scholarly journals Mental and social health in the German old age population largely unaltered during COVID-19 lockdown: results of a representative survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Röhr ◽  
Ulrich Reininghaus ◽  
Steffi Riedel-Heller
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Personal Life ◽  
Social Health ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Life Situation ◽  
Increased Risk

Background: Older individuals are at increased risk of a severe and lethal course of COVID-19. They have typically been advised to practice particularly restrictive social distancing (‘cocooning’), which has sparked much debate on mental and social health consequences in older individuals. We aim to provide evidence. Methods: A computer-assisted standardized telephone interview was conducted in a randomly selected and representative sample of the German old age population (n = 1,005; age ≥65 years) during lockdown in April 2020. Assessments included sociodemographic factors, aspects of the personal life situation during lockdown, attitudes towards COVID-19, and standardized screening measures on depression, anxiety, somatization, posttraumatic stress, perceived stress, loneliness and social support. Sampling-weighted descriptive statistics and multiple multivariable regression analyses were conducted. Results: Participants were M = 75.5 (SD = 7.1) years old; 56.3% were women. At data collection, COVID-19 lockdown had been in force for M = 28.0 (SD = 4.8) days. Overall, older individuals were worried about COVID-19, but supportive of the lockdown. Mean scores and prevalence estimates of measured mental and social health variables were comparable to figures reported before the pandemic, except slightly higher perceived stress and higher perceived social support. There were only few significant associations of aspects of the personal life situation during lockdown and attitudes towards COVID-19 with mental and social health variables, while resilience explained a large amount of variance. Conclusions: In the short-term, the mental and social health of the German old age population was largely unaltered during COVID-19 lockdown, suggesting resilience against the challenging pandemic situation. Our results refute common ageist stereotypes of “the weak and vulnerable elderly” that were present during the pandemic. Long-term observations are needed to provide robust evidence.

scholarly journals Mental wellbeing in the German old age population largely unaltered during COVID-19 lockdown: results of a representative survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Röhr ◽  
Ulrich Reininghaus ◽  
Steffi G. Riedel-Heller
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Brief Symptom Inventory ◽  
Personal Life ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Representative Survey ◽  
Life Situation ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Background Older individuals are at increased risk of a severe and lethal course of COVID-19. They have typically been advised to practice particularly restrictive social distancing (‘cocooning’), which has sparked much debate on the consequences for their mental wellbeing. We aimed to provide evidence by conducting a representative survey among the German old population during COVID-19 lockdown. Methods A computer-assisted standardized telephone interview was conducted in a randomly selected and representative sample of the German old age population (n = 1005; age ≥ 65 years) during the first lockdown in April 2020. Assessments included sociodemographic factors, aspects of the personal life situation during lockdown, attitudes towards COVID-19, and standardized screening measures on depression, anxiety, somatization, overall psychological distress (Brief Symptom Inventory/BSI-18) and loneliness (UCLA 3-item loneliness scale). Sampling-weighted descriptive statistics and multiple multivariable regression analyses were conducted. Results Participants were M = 75.5 (SD = 7.1) years old; 56.3% were women. At data collection, COVID-19 lockdown had been in force for M = 28.0 (SD = 4.8) days. Overall, older individuals were worried about COVID-19, but supportive of the lockdown. Mean BSI-18 scores were 1.4 for depression, 1.6 for anxiety and 2.2 for somatization as well as 5.1 for global psychological distress. These figures did not indicate worse mental wellbeing, given normative values established by studies before the pandemic (2.0, 1.6, 2.4, 6.0, respectively). The prevalence of loneliness was 13.1%, which also fell within a range of estimates reported by studies before the pandemic. There were only few significant associations of aspects of the personal life situation during lockdown and attitudes towards COVID-19 with mental wellbeing. Resilience explained a large amount of variance. Conclusions In the short-term, the mental wellbeing of the German old age population was largely unaltered during COVID-19 lockdown, suggesting resilience against the challenging pandemic situation. Our results refute common ageist stereotypes of “the weak and vulnerable older adults” that were present during the pandemic. Long-term observations are needed to provide robust evidence.

