Journal of Gerontological Social Work最新文献

This study examined the concurrent effects of social isolation and elder mistreatment on mental distress in older Korean Americans (n= 2,122, Mean age = 73.4). Approximately 44% experienced mistreatment, with 32% exposed to a single type and 12% to multiple types (polyvictimization). Social isolation and mental distress rates were about 24% and 30%, respectively. Both factors independently affected mental distress, with a significant interaction observed. The odds of experiencing mental distress were substantially greater when polyvictimization occurred in social isolation. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions to support for those who are mistreated and lack social protection.

The problem of ageism in the family can be understood through the lens of larger social structural factors that shape intrapersonal and interpersonal relations in families. While research on the negative consequences of ageism is well established in the workplace, media, and in healthcare systems, ageism within the family has not yet been well studied. We propose a tripartite model of ageism, specifically how cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of family members, in combination with internalized age beliefs held by older people, undermine family dynamics and may worsen the health and wellbeing of older adults. The paper concludes with implications for further research and clinical social work practice.

.This study examined the mutual effects of spousal life satisfaction as well as how older parents' perceptions of relationships with their adult children relate to life satisfaction four years later. Data from 1,071 married couples in the 2006 and 2010 waves of the Health and Retirement Study were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. Findings revealed fathers' life satisfaction in 2010 was only marginally linked to his 2006 perceived support, while mothers' life satisfaction was significantly associated with higher support and lower strain. Results highlight gender differences in intergenerational relationships during later life.

We examined information seeking strategies and predictors of service awareness from a 2019 survey of Detroit area adults. Participants were age 60+ (mean age = 72.10; SD = 8.08), and most were African American (89.0%) and female (86.9%). Most (74.80%) reported finding information most or all of the time, and 87.50% reported awareness of 12 to 15 services. Respondents with more frequent family/friend interaction (OR = 2.374, 95% CI = 1.054, 5.347), greater use of information seeking strategies (OR = 1.188, 95% CI = 15 1.073, 1.315), and higher health status (OR = 3.445, 95% CI =1.625, 7.306) were more likely to be aware of needed services. Women were aware of a greater number of services compared with men (OR = 2.682, 95% CI = 1.005, 7.160), while Hispanics/Latinos were aware of fewer services relative to African Americans (OR = 0.100, 95% CI = 0.012, 0.837. Greater information seeking strategies was associated with higher awareness (OR = 1.328, 95% CI = 1.150, 1.534). Results suggest the need for particular attention to linguistically and culturally appropriate outreach strategies for people who are Hispanic/Latino and those with a low level of social interaction.

Loneliness affects many older adults.As part of the "Telephone Angel" project, telephone partnerships between volunteers and older adults affected by loneliness were designed to counteract experiencing loneliness. Volunteers (100 ≤ N ≤ 114) and older adults who are (22 ≤ N ≤ 45) and who are not (25 ≤ N ≤ 71) part of the project were surveyed twice. Concerning loneliness, telephone partnerships increased the sense of community (d = .38). Older adults' life satisfaction increased (d = .46) as well. Stigmatization increased between the survey periods for those inside and outside the project (.21 ≤ d ≤ .35)..

The COVID-19 significantly impacted older adults, worsening their physical health and social connectedness. This study examined whether social support mediates the correlation between COVID-19 concerns and self-rated physical health (SRPH) using data from 2672 participants (aged 50-99) in the NSHAP COVID-19 sub-study (2019-20). Mediation analysis revealed that COVID-19 concerns significantly predicted lower perceived social support (b = -0.0397, p < .001) and worse SRPH (b = -0.0536, p < .001). The indirect effect through perceived social support was significant and negative (b = -0.0045, p = .006).

This study explores links between anxiety and physical health among older adults (aged 45+) incarcerated in Kentucky state prisons. Using secondary data, independent sample t-tests, and hierarchical multiple linear regression, we identify disparities in anxiety and physical health among those with and without self-reported anxiety and the contribution of symptoms of anxiety to physical health in the sample. Findings show individuals with self-reported anxiety experienced increased impairment in daily activities, multimorbidity, and decreased physical health-related quality of life. Older adults are a large and growing proportion of prison populations, and addressing anxiety may improve physical health and reduce related costs.

This commentary explores the career trajectory of eminent feminist gerontologist, Dr. Nancy Hooyman, leading to her conceptualization of a care justice framework. Dr. Hooyman's scholarship focuses on older women, family caregiving, community-based services, multigenerational policy and practice, and feminist gerontology. She entered gerontological social work viewing caregiving as a personal trouble addressed through individual solutions. Her awareness of structural inequities facing family caregivers grew as her scholarship shifted to conceptualize long-term care as a feminist gerontological issue. Her work advocates for fundamental, structural, and transformative changes to policies that affect home and community-based services (HCBS). She challenges pervasive Western values of familism, privatization, deregulation, and individualized risk built into long-term care to ask the question, how do we create a society characterized by care justice? Throughout her career, the interconnections between those who perform the critical work of long-term care - underpaid direct care workers and unpaid families - has become increasingly clear. This has culminated in the conceptualization of care justice, which values care work as skilled, important, and an essential public good and reimagines our care infrastructure. Pushing the bounds of gerontology, Dr. Hooyman's work continues to inspire scholars who seek to transform community-based care for older adults.

As individuals age, they encounter new or persistent needs that affect their ability to use formal services. Social capital, can help individuals overcome these barriers. This scoping review aimed to identify how an older adult's social capital may help them utilize formal services. The search, conducted in January 2023, resulted in 57 articles included for analysis. Results demonstrate how certain types of relationships may support older adults' use of formal services and highlight gaps in methodologies and measurements used. Future research should explore mechanisms behind different types of relationships and how they can support older adults obtain needed care.