the outcome. Consistently married adults reported more frequent sexual activity, greater sexual satisfaction, and greater effort put into sexual life than other groups when baseline values of those outcomes were average or above-average; such group differences were reduced or reversed at below-average baseline values. Among the not-married, women reported significantly less sexual activity than men. The consistently divorced/separated, consistently widowed, newly divorced/separated, and newly widowed all reported greater control over sexual life at follow-up than the consistently married, when baseline sexual control was average and/or below-average. Lastly, women reported lesser effort put into sexual life at follow-up than men across all groups, accounting for baseline effort; these gender gaps were least pronounced among the consistently and newly married, and most pronounced among the newly widowed and newly divorced/separated. Overall, findings indicate that implications of marital transitions for midlife and older adults’ sexual lives depend upon both gender and pre-transition context. Marriage is not always beneficial for sexual life; rather, poor quality sexual lives during marriage can reduce opportunities for improvement that may arise with marital transitions, including divorce and widowhood.

scholarly journals Horizontal Collectivism Moderates the Relationship Between in-the-Moment Social Connections and Well-Being Among Latino/a College Students

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Hussain ◽  
Carmen Kho ◽  
Alexandra Main ◽  
Matthew J. Zawadzki
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Ecological Momentary ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Momentary Assessment

AbstractSleep problems and poorer well-being may be particularly salient for Latino/a college students as they tend to experience sociocultural adjustments during this transitory time. Social connections, a correlate of health, change moment-to-moment for college students and may be experienced differently for people who more strongly endorse horizontal collectivist cultural values. We used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine how in-the-moment social connections influence in-the-moment health, and how horizontal collectivism moderates the moment-to-moment associations. Self-identified Latino/a college students (n = 221) completed a demographic information and cultural values questionnaire and then responded to EMA measures on their social connections, affective and subjective well-being, and sleep for 14 consecutive days. Better in-the-moment social connections associated with better health. Horizontal collectivism moderated some, but not all associations between social connections and health. Social connections are multidimensional and differently predict in-the-moment health among Latino/a college students who more strongly endorse horizontal collectivistic values. We discuss implications for identifying vulnerable well-being moments among this understudied population.

scholarly journals EMPOWERING VULNERABLE GROUPS IN LATER LIFE: FOCUS ON THE ROLE OF ACTIVITIES, SOCIAL NETWORK, AND ROUND-THE-CLOCK CARE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S577-S577
Author(s):  
An-Sofie Smetcoren ◽  
G A Rixt Zijlstra
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Ageing In Place ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Emotional Loneliness ◽  
Aging Populations

Abstract Europe has been challenged with an intense rise of aging populations facing for example multiple chronic health problems, functional limitations and social and psychological challenges. With increasing age people may become vulnerable, nevertheless, they can still report high levels of well-being despite their deficits. Older adults’ strengths and resources can balance negative experiences and increase positive well-being outcomes. These resources can be personal (e.g. have sufficient income) or stemming from the social environment of the older person (e.g. an involved social network). Hence, this symposium focusses on these strengths and resources and how they might (positively) affect the well-being of vulnerable groups ageing in place. The main objective of the symposium is to give insights into different aspects and strategies that can protect older adults against negative outcomes. Four different studies from Belgium will be presented: Sarah Dury starts with explaining the potential buffering predictor of leisure and civic activities, by uncovering the mechanisms underlying the relationship between multidimensional frailty and well-being. Lise Switsers examines if the absence of social and emotional loneliness can act as a buffer to maintain a good well-being for older adults at risk of frailty. An-Sofie Smetcoren examines how ‘living in solidarity’ in a co-housing project can contribute to ageing in place. Finally, Sylvia Hoens explores the experiences of the older care users and their informal caregivers with live-in migrant care workers and examines how this care can increase their well-being.

scholarly journals IT’S BETTER TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE, OR IS IT? THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL SUPPORT ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF OLDER PARENTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S490-S490
Author(s):  
Erik Blanco
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Adult Children ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Positive Mood ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Life Transitions ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Older Parents

Abstract The longevity revolution has led to more years of shared lives between older parents and adult children. Having these extra years together can be offset by the stressful life transitions of widowhood, health declines, and increased level of disability experienced by older parents. These transitions can lower older parents’ psychological well-being. Although social support to/from adult children has the potential to buffer these effects, most older parents wish to remain independent, even in later life, making them reluctant to accept social support from their adult children. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the provision or receipt of social support between older parents and adult children, influences positive mood and negative mood. Secondary data on older adults (n = 461) with adult children who participated in the 2004 wave of the LSOG were used. The results revealed that the provision of social support by older parents to adult children significantly increased parents’ positive mood showing that it is better to give than receive. The results for the receipt of social support were more complex. Results suggest that when someone has a higher level of disability and does not receive social support their negative mood increases, but when someone has a high level of disability and does receive social support there is no effect on negative mood. This proposes that the receipt of social support is particularly important when the parent is in need of support and it is better to receive than give when parents are in need.

