scholarly journals A Novel Adaptation of the HOME Inventory for Elders: The Importance of the Home Environment Across the Life Course

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (16) ◽  
pp. 2826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Hale ◽  
Truls Østbye ◽  
Bilesha Perera ◽  
Robert Bradley ◽  
Joanna Maselko
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Child Development ◽  
Home Environment ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Development Literature ◽  
The Life Course

The context in which dependents, regardless of age, receive care affects their health. This study adapted the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) Inventory, originally designed for child development research, to assess the quality of stimulation and support available to elders in their habitual households in Sri Lanka. Whether the adapted domains correlated with indicators of health and well-being in ways consistent with the child development literature was then examined. Through mixed-methods research based on 248 household surveys, four focus groups, and 15 interviews, three domains emerged: Physical Environment, Variety of Stimulation, and Emotional and Verbal Responsiveness. Regression modeling revealed that a higher quality physical home environment correlated with two measures of cognitive function after adjusting for covariates, but no consistent association with two psychological well-being scales. In contrast, higher Variety of Stimulation scores correlated with better cognitive function and lower psychological distress. There was no consistent correlation between Responsiveness and selected health outcomes. Qualitative data indicate that elders are active household contributors who strive to achieve harmonious relations with coresident kin. These findings reveal notable synergies between early and late life efforts to improve cognitive and psychological health, and highlight household considerations for future healthy aging research.

The Association of Psychological Well-Being With Sensory and Cognitive Function and Neuronal Health in Aging Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 089826432110468
Author(s):  
Natascha Merten ◽  
Aaron Alex Pinto ◽  
Adam J Paulsen ◽  
Yanjun Chen ◽  
Lauren K Dillard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Contrast Sensitivity ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Inner Plexiform Layer ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Olfactory Impairment

Objectives Psychological well-being (PWB) may be a potential modifiable risk factor of age-related diseases. We aimed to determine associations of PWB with sensorineural and cognitive function and neuronal health in middle-aged adults. Methods This study included 2039 Beaver Dam Offspring Study participants. We assessed PWB, hearing, visual acuity, contrast sensitivity impairment, olfactory impairment, cognition, and retinal (macular ganglion cell inner-plexiform layer, mGCIPL) thickness. Age-sex-education-adjusted multivariable linear, logistic regression, and generalized estimating equation models were used and then further adjusted for health-related confounders. Results Individuals with higher PWB had better hearing functions, visual acuity, and thicker mGCIPL and reduced odds for hearing, contrast sensitivity and olfactory impairment in age-sex-education-adjusted models. Effects on mGCIPL and visual and olfactory measures decreased with adjustment. Higher PWB was associated with better cognition, better combined sensorineural-cognitive function, and decreased cognitive impairment. Discussion Psychological well-being was associated with sensorineural-cognitive health indicating a potential of PWB interventions for healthy aging.

The narrative reconstruction of psychotherapy

2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan M. Adler ◽  
Dan P. McAdams
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Ego Development ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Personal Agency ◽  
Narrative Reconstruction ◽  
Current Psychological ◽  
The Life Course

Going to psychotherapy represents an atypical, usually unanticipated, and often emotionally significant experience in the life course. As with many such events, people construct stories about therapy experiences in order to make sense out of them and to provide their lives with a sense of unity and purpose. Yet beyond these purposes, the storying of psychotherapy is also central to the maintenance of the therapeutic gains achieved during the course of treatment (e.g., Frank, 1961; Spence, 1982). In the present study, the psychotherapy stories of 76 community adults are assessed using grounded theory methodology to determine narrative patterns that distinguish between individuals who currently show different constellations of psychological health. Two dimensions of current psychological health — ego development, or complex meaning making processes, and psychological well-being — serve as the basis for comparisons between participants. Four ways of storying psychotherapy are described, and preliminary interpretations for these types are suggested. In summary: participants high in ego development and high in well-being emphasized their personal agency throughout their stories; participants high in ego development and low in well-being prominently featured their therapists and pointed to the therapeutic alliance as the mechanism of treatment; participants low in ego development and high in well-being adopted components of dominant cultural narratives of therapy; and the stories of participants low in ego development and low in well-being presented an interpretive challenge, lacking a certain standard of narrative coherence. The themes we identified lay the groundwork for future research on the narrative construction of psychotherapy and may prove useful to clinicians as they strive to help their clients to co-construct successful stories about their therapeutic work together.

