scholarly journals Newspaper portrayals of health and illness among Canadian seniors : Who ages healthily and at what cost?

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Rozanova
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Media Representations ◽  
Individual Responsibility ◽  
Health And Illness ◽  
The Media

While media representations of health and illness receive growing attention from researchers, few studies have considered the newspaper portrayals of health and illness among the elderly. Yet, print media are one vehicle through which governments, in a climate of concern about population aging and the sustainability of the social safety net, emphasize individual responsibility for health and well-being in later life. By praising healthy aging, the media may, perhaps inadvertently, perpetuate new ageist stereotypes that marginalize vulnerable adults who fail to age healthily, and downplay the role of social institutions and structural inequalities (particularly gender and socio-economic status) in influencing individuals’ personal resources and lifestyle choices. This paper explores whether, and if so, how the media represent interrelations between health and aging, through thematic analysis of a pool of articles about seniors published in The Globe and Mail in 2005.

scholarly journals Resilient Aging: Psychological Well-Being and Social Well-Being as Targets for the Promotion of Healthy Aging

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 233372142110029
Author(s):  
Eric S. Kim ◽  
Rifky Tkatch ◽  
David Martin ◽  
Stephanie MacLeod ◽  
Lewis Sandy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Treatment Programs ◽  
Response Effort ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Social Trends ◽  
Functional Quality ◽  
Prevention And Treatment

Population aging is one of the most important social trends of the 21st century and in the United States, the number of people aged ≥65 is projected to increase by nearly 50% in the next 15 years. Most biomedical and public health efforts have focused on reducing harmful risk factors when targeting chronic disease—an approach that has contributed greatly to prevention and treatment programs. However, evidence suggests that the number of years lost to disability is increasing and historic gains we have made in life expectancy are eroding, and even reversing in some groups. As our society ages and grapples with these issues, expanding the focus to include resilience, as well as psychosocial assets in our prevention and treatment programs might help inform the multidisciplinary response effort we need. Here we synthesize research evaluating associations between different dimensions of psychological well-being (e.g., purpose in life, optimism, life satisfaction) and social well-being (e.g., structural, functional, quality) with chronic conditions. We also evaluate evidence around three biopsychosocial pathways hypothesized to underlie these associations. These factors are meaningful, measurable, and potentially modifiable; thus, further pursuing this line of inquiry might unveil innovative paths to enhancing the health of our rapidly aging society.

scholarly journals LONELINESS AND SUICIDE IDEATION IN OLDER ADULTS: A LONGITUDINAL INVESTIGATION

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S594-S594
Author(s):  
Marnin J Heisel
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Suicide Ideation ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Variables ◽  
Canadian City ◽  
Psychological Risk

Abstract Older adults have the highest rates of suicide globally, necessitating theory and research investigating suicide and its prevention in later-life. The experience of loneliness is significantly associated with depression, hopelessness, negative health outcomes, and mortality among older adults. Yet, relatively little research has focused on the role of loneliness in conferring suicide risk in later life. The purpose of the present study was thus to investigate the potential associations between loneliness and suicide ideation and behavior in a sample of community-residing older adults recruited into a larger two-year longitudinal study of psychological risk and resiliency to later-life suicide ideation. We specifically recruited 173 adults, 65 years or older, from community locations in a medium-sized Canadian city, for a study on “healthy aging.” Participants completed measures of positive and negative psychological variables, including depression, loneliness, and suicide ideation at a baseline assessment, and again at 2-4 week, 6-12 month, and 1-2 year follow-up points. Findings indicated that loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale) was significantly positively associated with concurrent depression and suicide ideation, negatively associated with psychological well-being and perceived social support, and differentiated between participants who endorsed or denied having ever engaged in suicide behavior. Baseline loneliness also explained significant variability in the onset of suicide ideation over a 1-2 year period of follow-up, controlling for age, sex, and baseline depression and suicide ideation. These findings will be discussed in the context of the need for increased focus on psychosocial factors when assessing and intervening to reduce suicide risk in older adults.

scholarly journals Going Online to Stay Connected: Online Social Participation Buffers the Relationship Between Pain and Depression

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. 1020-1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Ang ◽  
Tuo-Yu Chen
Keyword(s):  
Social Participation ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Online Social Network ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Compensatory Mechanism ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Lagged Dependent Variable

Abstract Objectives Maintaining offline social participation (i.e., face-to-face social interaction) is key for healthy aging, but older adults who experience pain tend to restrict their social activity outside of the home. The onset of pain may set off a downward spiral where lowered social participation increases the risk of depression and vice versa. This study thus assesses whether online social participation (i.e., the use of online social network sites) moderates the effect of pain on depression, possibly functioning as a compensatory mechanism for reduced offline social participation for those in pain. Method Logistic regression models with a lagged dependent variable were used with panel data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study. An interaction term was included to assess the moderating effect of online social participation. Results We find that online social participation buffers the detrimental effect of pain on depression. However, the effect of pain on online social participation was not statistically significant. Discussion Findings show that online social participation can alleviate the negative effects of pain on mental well-being, and suggest that online social participation can supplement attempts to maintain offline social participation in later life, especially for those whose social activity may be limited by pain.

