Sexual satisfaction of middle-aged and older adults: longitudinal findings from a nationally representative sample

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elżbieta Buczak-Stec ◽  
Hans-Helmut König ◽  
André Hajek
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Sexual Satisfaction ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Random Coefficient Models ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
German Ageing Survey

Abstract Background whilst previous studies have investigated the determinants of sexual satisfaction (i) using longitudinal data or (ii) among older adults, only a few studies have done both at the sametime. Objective the purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of sexual satisfaction longitudinally among middle-aged and older adults. Design nationally representative longitudinal study (German Ageing Survey—DEAS). Setting community-dwelling individuals in Germany. Data drawn from three waves (2002, 2008, 2011). Subjects individuals aged 40–95 (36.9% age group 65+). At wave 2 in the year 2002, n = 3,843 individuals took part. Methods well-established and widely used scales were used to quantify the independent variables. We included variables such as sociodemographic factors, self-rated health, physical functioning, depression and loneliness in our analysis. Sexual satisfaction was our outcome measure. Results were stratified by age (40–64, 65+). To take into account the multilevel data structure, we used random coefficient models. Results random-effects regressions showed that increased sexual satisfaction was consistently associated with the following variables in both age groups: lower number of physical illnesses, β = −0.03, P < 0.001 (betas coefficients given for individuals 65 years and over); better self-rated health, β = −0.06, P < 0.001; absence of depression, β = −0.16, P < 0.01; and higher importance of sexuality and intimacy, β = 0.08, P < 0.001. Moreover, sexual satisfaction was associated with having a partner: β = 0.16, P < 0.001; living with a partner in the same household, β = 0.26, P < 0.001; and a lower score of loneliness, β = −.28, P < 0.001. In contrast, sexual satisfaction was, for example, not associated with cognitive functioning. Conclusions the most surprising findings were that among both middle-aged and older adults, almost the same determinants (with exception of sociodemographic factors) were associated with satisfaction with sexlife.

scholarly journals Age differences in associations of different indicators of socioeconomic status with social isolation: A cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lixia Ge ◽  
Bee Hoon Heng ◽  
Woan Shin Tan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Employment Status ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Housing Type ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Socioeconomic status is a crucial determinant of social isolation. However, little is known whether the associations between different indicators of socioeconomic status and social isolation vary across age groups. This study examined the association of individual socioeconomic status indicators with social isolation in three age groups: young (21-44 years), middle-aged (45-64 years), and older adults (≥65 years). Methods Cross-sectional data for 1,930 representative community-dwelling adults aged 21 and above in the Central region of Singapore was used. The 6-item Lubben Social Network Scale was used to assess social isolation. Socioeconomic status was measured using education level, employment status, personal income, housing type and self-perceived money sufficiency). Separate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between each SES indicator and social isolation in each age group. Results Each socioeconomic indicator showed a clear gradient with social isolation and significant age disparities were found in their relationship. Socioeconomic status indicators significantly associated with social isolation were income (R2 change=2.5%) and self-perceived money insufficiency (R2 change=1.5%) in young adults, education (R2 change=0.5%), employment status (R2 change=1.3%), income (R2 change=0.8%), housing type (R2 change=1.9%) and self-perceived money insufficiency (R2 change=2.0%) in middle-aged adults, and housing type (R2 change=1.3%) and self-perceived money insufficiency (R2 change=3.7%) in older adults when adjusting for demographics and other indicators. Conclusions The influence of individual socioeconomic status indicators on social isolation varied across age groups. This study provides a rationale for the choice of socioeconomic status indicator and specific interventions need to target different socioeconomic status groups for different age groups.

