Social engagement for mental health: An international survey of older populations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsin‐Yen Yen ◽  
Mei‐Ju Chi ◽  
Hao‐Yun Huang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
International Survey ◽  
Older Populations

scholarly journals Global Sensory Impairment Independently Predicts Decreased Social Function Over Time

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 414-414
Author(s):  
Anna Huang ◽  
Kristen Wroblewski ◽  
Ashwin Kotwal ◽  
Linda Waite ◽  
Martha McClintock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Social Function ◽  
Ordinal Logistic Regression ◽  
Sensory Function ◽  
Sensory Impairment ◽  
Over Time

Abstract The classical senses (vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell) play a key role in social function by allowing interaction and communication. We assessed whether sensory impairment across all 5 modalities (global sensory impairment [GSI]) was associated with social function in older adults. Sensory function was measured in 3,005 home-dwelling older U.S. adults at baseline in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project and GSI, a validated measure, was calculated. Social network size and kin composition, number of close friends, and social engagement were assessed at baseline and 5- and 10-year follow-up. Ordinal logistic regression and mixed effects ordinal logistic regression analyzed cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships respectively, controlling for demographics, physical/mental health, disability, and cognitive function (at baseline). Adults with worse GSI had smaller networks (β=-0.159, p=0.021), fewer close friends (β=-0.262, p=0.003) and lower engagement (β=-0.252, p=0.006) at baseline, relationships that persisted at 5 and 10 year follow-up. Men, older people, African-Americans, and those with less education, fewer assets, poor mental health, worse cognitive function, and more disability had worse GSI. Men and those with fewer assets, worse cognitive function, and less education had smaller networks and lower engagement. African-American and Hispanic individuals had smaller networks and fewer close friends, but more engagement. Older respondents also had more engagement. In summary, GSI independently predicts smaller social networks, fewer close friends, and lower social engagement over time, suggesting that sensory decline results in decreased social function. Thus, rehabilitating multisensory impairment may be a strategy to enhance social function as people age.

A Long-Term Study of What Best Predicts Graduating From University Versus Leaving Prior to Graduation

2021 ◽  
pp. 152102512098799
Author(s):  
Teena Willoughby ◽  
Victoria W. Dykstra ◽  
Taylor Heffer ◽  
Joelle Braccio ◽  
Hamnah Shahid
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
First Year ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Enrollment Status ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
University Degree ◽  
The University

Despite the importance of obtaining a university degree, retention rates remain a concern for many universities. This longitudinal study provides a multi-domain examination of first-year student characteristics and behaviors that best predict which students graduate. Graduation status was assessed seven years after students entered university. Participants (N = 1017; 71% female; mean age in Year 1 was 19 years) enrolled in a Canadian mid-sized university completed a survey, provided their enrollment status over the next 6 years (regardless of whether they left university), and consented to have their grades and status provided by the Registrar. Overall, 79% of students graduated by Year 7 (44% in 4 years). The strongest predictor of graduation was first-year grades. Social engagement in the university also predicted graduation. Surprisingly, mental health was not a significant predictor of graduation. Only a minority of students may experience mental health difficulties to such an extent that it affects their ability to succeed at university.

scholarly journals Fireside Chats: A Novel Wellness Initiative for Medical Students in the COVID-19 Era

2021 ◽  
pp. 000313482110030
Author(s):  
Sean J Lee ◽  
Abdul Kader Natour ◽  
Sunil K Geevarghese
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Learning Communities ◽  
Small Group ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Present Survey ◽  
Group Activities ◽  
Large Group ◽  
Depression Era

To supplement preexisting wellness programming for the surgery clerkship, a faculty surgeon at Vanderbilt initiated Fireside Chats (FC) in 2015. Inspired by Franklin Roosevelt’s Depression-era radio broadcasts, FC features small group sizes, off-campus excursions, and a reimagining of the mentor–mentee relationship that eschews hierarchy in favor of deep, mutualistic connections in both personal and professional domains. Here we describe the rationale and implementation of FC and present survey data that demonstrate the warm reception of FC and its efficacy in stewarding the mental health of medical students. Moreover, unlike large group activities such as “learning communities,” FC continues to meet in-person during COVID-19 and preserves social engagement opportunities that may alleviate pandemic-induced isolation and distress.

