Disadvantaged Americans are suffering the brunt of rising pain and physical limitations

Using data from three national surveys of US adults (one cohort and two cross-sectional studies, covering the period from the mid-1990s to the mid-2010s), we quantify the degree to which disparities by socioeconomic status (SES) in self-reported pain and physical limitations widened and explore whether they widened more in midlife than in later life. Unlike most prior studies that use proxy measures of SES (e.g., education), we use a multidimensional measure of SES that enables us to evaluate changes over time in each outcome for fixed percentiles of the population, thereby avoiding the problem of lagged selection bias. Results across multiple datasets demonstrate that socioeconomic disparities in pain and physical limitations consistently widened since the late 1990s, and if anything, widened even more in midlife than in late life (above 75). For those aged 50–74, the SES disparities in most outcomes widened by more than 50% and in some cases, the SES gap more than doubled. In contrast, the magnitude of SES widening was much smaller above age 75 and, in the vast majority of cases, not significant. Pain prevalence increased at all levels of SES, but disadvantaged Americans suffered the largest increases. Physical function deteriorated for those with low SES, but there was little change and perhaps improvement among the most advantaged Americans. At the 10th percentile of SES, the predicted percentage with a physical limitation at age 50 increased by 6-10 points between the late-1990s and the 2010s, whereas at the 90th percentile of SES, there was no change in two surveys and in the third survey, the corresponding percentage declined from 31% in 1996–99 to 22% in 2016–18. The worst-off Americans are being left behind in a sea of pain and physical infirmity, which may have dire consequences for their quality of life and for society as a whole (e.g., lost productivity, public costs).

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Do or Decline?

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105310368184 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 688-696 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Brad A. Meisner ◽

Shilpa Dogra ◽

A. Jane Logan ◽

Joseph Baker ◽

Patricia L. Weir

Keyword(s):

Successful Aging ◽

Functional Limitations ◽

Later Life ◽

Canadian Community Health Survey ◽

Population Based ◽

Functional Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Community Health Survey ◽

Using Data ◽

Biopsychosocial Health

Research has shown that physical activity (PA) is associated with overall successful aging (SA), but it is unknown whether PA promotes each SA component in similar ways. This cross-sectional population-based cohort study investigates SA in adults aged 60 years+ using data from the Canadian Community Health Survey ( N = 12,042). Multivariate comparisons showed that, compared to those who were PA, physical inactivity was a much stronger associate of functional limitations than either chronic disease or being socially unengaged with life. This effect was not found for moderately active participants. Findings reinforce that PA, even at moderate levels, is an efficient way of optimizing biopsychosocial health, particularly functional health, in later life.

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An investigation into the patterns of loneliness and loss in the oldest old – Newcastle 85+ Study

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x15001142 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 39-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

KATIE BRITTAIN ◽

ANDREW KINGSTON ◽

KAREN DAVIES ◽

JOANNA COLLERTON ◽

LOUISE A. ROBINSON ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Old Age ◽

Oldest Old ◽

Large Population ◽

Later Life ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Key Factor ◽

Using Data ◽

First Interview

ABSTRACTOld age is often characterised as being associated with neglect, isolation and loneliness, not least since established risks factors for loneliness include widowhood, living alone, depression and being female. Cross-sectional data have challenged the notion that loneliness is especially an old-age phenomenon but longitudinal data on loneliness is scarce. Moreover, an under-represented group in prior studies are the oldest old, those aged 85 years and more. This paper addresses these knowledge gaps using data from the Newcastle 85+ Study, a large population-based cohort aged 85 years at first interview with follow-up interviews at 18 months and three years. At baseline over half (55%) reported being always or often alone, and 41 per cent reported feeling more lonely than ten years previously, although only 2 per cent reported always feeling lonely. Women spent more time alone than men and reported more loneliness both currently and compared to the past. Length of widowhood was a key factor, with those recently widowed having twice the risk of feeling lonely and those widowed for five or more years having a lower risk of reporting increased loneliness. Overall, the findings show that loneliness is a minority experience in the oldest old but is strongly driven by length of widowhood, challenging the notion that loneliness in later life is a static experience.

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Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors Among Older Adults in Four European Countries

Archives of Sexual Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10508-021-02071-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nantje Fischer ◽

Cynthia A. Graham ◽

Bente Træen ◽

Gert Martin Hald

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Sexual Activity ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Sexual Attitudes ◽

Later Life ◽

Sexual Pleasure ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Using Data ◽

Almost All

AbstractSolitary sexual activity is a free, safe, and accessible way to experience sexual pleasure. Despite these advantages, research on masturbation in later life is highly understudied. Using data from a cross-sectional probability-based survey of 3816 European adults (mean age 67 years; range 60–75 years), we explored several sociodemographic, health, attitudinal, and sexual behavioral factors associated with reported masturbation frequency. Across all countries, between 41% and 65% of men and 27% and 40% of women reported any masturbation in the preceding month. Satisfaction with sexual activity and attitudes related to disapproval of sex without love were significant predictors of reported masturbation in almost all countries and in both genders. Age, education, self-perceived health, and depression were for the most part predictive of men’s reported masturbation, but not women’s. Generally, those believing sex is beneficial to older people were more likely to masturbate, while less permissive attitudes decreased the likelihood of reporting masturbation. To improve healthy sexual aging, misinformation about masturbation and sexual attitudes in older people need to be addressed.

