scholarly journals DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS AND LIFE SATISFACTION IN OLDER ADULTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graciela Ishibashi ◽  
Tiago Ordonez ◽  
Gabriela dos Santos ◽  
Ana Moreira ◽  
Luiz de Moraes ◽  
...  

Background: Consequences of social isolation have worsened in populations of older adults during the current COVID-19 pandemic. An increase in the number of older individuals who show depression symptoms and change in life satisfaction levels has been verified. Studies which evaluate depressive symptomatology and the sense of life satisfaction in older individuals are necessary for healthcare planning. Objective: Investigate the presence of depression symptoms and of life satisfaction levels in older individuals during the current pandemic. Methods: This is a quantitative and exploratory research using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS15) and its first question to evaluate life satisfaction. Results: The surveyed older adults were 428 individuals with an average age of 67.54±5.65. Most of them were females and 33% of them lived alone. 85% of them reported being satisfied with their lives. Their GDS15 score was 3.39±4.00 and there were no statistical differences between groups of individuals living alone or in the company of others. On the other hand, it was verified that participants who were satisfied with their lives showed lower scores in the GDS15 (p<0.001). Conclusion: It was verified that the sense of life satisfaction is related to depression symptoms. Such findings document the importance of life satisfaction, making it an essential indicator of subjective well-being and of life quality development to older adults within the current pandemic scenario.

2021 ◽  
pp. 105477382199115
Author(s):  
Mária Sováriová Soósová ◽  
Vladimíra Timková ◽  
Lucia Dimunová ◽  
Boris Mauer

As the population is aging, strategies for helping older people to maintain and promote good health and well-being are needed. This study aims to assess whether depressive symptomatology and spirituality are associated with subjective well-being in older adults when controlled for sociodemographic variables. Furthermore, the mediating role of spirituality in the association between depressive symptomatology and subjective well-being was examined. A total of 250 participants (mean age 75.91 ± 7.60) in this cross-sectional study completed the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, the Zung’s Self-rating Depression Scale, and the Personal Wellbeing Index. Multiple linear regression and mediation analyses were used to analyze the data. Subjective well-being was negatively associated with depressive symptoms and positively associated with spiritual experiences. The indirect effect of depressive symptomatology on subjective well-being via spirituality was 28.7%. The enhancement of spirituality seems to represent one of the relevant interventional strategies in prevention and treatment of depressive symptoms and well-being improvement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 319-320
Author(s):  
Xiaoyan Zhang ◽  
Merril Silverstein

Abstract China is experiencing a large increase in elderly population. In 2019, China’s population aged 60 and above had reached 253 million, accounting for 18.1% of the total population (National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2020). By 2050, the number of adults aged 60+ would be up to 430 million, reaching one third of the total population (Du, Zhai & Chen, 2005). Considering such a rapid aging process and the existing large number of older adults in China, it becomes imperative to investigate how psychosocial factors affect this group’s subjective well-being. This study proposed that, among older adults, higher support received from each of the three relational sources (adult children, family and friends) were associated with reduced loneliness and improved well-being. Structural equation modeling was conducted using a sample of rural adults aged 60 and older (N= 1142) from the 2018 wave of data from the Longitudinal Study of Older Adults in Anhui Province, China. Findings indicated that support from adult children directly and indirectly decreased older adults’ depression and improved their life satisfaction through loneliness; while support from family members directly decreased depression but did not directly improve life satisfaction or indirectly improve well-being through loneliness. Although support from friends did not have a significant impact on older adults’ well-being, it indirectly improved well-being through reduced loneliness. Findings have implications for programs or interventions targeting both parent -adult-child support and friends support and reducing rural older adults’ loneliness.


2020 ◽  
pp. 016402752096154
Author(s):  
Wen-Jui Han ◽  
Ying Li ◽  
Cliff Whetung

Using a sample of Chinese adults over the age of 50 from wave 1 of the WHO Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (n = 13,367), we investigated the relationship between living arrangements and subjective well-being (SWB) in regard to life satisfaction, happiness, and control. We also looked at the moderating role of resources, proxied by income and hukou status. Multivariate regression results indicate that living only with a spouse was significantly associated with better SWB. Multigenerational living arrangements may not always promote SWB, particularly when resources are constrained. Yet, results also underscore the importance of daughters and daughters-in-law in promoting SWB among older adults. Older adults in rural areas had better SWB, including greater life satisfaction if living with grandchildren only, compared to their urban peers living with a spouse only. Findings suggest that context matters in the association between living arrangements and older adults’ SWB.