The Role of Sensory Processing in the Everyday Lives of Older Adults

2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 99-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia S. Pohl ◽  
Winnie Dunn ◽  
Catana Brown
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Sensory Processing ◽  
Sensory Input ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Sensory Profile ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Age In Place ◽  
Sensory Experiences ◽  
Age Related

This study investigated whether there are age-related differences in sensory processing within daily life. Participants included 404 community-dwelling adults divided into three age groups: 19 to 34 years old (127 individuals), 35 to 64 years old (126 individuals), and 65 years and older (151 individuals). Each participant completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile. There was a difference in sensory processing between the three groups (p = .000), with the older adults noticing sensory input less than the young and middle aged adults (p = .002 for both groups). Both middle aged and older adults engaged in less sensory seeking behaviors than did young adults (p = .012 and p = .000, respectively). In an additional analysis, the older group was subdivided into four age groups (65 to 69 years, 70 to 74 years, 75 to 79 years, and 80 years and older). There was an age-related difference between the four groups (p = .000). Those 75 to 79 years old and those 80 years and older noticed sensory input less than did those younger than 70 years (p = .002 and p = .001, respectively). Those 80 years and older were also less apt to seek sensory experiences than were those younger than 70 years (p = .011). The authors propose hypotheses about the meaning of these findings and provide recommendations for the application of this knowledge to support older adults to age in place successfully.

scholarly journals Attitudes about Dementia in Different Stages of Adulthood

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 604-604
Author(s):  
Melissa O'Connor ◽  
Megan Pedersen ◽  
Susan McFadden
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Factual Knowledge ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Middle Adulthood ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Abstract Research on attitudes toward dementia has often focused on younger and older adults; few studies have also included the age groups of established and middle adulthood. The current study utilized data from community-dwelling adults aged 18-95 (n=567) residing in two Midwestern states. Participants were divided into four age groups: emerging/young adulthood (ages 18-29), established adulthood (ages 30-45), middle adulthood (ages 46-64), and older adulthood (age 65+). ANOVA models were used to examine age group differences on the following outcomes: factual knowledge about dementia (total score on 14 true-false questions); attitudes toward dementia (total score on the 20-item Dementia Attitudes Scale); and a single item, “I am afraid of losing my memory” (rated on a 5-point scale). The effect of age group was significant in all models (p<0.01 for all). Emerging/young adults had significantly more knowledge about dementia, but less positive attitudes toward dementia, relative to established, middle-aged, and older adults. Attitudes and knowledge did not differ between established, middle-aged, and older adults. By contrast, older adults reported significantly more fear of memory loss than emerging/young, established, and middle-aged adults; fear did not differ between the latter three age groups. There were no significant interactions between age group and sex in any of the models. Implications of these findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Effects of Subjective Memory Complaints (SMCs) and Social Capital on Self-Rated Health (SRH) in a Semirural Malaysian Population

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwong Hsia Yap ◽  
Devi Mohan ◽  
Blossom C. M. Stephan ◽  
Narelle Warren ◽  
Pascale Allotey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Regression Model ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Subjective Memory Complaints ◽  
Subjective Memory ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Memory Complaints

Subjective memory complaints (SMCs) and social capital were known to be related to self-rated health (SRH). Despite this, no studies have examined the potential interaction of SMC and social capital on SRH. Using data from a cross-sectional health survey of men and women aged 56 years and above (n = 6,421), we examined how SMCs and social capital explained SRH in a population of community-dwelling older adults in a semirural area in Malaysia. We also evaluated whether SRH’s relationship with SMCs is moderated by social capital. The association of SMC and social capital with poor SRH was investigated using multivariable logistic regression. Social capital (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.82–0.89), mild SMC (OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.50–1.94), and moderate SMC (OR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.63–2.20) were found to be associated with poor SRH after adjustment for sociodemographic factors and depression in the initial regression model. SMC was found to have partial interaction effects with social capital which was included in the subsequent regression model. Unlike individuals with no SMC and mild SMC, those who reported moderate SMC did not show decreasing probabilities of poor SRH despite increasing levels of social capital. Nevertheless, this analysis suggests that social capital and SMC are independent predictors of poor SRH. Further research needs to be targeted at improving the understanding on how social capital and SMC moderate and interact with the perception of health in older adults.