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Diagnostics of metal samples using the results of experimental and theoretical study of positively charged microparticles formed upon sample destruction

Industrial laboratory Diagnostics of materials ◽

10.26896/1028-6861-2018-84-10-23-28 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 84 (10) ◽

pp. 23-28

Author(s):

D. A. Golentsov ◽

A. G. Gulin ◽

Vladimir A. Likhter ◽

K. E. Ulybyshev

Keyword(s):

Experimental Data ◽

Early Stage ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Material Model ◽

Total Charge ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Practical Applications ◽

Mechanical And Electrical Properties ◽

Order Of Magnitude ◽

Using Data

Destruction of bodies is accompanied by formation of both large and microscopic fragments. Numerous experiments on the rupture of different samples show that those fragments carry a positive electric charge. his phenomenon is of interest from the viewpoint of its potential application to contactless diagnostics of the early stage of destruction of the elements in various technical devices. However, the lack of understanding the nature of this phenomenon restricts the possibility of its practical applications. Experimental studies were carried out using an apparatus that allowed direct measurements of the total charge of the microparticles formed upon sample rupture and determination of their size and quantity. The results of rupture tests of duralumin and electrical steel showed that the size of microparticles is several tens of microns, the particle charge per particle is on the order of 10–14 C, and their amount can be estimated as the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the sample at the point of discontinuity to the square of the microparticle size. A model of charge formation on the microparticles is developed proceeding from the experimental data and current concept of the electron gas in metals. The model makes it possible to determine the charge of the microparticle using data on the particle size and mechanical and electrical properties of the material. Model estimates of the total charge of particles show order-of-magnitude agreement with the experimental data.

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Trends in incidence rate, health care use, and costs due to rib fractures in the Netherlands

European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery ◽

10.1007/s00068-021-01662-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jonne T. H. Prins ◽

Mathieu M. E. Wijffels ◽

Sophie M. Wooldrik ◽

Martien J. M. Panneman ◽

Michael H. J. Verhofstad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Incidence Rate ◽

Health Care Costs ◽

Indirect Costs ◽

Rib Fractures ◽

Work Absence ◽

Lost Productivity ◽

The Mean ◽

Using Data ◽

Care Costs

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to examine population-based trends in the incidence rate, health care consumption, and work absence with associated costs in patients with rib fractures. Methods A retrospective nationwide epidemiologic study was performed with data from patients with one or more rib fractures presented or admitted to a hospital in the Netherlands between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2018 and have been registered in the Dutch Injury Surveillance System (DISS) or the Hospital Discharge Registry (HDR). Incidence rates were calculated using data from Statistics Netherlands. The associated direct health care costs, costs for lost productivity, and years lived with disability (YLD) were calculated using data from a questionnaire. Results In the 4-year study period, a total of 32,124 patients were registered of which 19,885 (61.9%) required hospitalization with a mean duration of 7.7 days. The incidence rate for the total cohort was 47.1 per 100,000 person years and increased with age. The mean associated direct health care costs were €6785 per patient and showed a sharp increase after the age of 75 years. The mean duration of work absence was 44.2 days with associated mean indirect costs for lost productivity of €22,886 per patient. The mean YLD was 0.35 years and decreased with age. Conclusion Rib fractures are common and associated with lengthy HLOS and work absenteeism as well as high direct and indirect costs which appear to be similar between patients with one or multiple rib fractures and mostly affected by admitted patients and age.

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E-bike user groups and substitution effects: evidence from longitudinal travel data in the Netherlands

Transportation ◽

10.1007/s11116-021-10195-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mathijs de Haas ◽

Maarten Kroesen ◽

Caspar Chorus ◽

Sascha Hoogendoorn-Lanser ◽

Serge Hoogendoorn

Keyword(s):