scholarly journals A College Freshman Mindfulness Seminar to Enhance Psychological Well-being and Cognitive Function

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rongxiang Tang ◽  
Patricia Broderick ◽  
Timothy Bono ◽  
Kamila Dvořáková ◽  
Todd Samuel Braver
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Mindfulness Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
First Year ◽  
College Curriculum ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Mindfulness Skills

Mindfulness training has shown promise in improving psychological health and cognitive function. Mindfulness skills may be particularly beneficial in helping first-year students’ transition to college, as this can be a time period of considerable lifestyle changes and increased stress. Previous research has demonstrated positive effects of mindfulness training in college populations, but primarily by providing standardized mindfulness programs that are distinct from the college curriculum. Such programs may pose greater challenges for student participation, as they require a strong extracurricular time commitment. The present study examined the effects of mindfulness training incorporated into a semester-long college seminar dedicated to both practical learning of mindfulness skills and scientific understanding of mindfulness theory, based on the evidence-based Learning to BREATHE (L2B) curriculum. In a quasi-experimental design, first-year undergraduate students in the mindfulness seminar were compared with a control group enrolled in a positive psychology and study skills seminar. Students in the mindfulness seminar exhibited more improvement in satisfaction with life and trait mindfulness, as well as less anxiety; in contrast, no differences were observed in cognitive function. These results demonstrate the feasibility and potential psychological benefits of integrating mindfulness training into standard college curriculum.

scholarly journals The Links Between Childhood Life Circumstances, Family Persecution and Discrimination Experiences, and Well-Being in Later Life

Psichologija ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 63 ◽  
pp. 118-136
Author(s):  
Jonas Eimontas ◽  
Albinas Bagdonas ◽  
Antanas Kairys ◽  
Olga Zamalijeva ◽  
Vilmantė Pakalniškienė ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Home Environment ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Life Course Perspective ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Childhood Environment ◽  
Life Circumstances ◽  
The Life Course

The life course perspective raised many discussions about continuity, types of threads linking different developmental stages, and ways to identify these links. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of childhood family circumstances and family repression / discrimination experiences in predicting psychological well-being in later life. The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) wave 7 data was used; 1985 respondents aged 50+ (M = 66.23, SD = 10.52) living in Lithuania (63.8 % – female) provided retrospective information on their early life circumstances, including home environment, relationships with family / friends, family persecution. Psychological well-being was assessed with a 12-item Control, Autonomy, Self-Realization, and Pleasure (CASP) scale. Results of the hierarchical regression analysis showed that the inclusion of family persecution and other childhood factors increases the prognostic value of the model by 8 percent. Relationships with mother and friends, self-rated health, perceived abilities, number of books at home, and physical harm by others significantly predicted psychological well-being among older adults, even after controlling pivotal sociodemographic variables. These results suggest that creating a caring, safe, and cognitively stimulating childhood environment can promote better development in early stages and contribute to greater psychological well-being in later life.

scholarly journals Aging Strong: Promoting Resilience Through Optimism, Purpose, and Social Connections

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 182-182
Author(s):  
Ellen Wicker ◽  
James Schaeffer
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Health And Wellness ◽  
Holistic Model ◽  
Participant Experience ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Resilience is defined as the ability to adapt and cope with circumstances in a way that empowers one to emerge stronger, thrive, and incorporate lessons learned. Resilience as a trait can be learned and modified and have a significant impact on healthy aging. UnitedHealthcare (UHC) and AARP Services, Inc. (ASI) are committed to the health and well-being of participants in UHC’s Medicare Supplement insurance plans, recognizing that health and wellness need to be promoted on a holistic level to ensure successful aging. In this effort, an initiative titled Aging Strong 2020 was developed to promote health, well-being, and increase resilience by focusing on the key individual pillars of enhanced purpose in life, social connectedness, and optimism. To accomplish this goal, a series of eight interventions over three years were created and delivered, with a focus on the key pillars in order to improve clinical and psychological health outcomes and participants’ satisfaction with health care. This symposium will specifically discuss efforts related to the Aging Strong 2020 program. First, we will describe the prevalence and outcomes of the pillars in a large national survey. Next, key challenges and successes in recruitment and retention for the various interventions will be highlighted, followed by overall findings from the eight interventions targeting the pillars. Finally, qualitative findings on participant experience as a result of participation will be discussed. Results from these initiatives demonstrate that interventions designed to improve well-being among older adults contribute to the holistic model of health.