Learning as an Important Privilege: A Life Span Perspective with Implications for Successful Aging

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-64
Author(s):  
Rachel Wu ◽  
Jiaying Zhao ◽  
Cecilia Cheung ◽  
Misaki N. Natsuaki ◽  
George W. Rebok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cognitive Development ◽  
Life Span ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Mental Health Benefits

Research has demonstrated the cognitive and mental health benefits of learning new skills and content across the life span, enhancing knowledge as well as cognitive performance. We argue that the importance of this learning – which is not available equally to all – goes beyond the cognitive and mental health benefits. Learning is important for not only the maintenance, but also enhancement of functional independence in a dynamic environment, such as changes induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and technological advances. Learning difficult skills and content is a privilege because the opportunities for learning are neither guaranteed nor universal, and it requires personal and social engagement, time, motivation, and societal support. This paper highlights the importance of considering learning new skills and content as an <i>important privilege</i> across the life span and argues that this privilege becomes increasingly exclusionary as individuals age, when social and infrastructural support for learning decreases. We highlight research on the potential positive and negative impacts of retirement, when accessibility to learning opportunities may vary, and research on learning barriers due to low expectations and limited resources from poverty. We conclude that addressing barriers to lifelong learning would advance theories on life span cognitive development and raise the bar for successful aging. In doing so, our society might imagine and achieve previously unrealized gains in life span cognitive development, through late adulthood.

scholarly journals What is mental health? Evidence towards a new definition from a mixed methods multidisciplinary international survey

BMJ Open ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. e007079-e007079 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Manwell ◽  
S. P. Barbic ◽  
K. Roberts ◽  
Z. Durisko ◽  
C. Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
International Survey

scholarly journals Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain, Self-Reported Health and Quality of Life among Older Populations in South Africa and Uganda

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Wang ◽  
Run Pu ◽  
Bishwajit Ghose ◽  
Shangfeng Tang
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Musculoskeletal Pain ◽  
Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Reported Health ◽  
Older Populations

Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a serious health concern especially among the elderly population and has significant bearing on health and quality of life. Not much is known about the relationship between chronic pain with self-reported health and quality of life among older populations in low-resource settings. Based on sub-national data from South Africa and Uganda, the present study aimed to explore whether the older population living with CMP report health and quality of life differently compared to those with no CMP complaints. This study was based on cross-sectional data on 1495 South African and Ugandan men and women collected from the SAGE Well-Being of Older People Study. Outcome variables were self-reported physical and mental health and quality of life (QoL). Mental health was assessed by self-reported depressive symptoms during the last 12 months. CMP was assessed by self-reported generalised pain as well as back pain. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to measure the association between health and QoL with CMP by adjusting for potential demographic and environmental confounders. The prevalence of poor self-rated health (61.2%, 95% CI = 51.7, 70.0), depression (37.2%, 95% CI = 34.8, 39.6) and QoL (80.5%, 95% CI = 70.8, 87.5) was considerably high in the study population. Mild/moderate and Severe/extreme generalised pain were reported respectively by 34.5% (95% CI = 28.9, 40.5) and 15.7% (95% CI = 12.2, 19.9) of the respondents, while back pain was reported by 53.3% (95% CI = 45.8, 60.4). The prevalence of both types was significantly higher among women than in men (p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, both generalised pain and back pain significantly predicted poor health, depression and QoL, however, it varied between the two different populations. Back pain was associated with higher odds of poor self-rated health [OR = 1.813, 95% CI = 1.308, 2.512], depression [1.640, 95% CI = 1.425, 3.964] and poor QoL [1.505, 95% CI = 1.028, 2.202] in South Africa, but not in Uganda. Compared to having no generalised pain, having Mild/Moderate [OR = 2.309, 95% CI = 1.219, 7.438] and Severe/Extreme [OR = 2.271, 95% CI = 1.447, 4.143] generalised pain was associated with significantly higher odds of poor self-rated health in South Africa. An overwhelmingly high proportion of the sample population reported poor health, quality of life and depression. Among older individuals, health interventions that address CMP may help promote subjective health and quality and life and improve psychological health.

scholarly journals EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS: DOES GENDER MATTER?

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S931-S931
Author(s):  
Celeste Beaulieu ◽  
Jeffrey E Stokes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Everyday Activities ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Previous research has suggested that informal socializing can be beneficial for mental health, whereas prior findings concerning solitary activities and mental health have been equivocal. Activity theory posits that involvement in activities – particularly social activities – can improve adults’ self-concept and self-esteem, leading to improved well-being. Solitary activities may perform the same function, though without any social reinforcement. However, social engagement and mental health may both vary by gender. Thus, we examined associations of informal socializing and solitary activities with depressive symptoms among 13,387 respondents of the 2012/2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, and further assessed potential gender differences. Results revealed that both informal socializing and solitary activities were significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms when analyzed separately. However, when both types of activities were modeled simultaneously, only informal socializing remained significant. Further, stratified analyses revealed that informal socializing was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms among women but not men, although these coefficients were not significantly different from each other. Overall, findings suggest that both informal socializing and solitary activities may be beneficial for mental health, yet results were clearly stronger for informal socializing. Socializing may benefit mental health not only by bolstering one’s self-concept, but also by linking adults with social ties and support networks that are instrumental for well-being in mid- and later life. Moreover, gender differences in effects were minimal and largely non-significant, indicating that activity involvement can bolster mental health for men and women alike.

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