Longitudinal Relations Between Views on Aging and Perceived Stress: Evidence for Mutual Associations

We investigated the reciprocal longitudinal relation between perceived stress and three established domains of views on aging (VoA): (1) subjective age; (2) attitude toward own aging [ATOA]; and (3) aging-related cognitions including social loss, physical decline, and continuous growth. We also examined the potentially moderating role of chronological age. Data of the German Ageing Survey, comprising two measurement occasions (2014 and 2017) and a sample of 4,588 individuals aged between 40 and 95 years, were analyzed. Controlling for socio-demographic and health-related indicators, cross-lagged models indicated mutual longitudinal relations between VoA and stress. Whether the pathway from stress to VoA or the opposite pathway was stronger varied depending on the VoA considered. With increasing age, most VoA domains were less strongly associated with subsequent perceived stress. Our findings suggest that less favorable VoA predict higher perceived subsequent stress, but they are also preceded and predicted by higher levels of perceived stress.

Understanding the Effect of a Soft Drinks Industry Levy on Consumer Well-Being in the UK: First Estimates

This paper is a first attempt to provide a quantitative evaluation of consumer well-being resulting from the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy introduced in April 2018. Using a model setup that encompasses both a normal case and a Giffen case for sugary drinks consumption, a computational exercise is performed to quantify the welfare social loss for a variety of household incomes. The model demonstrates that the introduction of a soft drinks levy results in a non-trivial welfare loss, particularly in terms of monetary value and weight effect. We also find that the wealthiest individuals in society are affected positively by this levy, whilst the poorest segment of the population are adversely affected, especially in the presence of a binding nutritional constraint.

The Role of Subjective Age Views for 9-Year Change in Self-Reported Problems With Vision and Hearing

We examined the role of subjective age views (subjective age; attitudes toward own aging [ATOA]; aging-related cognitions, comprising continuous growth, social loss, and physical decline) for changes in self-reported problems with vision and hearing over up to 9 years. A subsample of the German Ageing Survey (2,499 adults aged 60-85 years at baseline) was investigated. Controlling for gender, age, education, self-rated health, and region of residence (West vs. East Germany), a younger subjective age at baseline predicted less steep increase in vision problems among individuals who were chronologically older at baseline. More favorable ATOA scores were associated with less increase in hearing problems. Higher scores on continuous growth went along with less increase in hearing problems, whereas higher social loss scores were associated with a steeper increase in vision problems. Several associations increased with advancing age. Our findings suggest that subjective age views indeed predict late-life changes in sensory problems.

Views on Aging and Well-Being in the Covid Crisis – A Longitudinal Study in Luxembourg

During the Covid-Crisis, stereotypes of older adults as helpless and vulnerable were spread, and intergenerational conflict was stirred more or less openly. We thus focused on perceived ageism during the crisis and its effects on well-being and health of older adults. Since views on aging are multifaceted and can be both, risk and resource for individual development, we assessed people’s self-perceptions of aging (SPA) as social loss, continued growth and physical decline and subjective age (SA). We hypothesized that people with SPA of social loss and physical decline would be more susceptible to negative effects of perceived ageism, whereas those with SPA of continued growth and younger SA would be less affected. NT1 = 611 community-dwelling adults aged 60 – 98 (Mage = 69.92 years) were recruited in June 2020 online and via phone in Luxembourg. In September 2020, participants will be contacted again for a follow-up. Analyses with cross-sectional data show that participants who felt more discriminated reported lower life satisfaction after the onset of the crisis (r = -.35) and worse subjective health (r = -.14). SPA of social loss and higher SA increased the negative effect of ageism on well-being (beta = -.57) and subjective health (beta = -.53), respectively. Our results point to mid- and long-term consequences of age discriminatory and stereotype-based crisis communication for the well-being of older adults and the importance of individual SPA in critical situations.

Unmet care needs in the oldest old with social loss experiences: results of a representative survey

Background Loss experiences such as the loss of a spouse, a close relative or significant others become more likely in old age and may be strongly related to specific unmet health care needs. These unmet needs may often remain undetected and undertreated followed by a negative impact on well-being and social role functioning. The present study aims at exploring the relationship between loss experiences and specific unmet care needs in old age. Methods As part of the study „Need assessment in the oldest old: application, psychometric examination and establishment of the German version of the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE)”, the adapted German version of the CANE was used in a population-representative telephone survey in a sample of 988 individuals aged 75+ years. Loss experiences within the last 12 months were assessed within the structured telephone survey. Descriptive and interferential statistical analyses were run in order to examine the association between loss experiences and occurring unmet care needs. Results Overall, 29.7% of the oldest old reported at least one social loss with other relatives losses being the most frequent (12.5%), followed by non-family losses (10.7%). A significant relationship between loss experiences and a higher number of unmet care needs was observed, especially for close family losses. Other risk factors for unmet care needs were age, marital status, depression, social support and morbidity. Conclusions This study provides, for the first time in Germany, data on the association between loss experiences and unmet needs. These findings may substantially contribute to the development of loss-specific interventions, effective treatment and health care planning for the bereaved elderly.

Modeling the Increase of Floodwater Level at the Junction of the Batang Suliti and Batang Bangko Rivers in Sungai Pagu Sub-District, Muaro Labuh City, Solok Selatan District Using HEC-RAS 4.0

Flood is a common natural disaster, especially in Indonesia, and causes a huge amount of material and social loss. West Sumatera is one of the provinces that is often affected by flooding, and one of the most affected area is Solok Selatan District. In this district, there is a junction of two watersheds that often affected by floods, which are Batang Suliti watershed and Batang Bangko watershed. The junction of the Batang Suliti river and Batang Bangko river is in Sungai Pagu Sub-District. One example of a huge flood occurred on February 8, 2016 where the rain occurred for 17 hours long which caused a 0.5–3 m deep of flood inundation and covering 11.9 km2 area. Hence, it is necessary to know how much is the capacity of the river’s cross-sections to accommodate the water flow before runoff discharge occurs. In this study, we calculate the runoff discharge using HEC-RAS 4.0 software and Q25 discharge which are 332.42 m3 /s for the Batang Suliti river and 336.43 m3 /s for the Batang Bangko river.