scholarly journals Modeling Age-Friendly Environment, Active Aging, and Social Connectedness in an Emerging Asian Economy

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Ming Lai ◽  
Shi-Ying Lein ◽  
Siok-Hwa Lau ◽  
Ming-Ling Lai

This paper empirically tested eight key features of WHO guidelines to age-friendly community by surveying 211 informal caregivers and 402 self-care adults (aged 45 to 85 and above) in Malaysia. We examined the associations of these eight features with active aging and social connectedness through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. A structural model with satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices (CMIN/df = 1.11, RMSEA = 0.02, NFI = 0.97, TLI = 1.00, CFI = 1.00, and GFI = 0.96) indicates that transportation and housing, community support and health services, and outdoor spaces and buildings are statistically significant in creating an age-friendly environment. We found a statistically significant positive relationship between an age-friendly environment and active aging. This relationship is mediated by social connectedness. The results indicate that built environments such as accessible public transportations and housing, affordable and accessible healthcare services, and elderly friendly outdoor spaces and buildings have to be put into place before social environment in building an age-friendly environment. Otherwise, the structural barriers would hinder social interactions for the aged. The removal of the environmental barriers and improved public transportation services provide short-term solutions to meet the varied and growing needs of the older population.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S254-S254
Author(s):  
Patricia A Oh

Abstract Age-friendly communities promote active, healthy, socially connected aging. Opportunities for social connections are key for older residents to enjoy the best possible health and well-being. Communities that join the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities (AARP NAFSC) include an aging lens in eight areas of community life—social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, housing, transportation, community support and health services, and outdoor spaces and buildings. By addressing factors in these eight areas, communities encourage residents to enjoy formal participation in activities and groups and informal contacts with friends, neighbors and other residents. The purpose of this exploratory study was to find out if communities that join the AARP NAFSC plan and implement changes to enhance social connectedness. A review of 62 AARP-approved action plans nationwide, showed that social connectedness was included in 74% of the mission statements and was a goal in 92% of the plans. The lack of resources in rural communities creates special challenges; many age-friendly initiatives depend on community volunteers to implement changes on a shoe-string budget. To learn how rural age-friendly communities promote social connections, an email survey was distributed to 46 AARP NAFSC communities in rural Maine. All the communities responded. Fostering social connectedness was an explicit goal for 88% of the communities. Areas of implementation included services and activities (83%), communication (61%), transportation (30%), programming to include isolated residents (26%), accessible public spaces (22%), and intergenerational volunteering (17%). Implications will be discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 875-876
Author(s):  
Eunju Hwang ◽  
Chungwen Hsu ◽  
Jinwook Jeong ◽  
Nancy Brossoie ◽  
Kimin Song

Abstract Many small and medium-size towns in South Korea experience an increasing number of older adults growing older. This medium-size mountain city has been a member of WHO’s Healthy City Alliances and we investigated the impacts of built environment (BE) in the community on active aging. The purpose of the survey was to identify the BE affecting the residents’ physical activity level and quality of life. The survey data (N=630) were collected from the residents aged 40 years and over in May 2019 from a mountain city near a national park in Northeast part of Korea. The average age of the participants was 67.41 years of age and most wanted to stay in their community. Our descriptive data analysis show that the following items are perceived very important to address in creating more supportive environment: benches in public spaces; safe pathways and public transportation station; well-maintained sidewalks; affordable and accessible housing options. Regression models were also developed to examine the impacts of BE on activity level and quality of life. BE factors included the features related to outdoor spaces and buildings, public transportation, streetscape and housing, and found a significant relation between the participants’ activity level and public transportation in addition to demographic factors such as age and health status. Regarding the quality of life, the participants’ perception on outdoor spaces and buildings and safe public spaces were positively related to quality of life. The study showed the importance of supportive and age-friendly environments for active living.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 206-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caley Miskimmin ◽  
Shahin Shooshtari ◽  
Verena Menec ◽  
Karen A. Duncan ◽  
Toby Martin ◽  
...  

