Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology最新文献

This study aimed to understand regret from the perspective of Indian older adults. It specifically examined what they regretted and how they coped with their regrets. The study followed the interview method, where biographical accounts of participants' lives were collected. Sixty older adults (30 males and 30 females; M_age= 67.5) participated in the study. The analysis of the 157 major regret incidents narrated by participants showed that two-thirds of regrets in old age stemmed from their inactions, while one-third resulted from their actions. Results showed that Indian older adults most frequently regretted their careers, relationships, education, health, marriage, parenting, and financial matters. Although males and females reported similar levels of regret, the sources of regret differed. The study further revealed that while these life regrets never disappeared, whenever they resurfaced, older adults employed various strategies to cope with their life regrets, such as reappraisal, downward comparison, and justification/rationalization. The results and implications of the study are discussed.

This study examines the time allocation of older individuals in India across paid, unpaid household domestic, unpaid caregiving, and residual activities throughout 24 hours and the factors that are associated with it. The nationally representative first Time-Use Survey (2019), conducted by the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), is used in this study. The results from multivariate linear regression revealed that the expected probability of spending time on paid activities was significantly lower for older females, the oldest-old age groups (80 years and above), and widowed/divorced/never-married older adults compared to their respective counterparts. The results of this study emphasize the significance of a person's socioeconomic status in determining how much time they spend on various activities in their daily lives. It is crucial to change the perception that the older people depend on younger people by acknowledging the contribution made by older people through their participation in paid labour, unpaid domestic work, and caregiving.

Few studies have addressed the impact of COVID-19 on mental health in low resource settings. This study examines the association of COVID-19-related stressors with psychological distress in older adults in Puerto Rico. Data are from a 2021 Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices survey about COVID-19 with adults aged 60 + in Puerto Rico (n = 213). We used the Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20) to assess distress. Stressors included COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalization, or death of someone close, treatment delays, and loneliness. We used negative binomial regression with a log linear link function to model the effects of demographics and pandemic-related social and health stressors on distress. Almost one-third (31%) of participants reported clinically significant distress; 44.3% reported a loved one diagnosed with COVID-19, 32.4% had lost someone close, 25.8% reported treatment delays, and 39.4% experienced loneliness. A COVID-19 diagnosis of someone close without hospitalization [Adjusted Incidence Rate Ratio (AIRR) = 1.55; 95% CI 1.08, 2.22] and loneliness [AIRR = 1.20; 95% CI 1.09, 1.32] were associated with greater SRQ-20 scores. We consider the nexus of cultural and contextual factors (e.g., outmigration, under-resourced healthcare system, fatalism etc.) that are likely to influence short- and longer-term effects of COVID-19-related distress among older adults in Puerto Rico. Interdisciplinary collaborations are needed to enhance Covid-19-related support and to implement culturally appropriate and contextually feasible evidence-based interventions that will reduce high rates of mental health challenges and prevent their long-term effects.

This study explores the culture of active aging among older adults in the Ekhtiarieh neighborhood of Tehran, using an ethnographic approach. The research addresses four key questions: the common physical activity norms, factors influencing physical activity, cultural norms, and the role of perceived neighborhood in shaping physical activity behaviors among older adults. Ethnographic data were collected through observations, interviews, and document reviews from December 2020 to February 2022. The findings reveal one main themes: Body Culture (including Healthy Bodies, Social Bodies, Retired Bodies and Female Bodies), Affordances (including political, physical, and temporal aspects). The results underscore the interplay between older adults' perceptions of their neighborhood and their physical activity patterns. While the level of physical activity among older adults in Iran is generally low, the cultural context of local communities holds the potential to transform behaviors and social attitudes towards active aging. Key strategies include fostering awareness about the body during activities, addressing social perceptions of aging, leveraging the capacities of older adults, and implementing policies aligned with societal needs. The study's interdisciplinary insights offer valuable implications for sports management professionals and urban planners aiming to enhance active aging in neighborhood environments.

This study examines the multidimensional aspects of quality of life (QoL) among octogenarians in Nigeria, with a view to understanding their levels of satisfaction across different domains. Conducted in four states, namely Osun, Oyo, Imo, and Benue, the research employed a cross-sectional, community-based design to gather primary data from 1,774 octogenarians. The World Health Organisation's pre-designed questionnaire for older individuals was adapted and utilised to capture various dimensions of QoL, including physical, psychological, social, environmental, and spiritual aspects. Findings reveal significant differences in QoL across demographic factors such as sex, religion, marital status, and location. Factors like disability, sex, religion, marital status, and locality were identified as significant determinants impacting octogenarians' QoL in different dimensions. Notably, octogenarians generally reported average to high satisfaction levels across various dimensions of their QoL, particularly in social relationships and environmental conditions. The study underscores the importance of community and interpersonal connections in promoting positive QoL among octogenarians. Furthermore, it highlights the need for personalised approaches to address psychological well-being and spirituality, as these dimensions exhibit varying levels of satisfaction among respondents. Overall, the findings suggest a generally positive QoL among octogenarians in Nigeria, with opportunities for enhancing psychological support and tailoring interventions to individual spiritual needs. This research contributes to understanding the nuanced dynamics of QoL among octogenarians in Nigeria, providing insights for policymakers and healthcare professionals to develop targeted interventions that promote holistic well-being in this age group.