scholarly journals Harnessing horses in social pedagogy: Equine-assisted social education in a school context

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ritva Mickelsson
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
School Context ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Social Education ◽  
Emotional Skills ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Social Pedagogy ◽  
Equine Assisted

This article introduces a school-based social pedagogical programme using horses to support pupils’ educational development, social and emotional skills and self-esteem. These are essential for pupils’ well-being, to reduce the risk of developing emotional disorders in youth and later life. In terms of academic outcomes, these social-emotional skills, character strengths and health benefits are recognised in the Finnish educational agenda. Equine-assisted social education (EASE) differs from recreational riding programs by its frame of reference in social pedagogy and in the human–equine bond it features, positioning horses as co-educators to improve interaction and collaboration. This human–equine communication supports both human and equine welfare if applied with attention, respect and empathy. Furthermore, the stables environment provides a setting for enhancing the pedagogical relationship and trust between pupils and their teacher. This equine activity practice, like other educational interventions, has physical, behavioural, social and emotional intentions. In addition, as social pedagogy is a complex and innovative discipline, EASE represents a ground-breaking practice within this discipline. The purpose is to respond to individual and social difficulties with preventive and problem-solving practice. As Finnish social pedagogy emphasises educational dialogue and communication, EASE facilitates non-verbal communication and positive behaviour. Additionally, it consists of factors improving collaboration through experiences, activities and dialogue.

scholarly journals SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LONELINESS AS PREDICTORS OF COGNITION IN LATER LIFE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S177-S178
Author(s):  
Bert Hayslip
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Everyday Cognition ◽  
Emotional Loneliness ◽  
Cognitive Failures ◽  
Cognitive Activities ◽  
Everyday Cognitive Failures ◽  
Social Loneliness

Abstract To explore the viability of a model illustrating the potential relationship between both social and emotional loneliness and both psychometric and everyday cognition in later life, 575 older adults (M = 73.49) completed measures of crystallized (Gc) and fluid (Gf) ability as well as indicators of self-rated participation in 84 everyday cognitive activities, self-rated stimulatory value of each activity, attitudinal predisposition toward an engaged lifestyle and everyday cognitive failures. Measures of social support, caregiving stress, needs for cognition and cognitive self-efficacy were treated as mediators of the loneliness-psychometric/everyday cognition relationship, controlling for age, gender, health, and education. Hierarchical regression analyses suggested that social loneliness predicted (p < .04) Gc as mediated by social support, cognitive self-efficacy and need for cognition, whereas emotional loneliness similarly predicted (p < .04) Gf. Parallel analyses indicated that social loneliness predicted (p < .04) everyday cognitive failures and that both social and emotional loneliness predicted (p < .03) engaged lifestyle attitudes. In each case, the overall model was statistically significant (p < .01). For everyday cognitive activities and the stimulation values of such, neither type of loneliness was predictive, though lifestyle attitudes and lifestyle activity were moderately interrelated. These findings support a model incorporating distinct dimensions of loneliness as a predictor of diverse aspects of both psychometric and everyday cognition. This suggests that not only are the antecedents of cognition in late adulthood social/emotional in nature, but also that interventions targeting the prevention of loneliness may enhance cognitive functioning in later life.

scholarly journals Social Connectivity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Disparities among Medicare Beneficiaries

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215013272110301
Author(s):  
Molly Jacobs ◽  
Charles Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Medicare Beneficiaries ◽  
Social Connectivity ◽  
The Social

Purpose Social connections are essential for health and well-being at all ages and may be especially important for promoting health in later life. Maintaining social connections, however, became increasingly difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic when stay-at-home orders were enacted, and social distancing became necessary. This study examines the social connectivity among Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the importance technological availability, income, and race. Methods Data from the 2020 Medicare Beneficiaries Survey COVID supplement was used to evaluate social connectedness during the spring and fall of 2020. Binomial logistic regression evaluated the relationship between feelings of social connectedness and race/ethnicity, urban status of residence, income, availability of household technologies, internet access, and chronic conditions. Results Lower social connectivity is significantly correlated with race and income. Blacks had a nearly 30% higher likelihood of feeling socially disconnected than other racial groups. Individuals with chronic conditions, particularly cancer, were significantly more likely to feel socially disconnected. Internet access and the availability of technological devices decreased the odds of feeling socially disconnected by 20% and 15% respectively. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic decreased the social connectedness of many vulnerable groups specifically Blacks, those living with chronic conditions, and individuals with limited access to technology. While it is outside the scope of the current study, additional research is needed to determine how to address the social and psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic among elderly Americans.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document