Perceived Social Support, Affect and Psychological Well-Being in Married and Widowed Older Adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Fernandes ◽  
Nandini Sanyal ◽  
Soundarya Dhupar
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Interpersonal Support

The objective of the present study is to observe whether there is a relationship between perceived social support, positive and negative affect and psychological well-being among married and widowed older adults. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample of 120 older adults, aged above 60 years, out of whom 60 were men (30 married and 30 widowed) and 60 women (30 married and 30 widowed). The Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL-12) (Cohen & Hoberman, 1983), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988b) and Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Well-Being (Ryff, 1989) were administered to measure perceived social support, positive and negative affect and psychological well-being respectively. Significant differences were found between married and widowed older adults with respect to positive and negative affect and psychological well-being (p <0.05) There were no significant gender differences with respect to perceived social support, affect and psychological well-being. The study also showed significant correlations between the dimensions of perceived social support, positive and negative affect and psychological well-being (p<0.05). Details are discussed in the paper. The study brings to light that affect plays a significant role in the psychological well-being of older adults and encouraging of social networks can help sustain successful aging.

Psychological Adjustment of Relinquishing Mothers before and after Reunion with their Children

1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Field
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Psychological Adjustment ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Postal Survey ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Before And After

A main objective of this study was to compare the emotional well-being of mothers who had already experienced a reunion with children relinquished two to four decades ago, with that of mothers who were still awaiting the possibility of such re-contact. A nationwide postal survey was carried out in New Zealand of the relinquishment experiences and subsequent adjustment of 238 women who had been able to re-contact their children and of 206 women who had not as yet made contact. The two subgroups did not differ on two standardised measures of psychological well-being (GHQ-28 and global self esteem). However, the post-reunion women reported significantly greater improvements in their feelings connected with “adoption events”, and also reported higher levels of perceived social support than did the pre-reunion women. Women who still lacked any information about their relinquished child showed significantly more negative affect and poorer psychological well-being than those who had at least obtained some non-identifying information.

Gender and psychological well-being in older adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 1293-1302
Author(s):  
M. Pilar Matud ◽  
Juan Manuel Bethencourth ◽  
Ignacio Ibáñez ◽  
Demelza Fortes
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Sex Role ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Social Determinant ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Well Being

ABSTRACTObjectives:Gender is an important social determinant of health, but gender has played only a marginal role in the geriatric and gerontology research and practice. The aim of this study was to examine the relevance of gender to the psychological well-being of older adults.Design:A cross-sectional study was conducted.Setting:The study was carried out in Spain.Participants:A total of 1,201 people aged between 65 and 94.Measurements:The participants completed sociodemographic data and four questionnaires: The Bem sex role inventory, the Ryff’s psychological well-being scale, the York self-esteem inventory, and the Social support scale.Results:Men scored higher than women in self-acceptance, autonomy, purpose in life, and environmental mastery. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that, although the most important predictors of psychological well-being in both women and men were self-esteem and social support, both masculine/instrumental and feminine/expressive traits were associated with higher psychological well-being, although the effect size was higher for the masculine/instrumental trait. Furthermore, education was associated with psychological well-being in the case of females.Conclusions:Gender plays an important role in the psychological well-being of older adults. The results of this research are relevant for healthcare providers and policy-makers interested in promoting successful aging and increasing the well-being of older people.

scholarly journals TRANSITIONING OUT OF GRANDCHILDREN CAREGIVING: EFFECTS ON GRANDPARENTS’ EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S280-S281
Author(s):  
Rita X Hu ◽  
Lydia Li ◽  
Toni C Antonucci
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Research has suggested that grandparents caring for grandchildren experience both psychological gains and loss. Less clear is what happens to these grandparents after they exit from the caregiving role. This study used the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 2010 to 2014 data to examine the effects of transitioning out of caregiving on the psychological well-being of grandparents. Psychological well-being was measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. We defined caregiving grandparents as grandparents who provide 100+ hours of care per year to their grandchildren. In the first wave, 8,278 respondents in the HRS were identified as caregiving grandparents. Among them, 3,914 continued to be caregivers and 4,364 transitioned out of the caregiving role by indicating they are no longer providing care in the second wave. Grandparents who transitioned out of caregiving are more likely to be older in age, less educated and not married. Linear regression analysis was conducted to compare the two groups (continuing vs. exiting caregiving) on positive and negative affect, controlling for the first wave’s measures of the dependent variable, sociodemographic characteristics and health status of respondents. Results show that grandparents who continued caregiving had less decline in positive affect than grandparents who transitioned out of caregiving (b = -0.05, SE = 0.02, p&lt;0.01), adjusting for covariates. But they were not significantly different in negative affect. These findings indicate that older adults may have fewer sources of joy after exiting the role of caregivers of their grandchildren.

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&lt;0.001) and love for others (β=-1.43, p&lt;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&lt;0.001) and expressed love for other people (β=1.18, p&lt;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 SOCIAL ISOLATION AND FALLS RISK AMONG COMMUNITY DWELLING OLDER ADULTS: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF DEPRESSION

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S293-S293
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Burr ◽  
Lien Quach
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Falls Risk ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Perceived Social Isolation

Abstract Relatively little is known about the relationship between social isolation and the risk of falls among older adults. Yet, a considerable amount of research demonstrates that lack of sufficient social relationships, broadly defined, represents a modifiable risk factor for many indicators of well-being in later life. This study examines the association between two types of social isolation and the risk of falls. The study also examines whether depression mediates the association between social isolation and risk of falls. Longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2012) were collected from community-dwelling participants aged 65 and older (N=8,464). The outcome variable was number of falls self-reported over the observation period. Independent variables included perceived isolation (feeling lonely, perceptions of social support), social disconnectedness (e.g., having no friends or relatives living nearby, living alone), and number of depressive symptoms. Results from regression models indicated that social disconnectedness was associated with a 5% increase in the risk of falls (IRR=1.05, 95% CI=1.01-1.09). Perceived social support was associated with a 21% increase in the risk of falls; when examined together, perceived social support and loneliness were associated with a combined 37% increase in falls risk. Depression was associated with a 47% increase in falls. Depression mediated the association between perceived isolation and falls. Further, perceived isolation mediated the association between social disconnectedness and falls. Reducing perceived social isolation and social disconnectedness may be an avenue for designing interventions to reduce the risk of falls, especially for older adults with depression.

scholarly journals Perceived Social Support and Assertiveness as a Predictor of Candidates Psychological Counselors’ Psychological Well-Being

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bünyamin Ates
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Research Group ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Social Support Scale ◽  
Faculty Of Education ◽  
Counseling And Guidance ◽  
Special People

<p class="apa">In this research, to what extent the variables of perceived social support (family, friends and special people) and assertiveness predicted the psychological well-being levels of candidate psychological counselors. The research group of this study included totally randomly selected 308 candidate psychological counselors including 174 females (56.5%) and 134 males (43.5%) studying at Erzincan University, Faculty of Education, Psychological Counseling and Guidance Department in 2015-2016 academic year. The age average of the research group was 20.84. Psychological Well-Being Scale, Voltan-Acar Assertiveness Scale, Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, and Personal Information Form were used as the data collection tools in the research. The data obtained in the research were analyzed with stepwise regression analysis method as one of the multiple linear regression analyses methods. According to the research findings, the variables of assertiveness and social support perceived from family, friends and special people significantly predicted psychological well-being.</p>

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