scholarly journals Effect of Age on the Touchscreen Manipulation Ability of Community-Dwelling Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2094
Author(s):  
Michal Elboim-Gabyzon ◽  
Patrice L. Weiss ◽  
Alexandra Danial-Saad
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Usability Assessment ◽  
System Usability Scale ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Assessment of touchscreen manipulation skills is essential for determining the abilities of older individuals and the extent to which they may benefit from this technology as a means to enhance participation, self-esteem, and quality of life. The aim of this study was to compare the touchscreen manipulation ability between community-dwelling older adults and middle-aged adults using a newly developed Touchscreen Assessment Tool (TATOO) and to determine the usability of this instrument. Convenience samples of two age groups were considered, one including 28 independent community-living older adults aged 81.9 ± 4.2 years with intact or corrected vision and with the abilities to walk independently with or without a walking aid and to understand and follow simple commands, and the other including 25 healthy middle-age adults aged 53.4 ± 5.9 years. The usability assessment was conducted during a single session using the System Usability Scale (SUS). Older adults demonstrated poorer touchscreen skills compared to middle-aged adults. Previous experience in manipulating a smartphone by the older adults did not affect their performance. The SUS results indicated good usability of the TATOO by both age groups. The TATOO shows promise as a user-friendly tool for assessing the specific skills needed to operate touchscreens. The outcomes of this study support the suitability of touchscreen devices and applications as well as the need for adapted accessibility for older adults. Researchers and clinicians will benefit from the availability of a rapid, low-cost, and objective tool to assess the skills required for touchscreen use.

scholarly journals The Contribution of Foods and Beverages of Low Nutritional Value to the Diets of Swedish Adolescents, by Food Group, Time and Place. A Nationally Representative Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2450
Author(s):  
Anna Karin Lindroos ◽  
Lotta Moraeus ◽  
Jessica Petrelius Sipinen ◽  
Eva Warensjö Lemming ◽  
Emma Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Food Group ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Food Environments ◽  
Dietary Survey ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
Representative Study ◽  
Nationally Representative

Adolescence is a time in life when lifestyle behaviours are acquired. One indicator of poor diet quality is the intake of foods and beverages with a relatively low nutritional value. Using the Australian classification of such foods, termed “discretionary”, we classified the intakes of Swedish adolescents who participated in the Riksmaten Adolescent 2016–17 national dietary survey. From selected schools, 3099 adolescents in age groups 11–12, 14–15 and 17–18 years provided two 24-h recalls. Intakes and healthy dietary scores were calculated. Plasma ferritin, folate and 25(OH)D were available for a third. Almost 40% of total energy came from discretionary foods/beverages. Adolescents with higher intakes were more likely to be female, older, from a low socioeconomic position-household and born in Sweden. Most discretionary foods/beverages were consumed on weekend days and during in-between meals, outside of the home and at school. Percent energy from discretionary intake was associated with healthy dietary scores but not nutritional status. A substantial amount of energy was obtained from discretionary foods/beverages, and we found that consumption is pervasive across sociodemographic factors, time and place. Addressing this pattern will require a comprehensive approach to food environments and behaviours to reach all adolescents in an equitable manner.

