Short-term mental health sequelae of bereavement predict long-term physical health decline in older adults: US Health and Retirement Study Analysis

Mapping Intimacies ◽

10.1101/19009878 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Benjamin W. Domingue ◽

Laramie Duncan ◽

Amal Harrati ◽

Daniel W. Belsky

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Physical Health ◽

Spousal Death ◽

Health Decline ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Mental And Physical Health

AbstractObjectiveDeath of a spouse is a common late-life event with mental- and physical-health sequelae. Whereas mental-health sequelae of spousal death tend to be transient, physical-health sequelae may persist, leading to disability and mortality. Growing evidence linking poor mental health to aging-related disease suggests the hypothesis that transient poor mental health following death of a spouse could be a harbinger of physical health decline. If so, identification of bereavement-related mental health symptoms could provide an opportunity for prevention.MethodsWe analyzed data from N=35,103 individuals followed from 1994-2014 in the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and identified N=4,629 who were widowed during follow-up. We tested change in mental and physical health from pre-bereavement through the 5-year period following spousal death.ResultsBereaved spouses experienced an immediate increase in depressive symptoms following their spouses’ deaths but the depressive shock attenuated within one year. Bereaved spouses also experienced increases in disability, chronic-disease morbidity, and hospitalization, which grew in magnitude with time since spousal death, especially among older HRS participants. Bereaved spouses were at increased risk of death compared to HRS participants who were not bereaved. The magnitude of depressive symptoms in the immediate aftermath of spousal death predicted physical-health decline and mortality risk over 5 years of follow-up.ConclusionsBereavement-related depressive symptoms provide an indicator of risk for physical health decline and death in older adults. Screening for depressive symptoms in bereaved older adults may represent an opportunity for intervention to preserve healthy lifespan.Plain Language SummaryThe clinical significance of depressive symptoms during bereavement for long-term health is not well understood. We analyzed longitudinal data tracking mental and physical health of more than 4,000 older adults who were widowed during follow-up. Widows and widowers who experienced more severe depressive symptoms immediately following their spouse’s death were at increased risk for incident disability, chronic disease, hospitalization, and mortality over the five years following their spouse’s death. Transient depressive symptoms related to bereavement may provide a clinical indicator of risk for long-term physical health decline in older adults. Findings motivate increased integration of psychiatric assessment in geriatric care.

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Short-Term Mental Health Sequelae of Bereavement Predict Long-Term Physical Health Decline in Older Adults: U.S. Health and Retirement Study Analysis

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbaa044 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Benjamin W Domingue ◽

Laramie Duncan ◽

Amal Harrati ◽

Daniel W Belsky

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Physical Health ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Health And Retirement Study ◽

Spousal Death ◽

Health Decline ◽

Retirement Study

Abstract Objectives Spousal death is a common late-life event with health-related sequelae. Evidence linking poor mental health to disease suggests the hypothesis that poor mental health following death of a spouse could be a harbinger of physical health decline. Thus, identification of bereavement-related mental health symptoms could provide an opportunity for prevention. Methods We analyzed data from N = 39,162 individuals followed from 1994 to 2016 in the U.S. Health and Retirement Study; N = 5,061 were widowed during follow-up. We tested change in mental and physical health from prebereavement through the 5 years following spousal death. Results Bereaved spouses experienced an increase in depressive symptoms following their spouses’ deaths but the depressive shock attenuated within 1 year. Bereaved spouses experienced increases in disability, chronic-disease morbidity, and hospitalization, which grew in magnitude over time, especially among older respondents. Bereaved spouses were at increased risk of death compared to nonbereaved respondents. The magnitude of depressive symptoms in the immediate aftermath of spousal death predicted physical-health decline and mortality risk over 5 years of follow-up. Discussion Bereavement-related depressive symptoms indicate a risk for physical health decline and death in older adults. Screening for depressive symptoms in bereaved older adults may represent an opportunity for intervention to preserve healthy life span.

