The Impact of Religiousness, Spirituality, and Social Support on Psychological Well-Being Among Older Adults in Rural Areas

2006 ◽  
Vol 48 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 281-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Pil Yoon ◽  
Eun-Kyoung Othelia Lee
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals SOCIAL CAPITAL AND THE PET EFFECT

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S530-S530
Author(s):  
Judith Robertson R Phillips ◽  
Edith Jimenez ◽  
Heather Nicholson
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Significant Other ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Increasing Trend ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Social capital such as positive relationships and social support play an important role in older adults’ well-being. Typically, researchers have investigated family and friends as providers of interpersonal resources to older adults but there has been an increasing trend to explore companion pets as providers of social capital and to investigate the impact of pet companionship on older adults’ psychological well-being. Inconsistencies have appeared in the literature though as to whether there is a “pet effect,” the positive benefit of companion pets on older adults’ psychological health. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether having a companion pet would provide greater social connection and better psychological well-being among 83 community-residing older adults (meanage = 62.87 years; males = 38; females = 45) who owned a companion pet, a dog (n= 53) , cat, (n= 21) or both (n= 9), versus 42 community-residing older adults (meanage = 65.69 years; males = 25; females = 17) who didn’t own companion pets. Analyses revealed that no “pet effect” was found for any measure of psychological well-being: self-reported loneliness, happiness, life satisfaction, or mental health. This was especially true for cat owners in that the more one viewed a cat as a family member, the lower one’s life satisfaction and happiness. In addition, as the number of cats in the household increased, the perceived social support from a significant other, family, and friends lowered. Discussion will focus on the implications of these results for pets as providers of social capital.

scholarly journals Intergenerational Relationships, Social Support, and Psychological Well-Being Among Korean Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 498-498
Author(s):  
Yooumi Lee ◽  
Janet Wilmoth
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Adult Child ◽  
Intergenerational Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being

Abstract This study investigates whether intergenerational relationships and social support improve the psychological well-being of Korean older adults. We examine whether intergenerational relationships and social support directly influence psychological well-being and the extent to which they mediate the distressing consequences of life events such as declining health and recent widowhood. Using longitudinal data from the 2006 to 2016 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, we explore depression trajectories among individuals who are 60 or older with at least one living adult child at baseline. Specifically, we converted data from 5,383 older adults into a person-period file with 24,726 observations over a ten-year period. Then we estimated linear growth curve models of depression trajectories separately for men and women using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results from the hierarchical linear models indicate that declining health and recent widowhood are positively related to depressive symptoms. Satisfactory intergenerational relationships and social support in the form of personal interactions and proximate living arrangements with adult children decrease depressive symptoms of older parents, especially among women. We conclude that the psychological benefits of intergenerational relationships and social support are contingent upon the vulnerability of older adults and discuss the implications for public policy.

scholarly journals Loving Others: The Impact of Compassionate Love on Later-Life Psychological Well-Being

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 480-481
Author(s):  
Eva Kahana ◽  
Tirth Bhatta ◽  
Boaz Kahana ◽  
Nirmala Lekhak
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Compassionate Love ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Existing scholarship in social gerontology has surprisingly paid little attention to broader loving emotions, such as compassionate and altruistic love, as potentially meaningful mechanisms for improving later life psychological well-being. This study examined the influence of feeling love toward other persons and experiencing love from others on later life psychological well-being. We conducted a 3-wave longitudinal study of a representative sample of 340 ethnically heterogeneous community dwelling older residents of Miami, Florida. The increase in feeling of being loved (β=-1.53, p<0.001) and love for others (β=-1.43, p<0.001) led to decline in odds of reporting greater level of depressive symptoms over time. The odds of reporting higher level of positive affect were significantly greater for older adults who reported feeling loved by others (β=1.16, p<0.001) and expressed love for other people (β=1.18, p<0.01). Older adults who felt loved had 0.92-point lower ordered log odds of reporting higher negative affect than those who reported lower level of love. The impact of compassionate love on depressive symptoms and negative affect remained statistically significant even after adjustment for altruistic attitudes and emotional support. The influence of loving emotions on positive affect was, however, explained by altruistic attitudes and emotional support. Our findings underscore the powerful influence of both receiving and giving love for the maintenance of later life psychological well-being. We offer support for the expectation that love is a significant force in the lives of older adults that transcends intimate relationships.