In Nigeria, older adults face numerous challenges that undermine their well-being and overall life satisfaction. These challenges include but are not limited to health challenges due to biological consequences of ageing, ageing stereotypes, abuse, and neglect. This study explored abuse of rural-dwelling older persons within informal caregiving settings, focusing on older adults' perspectives of some caregiving styles adopted by their caregivers. Data were obtained using semi-structured interviews with 16 older adults 60 years and above, in a rural community in Awgu Local Government Area (LGA), Enugu state. The data were analysed thematically. Findings revealed that some abusive behaviours that pass as appropriate caregiving styles include restricted movements, forcing older people to eat or take medications and collecting their money/properties. Most of the sampled older adults were found to have negative perceptions about these caregiving styles, while other participants downplayed them as a regular caregiving pattern. The study recommends that caregivers undergo training on appropriate styles for caring for their older adults in rural Nigeria.

Nigeria's growing population of older adults and limited social security have continued to overstretch the informal care networks. More so, the alterations in the filial value for older adults in Nigeria have further threatened the availability and reliance on informal care arrangements. Exploring the experiences of rural-dwelling older adults on the availability of informal care is crucial in strengthening and sustaining the informal care system. Our study explored the perspective of older adults residing in rural parts of southeast Nigeria on their experiences with informal care. Data was collected using a qualitative phenomenological approach from 10 older adults aged 65 and above through semi-structured interviews. The data collected were coded inductively using NVivo 12 and analysed thematically. The findings of our study show that older adults preferred informal care because it provides a customised approach to care, especially in meeting dietary and medication needs. Issues such as economic hardship, declining filial value for older people, and migration of adult children were found to affect the provision of informal care to older adults in Nigeria. Thus, our study strongly recommends preserving filial values for older adults in Nigeria, improving and strengthening family-oriented care, establishing well-equipped and adequately funded care facilities for older adults in rural communities, and developing comprehensive social security for older adults in Nigeria.

This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the risk and fear of falling in older adults according to their sociodemographic and health profiles. A total of 110 older adults from a Medical Specialties Center in Sapezal, Mato Grosso, Brazil, were assessed using a sociodemographic and health questionnaire, the Timed Up and Go test, and the Falls Efficacy Scale-International. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests (p < 0.05). Higher risk and fear of falling were found among hypertensive individuals, retirees, those not actively employed, and those with a history of falls or near-falls. In contrast, individuals aged 60-70, those who reported good health, and those using one to two medications regularly had lower risk and fear of falling. The findings underscore the multifactorial nature of fall-related risk and fear in older adults and highlight key sociodemographic and health-related influences.

Background and objectives:  Refugees face unique migration challenges resulting from life threatening situations which compel them to migrate and often result in psychological distress experienced before, and during migration. Because of this, the experience of aging out-of-place may be particularly challenging for refugees and may compromise their ability to adapt to new countries. However, minimal research exists on the experiences of aging refugees who entered the country as adults. Little is known about predictors of quality of life among aging refugees. The present study investigates the direct associations between sociodemographic factors, social connection, and quality of life among aging refugees. Research Design and Methods. A total of 108 refugees ages 50 years and above from Bhutan, Burundi, and Somalia from an upper Midwestern region of the US completed an in-depth survey assessing well-being and social connection. Results. Hierarchical regression indicated that refugees from Africa (i.e., Burundi and Somalia), reported lower quality of life compared to refugees from Bhutan. Older individuals and females reported lower quality of life. However, quality of life was not associated with marital status and length of residence. In terms of social connection, greater social integration and lower loneliness were significantly associated with higher quality of life. Discussion and Implications. This study highlights unique findings for aging refugees, including cultural variations within refugee groups. Implications suggest distinct considerations for best supporting aging refugees' well-being.

Māori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand. Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) was initially developed in the UK, lacking in Māori cultural content and values. Cultural adaptation is needed to ensure Māori with dementia can benefit from this evidence-based treatment. This paper reports the outcome of a project aimed to adapt CST for Māori. We followed the five phases of international guidelines using the formative method for adapting CST to other cultures, including a critical cultural examination of the 18 CST principles. We piloted two CST-Māori programmes and collected pre- and post-outcome measures using the RUDAS and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Written qualitative feedback was sought from participants and their family at the end of the CST-Māori programme. A total of 15 Māori (female: 53.3%) participated in the two programmes. Their mean age was 75.9 years (SD = 6.6) and mean baseline RUDAS scores was 17.7 (SD = 2.3). There was a statistically significant improvement in cognition (RUDAS: pre = 17.7, post = 19.4, p = 0.003) and in the WHOQOL subscales of physical (pre = 75.9, post = 88.5, p = 0.003), psychological (pre = 72.7, post = 81.3, p = 0.024) and environment (pre-80.6, post = 88.0, p = 0.006). Written feedback confirmed the acceptability of this culturally adapted programme by Māori living with dementia and their whanau (families). CST was successfully adapted for Māori with dementia. It is a culturally acceptable cognitive intervention and preliminary data confirmed the effectiveness of CST-Māori in improving cognition and quality of life.