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SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN MEXICO: IMPLICATIONS OF GENDER AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.787 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S215-S215

Author(s):

Maria Monserud

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Physical Health ◽

Later Life ◽

Older Men ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Social Activities ◽

The Impact

Abstract Studies in developed countries indicate that social activities can make a difference in mental health in later life. Yet, research on potential benefits of social activities for older adults in developing countries, including Mexico, has been scarce. This study uses the two most recent waves (2012, 2015) of the Mexican Health and Aging Study to investigate the impact of social activities on depressive symptoms among older men (n = 4, 749) and women (n = 6,527), aged 50+, in Mexico. The results of Ordinary Least Squares regressions indicate that it is important to differentiate among specific social activities in later life. Particularly, not only group-based but also solitary social activities were predictive of better mental health. Moreover, the findings demonstrate several gender differences and similarities. Participation in clubs, communication with relatives and friends, physical exercise, and watching television were beneficial for mental health among men, whereas volunteering, playing games, and making crafts were associated with fewer depressive symptoms among women. At the same time, reading as well as doing household chores were related to better mental health among older Mexicans, regardless of gender. Furthermore, this study shows that self-reported health, functional limitations, chronic conditions, and frequent pain might shape the implications of social activities for depressive symptoms among older adults in Mexico. The insights from this study can be helpful for intervention programs that are being developed to promote benefits of group-based and solitary social activities for mental health among older men and women with different levels of physical health.

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Depressive symptoms prospectively predict cardiovascular disease among older adults: Findings from the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105318782375 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (12) ◽

pp. 2006-2016

Author(s):

Emily AP Haigh ◽

Olivia E Bogucki ◽

Peter J Dearborn ◽

Michael A Robbins ◽

Merrill F Elias

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Disease Status ◽

Depression Status ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Long Term Follow Up ◽

Prospective Association

A recent meta-analysis identified a prospective association between depression and cardiovascular disease; however, there was no association for studies with long-term follow-up periods. The literature has primarily focused on baseline depression status or symptoms, which may not capture the chronic nature of depression. This study examined the prospective relationship between depressive symptoms and cardiovascular disease up to 15 years later in 274 cardiovascular disease–free older adults. Depressive and anxiety symptoms, mean arterial pressure, and cardiovascular disease status were assessed. Baseline and chronic depressive symptoms predicted increased risk of cardiovascular disease, underscoring the importance of assessing and treating depression in older adults.

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Greenspace to facilitate the positive physical activity and mental health outcomes of older adults in Canada

Western Undergraduate Research Journal Health and Natural Sciences ◽

10.5206/wurjhns.2014-15.9 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Adam G Gavarkovs

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Physical Health ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

Positive Relationship ◽

Current System ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Mental And Physical Health

The link between physical inactivity and poor health outcomes is well established. Older adults are especially at risk for many health conditions, and are one of the most inactive populations in Canada. Increasing levels of neighbourhood greenness has shown a positive relationship with walking and exercise behaviours, which in turn affects both mental and physical health. Currently in Ontario, the provincial Planning Act outlines the process of parkland dedication that individual municipalities are responsible for carrying out. This policy brief will discuss the inadequacies of the current system in effectively creating greenspace for older adults, and will propose several recommendations to resolve these issues.

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Online-Delivered Group and Personal Exercise Programs to Support Low Active Older Adults’ Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.30709 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mark R Beauchamp ◽

Ryan M Hulteen ◽

Geralyn R Ruissen ◽

Yan Liu ◽

Ryan E Rhodes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Physical Health ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Intervention Effects ◽