Purpose The life expectancy for persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) has increased significantly, resulting in an increasing number of aging persons with ID. To promote healthy and active aging of persons with ID, discussions on new initiatives to design age-friendly communities have begun at local and international levels. The purpose of this paper, a qualitative research study, is to identify features of an age-friendly community, and facilitators and barriers from the perspectives of older adults with mild ID and their caregivers who live in the city of Winnipeg in Canada. Design/methodology/approach Seven older persons with mild ID were interviewed, and 15 caregivers participated in focus group discussions. All participants were asked questions about features of community living and their experiences in eight broad topic areas (i.e. transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, opportunities for community involvement, communication and information, community support and healthcare services, and outdoor spaces and buildings). Findings The results indicated that many of the current features of the city of Winnipeg do not adequately address the needs of aging persons with ID; specifically, participants revealed that issues related to accessibility, social participation, social disrespect and inclusion, and lack of resources were important barriers to independence. Originality/value The findings will increase awareness of the needs of aging persons with ID and inform programme planning, service delivery, coordination of community-based services and policies to support healthy and active aging for this vulnerable population.


Author(s):  
Eman Al-erqi ◽  
◽  
Mohd Lizam Mohd Diah ◽  
Najmaddin Abo Mosali ◽  
◽  
...  

This study seeks to address the impact of service quality affecting international student's satisfaction towards loyalty tothe Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia(UTHM). The aim of thestudy is to develop relationship between service quality factor and loyalty to the university from the international students’ perspectives. The study adopted quantitative approach where data was collected through questionnaire survey and analysed statistically. A total of 246 responses were received and found to be valid. The model was developed and analysed using AMOS-SEM software. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) function of the software was to assessed the measurement models and found that all the models achieved goodness of fit. Then path analysis function was used to assessed structural model and found that service qualityfactors have a significant effect on the students’ satisfaction and thus affecting the loyaltyto the university. Hopefully the outcome form this study will benefit the university in providing services especially to the international students.


SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 215824402110231
Author(s):  
Joshua W. Katz ◽  
Todd G. Morrison ◽  
Cormac Ó Beaglaoich

The Meanings of Adolescent Masculinity Scale (MAMS) and the Adolescent Masculinity Ideology in Relationships Scale (AMIRS) were designed by American researchers to assess masculinity in adolescent boys. Given that masculinities differ cross-culturally, though, these scales may not be viable for use with non-American populations. In the current study, 221 Irish adolescents completed the MAMS and the AMIRS. Using confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs), the MAMS’s and the AMIRS’s factor structures were tested. Results indicated poor goodness-of-fit in both cases. Attempts to improve the models were unsuccessful. Accordingly, neither the MAMS nor the AMIRS appear to be structurally valid within an Irish context. We recommend that researchers consider cultural variations when designing, validating, and utilizing indicators of masculinity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dian Veronika Sakti Kaloeti ◽  
Ayu Kurnia S ◽  
Valentino Marcel Tahamata

Abstract Background This study’s main purpose was to examine the psychometric properties of FoMOs’ adaptation among the Indonesian adolescents’ population. The second aim was to investigate the concurrent validity of the Indonesian version to provide evidence for the validity. Also, FoMOs’ difference level between demographic variance analyses was performed. Method The study involved a cross-sectional online survey design with 638 Indonesian adolescents aged 16–24 (M = 19.08, SD = 14.70). FoMO was measured by a 16-item that has been modified from the original 10-item. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were carried out to study its scores’ evidence of structural validity. Besides, to study its scores’ evidence of convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity concerning other variables such as stress, anxiety, and depression (Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale-21), and general health condition (General Health Questionnaire Scale-12), correlation analyses were conducted. To study the sensitivity, we assessed the effect of sociodemographic and social media use on the scale’s ability to identify the population’s risk to the FoMO by conducting analyses of variance. The Cronbach alpha values (α = .93) indicated that internal consistency of the scale was at an adequate level. Results Exploratory factorial analyses revealed adequate adjustment for the new version of the scale showing the three factorial structures. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the 12-item of Indonesian FoMO had a good fit (χ2/df = 289.324/51; goodness-of-fit index (GFI) = 0.928; RMSEA = 0.086; comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.915; normed fit index (NFI) = 0.899; parsimony normed fit index (PNFI) = .695; Tucker–Lewis index (TLI) = 0.890). Conclusion This study has shown that the modified 12-item Fear of Missing Out Scale is a valid and reliable instrument for Indonesian adolescents. It showed that the Indonesian version of Fear of Missing Out Scale has adequate psychometric properties to measure Indonesian adolescents’ online behavior.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-395
Author(s):  
Kelsey L. Autin ◽  
Andrew J. Shelton ◽  
Willy Anthony Diaz Tapia ◽  
Roberto G. Garcia ◽  
Germán A. Cadenas