scholarly journals Perceived Social Support and Psychological Well-being among Visually Impaired Individuals: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Main Theme ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Positive Social Support ◽  
The Impact

Social support is an important resource which facilitates coping and raises the quality of life. This study examines how different forms of social support are perceived by the visually impaired individuals living in Turkey (positive or negative), and the impact on these individuals’ psychological well-being. This qualitative phenomenological study is conducted by semi-structured interview techniques and 21 visually impaired and volunteer (11 female, 10 male) adults over 18 years (M = 28, SD = 6,34) who live in Ankara participated in the study. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. There were 4 main themes: Centrality of the sighted world, negative social support, positive social support, and accessibility. The most frequently repeated sub themes were gathered under the main themes of negative social support and centrality of the sighted world; the majority of the participants mentioned the effect of living independently. Moreover, the lack of information in society and the negative effects of interference under the will to help are frequently mentioned. On the other hand, the sub themes of mutual support, perceiving blindness as a difference, not a deficiency were presented under the main theme of positive social support. Keywords: Visually impaired, perceived social support, psychological well-being

Catalyst to Connection: When Technical Difficulties Lead to Social Support for Older Adults

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
pp. 1167-1185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Francis ◽  
Travis Kadylak ◽  
Taj. W. Makki ◽  
R. V. Rikard ◽  
Shelia R. Cotten
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Ict Use ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Impact

Information and communication technology (ICT) use can mitigate the negative impact of various age-related threats, such as isolation and loneliness, by facilitating connection with social ties and access to social support. Although research regarding various uses and benefits of ICTs among older adults has increased, there is limited research regarding the impact of technical difficulties on older adults’ well-being. Our study explores technical difficulties encountered, how older adults cope with ICT failure, and the various forms of social support that may result as a consequence of accessing technical support. We use data from nine semistructured focus groups conducted with older adults in the Midwest region of the United States. Results show that older adults may adapt new strategies for coping with the technical difficulties that arise from regular ICT use. Furthermore, as older adults incorporate ICTs into their daily lives and seek assistance from social ties and experts, they may also be indirectly combating the threat of isolation and loneliness.

scholarly journals IMPACT OF SOCIAL SUPPORT AND STRAIN ON DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS: MARITAL STATUS AND GENDER DIFFERENCES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S919-S919
Author(s):  
Deborah Carr ◽  
Yeonjung Jane Lee
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Social relationships are a well-established correlate of late-life well-being. Extensive research finds social support is associated with fewer depressive symptoms, yet few studies distinguish fine-grained types of support from spouse, children, other family and friends, nor whether these linkages differ by gender and marital status. Studies exploring coarse associations between support and well-being may conceal gender and marital status differences. We use data from two waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; 2006 and 2010) to study fine-grained linkages between diverse types of relationship strain and support and depressive symptoms (CESD) among adults aged 51+. The results show that the association between support/strain and depressive symptoms varies based on the source of support. For instance, among married/partnered older adults, spousal support is negatively associated with depressive symptoms whereas friend strain is positively associated with depressive symptoms. Among widowed respondents, friend support is negatively associated with depressive symptoms. These marital status patterns differed by gender however, such that the impact of friend strain on depressive symptoms was especially large for divorced men. Our results suggest that no single form of social support (or strain) is uniformly protective (or distressing), so services and interventions to enhance late-life mental health should more fully consider older adults’ social location, including gender and marital status. For current cohorts of older adults, who have lower rates of marriage and childbearing than their predecessors, it is critically important to understand both the levels and impacts of alternative sources of support from other kin and friends.

