scholarly journals Changes in Quality of Life and Loneliness Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults Participating in Therapist-Guided Digital Mental Health Intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine E. Gould ◽  
Chalise Carlson ◽  
Ana Jessica Alfaro ◽  
Christina F. Chick ◽  
Martha L. Bruce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Mental Health Interventions

Background: This study aimed to examine the effects of a 12-week multicomponent mobile app-delivered intervention, the Meru Health Program (MHP), on mental health quality of life (QoL) and loneliness among the middle-aged and older adults with depression symptoms.Methods: The eligible participants (M age = 57.06, SD = 11.26 years) were enrolled in the MHP, a therapist-supported mobile intervention. Using a non-randomized pre-post design, change in mental health QoL [WHO QoL Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) psychological health] and loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale) from baseline to post-treatment were examined. Time of enrollment [pre- vs. post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)] was included as a between-subjects factor in the repeated measures analyses.Results: Forty-two participants enrolled prior to the COVID-19 pandemic; eight enrolled after the pandemic began. Among the pre-COVID-19 enrollees, increase in mental health QoL, F(1, 38) = 12.61, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.25 and decreases in loneliness emerged, F(1, 38) = 5.42, p = 0.025, η2 = 0.13. The changes in mental health QoL, but not loneliness, held for the combined sample, such as post-COVID-19 enrollees, F(1, 44) = 6.02, p = 0.018, η2 = 0.12. The regression analyses showed that increases in mindfulness were associated with the increased mental health QoL and decreased loneliness.Conclusion: Therapist-supported digital mental health interventions, such as the MHP, have the potential to improve mental health QoL and decrease loneliness among the middle-aged and older adults. The findings for loneliness may not hold during the periods of mandated isolation. Instead, therapists supporting digital interventions may need to tailor their approach to target loneliness.

scholarly journals More Frequent Internet Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic Associates with Enhanced Quality of Life and Lower Depression Scores in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 393
Author(s):  
Anna-Stiina Wallinheimo ◽  
Simon L. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Frequent Users ◽  
Frequency Of Use

Concerns have been raised regarding middle-aged and older adults’ mental health during the coronavirus outbreak. The aim of the current study was to characterise associations between internet use (frequency and purpose), depression symptoms and Quality of Life (QoL) during the pandemic, in individuals aged 55–75. Data (N = 3491) were drawn from the English longitudinal study of ageing (ELSA) cohort study collected in June/July 2020 (while social distancing measures were in place). Associations with frequency of use were tested using analysis of covariance (ANCOVAS), controlling for covariates such as wealth and education. Type of internet use (for communication, information search) was also analysed amongst frequent users. Significant effects of frequency of use were observed (p = 0.01 for depression, p < 0.001 for QoL), with lower depression symptoms and higher QoL scores amongst more frequent users. Regarding purpose of use, those who reported using the internet for communication purposes had higher QoL. However, use for health-related or Government services information searching was associated with more depression symptoms. Results provide important information regarding the potential benefits of internet use for middle-aged and older people, suggesting that strategies to increase internet usage (particularly for communication) might benefit middle-aged and older adults’ mental health and counter isolation as the coronavirus crisis continues to evolve.

scholarly journals PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-134
Author(s):  
Petra Dolenc ◽  
Mojca Petrič
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Active Lifestyle

While regular physical activity has been shown to positively impact health and physical functioning across all age groups an active lifestyle may in particular have beneficial effects in advanced age. The objective of this article is to provide a brief overview of a contemporary research on the benefits of physical activity for psychological health and quality of life in the elderly. Older adults are more vulnerable than other age groups regarding mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. Many cross-sectional and experimental studies discussed in the article confirm the importance of a physically active lifestyle for preventing or reducing mental health problems and improving the quality of life among elderly people.

scholarly journals Mobile Intervention Outcomes Compared Pre and Post-Shelter-in-Place for Middle Aged and Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 861-861
Author(s):  
Chalise Carlson ◽  
Ana Alfaro ◽  
Christina Chick ◽  
Martha Bruce ◽  
Valerie Forman Hoffman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Behavioral Skills ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Health Quality