II. Neural control of the aging gut: can an old dog learn new tricks?

2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (4) ◽  
pp. G827-G832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen E. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Neural Control ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Neuromuscular Function ◽  
Age Changes ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Gastrointestinal Problems ◽  
To Come ◽  
Effects Of Aging

There has been a dramatic increase in funding available for aging research, primarily due to the fact that answers to questions on aging are likely to have a major impact on the well-being and healthy aging of the world's population for decades to come. The incidence of certain gastrointestinal problems, such as dysphagia and constipation, increases dramatically with age. Changes in gastrointestinal neuromuscular function with aging have been demonstrated in both human and animal models of aging. This article focuses on recent advances in our knowledge of the effects of aging on gastrointestinal function, treatment options, and future opportunities for research.

scholarly journals PROMOTING OLDER ADULTS’ INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND MOTIVATION TO REGULAR EXERCISE THROUGH EXERGAMING

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S140-S141
Author(s):  
Jinhui Li ◽  
Chen Li ◽  
Bing Xun Chia ◽  
Xinran Chen ◽  
Tan Phat Pham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Intrinsic Motivation ◽  
Extrinsic Motivation ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Social Play ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Regular Exercise ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Potential Factors ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Exergaming has become an important part of community programs to promote regular exercise and improve well-being for healthy aging. This study examines how different types of social playing and competitive information in exergaming affect older adults’ inter-generational communication with youth, as well as their motivation to regular exercise through exergaming. A 2 (time: pre-test vs. post-test) * 3 (social play: play alone vs. play with elderly vs. play with youth) * 2 (competition: competition informed vs. non-competition informed) mixed experiment with 319 Singaporean older adults conducted over six weeks in 2018, analyzed through a series of three-way repeated ANOVAs. Results show significant three-way interaction effects among time, social type, and competitive information on older adults’ inter-generation communication (F (2, 300) = 3.206, p = .042, η2 = .021), extrinsic motivation (F (2, 301) = 3.364, p = .036, η2 = .022) and intrinsic motivation (F (2, 303) = 4.528, p = .012, η2 = .029). The inter-generational communication of participants in play with youth shows significant improvement over time in both competition conditions, while those in play with elderly was only significantly improved in competitive informed condition. Social play is found to significantly affect the changes of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation over time, while competitive information only affects intrinsic motivation significantly. The findings make contributions to aging research and understanding of potential factors that promote inter-generational communication and adherence to regular exercise via exergaming.

