Using HRS-ONET Linked Data to Study Subjective and Objective Mismatch Between Work Demands and Capacity at Older Ages

Mismatch between demands of work and workers’ ability to meet those demands may play an important role in retirement decisions. This presentation extends earlier work using Health and Retirement Study data linked to O*NET to develop measures of discrepancy between individual’s own reports of physical and mental abilities and 1) their perceptions of the physical and mental demands of their jobs and 2) O*NET ratings of the physical and mental demands of their jobs. In particular, we utilize newly available linked information using 2010 Census codes and 2019 O*NET ratings that reflect more current jobs. We then examine the impact of each type of mismatch (subjective and objective) on retirement timing. Overall, we find a stronger connection between subjective mismatch relative to objective mismatch. We discuss implications of this finding in terms of the value of the O*NET linkage and potential interventions aimed at extending working lives for positive aging.

American Older Adults in COVID-19 Times: Vulnerability Types, Aging Attitudes and Emotional Responses

Background: The Coronavirus disease aroused challenges to the emotional well-being of vulnerable older adults in hard-hit areas. This study investigates different vulnerability types among American older adults and how modes of vulnerability are associated with aging attitudes and emotional responses. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 2003 American respondents aged over 50 from the Health and Retirement survey. Emotional responses and aging attitudes were assessed with I-PANAS-SF and ATOT. The vulnerability was evaluated by 16 kinds of difficulties people had during the pandemic. We used Latent class analysis to identify the vulnerability pattern of individuals. Hierarchical linear regressions were further used to examine the relationship between vulnerability type and positive aging attitudes with positive and negative emotional responses. Results: We detected three vulnerability types among American older adults: the slight vulnerability (72%), the healthcare use vulnerability (19%), and the dual vulnerabilities (9%). No significant difference in positive emotions was found between vulnerability types. However, more negative emotions were found among older adults with healthcare use vulnerability (B=0.746, SE=0.759) and dual vulnerabilities (B=1.186, SE=0.274) than those with slight vulnerability. Positive aging attitudes associate with more positive emotions (B=0.266, SE=0.017) but less negative emotions (B=-0.183, SE=0.016) and had significant moderation effects on the relationship between vulnerability types and negative emotional responses (B=-0.118, SE=0.045). Conclusion: Older adults' emotional well-being should not be neglected as they deserve the support of prevention and intervention strategies, in particular when they have vulnerabilities in healthcare use and financial sustainment. Female, non-white races, and those aged below 65, been uncoupled, less educated, and with ADL difficulties should prioritize.

American older adults in COVID-19 Times: Vulnerability types, aging attitudes and emotional responses

Background: The coronavirus disease aroused challenges to the emotional well-being of vulnerable older adults in hard-hit areas. This study investigates different vulnerability types among American older adults and how modes of vulnerability are associated with aging attitudes and emotional responses. Methods: Using Latent Class Analysis, we investigated 2003 respondents aged over 50 from HRS. Hierarchical linear regressions with the affective profile as cluster identity were used to examine the relationship between vulnerability type and positive aging attitudes with positive and negative emotional responses. Results: We detected three vulnerability types among American older adults: the slight vulnerability (72%), the healthcare use vulnerability (19%), and the dual vulnerabilities (9%). No significant difference in positive emotions was found between vulnerability types. However, more negative emotions were found among older adults with healthcare use vulnerability (B=0.746, SE=0.759) and dual vulnerabilities (B=1.186, SE=0.274) than those with slight vulnerability. Positive aging attitudes associate with more positive emotions (B=0.266, SE=0.017) but less negative emotions (B=-0.183, SE=0.016) and had significant moderation effects on the relationship between vulnerability types and negative emotional responses (B=-0.118, SE=0.045). Conclusion: Older adults' emotional well-being should not be neglected as they deserve the support of prevention and intervention strategies, in particular when they have vulnerabilities in healthcare use and financial sustainment. Female, non-white races, and those aged below 65, been uncoupled, less educated, and with ADL difficulties should prioritize.

Fostering Well-Being in the Elderly: Translating Theories on Positive Aging to Practical Approaches

This article overviews positive aging concepts and strategies to enhance well-being in the elderly and then presents a translation of theories on positive aging to practical approaches for Positive Aging. Drawing upon positive psychology and positive aging research and tools, this program is designed to help older adults improve their well-being by acquiring skills and strategies to cope with present and future challenges. The Mental Fitness Program for Positive Aging (MFPPA) can enhance seniors' quality of life by increasing their vital involvement and active engagement in life. This model is most appropriate for community dwelling individuals. It can easily be conducted in wide range of adult education programs in community centers, sheltered homes, and primary care clinics. It can also be conducted through online psychoeducational training.

قياس الشيخوخة الايجابية لدى كبار السن

استهدف البحث الحالي قياس الشيخوخة الايجابية ((Positive Aging لدى كبار السن يتم التعرف على الشيخوخة الايجابية لدى كبار السن وفقاً لمتغير الجنس، ومكان الاقامة خارج دور المسنين وداخل دور المسنين. بلغت عينة البحث الحالي (286) من كبار السن في محافظة بغداد بالطريقة العشوائية. أداة البحث: تم بناء مقياس الشيخوخة الايجابية من نظرية لارس (2005). وبعدها تم استخراج الخصائص السيكومترية للمقياس. اظهرت نتائج البحث: لدى كبار السن شيخوخة ايجابية ودالة احصائياً، وجود فروق دالة لصالح الذكور خارج وداخل الدور.