Abstract 14087: Psychosocial Determinants of Health Predict Depressive Symptoms and Anxiety in Rural Caregivers

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L Smith ◽  
Misook L Chung ◽  
Jennifer Miller ◽  
Martha J Biddle ◽  
Donna Schuman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Brief Symptom Inventory ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Rural Caregivers ◽  
Increased Risk

Introduction: Caregivers have an 82% increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to non-caregivers. Depressive symptoms (DS) and anxiety increase CVD risk, and these are worse in rural dwellers. Knowing predictors of DS and anxiety in rural caregivers of patients with chronic illness is important to reduce CVD risk. Purpose: To identify predictors of DS and anxiety in rural caregivers at risk for CVD using a social determinants of health (SDH) model. Method: In this cross-sectional study we measured multiple SDH. These variables included sociodemographic (i.e., age, gender, race, marital status, health insurance, education, financial status), behavioral (i.e., smoking and body mass index [BMI]), and psychosocial (i.e., caregiver burden measured by the Zarit Burden Interview, perceived stress by the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, and social support by the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey) factors. The outcomes of DS were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and anxiety by the Brief Symptom Inventory – Anxiety subscale. Data were analyzed using two separate multiple regression models, one for DS and one for anxiety. As depression and anxiety are often comorbid, they were considered predictors in the appropriate models. Results: In the 262 participants (mean age 53±13, 78% female, 96% Caucasian, 70% were married), mean years of education were 14±2, 56.1% had enough money to make ends meet, and 55% had no insurance or Medicaid only. Significant predictors of worse DS were higher caregiver burden (β=0.05, p=0.004), higher perceived stress (β=2.04, p=0.001), and higher anxiety (β=3.79, p= <0.001). Predictors of worse anxiety, were younger age (β=-0.006, p=0.03), higher caregiver burden (β=0.006, p=0.009), lower social support (β=-0.004, p=0.05), and higher DS (β=0.08, p=<0.001). Conclusion: Predictors of DS and anxiety in these rural caregivers were psychosocial variables. Caregiver CVD Interventions could be optimized by including stress management, education about the psychological effects of caregiving, and social support components. Future research is needed on the role of DS and anxiety in CVD to better support rural caregivers at highest risk.

Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Their Contribution to Healthy Aging

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 194-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Maria Mello ◽  
Giulia Paroni ◽  
Julia Daragjati ◽  
Alberto Pilotto
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Microbiota Composition ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Gastrointestinal Microbiota ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Older Subjects

Studies on populations at different ages have shown that after birth, the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota composition keeps evolving, and this seems to occur especially in old age. Significant changes in GI microbiota composition in older subjects have been reported in relation to diet, drug use and the settings where the older subjects are living, that is, in community nursing homes or in a hospital. Moreover, changes in microbiota composition in the old age have been related to immunosenescence and inflammatory processes that are pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the pathways of frailty. Frailty is an age-related condition of increased vulnerability to stresses due to the impairment in multiple inter-related physiologic systems that are associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes, such as falls, delirium, institutionalization, hospitalization and death. Preliminary data suggest that changes in microbiota composition may contribute to the variations in the biological, clinical, functional and psycho-social domains that occur in the frail older subjects. Multidimensional evaluation tools based on a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) have demonstrated to be useful in identifying and measuring the severity of frailty in older subjects. Thus, a CGA approach should be used more widely in clinical practice to evaluate the multidimensional effects potentially related to GI microbiota composition of the older subjects. Probiotics have been shown to be effective in restoring the microbiota changes of older subjects, promoting different aspects of health in elderly people as improving immune function and reducing inflammation. Whether modulation of GI microbiota composition, with multi-targeted interventions, could have an effect on the prevention of frailty remains to be further investigated in the perspective of improving the health status of frail ‘high risk' older individuals.

scholarly journals Inequalities in Old Age

1983 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rex Taylor ◽  
Graeme Ford
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
Working Class ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Random Sample ◽  
Social Classes ◽  
Social Health ◽  
Personal Resources ◽  
Age Cohorts ◽  
Elderly Males

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the distribution of personal resources - financial, social, health and psychological - between age cohorts, sex groups and social classes in a random sample of community elderly. As expected, the young elderly, males and those from middle-class backgrounds have a disproportionate share of three out of four of these resources, but for social support the balance of advantage is reversed. When age, sex and class are combined to yield eight subgroups, younger working-class males consistently rank high on all resources and older working-class females consistently rank low. Older middle-class females rank low on all resources other than on close friends.

scholarly journals Ego-resiliency Moderates the Risk of Depression and Social Anxiety Symptoms on Suicidal Ideation in Medical Students

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun Hyun Seo ◽  
Hae-Jung Yang ◽  
Seung-Gon Kim ◽  
Hyung-Jun Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Independent Effect ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Mental Health Programs ◽  
Ego Resiliency