scholarly journals Impact of Psychological Well-Being on the Vocabulary Acquisition Level of Nigerian Adolescents Learning French Language in Rural Settings

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-92
Author(s):  
Adejumo Gbadebo Olubunmi ◽  
Maryam Tar
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Vocabulary Acquisition ◽  
Well Being ◽  
French Language ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Rural Settings ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cloze Test

There is now clearer recognition that, in a country as culturally and linguistically diverse as Nigeria, specific attention must be paid to the mental readiness of learners especially in acquiring language different from their first language or lingua franca such as French language. Vocabulary acquisition is part of the psychology of foreign language learning that has received short shrift from applied linguistics, and has been very largely neglected by recent developments in research. This study therefore examined the impact of psychological well-being on the vocabulary acquisition level of Nigerian adolescents learning French language in rural settings. Survey research design was adopted in this study. Sixty eight students from fourteen secondary schools were randomly selected for this study with age range 15 to 18 years. They were made up of 38 males representing 52.9% and 30 females representing 47.1%. Out of this sample 42% were in SS1, 36% in SS2 and 22% in SS3.  All these students had French language as one of subjects they were taking in school. These schools were located in rural areas in Ogun and Oyo states, Southwest Nigeria. A questionnaire was developed to measure students’ psychological well being while cloze test was used to measure vocabulary acquisition level. The two instruments yielded 0.78, and 0.76 test-retest reliability respectively with 0, 64 Cronbach Alpha for Psychological well being measure and 0.66 for cloze test. The findings revealed low level of performance in the five subscales of Psychological Well being Measure, self-acceptance, quality ties to other, autonomy in thought and action, the ability to manage complex environments to suit personal needs and values, the pursuit of meaningful goals and a sense of purpose in life and continued growth and development as a person.  The study equally reported low level of vocabulary acquisition of French language across all the levels.  A significant impact of psychological wellbeing on the vocabulary acquisition of French language was found at r=0.62, adj r2=0.59 and f(1,66)= 48.26, p<0.05. It was concluded that improved psychological wellbeing will definitely leads to high level of vocabulary acquisition of French language among students even in rural areas. It was recommended that health-promoting factors for maintaining good health should be strengthened in learners for positive learning outcomes.  

scholarly journals The Impact of COVID-19 Concerns on the Mental Health of Older Adults: A Rapid Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 727-728
Author(s):  
Sophia Perez ◽  
Alexandria Nuccio ◽  
Ashley Stripling
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
English Language Journal ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic continues to drastically impact older adults. Despite COVID-19 being linked to increased social isolation and loneliness, more research is needed on the psychological effects associated with older adults’ concerns of the pandemic. The current review explores associations between the COVID-19 Pandemic and older adults’ mental health to increase awareness and understanding. For this rapid review, empirical peer-reviewed source documents were identified through a computerized search using APA PsycInfo and Google Scholar bibliographical databases covering the years 2019 to 2021. The following keywords and combinations were used: “older adults,” “COVID-19,” and “mental health effects.” Relevant exclusion criteria were applied, and all related English-language journal articles were read. 47 articles met inclusion criteria. Eight associated COVID-19 stress with loneliness, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and poor psychological well-being, with three additional articles reporting elevations in women. Three articles revealed mixed findings regarding the impact of age on psychological variables. 13 articles evaluated changes among those with psychological/psychiatric diagnoses, and six explored physical activity and depression. Of the remaining articles, two concentrated on nutrition; seven examined routines, behaviors, and societal or risk perceptions; two evaluated coping mechanisms; and three examined emotional distress changes. Understanding COVID-19’s psychological impact on older adults will take time. This rapid review revealed mixed findings regarding COVID-19 related concerns on older adults’ psychological well-being, with multiple demographic variables uniquely impacting these outcomes. It is imperative that future research explore older adults’ risks and develop interventions related to the psychological impact of COVID-19.

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