Psychological Flourishing ◽

Mental And Physical Health

BACKGROUND In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, experts in mental health science emphasized the importance of developing and evaluating approaches to support and maintain the mental health of older adults. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess whether a group-based exercise program relative to a personal exercise program (both delivered online) and waitlist control (WLC) can improve the psychological health of previously low active older adults during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS The Seniors COVID-19 Pandemic and Exercise (SCOPE) trial was a 3-arm, parallel randomized controlled trial conducted between May and September 2020 in which low active older adults (aged ≥65 years) were recruited via media outlets and social media. After baseline assessments, consented participants were randomized to one of two 12-week exercise programs (delivered online by older adult instructors) or a WLC condition. A total of 241 older adults (n=187 women) provided baseline measures (via online questionnaires), were randomized (ngroup=80, npersonal=82, ncontrol=79), and completed measures every 2 weeks for the duration of the trial. The trial’s primary outcome was psychological flourishing. Secondary outcomes included global measures of mental and physical health, life satisfaction, and depression symptoms. RESULTS The results of latent growth modeling revealed no intervention effects for flourishing, life satisfaction, or depression symptoms (P>.05 for all). Participants in the group condition displayed improved mental health relative to WLC participants over the first 10 weeks (effect size [ES]=0.288-0.601), and although the week 12 effect (ES=0.375) was in the same direction the difference was not statistically significant (P=.089). Participants in the personal condition displayed improved mental health, when compared with WLC participants, in the same medium ES range (ES=0.293-0.565) over the first 8 weeks, and while the effects were of a similar magnitude at weeks 10 (ES=0.455, P=.069) and 12 (ES=0.258, P=.353), they were not statistically significant. In addition, participants in the group condition displayed improvements in physical health when compared with the WLC (ES=0.079-0.496) across all 12 weeks of the study following baseline. No differences were observed between the personal exercise condition and WLC for physical health (slope P=.271). CONCLUSIONS There were no intervention effects for the trial’s primary outcome (ie, psychological flourishing). It is possible that the high levels of psychological flourishing at baseline may have limited the extent to which those indicators could continue to improve further through intervention (ie, potential ceiling effects). However, the intervention effects for mental and physical health point to the potential capacity of low-cost and scalable at-home programs to support the mental and physical health of previously inactive adults in the COVID-19 pandemic. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04412343; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04412343

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407 - Living through the pandemic as an older person: Long-term psychological impacts in low- and middle-income countries

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610221001666 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. 33-33

Author(s):

Clarissa Giebel ◽

Bwire Ivan ◽

Maria Isabel Zuluaga ◽

Suresh Kumar ◽

Mark Gabbay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Well Being ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

The Impact ◽

Low And Middle Income

Background:The pandemic has put a huge strain on people’s mental health, with varying restrictions affecting people’s lives. Little is known how the pandemic affects older adults’ mental health, particularly those living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where restrictions are affecting people’s access to basic necessities. Thus, the aim of this 3-country study was to understand the long- term impacts of the pandemic on the mental well-being of older adults with and without dementia in LMICs.Methods:We are collecting 30 baseline and 15 follow-up interviews with older adults (aged 60+), people with dementia, and family carers in Colombia, India, and Uganda, as well as a baseline and follow-up focus group with health and social are professionals in each country. Interviews are conducted remotely over the phone due to pandemic restrictions, with data collection taking place between March and July 2021. Transcripts are translated into English before being analysed using thematic analysis.Results:To date, we have completed close to 90 baseline interviews and 3 focus groups with health and social care professionals. Analysis is ongoing, but findings are capturing the detrimental second wave in India and follow-up interviews will capture the longitudinal impacts on mental health.Conclusions:Whilst vaccines are starting to be rolled out in LMICs, albeit at different rates, the virus will likely take much longer to be somewhat managed in LMICs. This leaves more room for people’s physical as well as mental health to be impacted by the restrictions, and with often limited mental health service coverage, it is all the more important o understand the impact of the pandemic on older people’s mental health.