Loneliness in Malta: Findings from the first National Prevalence Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 026540752110201
Author(s):  
Marilyn Clark ◽  
Jamie Bonnici ◽  
Andrew Azzopardi
Keyword(s):  
Physical Health ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Household Composition ◽  
Prevalence Studies ◽  
Mortgage Payment ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Mental And Physical Health ◽  
National Prevalence

Loneliness has been examined by an increasing number of scholars, being implicated in numerous detrimental outcomes for mental and physical health. However, most loneliness prevalence studies have focused on particular age groups, thus overlooking how loneliness differs across the lifespan. This study assessed loneliness prevalence in a nationally representative sample ( n = 1,009) of the Maltese population aged 11 years and above using the 11-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, while also identifying associations between loneliness and sociodemographic factors. Results demonstrate that 43.5% of the Maltese population experiences some form of loneliness. The association between loneliness and age demonstrates a nonlinear relationship, with elevated loneliness rates among adolescents, which decrease slightly in early adulthood, before slowly increasing from age 35 onward. Loneliness is also significantly associated with education level, employment status, household composition, mortgage payment status, perception of income, presence of a disability, active citizenship, as well as self-rated physical health, coping ability, and subjective wellbeing. These findings indicate that loneliness is experienced in significant rates across the lifespan, and intervention efforts should be targeted toward individuals of all ages.

scholarly journals Opioid Literacy in an Immigrant Group in Rural Area: Use of Social Determinant of Health Framework

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 397-397
Author(s):  
Hee Yun Lee ◽  
Eun Young Choi ◽  
Jieun Song ◽  
Jamie Gajos ◽  
Yan Luo
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Limited English Proficiency ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Social Determinant ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Middle Aged

Abstract Opioid overdose risk is particularly high in immigrant communities partly due to limited English proficiency (Guarino et al., 2015). Previous studies reported that social determinants of health (SDH) have been associated with risk for opioid overdose (Dasgupta et al., 2018). The current study examines the association between SDH and literacy of opioid overdose risk among the immigrant population living in a rural area. Specifically, we examine the association in various age groups including young adults (aged 20 to 34), middle-aged (aged 35 to 49), and older adults (ages 50 to 75). Data were drawn from a sample of Korean American immigrants residing in rural Alabama (N=225). The participants administered the Brief Opioid Knowledge (BOOK) Questionnaire (Dunn et al., 2016). Multiple regression analyses were conducted for three age groups to identify predictors of opioid literacy. Overall, older adults had lower levels of opioid literacy relative to their younger counterparts. Among young adults, low English proficiency, more chronic conditions, and greater depressive symptoms were significant predictors of limited opioid literacy. For the middle-aged adults, lower levels of health literacy and more pain symptoms were associated with limited opioid literacy. Among older adults, women, those with higher English proficiency, and lower health literacy had lower levels of opioid literacy. The findings demonstrated a greater vulnerability of older immigrants to limited opioid literacy. Different predictors based on SDH of limited opioid literacy across age groups have implications for tailored health promotion strategies to reduce opioid overdose risk.

scholarly journals The Association Between Recent Family Death and Self-Perceptions of Aging Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 450-450
Author(s):  
Shu Xu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Child Death ◽  
Parental Death ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
Perceptions Of Aging ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Family Loss

Abstract The loss of a family member may have a significant influence on one’s aging experience in life. Self-perceptions of aging, which are an individual’s beliefs or evaluation of their experiences of aging, have been described as an important factor for one’s health and daily life. However, there is little research on the association between family death and self-perceptions of aging. This study examines the relationships between recent family death, self-perceptions of aging, and gender of the bereaved among middle-aged and older adults. Using nationally representative data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we conducted cross-sectional analysis on adults age 50 years and older (n=1,839). Self-perceptions of aging were accessed by 8 items derived from the Attitudes Toward Own Aging subscale of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale and the Berlin Aging Study, and we considered recent family death (i.e., parental death, spousal death, sibling death and child death), as well as gender of the bereaved. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that respondents who experienced recent family death report less positive self-perceptions of aging compared to those who did not experience recent family death (t = 12.40, p < .01). Recent parental death was more negatively related with self-perceptions of aging for bereaved women than for bereaved men (χ2 = 4.28, p < .05). Findings suggest that middle-aged and older adults experiencing recent family loss have less positive self-perceptions of aging, and gender of the bereaved plays an important role in the relationship between parental death and self-perceptions of aging.

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