Psychology of Working Theory (PWT) has recently gained empirical support; however, its assumptions have yet to be tested for cultural responsiveness in Latinx communities, one of the fastest-growing worker populations in the U.S. The current study had two major aims: (a) to translate and validate instruments measuring PWT constructs from English into Spanish, and (b) to test theorized PWT predictors of decent work in a sample of Latinx workers ( N = 287). First, we translated and validated instruments measuring economic constraints, lifetime marginalization, work volition, and decent work using confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). We then tested a structural model predicting decent work. Results partially supported PWT hypotheses, suggesting its utility and cultural responsiveness in studying the work patterns and conditions in Latinx communities. Practical implications are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1614
Author(s):  
Marta Llorente-Alonso ◽  
Cristina García-Ael ◽  
Gabriela Topa ◽  
María Luisa Sanz-Muñoz ◽  
Irene Muñoz-Alcalde ◽  
...  

The global emergency produced by COVID-19 has been a turning point for health organizations. Healthcare professionals have been exposed to high levels of stress and workload. Close contact with infected patients and the infectious capacity of COVID-19 mean that this group is especially vulnerable to contagion. In various countries, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale has been shown to be a fast and reliable tool. Early detection of fear complements clinical efforts to prevent emotional disorders. Thus, concepts focused on positive occupational health, such as Job Crafting or psychological empowerment (PE), have been examined as a tool to prevent mental health problems at work. In this work, we intended to adapt and validate the 7-item Fear of COVID-19 Scale in health workers (N = 194). The interpretation of the measurement model indicates adequate values of internal consistency reliability, and convergent and discriminant validity. The overall goodness of fit of the model was also adequate. The structural model indicates that the implementation of job crafting measures in health services leads to workers’ greater PE. High levels of anxiety and depression prevent health professionals from psychologically detaching from work. In turn, PE can reduce the emotional disorders caused by the fear of COVID-19.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Brittany DeFeis ◽  
Gelan Ying ◽  
Andrea M. Kurasz ◽  
Liselotte De Wit ◽  
Priscilla Amofa ◽  
...  

Background: In Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD) research, common outcome measures include cognitive and functional impairment, as well as persons with mild cognitive impairment (pwMCI) and care partner self-reported mood and quality of life. Studies commonly analyze these measures separately, which potentially leads to issues of multiple comparisons and/or multicollinearity among measures while ignoring the latent constructs they may be measuring. Objective: This study sought to examine the latent factor structure of a battery of 12-13 measures of domains mentioned above, used in a multicomponent behavioral intervention (The HABIT® program) for pwMCI and their partners. Methods: Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) involved 214 pwMCI-partner pairs. Subsequent Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) used 730 pairs in both pre- and post-intervention conditions. Results: EFA generated a three-factor model. Factors could be characterized as partner adjustment (29.9%), pwMCI adjustment (18.1%), and pwMCI impairment (12.8%). The subsequent CFA confirmed our findings, and the goodness-of-fit for this model was adequate in both the pre- (CFI = 0.937; RMSEA = 0.057, p = 0.089) and post-intervention (CFI = 0.942; RMSEA = 0.051, p = 0.430) groups. Conclusion: Results demonstrated a stable factor structure across cohorts and intervention conditions suggesting that three broad factors may provide a straightforward and meaningful model to assess intervention outcome, at least during the MCI phase of ADRD.


