scholarly journals Modelling age-friendly environment for social connectedness: a cross-sectional study

F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 955
Author(s):  
Lein Shi Ying ◽  
Lai Ming Ming ◽  
Lau Siok Hwa
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Civic Participation ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: The increase in aged populations in Malaysia has brought unprecedented challenges to families, policy makers, scholars, and business organisations.  This paper adapted the WHO 2007 framework of features of age-friendly cities to examine age-friendly environment constructs and their linkages with social connectedness from the perspective of Malaysian middle-aged and older adults caring for themselves. Methods: A face-to-face cross-sectional survey was conducted on 402 middle-aged and older adults caring for themselves across selected states in west Malaysia, selected via purposive sampling. Firstly, features of age-friendly cities were explored through exploratory factor analysis involving 82 respondents. Subsequently, structural equation modelling was performed, involving 320 respondents. Results: The results indicated that the constructs of an age-friendly environment were built environment, community support and health services, civic participation, and employment as well as communication and information. The structural model provided evidence that implementing age-friendly initiatives relating to built environment, community support and health services, civic participation and employment as well as communication and information enables the ageing population to improve their connectedness with society. These findings supported the ecological theories, agreeing that age-friendly environments help middle-aged and older adults caring for themselves to increase their adaptability and reduce perceived pressure from the environment. This result was in line with the current literature in which an age-friendly environment is a form of support and an enabling environment to cultivate positive social relationships and connectivity. Conclusions: Creating an age-friendly environment that supports active and healthy living for middle-aged and older adults caring for themselves allows them to continue to share their experiences, knowledge, and wisdom. This is helpful and beneficial for societal well-being and economic development as well as for the future generations.

scholarly journals Depressive symptoms and health service utilization among Chinese middle aged and older adults: A national population-based longitudinal survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Guo ◽  
Dexia Kong ◽  
Anao Zhang ◽  
Liming Fang ◽  
Yingxue Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Service Utilization ◽  
Health Service Utilization ◽  
Health Services Utilization ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Services Utilization

Abstract Background: The prevalence of depressive symptoms has been steadily increasing in recent years, however middle aged and older adults was less likely to use mental health services. The aims of this study were to 1) examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between depressive symptoms and health services utilization among Chinese middle-aged and older adults; and 2) evaluate whether there exists a rural-urban difference in such relationships. Methods: Data was obtained from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2013 and 2015, a nationally representative survey of 13,551 adults aged 45 years and above in China. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between depressive symptoms and health services utilization in the whole sample, and urban and rural subsamples respectively. Results: Depressive symptoms were positively associated with a greater likelihood of outpatient and inpatient health services utilization. In addition, the relationships between depressive symptoms and health service use were consistent across rural and urban settings, indicating the robustness of such findings across geographic areas. Conclusions: Findings indicate that depressive symptoms are significantly associated with both in-patient and out-patient health service utilization among Chinese adults. Screening for depressive symptoms needs to be incorporated in these care settings in China.

scholarly journals Subjective well-being and mental health during the pandemic outbreak: Exploring the role of institutional trust

2020 ◽  
pp. 016402752097514
Author(s):  
Sunwoo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
News Media ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Institutional Trust ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
The Relationship

This study examined the relationship between material adversities due to pandemic crisis, institutional trust, and subjective well-being and mental health among middle-aged and older adults aged 50+ in Europe. The study used a cross-sectional design to examine Eurofound COVID-19 survey data collected from 27 European countries in April 2020. A total of 31,757 European middle aged and older adults aged 50 + were analyzed (Mean = 59.99, SD = 7.03). Analysis focused on the financial impact and material security in relation to pandemic lockdown, institutional trust (news media, police, national government, European Union, and healthcare system), and subjective well-being and mental health. Regression analysis indicated perceived insecurity in employment and housing, worsening finances, and difficulty paying for basic necessities were significantly related to respondents’ life satisfaction, happiness, self-rated health, mental health index, and psychological distress. Institutional trust partially mediated the relationship between perceived adversities and subjective well-being and mental health.

scholarly journals Depressive symptoms and health service utilization among Chinese middle-aged and older adults: a national population-based longitudinal survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Guo ◽  
Dexia Kong ◽  
Liming Fang ◽  
Yingxue Zhu ◽  
Bo Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Service Utilization ◽  
Health Service Utilization ◽  
Health Services Utilization ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Services Utilization

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to (1) examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between depressive symptoms and health services utilization among Chinese middle-aged and older adults; and (2) evaluate whether there exists a rural–urban difference in such relationships. Methods Data was obtained from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2013 and 2015, a nationally representative survey of 13,551 adults aged 45 years and above in China. Results Depressive symptoms were positively associated with a greater likelihood of outpatient and inpatient health services utilization. This association was consistent across rural and urban settings, indicating the robustness of such findings across geographic areas. Conclusions Findings indicate that depressive symptoms are significantly associated with both in-patient and out-patient health service utilization among Chinese adults. Screening for depressive symptoms needs to be incorporated in these care settings in China.