Abstract The Meru Health Program (MHP), a mobile app-based intervention targeting depressive symptoms, teaches mindfulness and cognitive behavioral skills through video lessons and practices. MHP includes integrated asynchronous therapist and peer support. Our aim was to examine whether using the MHP reduced loneliness and improved mental health quality of life (QoL) in middle-aged and older adults with depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionairre-9 [PHQ-9] ≥ 7). The timing of this study partially overlapped with the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic resulting in California’s shelter-in-place (SIP) orders. Fifty participants (42 enrolled prior to SIP) completed baseline assessments with a mean age of 57.06 (SD = 11.26; Range: 40-81 years) exhibiting mild to moderate depression symptoms (PHQ-9: M = 12.28, SD = 5.47). Participants enrolled pre-SIP exhibited significant improvements in QoL, F(1,38) = 12.61, p = .001, η2 = .25, and significant declines in loneliness, F(1,38) = 5.42, p = .03, η2 = .13. Improvements in QoL were found for post-SIP participants as well, F(1,44) = 6.02, p = .02, η2 = .12. In contrast, loneliness did not improve for the post-SIP cohort, perhaps alluding to the increased impact of social isolation during SIP. Our findings indicate MHP can improve QoL symptoms before and during SIP. It is possible that middle-aged and older individuals may require more individualized support during SIP to help alleviate loneliness when social connection is severely restricted. MHP remains a promising and scalable solution for those middle-aged and older adults struggling with mental health symptoms.

scholarly journals Driving habits, cognition, and health-related quality of life in middle-aged and older adults with HIV

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Josiah J. Robinson ◽  
Tess Walker ◽  
Cierra Hopkins ◽  
Brittany Bradley ◽  
Peggy McKie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

scholarly journals Compassionate Coach and Psychological Quality of Life in Portuguese Athletes: Effect of Mediating Variables

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Sara Oliveira ◽  
Marina Cunha ◽  
António Rosado ◽  
Cláudia Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Path Analysis ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Competitive Sports ◽  
Social Safeness ◽  
Emotional Processes ◽  
Proposed Model

This study aimed to test a model that hypothesized that the compassionate coach, as perceived by the athletes, has an impact on athlete-related social safeness and psychological health, through shame and self-criticism. The sample comprised 270 Portuguese adult athletes, who practiced different competitive sports. The path analysis results confirmed the adequacy of the proposed model, which explained 45% of the psychological health’s variance. Results demonstrated that athletes who perceive their coaches as more compassionate tend to present higher levels of social safeness (feelings of belonging to the team) and of psychological health, through lower levels of shame and self-criticism. These novel findings suggest the importance of the adoption of supportive, warm, safe, and compassionate attitudes from coaches in athletes’ mental health. This study also offers important insights by suggesting that feelings of acceptance and connectedness in team relationships may be at the root of athletes’ emotional processes and well-being.

scholarly journals Perceived Discrimination Trajectories and Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Black Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kellee White ◽  
Bethany A Bell ◽  
Shuo J Huang ◽  
David R Williams
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Racial Discrimination ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Perceived Discrimination ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Time Point