Publika ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 199-214
Author(s):  
Kholilah Danarratoe Kharima ◽  
Eva Hany Fanida

Penggunaan teknologi saat ini dibutuhkan dalam bidang pelayanan publik. Seiring dengan bertambahnya kebutuhan masyarakat maka pemerintah sebagai penyedia layanan publik terus melakukan pembaruan terhadap perubahan pelayanan yang diberikan agar memudahkan masyarakat dalam mendapatkan layanan informasi. Salah satu penerapan e-government oleh Dinas Perhubungan Kota Surabaya adalah inovasi aplikasi TransportasiKu yang bertujuan untuk memberikan layanan informasi terkait lalu lintas dan transportasi umum yang ada di Surabaya secara terkini, praktis, lebih cepat dengan satu aplikasi yang memuat semua informasi melalui genggaman smartphone. Penelitian ini menganalisa menggunakan indikator measuring the quality of e-government from the user prespective (Kozák, 2018) dengan enam indikator yaitu ease of use, content and appearance of the information, reliability, citizen support, trust/security, support in completing forms. Penelitian ini menggunakan jenis penelitian deskriptif dengan metode kualitatif, teknik pengumpulan data wawancara, observasi, dokumentasi dan teknik analisa data yaitu pengumpulan data, reduksi data, penyajian data dan penarikan kesimpulan/verifikasi. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa aplikasi ini mendapat respon yang cukup baik dari masyarakat sebagai pengguna karena dapat memberikan layanan informasi yang dibutuhkan namun masih ada juga gangguan dalam penggunaannya. Indikator pertama, kemudahan penggunaan dirasa para pengguna sangat mudah digunakan untuk setiap saat. Indikator kedua, isi dan tampilan informasi yang dihadirkan sederhana dan lengkap. Indikator ketiga keandalan, pada aplikasi ini server yang digunakan masih kurang cukup. Indikator keempat dukungan masyarakat untuk halaman bantuan tidak tersedia hanya ada kolom komentar. Indikator kelima kepercayaan/keamanan, tidak menyertakan informasi pribadi sehingga aman. Indikator keenam dukungan dalam pengisian, formulir aplikasi ini berbasis informasi tanpa perlu pengisian formulir data para penggunanya. Kata Kunci : Pelayanan Publik, Inovasi, E-Government, TransportasiKu   The use of technology is currently needed in the field of public services. Along with the increasing needs of the community, the government as a public service provider continues to make updates to changes in the services provided to make it easier for the public to get information services. One of the applications of e-government by the Surabaya City Department of Transportation is the TransportationKu application innovation which aims to provide information services related to traffic and public transportation in Surabaya in an up-to-date, practical, faster way with one application that contains all information through the grip of a smartphone. This study analyzes using indicators measuring the quality of e-government from the user perspective (Kozák, 2018) with six indicators, namely ease of use, content and appearance of the information, reliability, citizen support, trust/security, support in completing forms. This research uses descriptive research with qualitative methods, interview data collection techniques, observation, documentation and data analysis techniques, namely data collection, data reduction, data presentation and conclusion / verification. The results of this study indicate that this application has received a fairly good response from the public as a user because it can provide the information services needed, but there are still disturbances in its use. The first indicator, ease of use, is felt by users to be very easy to use at any time. The second indicator, the content and display of the information presented is simple and complete. The third indicator is reliability, in this application the server used is still insufficient. The fourth indicator of community support for the help page is not available, only a comment column. The fifth indicator is trust / security, does not include personal information so it is safe. The sixth indicator of support in filling in this application form is information-based without the need to fill out user data forms. Keywords: Public Service, Innovation, E-Government, TransportasiKu


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