scholarly journals Promoting a musical lifecourse towards sustainable ageing: A call for policy congruence

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuulikki Laes ◽  
Patrick Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Music Education ◽  
Lifelong Learning ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Perceived Quality Of Life ◽  
Multiple Constituencies

Today, individually perceived quality of life for a growing ageing population could be said to be significantly dependent on meaningful life experiences, social connectedness and a sense of purpose. In this article, we argue for a wider theorization of policy and the politics of ageing. The central aim is to reflect on understandings of ageing within music education and musical participation, and, in particular, shift the focus from active ageing ‐ and the ways it might support the narrow agenda of music for older adults ‐ to the potentials of holistic and sustainable learning and participation in music. To do so, we draw from the concept of policy congruence, presenting a vision of policy as a critical catalyst that may amplify parameters for concerted initiatives among multiple constituencies within music education. We argue these amplified parameters may afford renewed efforts towards transdisciplinary action that can support the actions of community musicians and strengthen their role as networked actors labouring in consonance with others in the growingly significant areas of lifelong learning and ageing populations. Our stance is that, if we can assume that music education and musical participation have a serious contribution to make in the lives and well being of individuals across the lifespan, including older adults, then we ought to consider how systematic policy engagement may actively contribute to appropriate allocation of resources and renewed pedagogical and organizational framings, which more directly use lifelong learning to support sustainable ageing.

scholarly journals Depressive symptoms and health service utilization among Chinese middle aged and older adults: A national population-based longitudinal survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Guo ◽  
Dexia Kong ◽  
Liming Fang ◽  
Anao Zhang ◽  
Yingxue Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Service Utilization ◽  
Health Service Utilization ◽  
Health Services Utilization ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Services Utilization

Abstract Objectives: This study aimed to 1) examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between depressive symptoms and health services utilization among Chinese middle-aged and older adults; and 2) evaluate whether there exists a rural-urban difference in such relationships. Methods: Data was obtained from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2013 and 2015, a nationally representative survey of 13,551 adults aged 45 years and above in China. Results: Depressive symptoms were positively associated with a greater likelihood of outpatient and inpatient health services utilization. This association was consistent across rural and urban settings, indicating the robustness of such findings across geographic areas. Conclusions: Findings indicate that depressive symptoms are significantly associated with both in-patient and out-patient health service utilization among Chinese adults. Screening for depressive symptoms needs to be incorporated in these care settings in China.

scholarly journals Factors associated with sarcopenia screened by finger-circle test among middle-aged and older adults: a population-based multisite cross-sectional survey in Japan

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daiki Watanabe ◽  
Tsukasa Yoshida ◽  
Takashi Nakagata ◽  
Naomi Sawada ◽  
Yosuke Yamada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Mail Surveys ◽  
Osaka Prefecture ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

AbstractBackgroundPrevious epidemiological studies have demonstrated the prevalence and relationship of various factors associated with sarcopenia in older adults; however, few have examined the status of sarcopenia in middle-aged adults. In this study, we aimed to, 1) evaluate the validity of the finger-circle test, which is potentially a useful screening tool for sarcopenia, and 2) determine the prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in middle-aged and older adults.MethodsWe conducted face-to-face surveys of 525 adults, who were aged 40–91 years and resided in Settsu City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan to evaluate the validity of finger-circle test. The finger-circle test evaluated calf circumference by referring to an illustration printed on the survey form. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) was plotted to evaluate the validity of the finger-circle test for screening sarcopenia and compared to that evaluated by skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) measured using bioimpedance. We also conducted multisite population-based cross-sectional anonymous mail surveys of 9337 adults, who were aged 40–97 years and resided in Settsu and Hannan Cities, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Participants were selected through stratified random sampling by sex and age in the elementary school zones of their respective cities. We performed multiple logistic regression analysis to explore associations between characteristics and prevalence of sarcopenia.ResultsSarcopenia, defined by SMI, was moderately predicted by a finger-circle test response showing that the subject’s calf was smaller than their finger-circle (AUROC: 0.729, < 65 years; 0.653, ≥65 years); such subjects were considered to have sarcopenia. In mail surveys, prevalence of sarcopenia screened by finger-circle test was higher in older subjects (approximately 16%) than in middle-aged subjects (approximately 8–9%). In a multiple regression model, the factors associated with sarcopenia were age, body mass index, smoking status, self-reported health, and number of meals in all the participants.ConclusionsSarcopenia, screened by the finger-circle test, was present not only among older adults but also among middle-aged adults. These results may provide useful indications for developing public health programs, not only for the prevention, but especially for the management of sarcopenia.Trial registrationUMIN000036880, registered prospectively May 29, 2019, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000042027

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document