Retos ◽  
2017 ◽  
pp. 14-19
Author(s):  
Lisbet Guillen Pereira ◽  
Egar Bueno Fernandez ◽  
Manuel Gutierrez Cruz ◽  
José Ramón Guerra Santiesteban

El artículo se enfoca en el análisis de un programa de actividades físicas y su efecto en la mejora de los niveles de depresión y bienestar subjetivo de adultos mayores. Se utiliza un diseño experimental con pre y pos tratamiento en una muestra de 111 adultos mayores seleccionado mediante criterios de inclusión, a la que se le aplicó un procedimiento de proporción de uno a tres para crear el grupo experimental y de control (n=74 grupo experimental y n=37 el grupo de control). La depresión fue medida aplicando la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica de Yesavage y el bienestar subjetivo a partir de la Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale. Para el análisis del pre con el post tratamiento se utilizó un modelo de análisis de varianza (ANOVA) con medidas repetidas (MR). Los resultados revelaron diferencias significativas en la Depresión Geriátrica (p=.000) y del Bienestar subjetivo en cada dimensión estudiada: afectos positivos (p=.000), afectos negativos (p=.000) y agitación (p=.000), lo que se concluye que las dos variables dependientes mejoraron de manera significativa al aplicar la propuesta.Abstract: This article focuses on the analysis of a program of physical activities and its effect on reducing depression levels and on increasing subjective well-being of older adults. An experimental design with pre- and post-treatment was applied to a sample of 111 older adults selected in accordance with inclusion criteria, using a one-to-three ratio procedure to create experimental and control groups (Experimental group, n = 74; control group, n = 37). Depression was measured by means of the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale, whereas subjective well-being with the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale. For the pre-post analysis, a variance analysis model (ANOVA) with repeated measures (MR) was used. Results revealed significant differences in Geriatric Depression (p = .001) and subjective well-being in each dimension studied: positive affects (p = .001), negative affects (p = .001) and agitation (p = .001), We can conclude that the two dependent variables improved significantly after applying the program proposed.


Author(s):  
María Antonia Parra-Rizo ◽  
Gema Sanchis-Soler

Studies about the influence of physical activity on life satisfaction, functional ability and subjective well-being in physically active older adults without cognitive impairment are very few for the moment. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the life satisfaction, functional skills and subjective well-being of physically active older adults based on the level of activity practiced. The IPAQ (International Physical Activity), CUBRECAVI and LSIA (Life Satisfaction Index) scales were tested for a sample of 397 Spanish older adults between 61 and 93 years of age (M = 69.65; SD = 4.71). The results showed that those who performed high physical activity obtained higher scores in functional skills (p < 0.01) and in the activities of daily living (p < 0.01). In addition, subjective well-being (p < 0.01) and the functional autonomy of older adults (p < 0.01) were related to the level of physical activity that they practiced. In conclusion, it could be said that the older adults with a high level of physical activity have more functional skills and less difficulties performing the activities of daily living, and that they value their autonomy and health better.


Author(s):  
Jianghua Liu ◽  
Zhongliang Zhou

The introduction of the two-child family planning policy in China calls for a study of the response of mothers’ subjective well-being after the birth of a second child. Generally focusing on Western countries, previous studies suggested that a series of factors could influence the response, but insufficient attention has been paid to the relative importance of these factors so far. Based on survey data from mothers of two children in the Xi’an metropolitan area, Shaanxi Province, China, our study indicates that the important factors associated with mothers’ life satisfaction after having a second child were, in general, common to Western countries and China. There were also two factors somewhat unique to China: positive adjustment (i.e., becoming happier) by firstborn children (average age, 6 years old) following a sibling’s birth, predicted enhanced life satisfaction for mothers; additionally, mothers who had both a son and a daughter reported the highest increase in life satisfaction, while mothers who had two sons reported the lowest increase. Socioenvironmental constraints (i.e., parenting pressure and work–family conflict) had a larger association with mothers’ life satisfaction than individual ideational factors (e.g., family orientation and fertility desire). These findings suggest that fertility-friendly policies and convenient family intervention institutions are needed to alleviate potential undesirable consequences and improve maternal life quality following a second childbirth so that the two-child policy can be a success.