scholarly journals Sing4Health: protocol of a randomized controlled trial of the effects of a singing group intervention on the well-being, cognitive function and health of older adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iolanda Costa Galinha ◽  
Manuel Farinha ◽  
Maria Luísa Lima ◽  
António Labisa Palmeira
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Effective Intervention ◽  
Socioeconomic Background ◽  
Group Program ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Abstract Background Singing is a multimodal activity that requires physical, cognitive and psychosocial performance, with benefits to various domains of well-being and health in older adults. In recent years, research has increasingly studied group singing as an important cost-effective intervention to promote active and healthy aging. However, the specific factors responsible for these benefits need further experimental support, as most studies do not allow for causal inferences. This study responds to the need for further randomized controlled trials (RCT), with follow-up measurement, on the benefits of group singing in older adults from a low socioeconomic background. Also, while most studies often focus on specific outcome measure dimensions, in this study, the conjoint effect of several physical, psychosocial, psychoemotional and cognitive dimensions are analyzed, testing mediation effects of psychosocial and psychoemotional variables on the well-being and health of the participants. Methods We implement and measure the effects of a singing group program for older adults, with an RCT crossover design study, in a natural context, before and after the intervention and in a follow-up, 6 months after the intervention. Participants 140 retired older adults (> 60 years) users of a social support institution, will be invited to participate in a singing group program and randomly allocated to an experimental (n = 70) and a control (n = 70) group, which will enroll in the regular activities proposed by the institution. The intervention consists of 34 bi-weekly group singing sessions, of 2 h each, for 4 months. Measures on social and emotional well-being, cognitive function, and health indicators (e.g., blood pressure, glycemia, cholesterol, c-reactive protein, sedimentation rate, respiratory function, body balance, sleep quality, medication intake, and health services attendance) will be collected. Interviews will be conducted on the motivation and perceived benefits of participation. Discussion Significant improvements are expected in the outcome measures in the experimental group after the intervention, validating singing groups as a cost-effective intervention for healthy aging. Psychosocial and psychoemotional variables are expected to be mediators of the effects of the program in the cognitive function, well-being and health of the participants. Trial registration NCT03985917. Registered 14th June 2019 (retrospectively registered).

scholarly journals Exploring Intraindividual Profiles for Home Buildings Based on Architectural Compositional Elements and Psychological Health Factors: A Transdisciplinary Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8308
Author(s):  
Raquel Lara-Moreno ◽  
Ester Lara ◽  
Débora Godoy-Izquierdo
Keyword(s):  
Home Environment ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Transdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Effect Change ◽  
Psychosocial Profile ◽  
Architectural Elements ◽  
Compositional Elements ◽  
Individual Profiles

Based on the transactional and salutogenic perspectives, we explored individual profiles that integrate psychosocial factors and compositional elements of the built home environment. Adults with different socio-demographic characteristics completed several self-report measures on psychological factors (personality traits, self-efficacy, mental health, and happiness) and architectural elements constituting the ideal home environment. Adopting an individual-centered perspective, three distinct intra-individual psycho-architectural (person-environment) profiles were found with different compositional preferences and psychosocial characteristics in terms of functioning, health, and well-being: endopathic (characterized by higher levels of psychosocial resources and well-being indicating a highly adapted and successful profile, and architectural preferences corresponding to their identities and experiences—expression through spaces), assimilative (characterized by average levels in all regulatory parameters indicating moderately adaptive individuals, and architectural preferences of spaces created in interactive processes—introjection of spaces), and additive individuals (characterized by a comparatively dysfunctional, poorer psychosocial profile, and architectural preferences in line with provoking a restorative effect—change with spaces). An awareness of the psychosocial features of the users for whom the homes are built can help in designing spaces to inhabit that are adapted to them for an enhancement of their overall well-being. Therefore, a better understanding of the interconnections between psychology and architecture will help in designing healthy spaces.

“We Are Resilient, We Made It to This Point”: A Study of the Lived Experiences of Older LGBTQ2S+ Canadians

2021 ◽  
pp. 073346482098489
Author(s):  
Arne Stinchcombe ◽  
Katherine Kortes-Miller ◽  
Kimberley Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Constructivist Grounded Theory ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Personal Histories ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Life Course

Promoting health and well-being for older adults is a priority among many jurisdictions worldwide. Canada’s population is aging and becoming increasingly diverse; one axis of a diverse aging population is aging members of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and two-spirit (LGBTQ2S+) communities. We sought to examine the lived experiences of older LGBTQ2S+ people in Canada to understand the barriers and facilitators to healthy aging among members of these communities. A total of 10 focus groups were held in 10 cities from across Canada. Sixty-one older LGBTQ2S+ people (Mean age = 67) participated in the study. Data were analyzed using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Through analysis, we identified themes related to the importance of community capacity, resources, resilience, and personal histories in shaping aging experiences. The findings highlight the importance acknowledging diverse sexual and gender identities and the role of the life course in developing and implementing approaches that promote healthy aging.

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