Subjective Well-being in Later Life: 20 Years after the Butterworths Monograph Series on Individual and Population Aging

2011 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 467-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Stones ◽  
Albert Kozma ◽  
Kevin McNeil ◽  
Sarah Worobetz
Keyword(s):  
Population Aging ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Monograph Series

RÉSUMÉCet article examine l’évolution de la théorie et la recherche sur le bonheur deux décennies après la publication du Psychological Well-Being in Later Life (Butterworths, 1991) par Albert Kozma, Michael Stones, et Kevin McNeil. Les avancements empiriques majeurs comprennent de nouvelles connaissances au sujet des contributions au bonheur résultants d’effets liés génétiquement et leur personnalité. Les traits de personnalité exercent des relations plus fortes avec le bonheur que ne l’était il ya 20 ans et de contribuent à la covariance entre le bonheur et certains ses prédicteurs. Accents de recherche en évolution comprennent les façons dont les effets qui sont génétiquement liés influencent la manière dont on forme et réagit à son environnement.

scholarly journals Aging With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Critical Examination of Supports for Healthy Aging

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 225-226
Author(s):  
Lieke van Heumen ◽  
Kelly Munly ◽  
Patricia Heyn
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Interprofessional Education ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
New Normal ◽  
Age Related

Abstract The number of older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the U.S. is expected to double and potentially triple by 2030. Despite this demographic urgency, there continues to be a lack of research directly addressing aging of people with IDD. Individuals with IDD have on average twice as many health problems than others without IDD, experience earlier age-related declines in health and function than the general population and are more likely to develop secondary conditions as they age. The increase in the number of people aging with IDD and the challenges experienced by this population have demanded new directions for research, practice and policy that promote social justice and improve this population’s health and well-being. This symposium brings together research that critically examines and calls for a “new normal” of supports for healthy aging provided to the population aging with IDD. The first presentation consists of a systematic review of healthy aging interventions for adults with IDD. The authors conclude that such interventions for adults with IDD remain scarce, incipient and sporadic. The second presentation critically reviews an interprofessional education model aimed to address the complex and unique needs of older adults with IDD and dementia. The authors provide recommendations for the future development of interprofessional education in this field. In the third and final presentation the authors offer further transformation toward a new normal as they outline future directions for research on aging with IDD that is informed by positive psychology and disability studies theory.

Creativity, music, and quality of later life: A systematic review

2020 ◽  
pp. 030573562094811
Author(s):  
Andrea Creech ◽  
Keven Larouche ◽  
Mariane Generale ◽  
David Fortier
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Music Making ◽  
Participatory Music

The aim of this systematic review was to interrogate the existing literature that articulates indirect or direct links between quality of life (QoL) and creativity in later life musical learning and participation. Search terms were related to the concept (creativity), the context (music), the population (aging), and the outcome (QoL). Twenty-three articles were retained. The link between creativity and QoL focused primarily on the role of creativity in life enrichment and subjective well-being. Creativity in participatory music-making was found to be underpinned by social engagement, collaboration, and inclusivity. Opportunities for creative expression through participatory music-making offered a range of benefits relating to QoL that included positive emotions, engagement, relationships, a sense of meaning, and accomplishment. Our systematic review highlights limitations with regard to theoretical explanations for the characteristics of a creative musical process or product within later life contexts, the specific contributions of these creative processes and products in relation to quality of later life, and the specific ways in which creative musical expression can be facilitated within diverse and multicultural later life contexts so as to maximize the potential QoL benefits for our aging population.

scholarly journals ESPO/BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES: SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS, ISOLATION, AND WELL-BEING

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S58-S58
Author(s):  
Jeffrey E Stokes ◽  
Elliane Irani ◽  
Patricia A Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Older Couples ◽  
Depressive Symptomology ◽  
Subjective Side