Author(s):  
Christian Oswaldo Acosta Quiroz ◽  
Raquel García-Flores ◽  
Sonia Beatriz Echeverría-Castro

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Geriatric Depression Scale in its 15-item version (GDS-15) in Mexican older adults. Participants included 1178 older adults between the ages of 60 and 94 ( M = 69.16, SD = 7.69); 53.9% were women and 55.8% were married or with a partner. They completed the GDS-15, a subjective well-being scale, and a quality-of-life questionnaire. A Kuder–Richardson coefficient of .80 was obtained, which indicates an acceptable internal consistency of the GDS-15, as well as evidence of divergent validity with significant correlations of −.783 with subjective well-being and −.569 with quality of life, in addition to concurrent validity when discriminating between participants with low scores from those with high scores of depressive symptoms. The need for a simple screening tool such as the GDS-15 that helps in the identification of depressive symptoms in Mexican older adults is underlined.


Author(s):  
Sunwoo Lee

Abstract Objectives The current study aims to examine how social exclusion is related to subjective well-being in older adults across different European regions. Methods European population-based cross-sectional study design was employed using data sampled from the eighth round of the European Social Survey (ESS). Multiple items for social exclusion were used in this round, including household income, civic participation, frequent meetings with friends and relatives, basic health services, and neighborhood cohesion. Life satisfaction, happiness, and self-rated general health were also assessed. An ANOVA was performed to examine the regional differences related to social exclusion and subjective well-being, while a regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between the social exclusion and subjective well-being. Results There were significant regional differences in the social exclusion and subjective well-being of older Europeans. In addition, older adults in the Nordic nations are more likely to indicate higher levels of subjective well-being and lower levels of social exclusion, while older adults from Central and Eastern European nations tend to report lower levels of subjective well-being and higher levels of social exclusion. Material resources and basic services are highlighted as the most important domains pertaining to life satisfaction, happiness, and general health. Discussion The study findings reinforce the inequality in subjective well-being linked to social exclusion across different societies. Both global and country-specific exclusion models in later life should be implemented in order to enhance comparable research and provide insight into EU and national guidelines for interventions to diminish social exclusion.


Author(s):  
Jinho Kim ◽  
Heesoo Yoon

Abstract Objectives Uncertainty about receiving care and assistance in the future has been increasing among older adults in Korea. This study examines whether expectations about receiving care from various sources (i.e., formal and/or filial caregivers) are related to life satisfaction among older adults in Korea. Methods Using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (N = 3,607, aged 65 or older), this study estimated fixed effects regression models to investigate longitudinal within-person associations between future care expectations and life satisfaction. Results The results of this study revealed that developing expectations of care from family caregivers is positively associated with life satisfaction. Beginning to expect care from non-family caregivers, however, is not associated with life satisfaction. When disaggregating different sources of care by family member type, expecting care from a spouse or daughter(s), but not son(s), is associated with higher life satisfaction. Gender-specific analyses showed that expecting care from daughter(s) is positively associated with life satisfaction among both men and women, whereas expectations of spousal care are associated with only men’s life satisfaction. This study also found suggestive but not conclusive evidence that an association between care expectations from family caregivers and life satisfaction is stronger among older adults with lower education. Discussion Reducing uncertainty about future care may improve older adults’ subjective well-being. Policymakers may consider policies and programs that support family care of the aged, and more fundamentally, encourage family involvement in the lives of older people.


2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 316-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aine M. Ní Mhaoláin ◽  
Damien Gallagher ◽  
Henry O Connell ◽  
A. V. Chin ◽  
Irene Bruce ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground: Life satisfaction is a subjective expression of well-being and successful aging. Subjective well-being is a major determinant of health outcomes in older people. The aim of this study was to determine which factors predicted well-being in older people living in the community as measured by their satisfaction with life.Methods: The relationship between life satisfaction, as measured by the Life Satisfaction Index (LSI-A) and physical, cognitive and demographic variables was examined in 466 older people living in the community using a stepwise regression modelResults: Depression, loneliness, neuroticism, extraversion, recent participation in physical activity, age and self-reported exhaustion, were the independent predictors of life satisfaction in our elderly cohort.Conclusion: Subjective well-being, as measured by the Life Satisfaction Scale, is predicted by depression, loneliness, personality traits, recent participation in physical activity and self-reported exhaustion. The mental and emotional status of older individuals, as well as their engagement in physical activity, are as important as physical functionality when it comes to life satisfaction as a measure of well-being and successful aging. These areas represent key targets for intervention.


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