The Netherlands ◽

Longitudinal Data ◽

Latent Class ◽

Good Alternative ◽

Substitution Effects ◽

Or Education ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

User Groups ◽

Using Data ◽

Mode Of Transport

AbstractIn recent years, the e-bike has become increasingly popular in many European countries. With higher speeds and less effort needed, the e-bike is a promising mode of transport to many, and it is considered a good alternative for certain car trips by policy-makers and planners. A major limitation of many studies that investigate such substitution effects of the e-bike, is their reliance on cross-sectional data which do not allow an assessment of within-person travel mode changes. As a consequence, there is currently no consensus about the e-bike’s potential to replace car trips. Furthermore, there has been little research focusing on heterogeneity among e-bike users. In this respect, it is likely that different groups exist that use the e-bike for different reasons (e.g. leisure vs commute travel), something which will also influence possible substitution patterns. This paper contributes to the literature in two ways: (1) it presents a statistical analysis to assess the extent to which e-bike trips are substituting trips by other travel modes based on longitudinal data; (2) it reveals different user groups among the e-bike population. A Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model is estimated using five waves of data from the Netherlands Mobility Panel. Furthermore, a Latent Class Analysis is performed using data from the Dutch national travel survey. Results show that, when using longitudinal data, the substitution effects between e-bike and the competing travel modes of car and public transport are not as significant as reported in earlier research. In general, e-bike trips only significantly reduce conventional bicycle trips in the Netherlands, which can be regarded an unwanted effect from a policy-viewpoint. For commuting, the e-bike also substitutes car trips. Furthermore, results show that there are five different user groups with their own distinct behaviour patterns and socio-demographic characteristics. They also show that groups that use the e-bike primarily for commuting or education are growing at a much higher rate than groups that mainly use the e-bike for leisure and shopping purposes.

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Survey of One-handed Lifting in Manufacturing Industry: A Cross-sectional Study of the BackWorks Study Cohort

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1071181320641225 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 942-946

Author(s):

Ruoliang Tang ◽

Jay M. Kapellusch ◽

Andrew S. Merryweather ◽

Matthew S. Thiese ◽

Kurt T. Hegmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Manufacturing Industry ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Study Cohort ◽

The European Union ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Materials Handling ◽

Manual Materials Handling ◽

Lost Productivity ◽

The One

Low back pain (LBP) is a common health problem and a major cause of lost productivity in workplaces. Manual materials handling (MMH) jobs have traditionally been regarded as risk factor for LBP. Compared to two-handed lifting, one-handed lifting has received little attention in both epidemiological and biomechanical research. In addition, one frequent complaint of the revised NIOSH lifting equation (RNLE) has been the lack of capability to directly evaluate one-handed lifting. Modifications have been proposed by the European Union, however their efficacy and influence have not yet been evaluated. This cross-sectional study provided objective survey of the MMH jobs, especially the one-handed lifting performed in manufacturing industry and investigated the outcomes of three proposed methods to address one-handed lifting using RNLE approach. Preliminary results suggest that workers with some one-handed lifting are associated with higher physical exposure. However, the increase was more significant among those who perform primarily one-handed lifting.

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Relationship between Changes over Time in Factors, Including the Impact of Meteorology on Photochemical Oxidant Concentration and Causative Atmospheric Pollutants in Kawasaki

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12040446 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 446

Author(s):

Akinori Fukunaga ◽

Takaharu Sato ◽

Kazuki Fujita ◽

Daisuke Yamada ◽

Shinya Ishida ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Moving Average ◽

Atmospheric Pollutants ◽

Important Indicator ◽

Photochemical Oxidant ◽

Oxidant Concentration ◽

Using Data ◽

Changes Over Time ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship ◽

The City

To clarify the relationship between changes in photochemical oxidants’ (Ox) concentrations and their precursors in Kawasaki, a series of analyses were conducted using data on Ox, their precursors, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and meteorology that had been monitored throughout the city of Kawasaki for 30 years from 1990 to 2019. The trend in air temperature was upward, wind speed was downward, and solar radiation was upward, indicating an increasing trend in meteorological factors in which Ox concentrations tend to be higher. Between 1990 and 2013, the annual average Ox increased throughout Kawasaki and remained flat after that. The three-year moving average of the daily peak increased until 2015, and after that, it exhibited a slight decline. The amount of generated Ox is another important indicator. To evaluate this, a new indicator, the daytime production of photochemical oxidant (DPOx), was proposed. DPOx is defined by daytime averaged Ox concentrations less the previous day’s nighttime averaged Ox concentrations. The trend in DPOx from April to October has been decreasing since around 2006, and it was found that this indicator reflects the impact of reducing emissions of NOx and VOCs in Kawasaki.

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Harnessing Technology for Research During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Diary Study Protocol

International Journal of Qualitative Methods ◽

10.1177/1609406920986043 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

pp. 160940692098604

Author(s):

L. Y. Saltzman ◽

L. D. Terzis ◽

T. C. Hansel ◽

J. M. Blakey ◽

D. Logan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Work ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Social Work Students ◽

Diary Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Master Of Social Work ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Msw Students ◽

Changes Over Time

Project Title: Psychosocial Reactions to a Global Pandemic: A Diary Study During COVID-19. Design: The study uses a mixed methods design that includes both a cross-sectional quantitative survey and qualitative diary entries submitted online eight times by student participants. Context of Study: The study timeline spans the full shutdown, phase 1 reopening, and phase 2 reopening of New Orleans Louisiana. Objectives: The study has three primary objectives: (1) To better understand the experiences of Social Work Students during the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) To explore risk and protective factors that influences Social Work Students’ ability to cope with stressors and changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic; and (3) to track changes over time in coping among Social Work Students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study Population: Current Master of Social Work (MSW) Students enrolled at Tulane University during the COVID-19 Pandemic will be invited to participate in this study.

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