scholarly journals Research on Attitudes Toward Ageing, Social Participation, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults in China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shan Mao ◽  
Yue Zeng ◽  
Nan Lu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Mediator Role ◽  
Common Mental Health Problems ◽  
Older Chinese ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Depressive symptoms are one of the most common mental health problems in later life. Although previous studies examined the social determinants of depressive symptoms, older adults’ attitudes toward ageing and the underlying mechanisms are understudied, especially in developing country contexts such as China. The objective of this study was to examine the mediator role of attitudes toward ageing on the relationship between social participation and depressive symptoms among older Chinese adults. The data were drawn from the 2014 baseline wave of China longitudinal Ageing Social Survey, and a total of 8568 respondents aged 60 years and older were included in this study. Path analysis was used to test the hypotheses. The results indicated that both psychological loss and psychological growth (i.e., two types of attitudes toward ageing) had direct effect on depressive symptoms. In addition, attitudes toward ageing were found to play significant mediator roles on the relationship between social participation and depressive symptoms among older adults. In conclusion, this study implicated the importance of older adults’ attitudes toward ageing in reducing depressive symptoms, and engaging in social activities could modify attitudes toward ageing and further reduce the risk of depressive symptoms.

Mental health correlates of demonstrated smartphone expertise in community dwelling older adults (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Mohlman ◽  
William Tsang ◽  
Sofia Alba Magee ◽  
Lauren Dalokay ◽  
Corey Hannah Basch
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Common Mental Health Problems ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

BACKGROUND There is a pressing need to integrate mobile technology into the treatment of common mental health problems of later life such as anxiety and depression. However, adults over the age of 65 vary greatly in their mastery of smartphones. OBJECTIVE This study characterizes an older community-dwelling sample in terms of their varying levels of demonstrated smartphone expertise relative to anxiety, depression, and self-perceived proficiency in using technological (tech) devices. METHODS A 20-step behavioral smartphone challenge task, the Smartphone Task for Older Adults, was used to evaluate older adults’ knowledge of a range of smartphone functions. RESULTS Findings diverge in potentially meaningful ways from previous studies using self-report measures of tech expertise. Scores on the task were relatively low and partly replicated the digital divide, but also indicate negative relations of demonstrated smartphone expertise with specific variants of anxiety and in-vivo frustration, rather than anxiety or depression more generally. CONCLUSIONS Tech-related anxiety and frustration while attempting new smartphone functions may characterize the current cohort of older adults who have not effectively mastered use of smartphones. Implications for smartphone training tailored to this older subgroup are discussed.

scholarly journals Impact of Different Type and Frequency of Social Participation on Depressive Symptoms Among Older Chinese Adults: Is There a Gender Difference?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shujuan Xiao ◽  
Huang Lin ◽  
Chongbang Zhao ◽  
Xiao Zheng ◽  
Lei Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Gender Difference ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Chinese Adults ◽  
Older Chinese ◽  
Older Chinese Adults

Objectives: Social participation may prevent depressive symptoms in older adults. But research to date ignores gender differences in the associations between social participation and depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different type and frequency of social participation on depressive symptoms, as well as if there is a gender difference in these correlations among older Chinese adults.Methods: Data was obtained from adults aged 60 years or above in the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey, a nationally representative sample of older adults in China. Depressive symptoms were measured using CESD-10. Social participation included participation in social groups, hobby groups, sports groups, and community-related organizations. The independent relationships between each type of social participation and depressive symptoms were assessed using multiple linear regression models.Results: A total of 6,287 older adults were included in this analysis, of whom 49.69% were women. Participating in social groups, sports groups, and community-related organizations with a frequency of one or more per week was all linked to better mental health. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the positive relationship between participation in social groups, hobby groups, and community-related organizations and depressive symptoms is more flexible for older men than for women.Conclusions: Older individuals who participate in social participation at a high frequency may have better mental health. The findings provide novel insights into mental health from the standpoint of social participation in older adults. Gender differences in the associations between social participation and depressive symptoms need to be considered when formulating interventions to prevent depression.