Abstract Background and Objectives Perceived discrimination is a risk factor for poor mental health. However, most studies measure discrimination at one time point, which does not account for heterogeneity in the cumulative patterning of exposure to discrimination. To address this gap, we examine the association between discrimination trajectories and depressive symptoms among black middle-aged and older adults. Research Design and Methods Data were analyzed from a subsample of black Health and Retirement Study respondents (2006–2018, N = 2926, older than 50 years). General discrimination and racial discrimination trajectories were constructed based on the Everyday Discrimination Scale using repeated measures latent profile analyses. We examined the extent to which the association between discrimination trajectories are differentially associated with depressive symptoms (8-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale) using negative binomial regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Effect modification by age and gender was tested. Results Individuals in the persistently high (incident rate ratio [IRR]: 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49–1.95) and moderate general discrimination trajectories (IRR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.06–1.33) were more likely to have elevated depressive symptoms in comparison to those in the persistently low trajectory. This relationship was strongest among older adults aged older than 65 years. Respondents in the persistently high racial discrimination trajectory (IRR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.29–1.73) had a higher risk of elevated depressive symptoms in comparison to respondents in the persistently low trajectory. Sensitivity analyses indicated that there was an independent association between persistently high racial discrimination trajectory class and elevated depressive symptoms, after adjusting for racial discrimination measured at a single time point. Discussion and Implications Characterizing longitudinal patterns of perceived discrimination may facilitate the stratification of mental health risk and vulnerability among black middle-aged and older adults. Trajectories of racial discrimination may inform risk of worse depressive symptoms more accurately than a single assessment of discrimination.

scholarly journals Disparities in Mental Health Quality of Life Between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White LGB Midlife and Older Adults and the Influence of Lifetime Discrimination, Social Connectedness, Socioeconomic Status, and Perceived Stress

2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 991-1012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun-Jun Kim ◽  
Karen I. Fredriksen-Goldsen
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Health Quality ◽  
Health Quality Of Life ◽  
Hispanic White

We assessed factors contributing to ethnic and racial disparities in mental health quality of life (MHQOL) among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) midlife and older adults. We utilized cross-sectional survey data from a sample of non-Hispanic White and Hispanic LGB adults aged 50 and older. Structural equation modeling was used to test the indirect effect of ethnicity/race on MHQOL via explanatory factors including social connectedness, lifetime discrimination, socioeconomic status (SES), and perceived stress. Hispanics reported significantly lower levels of MHQOL, compared to non-Hispanic Whites. In the final model, the association between ethnicity/race and MHQOL was explained by higher levels of perceived stress related to lower SES, higher frequency of lifetime discrimination, and lack of social connectedness among Hispanic LGB adults. This study suggests that perceived stress related to social disadvantage and marginalization plays an important role in MHQOL disparities among Hispanic LGB midlife and older adults.

The effect of exercise and diet on mental health and quality of life in middle-aged individuals with elevated risk factors for cardiovascular disease

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 369-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARIT SORENSEN ◽  
SIGMUND ANDERSSEN ◽  
INGVAR HJERMAN ◽  
INGAR HOLME ◽  
HOLGER URSIN
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Elevated Risk ◽  
Middle Aged

scholarly journals HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S515-S516
Author(s):  
Lan Doan ◽  
Yumie Takata ◽  
Karen Hooker ◽  
Carolyn Mendez-Luck ◽  
and Veronica L Irvin
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Asian American ◽  
Medicare Advantage ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for Asian American (AA), Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (NHPI) older adults, and AAs/NHPIs have not enjoyed decreases in CVD mortality rates, as have non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). Heterogeneity exists in the prevalence of traditional CVD risk factors for AAs/NHPIs. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) reflect physical and mental burdens beyond clinical burdens, which may help explain discrepant CVD rates and risk factors in AAs/NHPIs. We examined HRQOL among NHW and AA/NHPI Medicare Advantage enrollees with and without a CVD (i.e., coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke) using the Medicare Health Outcomes Survey. The sample included 655,914 older adults who were 65 years or older, self-reported as AA/NHPI or NHW, and were enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans in 2011-2015. HRQOL was measured using the Veterans RAND 12-item survey and is composed of a physical component score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS), where higher scores reflect better physical and mental health, respectively. Multivariable linear regression was used to explore HRQOL and CVD prevalence. Asian Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Other Asian, and NHPI subgroups had lower overall PCS, and all AA/NHPI subgroups had lower overall MCS, compared to NHWs. Among those reporting having any CVD, PCS varied by CVD outcomes and subgroups, whereas MCS was lower for all CVD outcomes and for all but one AA/NHPI subgroups (Japanese), compared to NHWs. Attention to mental health for AA/NHPI older adults could be important for the equitable realization of healthy aging.

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