Abstract The purpose of this symposium is twofold: (1) To present innovative research linking social relationships, isolation, and well-being among older adults, and (2) To highlight new and emerging scholars in the Behavioral and Social Sciences section of GSA. The papers in this symposium examine the repercussions of numerous relationships for well-being in later life. Huo and colleagues examine the impacts of contact with close and not-close social partners on physical activity, highlighting differences by gender. Polenick and colleagues focus on perhaps the closest of relationships in later life: marriage, analyzing longitudinal associations between discordant chronic conditions and depressive symptoms among older couples. Upenieks takes an intergenerational perspective, examining the embeddedness of adult children in older adults’ networks in the context of both depression onset and chronically high depressive symptomology. This paper also highlights the consequences of well-being for older adults’ social isolation, and not merely the reverse. Hladek and colleagues explore the subjective side of isolation among older adults with chronic disease, noting links between loneliness and self-efficacy that may have clinical and interventional significance. Lastly, Meinertz and Gilligan explore potential gaps in service provision that may increase rural older adults’ risk of isolation and abuse. Taken together, these five papers underscore the importance of various social relationships for older adults’ well-being, and suggest implications for how best to promote healthy aging. As discussant, Thomas will assess the strengths and limitations of these papers, and consider the contributions these studies – and new scholars – can make to the field.

scholarly journals Aging well: an update

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 3-9
Author(s):  
Hiroko Akiyama
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Social Experiment ◽  
Sense Of Security ◽  
Aging Well ◽  
Working Age ◽  
Aging Societies ◽  
The University

Abstract Population aging is a global phenomenon, and Japan is one of the front-runners of rapidly aging societies. In 2030, one-third of the Japanese population will be at least 65 years of age and 20% will be at least 75 years of age. The working age population is shrinking. Healthy aging is a crucial issue for both individual well-being and the sustainability of society. Along with biomedical research, the importance of the living environment and lifestyle has been long recognized and extensively studied. The issues have been identified and now it is time to establish solutions and actions – action-targeted research. The Institute of Gerontology at the University of Tokyo launched a social experiment, redesigning existing communities where people could live for 100 years and remain healthy, active, and connected, while still maintaining a sense of security. This requires co-creation by citizens, researchers, government, and industry. The ultimate goal is to make linkages among longevity, health, and wealth, and to build a sustainable society.

Acceptance of Love and Remarriage Among Older Adults in the Philippines

2020 ◽  
pp. 089826432098124
Author(s):  
Ju Young Kim ◽  
Hanzhang Xu ◽  
Grace Cruz ◽  
Yasuhiko Saito ◽  
Truls Østbye
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Multivariable Analyses ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Objectives: Later-life re-partnership has been linked to healthy aging, but little is known about Philippine older adults’ perception of love and remarriage in older age. Methods: Using two nationally representative surveys on aging in the Philippines, we estimated the proportion of older adults reporting acceptance. Using weighted logistic regression, we assessed sociodemographic and health factors associated with acceptance as well as the relationship of this acceptance with social activity and health behaviors. Results: Only seventeen percent of respondents reported acceptance. Per multivariable analyses, unmarried men and married women reported acceptance, and acceptance was associated with increased social activity and smoking in men, less smoking in women, and more drinking in both genders. Discussion: Most older adults in the Philippines reported love and remarriage in old age as unacceptable. Through these results, we can understand how attitudes toward later-life relationship impact older adults’ health and well-being.

scholarly journals NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT AND LATER-LIFE WELL-BEING: OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE INDICATORS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S63-S63
Author(s):  
Noah J Webster ◽  
Christine Mair ◽  
Malcolm Cutchin
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Neighborhood Context ◽  
Physical Disorder ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
Subjective Indicators ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Level Data

Abstract Neighborhoods are known to shape well-being across the life course, particularly in later life. Yet, neighborhoods remain an underutilized focus in public health interventions due to lack of measurement specificity and understanding of mechanisms across well-being outcomes. This symposium brings together four complementary papers from social work, sociology, and psychology that incorporate multiple (objective and/or subjective) indicators of neighborhood context from national to locally-based samples to predict diverse forms of well-being. Lehning and colleagues use objective (Census) indicators of neighborhoods from the National Neighborhood Change Database, combined with data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (N=7,197), to explore links between changing neighborhood age composition and older adults’ self-rated health.. Sharifian and colleagues examine the associations between perceived neighborhood characteristics (social cohesion, physical disorder) and cognition directly and indirectly through mental health pathways (depressive symptoms, anxiety) using the Health and Retirement Study. Webster and colleagues examine links between objective (Census) and subjective (perceived safety) neighborhood indicators and social well-being using data from the Detroit-based Social Relations Study (N=259). Mair et al. combine objective neighborhood-level data with individual-level data from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span dataset to examine direct and indirect effects of neighborhood context on obesity risk among N=2,707 middle-age and older Baltimore City residents. These papers will be discussed by Malcolm Cutchin, a health geographer and social gerontologist, who will provide an interdisciplinary reflection of neighborhood measurement and use neighborhoods as a platform to promote diverse forms of well-being in later life.

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