scholarly journals Psychosocial Factors Associated with Longevity in the United States: Age Differences between the Old and Oldest-Old in the Health and Retirement Study

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Ailshire ◽  
Eileen M. Crimmins
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Psychosocial Factors ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
The United States ◽  
Negative Perceptions ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Retirement Study

Recent growth in the number of adults surviving to advanced ages raises questions about the quality of life associated with increased longevity. Psychosocial factors have received relatively little attention in research on quality of life among the oldest-old. This study uses nationally representative data on older US adults to examine how social relationships, feelings of loneliness, and satisfaction with life and the aging experience differ between the oldest-old, those who have survived to age 90 or older, and older adults in their 70s. We find that the oldest-old are able to maintain social relationships with family and friends and receive more social support than younger elderly adults. Yet, the oldest-old are more likely to feel lonely due to their greater rates of widowhood. Satisfaction with life was higher among the oldest-old, but the oldest-old had more negative perceptions of the aging experience. Psychosocial dimensions of longevity should be considered in research on quality of life among the oldest-old.

scholarly journals Inquiry Based Stress Reduction (IBSR) Improves Overall Stuttering Experience among Adults Who Stutter: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2187
Author(s):  
Omrit Feldman ◽  
Eran Goldstien ◽  
Benjamin Rolnik ◽  
Ariel B. Ganz ◽  
Shahar Lev-Ari
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Psychological Flexibility ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Adults Who Stutter

Stuttering is a speech disorder that can cause disturbances in the timing and flow of speech. In addition to being a communication disorder, stuttering is often accompanied by a reduction in the quality of life and has impacts on social status, mental well-being, self-acceptance, and the chances of integration into the labor market. The Inquiry Based Stress Reduction (IBSR) program, developed in the United States by Byron Katie in 1986, is the clinical application of “The Work” method (Thework.com) and represents an emerging mindfulness and cognitive-reframing method. IBSR has been demonstrated to improve mental health and well-being in adults and may alleviate psychological and psychosocial symptoms of stuttering. The purpose of this trial was to examine the effect of a 12-week IBSR intervention on the overall stuttering experience and indicators of anxiety, psychological flexibility, and well-being among adults who stutter (AWS). This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial. Participants were randomized to IBSR (n = 28) and control (n = 28) groups. Validated questionnaires of overall stuttering experience (OASES-A), anxiety (STAI), psychological flexibility (PFQ), and satisfaction with life (SWLS) were completed before, after, and one month after the intervention. An intention-to-treat approach was implemented for analysis. Our results show that participants in the IBSR intervention group exhibited a greater improvement in their overall stuttering experience as compared to the control group, as well as in general information on stuttering awareness and perception, reactions to stuttering, communication in daily situations, and quality of life. In addition, we found a greater reduction in anxiety levels and an increase in satisfaction-with-life scores in the IBSR group. These results indicate that IBSR can improve the overall stuttering experience.

Loneliness, Sociodemographic and Mental Health Variables in Spanish Adults over 65 Years Old

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berta Ausín ◽  
Manuel Muñoz ◽  
Miguel A. Castellanos
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Diagnostic Interview ◽  
Life Measure ◽  
Associated Variables

AbstractLoneliness is a risk factor for morbidity as well as mortality. Older people are more vulnerable to feeling alone due to age-associated changes and losses they might experience. This study aimed to analyze sociodemographic, psychosocial, and mental health variables related to loneliness in the elderly. A random sample of 419 people over 65 years old from the Community of Madrid was used. The UCLA Loneliness Scale, the CIDI65+ Diagnostic Interview, and the WHOQOL-BREF Quality of Life Measure were administered. A regression p model was estimated to identify the variables that best predict loneliness associated with old age. Loneliness-associated variables included living alone t(161.41) = 2.07; p < .040, marital status F(5, 404) = 4.52; p < .001, frequency of economic problems F(1, 408 ) = 4.86; p < .028, quality of life F(4, 405) = 7.36; p < .001, satisfaction with life F(4, 405) = 3.80; p < .005, satisfaction with social relationships F(4, 405) = 19.50; p < .001, presence of a mental disorder (t(98.70) = 2.92; p < .004), and having an anxiety disorder (t(51.11) = 2.19; p < .033). The results presented in this paper highlight some predictors of loneliness in older people that could be useful in intervention, to minimize harmful conditions that can lead to loneliness in people over 65.

scholarly journals Lay theories of quality of life in older age

2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 827-848 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANN BOWLING ◽  
ZAHAVA GABRIEL
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Social Roles ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Measurement Properties ◽  
Measurement Scales

ABSTRACTThis paper presents findings from a national survey of quality of life (QoL) in older age. The main aim of the analyses was to examine the definitions of quality of life given by people aged 65 or more years and the underlying reasons. Open-ended questions were used to elicit their perceptions of QoL. These were followed by structured measures of self-rated QoL overall, and of domains of QoL commonly reported in the literature. The main things said by the respondents to give their lives quality were categorised into ‘themes’. These were: social relationships; social roles and activities; leisure activities enjoyed alone; health; psychological outlook and wellbeing; home and neighbourhood; financial circumstances; and independence. The reasons people gave to explain why these things were important to their QoL focused on: the freedom to do the things they wanted to do without restriction (whether in the home or socially); pleasure, enjoyment and satisfaction with life; mental harmony; social attachment and having access to companionship, intimacy, love, social contact and involvement, help; social roles; and feeling secure. This paper also presents data that demonstrates the ability of theoretically informed, structured survey indicators of QoL to predict respondents' self-rated overall QoL. Logistic regression analyses showed that most of these indicators were strong, independent predictors of self-ratings of QoL, although those that were not significant in the model did not fully incorporate lay reasons of QoL in their measurement scales. In conclusion, the indicators which were not significant in the model did not fully incorporate lay values in their measurement properties. It is also likely that those indicators that were significant could have been improved.

scholarly journals The Pandemic and Older Women in the United States: Impacts on Social Networks and Well-Being

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 513-513
Author(s):  
Lindsay Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Older Women ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Age Patterns ◽  
Young Old ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract The current study examines the unique impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic on the well-being of middle aged to older women from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study (n = 1252) and how their reports of social contact during the pandemic compare to age-matched women from 2018 (n = 2063). Although up to a third of women across age categories reported changes in social contact due to the pandemic, their rates of communication with friends and family were not significantly different from their counterparts in 2018. Results find expected age patterns in satisfaction with life during the pandemic), where the young-old report the highest levels. However, the association of life satisfaction with the extent to which women reported more loneliness during the pandemic was only significant among the young old and oldest old. Age differences in pandemic-specific experiences in relation to well-being are discussed within a life course developmental framework.

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