Abstract BackgroundLittle is known about the role of protective factors in suicidal ideation among medical students. This study aimed to examine the association between suicidal ideation and protective (self-esteem/ego-resiliency/social support) and risk (depression/social anxiety) factors.MethodsData on sociodemographic factors, depression, social anxiety, self-esteem, ego-resiliency, social support, and current suicidal ideation were collected from 408 medical students. A logistic regression model was constructed to identify the independent impact of potential influencing factors on suicidal ideation. Potential moderating effects were also explored.ResultsThirty-eight participants (9.3%) reported experiencing suicidal ideation. Younger age, higher levels of depression, social anxiety, and lower levels of self-esteem, ego-resiliency, and social support were found to be significantly correlated with suicidal ideation. In the final model, higher levels of depression and social anxiety were associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation, while higher levels of self-esteem and social support were associated with a decreased risk of suicidal ideation. Although the independent effect was not significant, the interactions of ego-resiliency with both depression and social anxiety on suicidal ideation were significant. Higher levels of ego-resiliency acted as a buffer against suicidal ideation among those with higher levels of depression or social anxiety.ConclusionsIn addition to risk factors, this study revealed the underlying protective and moderating factors of suicidal ideation among medical students. Mental health programs focusing on enhancing ego-resiliency, self-esteem, and social support may contribute to suicide prevention in medical students.

scholarly journals The impact of migration on women’s mental health in the postpartum period

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lígia Moreira Almeida ◽  
Cristina Costa-Santos ◽  
José Peixoto Caldas ◽  
Sónia Dias ◽  
Diogo Ayres-de-Campos
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Postpartum Period ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To assess the influence of I mmigration on the psychological health of women after childbirth. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, immigrant and Portuguese-native women delivering in the four public hospitals of the metropolitan area of Porto, Portugal, were contacted by telephone between February and December 2012 during the first postpartum month to schedule a home visit and fill in a questionnaire. Most immigrant (76.1%) and Portuguese mothers (80.0%) agreed to participate and with the visits, thus a total of 89 immigrants and 188 Portuguese women were included in the study. The questionnaire included the application of four validated scales: Mental Health Inventory-5, Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Scale of Satisfaction with Social Support. Statistical analysis included t-test and Chi-square or Fisher’s test, and logistic regression models. RESULTS Immigrants had an increased risk of postpartum depression (OR = 6.444, 95%CI 1.858–22.344), and of low satisfaction with social support (OR = 6.118, 95%CI 1.991–18.798). We did not perceive any associations between migrant state, perceived stress, and impoverished mental health. CONCLUSIONS Immigrant mothers have increased vulnerabilities in the postpartum period, resulting in an increased risk of postpartum depression and lesser satisfaction with the received social support.

scholarly journals THE NATIONAL ELDER MISTREATMENT STUDY 8 YEARS LATER: VICTIM MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S476-S476
Author(s):  
Melba Hernandez-Tejada ◽  
Ron Acierno ◽  
Georgia Anetzberger ◽  
Daniel Loew ◽  
Wendy Muzzy
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Negative Outcomes ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Elder Mistreatment ◽  
Current Wave ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Reported Health

Abstract The purpose of this study was to conduct an 8-year follow-up of the National Elder Mistreatment Study (NEMS) and specify risk ratios for negative outcomes of elder abuse, including DSM-5 defined depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and poor self-reported health. Methodology: Attempts were made to re-contact, via Computer Assisted Telephone Interview, all 752 NEMS participants who reported mistreatment since age 60 at Wave I, as well as a randomly selected sample of non-mistreated NEMS participants Results: 183 NEMS Wave I elder abuse victims and 591 non-victims provided data. In bivariate analyses, elder mistreatment 8 years earlier increased risk of negative outcomes by 200-700%. However, multivariate analyses revealed that Current (Wave II) social support was highly protective against most negative outcomes (excepting PTSD), and even appeared to nullify effects of mistreatment on GAD and poor self-reported health. Conclusions: Outcomes of elder mistreatment have not been studied prospectively in a national sample. The NEMS 8-year follow-up findings indicate a strong relationship between elder mistreatment at Wave I and negative emotional and physical health 8 years later. Fortunately, current (Wave II) social support appears to be both consistently and powerfully protective against most negative outcomes.

scholarly journals Social Isolation and Loneliness during COVID-19 Lockdown: Associations with Depressive Symptoms in the German Old-Age Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3615
Author(s):  
Felix Müller ◽  
Susanne Röhr ◽  
Ulrich Reininghaus ◽  
Steffi G. Riedel-Heller
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Brief Symptom Inventory ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Resilience Scale ◽  
Objective State

Lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic increase the risk of social isolation and loneliness, which may affect mental wellbeing. Therefore, we aimed to investigate associations between social isolation and loneliness with depressive symptoms in the German old-age population during the first COVID-19 lockdown. A representative sample of randomly selected individuals at least 65 years old (n = 1005) participated in a computer-assisted standardized telephone interview in April 2020. Sociodemographic data, aspects of the personal life situation, attitudes towards COVID-19 and standardized screening measures on loneliness (UCLA 3-item loneliness scale), depression (Brief Symptom Inventory/BSI-18), and resilience (Brief Resilience Scale/BRS) were assessed. Associations were inspected using multivariate regression models. Being lonely, but not isolated (β = 0.276; p < 0.001) and being both isolated and lonely (β = 0.136; p < 0.001) were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Being isolated, but not lonely was not associated with depressive symptoms. Thus, the subjective emotional evaluation, i.e., feeling lonely, of the social situation during lockdown seems more relevant than the objective state, i.e., being isolated. Normal (β = −0.203; p < 0.001) and high resilience (β = −0.308; p < 0.001) were associated with lower depressive symptoms across groups. Therefore, strengthening coping skills may be a support strategy during lockdowns, especially for lonely older individuals.

Loneliness, Not Social Support, Is Associated with Cognitive Decline and Dementia Across Two Longitudinal Population-Based Cohorts

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Rosanne Freak-Poli ◽  
Nina Wagemaker ◽  
Rui Wang ◽  
Thom S. Lysen ◽  
M. Arfan Ikram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Social Health ◽  
National Study ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Dementia Risk ◽  
Incident Dementia ◽  
Increased Risk

Background: Poor social health is likely associated with cognitive decline and risk of dementia; however, studies show inconsistent results. Additionally, few studies separate social health components or control for mental health. Objective: To investigate whether loneliness and social support are independently associated with cognitive decline and risk of dementia, and whether depressive symptoms confound the association. Methods: We included 4,514 participants from the population-based Rotterdam Study (RS; aged 71±7SD years) followed up to 14 years (median 10.8, interquartile range 7.4–11.6), and 2,112 participants from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K; aged 72±10SD years) followed up to 10 years (mean 5.9±1.6SD). At baseline, participants were free of major depression and scored on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) ≥26 for RS and ≥25 for SNAC-K. We investigated loneliness, perceived social support, and structural social support (specifically marital status and number of children). In both cohorts, dementia was diagnosed and cognitive function was repeatedly assessed with MMSE and a global cognitive factor (g-factor). Results: Loneliness was prospectively associated with a decline in the MMSE in both cohorts. Consistently, persons who were lonely had an increased risk of developing dementia (RS: HR 1.34, 95%CI 1.08–1.67; SNAC-K: HR 2.16, 95%CI 1.12–4.17). Adjustment for depressive symptoms and exclusion of the first 5 years of follow-up did not alter results. Neither perceived or structural social support was associated with cognitive decline or dementia risk. Conclusion: Loneliness, not social support, predicted cognitive decline and incident dementia independently of depressive symptoms.

scholarly journals Social isolation, social support and loneliness as predictors of cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosanne Freak-Poli ◽  
Joanne Ryan ◽  
Johannes T. Neumann ◽  
Andrew Tonkin ◽  
Christopher M. Reid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Social Health ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Health Domains

Abstract Background Poor social health is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent research suggests that different social health domains should be considered separately as the implications for health and possible interventions may differ. Aim To assess social isolation, low social support and loneliness as predictors of CVD. Methods Secondary analysis of 11,486 community-dwelling, Australians, aged 70 years and over, free of CVD, dementia, or significant physical disability, from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial. Social isolation, social support (Revised Lubben Social Network Scale), and loneliness were assessed as predictors of CVD using Cox proportional-hazard regression. CVD events included fatal CVD, heart failure hospitalization, myocardial infarction and stroke. Analyses were adjusted for established CVD risk factors. Results Individuals with poor social health were 42 % more likely to develop CVD (p = 0.01) and twice as likely to die from CVD (p = 0.02) over a median 4.5 years follow-up. Interaction effects indicated that poorer social health more strongly predicted CVD in smokers (HR 4.83, p = 0.001, p-interaction = 0.01), major city dwellers (HR 1.94, p < 0.001, p-interaction=0.03), and younger older adults (70-75 years; HR 2.12, p < 0.001, p-interaction = 0.01). Social isolation (HR 1.66, p = 0.04) and low social support (HR 2.05, p = 0.002), but not loneliness (HR 1.4, p = 0.1), predicted incident CVD. All measures of poor social health predicted ischemic stroke (HR 1.73 to 3.16). Conclusions Among healthy older adults, social isolation and low social support may be more important than loneliness as cardiovascular risk factors. Social health domains should be considered in future CVD risk prediction models.

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