Coping with life transitions.

2016 ◽  
pp. 477-490
Author(s):  
Thomas W. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Life Transitions

RE-AUTHORING THE LOSSES AND CHALLENGES OF AGING: OLDER INDIVIDUALS’ EXPERIENCES OF LONGTERM GROUP WORK

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-19
Author(s):  
Cecile Frankel ◽  
Brenda Solarsh ◽  
Eleanor Ross
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Group Work ◽  
Narrative Therapy ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Life Transitions ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Documentary Analysis ◽  
Social Group Work

The increase in life expectancy has highlighted the value of group work interventions as a cost-effective way of helping older persons to deal with life transitions. This article describes a group for senior citizens that continued for 18 years. The aim of the study was to undertake a documentary analysis of the facilitator’s process notes and participans’ reflections to ascertain possible reasons for the group’s longevity. These were attributed to the skill of the facilitator and her creative use of programme material and narrative therapy. Recurring themes included loneliness, the fear of dying, and dilemmas about relinquishing control and independence. Findings have implications for the practice of social group work with older persons.

Personality Processes Related to the Development and Resolution of Alcohol Use Disorders

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth J. Sher ◽  
Andrew Littlefield ◽  
Matthew Lee
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorder ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorders ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Life Transitions ◽  
Is Research ◽  
Personality Research ◽  
Adult Role ◽  
Static View

This chapter discusses relations between personality and alcohol use disorder (AUD). After reviewing basic terms and concepts in personality research, two major areas of contemporary research are discussed. The first area concerns how personality traits are implicated in etiologic pathways to AUD. This highlights the centrality of personality to conceptualizing AUD and related psychopathology. The second area is research emphasizing movement beyond a static view of personality, recognizing that personality traits are dynamic and change as a function of human development and life transitions. In particular, whereas past research on “maturing out” of AUD emphasized salutary effects of young adult role transitions, recent evidence reveals normative patterns of developmental personality maturation and supports these as additional influences on maturing out. The chapter discusses ways that contextual role effects and personality maturation can perhaps be integrated into a broader model of maturing out of AUD. Implications for future investigation are presented.

scholarly journals Spousal Loss and Cognitive Functioning: Do Pre-Loss Marital Quality and Gender Matter?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 366-366
Author(s):  
Joohong Min ◽  
Jieun Song
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Life Transitions ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Spousal Loss ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Prior research has found that the risk of cognitive decline increases after the death of a spouse. In general, the impact of life transitions is contingent on contextual factors such as socio-demographic characteristics or relationship quality. However, there is limited research on how marital quality before spousal loss and gender influence the association between spousal loss and cognitive change. The current study examines the effects of spousal loss on change in cognitive functioning as well as the moderating effects of pre-loss marital quality and gender. Data from two waves of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study were analyzed (MIDUS2: 2004-05, MIDUS3: 2013-14). The analytic sample consists of two groups: (1) 179 bereaved adults who were age 54 or older at MIDUS2 (M = 65.2, SD = 9.5) and whose spouses died between MIDUS2 and MIDUS3, and (2) 179 non-bereaved adults, matched with the bereaved group on age and gender, who did not experience spousal loss between the two waves. Cognitive function was assessed via BTACT (Brief Telephone Adult Cognition Test) at both waves. Regression results show that both pre-loss marital quality and gender significantly moderate the association between spousal loss and change in cognitive functioning. Specifically, relative to their counterparts, men and those who reported better marital relationships prior to spousal death had a greater risk of cognitive decline after a spouse’s death. The findings suggest the significance of pre-loss marital quality and gender for cognitive changes in widowhood and have implications for the development of efficient interventions

Discordance between the perceptions of clinicians and families about end-of-life trajectories in hospitalized dementia patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Felicity Moon ◽  
David W. Kissane ◽  
Fiona McDermott
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
General Medicine ◽  
Terminal Condition ◽  
Life Transitions ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Loved One ◽  
Life Trajectories ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Illness Progression

Abstract Background Due to the unpredictable dementia trajectory, it is challenging to recognize illness progression and the appropriateness of a palliative approach. Further confusion occurs during hospitalization where the presence of comorbid conditions complicates prognostication. This research examined clinicians and families' perceptions of dementia as a terminal condition in relation to end-of-life admissions. Context The study was based in the General Medicine units of one Australian public hospital. Medical, nursing, and social work clinicians were recruited to reflect multidisciplinary perspectives. Bereaved caregivers of deceased patients with dementia were interviewed 3 months following death. Methods Qualitative research underpinned by a social constructionist epistemology and framed through complex systems theory. Semi-structured interviews generated data that illuminated perceptions of deterioration observed toward the end of life. Results Although participants anticipated general cognitive and physical deterioration associated with dementia, the emergence of comorbid illness made it difficult to predict the onset of the end of life. During a hospital admission, clinicians attributed the end of life to the advanced outcomes of dementia, whereas families described new medical crises. End-of-life admissions illuminated intersections between dementia and comorbidities rather than illness progression. In contrast with the perception that people with dementia lose awareness at the end of life, families drew attention to evidence that their loved one was present during the dying phase. Significance of results Our findings challenge the dominant understanding of dementia trajectories. Bifurcations between clinicians and families' views demonstrate the difficulties in recognizing end-of-life transitions. Implications for the integration of palliative care are considered.

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