Poor Acceptance of the Past is Related to Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults

GeroPsych ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 246-251
Author(s):  
Gozde Cetinkol ◽  
Gulbahar Bastug ◽  
E. Tugba Ozel Kizil
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Death Anxiety ◽  
Geriatric Depression ◽  
Ego Integrity ◽  
The Past ◽  
Depressed Group ◽  
Total Death ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. Depression in older adults can be explained by Erikson’s theory on the conflict of ego integrity versus hopelessness. The study investigated the relationship between past acceptance, hopelessness, death anxiety, and depressive symptoms in 100 older (≥50 years) adults. The total Beck Hopelessness (BHS), Geriatric Depression (GDS), and Accepting the Past (ACPAST) subscale scores of the depressed group were higher, while the total Death Anxiety (DAS) and Reminiscing the Past (REM) subscale scores of both groups were similar. A regression analysis revealed that the BHS, DAS, and ACPAST predicted the GDS. Past acceptance seems to be important for ego integrity in older adults.

Interventions for Mental Health Problems in Later Life

2010 ◽  
pp. 810-837
Author(s):  
Jason M. Holland ◽  
Dolores Gallagher-Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Clinical Psychologist ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Worldwide Population ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Post Traumatic

Older adults are increasingly making up a larger segment of the worldwide population, which presents both challenges and opportunities for the clinical psychologist in the 21st century. In this chapter, we address some of the unique aspects of working with this population, focusing on general guidelines for tailoring interventions for older adults, specific treatments for particular problems commonly faced in later life, as well as issues of diversity and how they might impact psychotherapy with older clients. We also outline several areas in geropsychology that are in need of further investigation, namely the use of technology, post-traumatic stress, and family therapy, and offer some recommendations for future directions in this field of study.

Depressive Symptoms Among Rural “Left-Behind” Older Adults: A Test of the High Outmigration Penalty Hypothesis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Song ◽  
Haowei Wang ◽  
Jeffery A Burr
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Adult Density ◽  
Chinese Adults ◽  
Older Chinese ◽  
Older Chinese Adults

Abstract Objectives We investigated whether there was a “high outmigration penalty” for psychological health among older adults in rural China by assessing 2 potential community stressors associated with major sociodemographic changes in the community—increased outmigration and older adult density. We also investigated whether disparities in community economic conditions moderated the association between community stressors and depressive symptoms. Methods We employed 3 waves of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011–2015), using multilevel negative binomial models to address our research questions. Results Our results supported the “high outmigration penalty” hypothesis. Older adults living in low-income rural communities may experience an aggravated mental health penalty compared to those living in high-income rural communities. Higher older adult density was also associated with more depressive symptoms but only in less wealthy communities. Community differences in economic conditions were key factors buffering the high outmigration disadvantage associated with the psychological health of older Chinese adults. Discussion Rural outmigration may have deepened existing intercommunity health disparities among older adults. Policies should be developed to address community-level factors negatively associated with the well-being of older Chinese adults living in high outmigration and less wealthy rural communities.

scholarly journals Profile Groups Based on Lifestyle and Differences in Mental Health and Cognition

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 404-404
Author(s):  
Joseph Kim ◽  
Kyuree Kim
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Mean Differences

Abstract The purpose of this study was to identify the profiles of older adults according to lifestyle. Data for the study were from the 2017 Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS). CAMS 2017 is a questionnaire mailed to a sub-sample of respondents from the Health and Retirement Study. Participants were limited to older adults 65 and older, and the final sample consisted of 1136 older adults. The sample included 443 men and 693 women. Caucasians comprised 82.0% of the participants. Lifestyle was measured through items assessing the amount of time spent on activities. Due to high skewness, the items were dichotomized, 0=no time spent on activity and 1=time spent on the activity. Latent class analysis (LCA) was performed to identify groups based on lifestyle. LCA is a person-centered approach for identifying unobserved subgroups based on similarity in responses to items. Three lifestyle groups were identified. Group 1 was “Outgoing” with 471 individuals. Group 2 was “Adequate” with 229 individuals. Group 3 was “Inactive” with 436 individuals. An ANOVA was then conducted to assess mean differences in self-rated health, cognition, depressive symptoms, and loneliness for the three lifestyle groups. The “Outgoing” and “Adequate” groups had significantly higher scores on self-rated health and cognition, and in addition, significantly lower scores on depressive symptoms and loneliness compared to the “Inactive” group. No significant differences were observed between the “Outgoing” and “Adequate” groups. An implication from this study is the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle in later life for better mental health and cognition.

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.

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