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Progress After Placement

Outcomes of Open Adoption from Care ◽

10.1007/978-3-030-76429-6_7 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 199-222

Author(s):

Harriet Ward ◽

Lynne Moggach ◽

Susan Tregeagle ◽

Helen Trivedi

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Adoptive Parents ◽

Developmentally Delayed ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Adult Adoptees

AbstractThe chapter explores the progress made by the 93 adoptees in the core follow-up sample in terms of physical and mental health and education from the time they entered their adoptive homes until they were followed up, on average 18 years later. It draws on data collected through responses to an online survey concerning 93 adoptees (44% of the cohort) completed at follow-up, and interviews focusing on 24 adult adoptees. On entering their placements, 40% of adoptees were developmentally delayed; 13% had poor physical health; 38% were in poor mental health. Emotional and behavioural problems affected their academic progress; 76% required specialist help. After placement, 74% improved in physical health, 66% in mental health and 68% in academic performance. The challenges faced by adoptive parents provide a powerful case for careful preparation and long-term post-adoption support.

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Impact of COVID-19 on Older Adults: Changes in Health Access, Health, Socialization and Adaptive Coping Activities

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.2702 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 731-731

Author(s):

Judith Scott ◽

Sara Qualls ◽

Stacy Yun

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Health Service ◽

Health Behaviors ◽

Physical Health ◽

Service Access ◽

Adaptive Coping ◽

Health Service Access ◽

The Impact ◽

Mental And Physical Health

Abstract Indirect effects of stay-at-home guidelines may negatively affect mental health by reducing health self-care behaviors and engagement in social participation. This study reports on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community-dwelling older adults’ perceived physical and mental health and everyday health behaviors. 126 older adults participated in a county-wide telephone survey during June-July of 2020, asking about changes in mental and physical health, and adaptations in health behaviors. We investigated the effects of three negative everyday health behavior changes during the pandemic (changes in health services access, perceived changes in health, and increased social isolation) as well as two positive everyday health behaviors (adherence to stay-at-home guidelines to reduce risk, and adaptive coping activities) on mental health and COVID-related distress. Examples of active coping strategies were stockpiling resources, spiritual practices, or outreach to others. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and multiple regressions characterized the impact of COVID-19 on perceived mental health. Descriptive data included changes in health service access, changes in mental and physical health, reduced social engagement, increased adherence to guidelines, and increased adaptive coping activities. Significant predictors of mental health impact of the pandemic were changes in health service access (β = .18, p < .05), health changes (β = .25, p < .01), and adaptive coping activities (β = .21, p < .05). Findings suggest COVID-19 distress may be alleviated with improved health care access and increased social contact. Mental health challenges may also benefit from increased engagement in adaptive coping activities.

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Caregivers’ Mental Health and Somatic Symptoms During COVID-19

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbaa121 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sung S Park

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Negative Binomial ◽

Somatic Symptoms ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Group Differences ◽

Short Term ◽

The Impact ◽

Mental And Physical Health

Abstract Objectives This study examines differences in the mental and physical health of the U.S. population during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic among 3 groups: noncaregivers, short-term caregivers (1 year or less), and long-term caregivers (greater than 1 year). Methods Data from the Understanding America Study are used to describe group differences in reports of psychological distress and somatic symptoms. Logistic and negative binomial regression models are used to examine whether these differences persist after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and prepandemic health conditions. To understand within-group differences in caregiving demands, the intensity of care provided by short-term and long-term caregivers, as well as selected patients’ health conditions are summarized. Results Adults’ mental and physical health varied substantially by caregiver status. Caregivers continued to fare worse than noncaregivers in terms of mental health and fatigue, and long-term caregivers were more likely to report headache, body aches, and abdominal discomfort than both short-term caregivers and noncaregivers, net of controls. The nature of caregiving differed between short-term and long-term caregivers, with the latter more likely to provide greater hours of care, and to be looking after patients with permanent medical conditions. Discussion Efforts to understand and mitigate the impact of the pandemic on population health should include caregivers, whose mental and physical health were already vulnerable before COVID-19.

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