International Journal of Aging & Human Development最新文献

Objectives: Understanding the factors protecting life satisfaction in older adults despite stressors is central to late-life wellbeing. This study examined whether self-efficacy moderated the relationships between negative life events, hassles, and life satisfaction in older adults. Methods: The sample comprised 176 older adults aged 60 or above. Two moderation models were tested, controlling for gender, socioeconomic status and health status. Results: The negative relationship between adverse life event and life satisfaction was stronger for individuals with lower self-efficacy. There was no evidence that self-efficacy moderated the relationship between hassles and life satisfaction. Discussion: The study is the first to provide empirical evidence for the role of self-efficacy in buffering the association between negative life events and lower life satisfaction. Strategies to increase self-efficacy can be incorporated in interventions and policies to enhance resilience in this growing population.

Close relationships have long been recognized as crucial in shaping older adults' happiness and well-being. This study investigated the longitudinal association between close relationships (including those with a spouse, children, and friends) and happiness among older adults using random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs), explicitly capturing changes over time. We pooled waves 10-11, 12-13, and 14-15 from the RAND file of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Our analytic sample included 15,758 individuals aged 50 years and older (Mean age = 67.14). We ran three RI-CLPMs to examine how close relationships with spouse, children, and friends affect the happiness of older adults. All models demonstrated a good fit with the data (spouse's model, χ² (df = 7) = 6.979, p = .43, comparative fit index [CFI] = TLI = 1.00; children's model, χ² (df = 8) = 13.91, p = .08, CFI = TLI = 1.00; friend's model, χ² (df = 8) = 17.35, p = .03, CFI = 0.999, TLI = 0.996). We also conducted a sensitivity analysis by computing models without missing data imputation. The results were mostly consistent with the initial analysis. In the initial waves, we did not find carry-over and spill-over effects between close relationships and happiness. However, carry-over effects were observed for models in the later waves. We also found that married individuals tended to be happier as they aged. Additionally, women were more likely to have close relationships with children and friends compared to men. These findings reinforce the dynamic nature of close relationships in later life, suggesting that long-term relationship stability contributes to happiness over time. Practical implications include encouraging companionship and communication within family networks and promoting peer support groups to strengthen social bonds and happiness in later adulthood.

Background: Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, particularly among older adults. We examined changes in cardiovascular risk factors among older adults in a community-based fitness program in Miami-Dade County, FL. Methods: We used repeated measures linear mixed models to examine participants' cardiovascular risk factor changes over 28 months. Outcomes (body mass index, blood pressure, pulse, arm/leg strength, and mobility) were modeled accounting for park, individual, time, and sociodemographic factors (2017-2019). Results: The study included 210 participants (mean age 71 years; 86% female; 52% Hispanic, 38% non-Hispanic Black). Participation was positively associated with reductions in cardiovascular risk, including improvements in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (-0.83 and -0.39 mmHg, respectively), mobility (-0.07 s) and arm strength (0.5 arm curls). Differences were observed in arm curls across sex and pulse across poverty areas. Conclusion: Participating in a park-based fitness program was associated with improved older adults' cardiovascular health.

The migration of the young Iranian generation has resulted in a growing phenomenon of the empty nest for their parents. Traditionally, Iranian families have been characterized by strong familial bonds, but this trend is now being challenged as more children choose to migrate. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of individuals in the empty nest stage following the migration of their children. By focusing on the unique cultural context of Iran, this research explores the impact on parental well-being and addresses the gap in existing literature regarding the empty nest phenomenon in Iran. A purposive sample of seven participants who met the inclusion criteria was selected. They took part in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. The data collected from these interviews were analyzed using Smith's Interpretive Phenomenological Approach. The participants' experiences were categorized into "encountering the emotions and losses" and "survival in the empty nest." The encountering stage revealed themes of "emotional shock and adjustment" and "confronting the expected and unexpected losses." The survival stage highlighted themes of "excessive emotional dependency," "sticking the parental identity," and "invisible loyalty to the full nest." In general, the research data comprises five main themes and 12 sub-themes. Focusing on Iranian family-oriented culture, the primary essence obtained from this study is the concept of a "not-so-empty nest," indicating that although physically distant, individuals remain engaged in the developmental tasks and challenges of previous stages, suggesting that nests are not psychologically empty.

Self-employment is a way for older adults to become active, achieve financial security and contribute to the economy. We explore the meaning of old age from the perspectives of employed and self-employed people. To examine the meaning of old age, 16 employed and self-employed Finns aged 50 and older were interviewed. The sample was stratified according to gender, employment relationship and company size. We employ the life course perspective to examine how choice of work over the life course influences how people think about old age. Employees and self-employed individuals have different perspectives and ways of defining the onset of old age, particularly in terms of the link between retirement and old age. This paper demonstrates that employees and the self-employed view the beginning of old age differently and have different life courses, showing the complex interplay between work and perception of old age.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the differential impacts of two forms of social isolation on depressive symptoms and investigate the mediating role of activity engagement among older Chinese immigrants. Methods: Data were from four waves of the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago Study (PINE) (N = 2,075). Social disconnectedness was measured by social network size and range, living arrangement, and marital status. Perceived isolation was measured by loneliness and lack of social support. Activity engagement was assessed by engagement with various social and cognitive activities. Results: The latent growth curve models indicated that social disconnectedness and perceived isolation were associated with a higher initial level of depressive symptoms. However, perceived isolation predicted a faster decline in depressive symptoms. Activity engagement had significant mediating effects on the relationships. Discussion: Efforts should focus on reducing social isolation and providing opportunities for activity engagement to mitigate depression among older Chinese immigrants.

In prospective studies on religiousness and depressive symptoms, it remains unclear whether religiousness is a predictor or parallels the fluctuating course of depressive symptoms. The current study focuses on several affective aspects of religiousness in their associations over time with late life depressive symptoms. As part of the population-based Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, a subsample of 222 respondents (mean age 76.3 years) completed up to three postal questionnaires with 3-year intervals. The questionnaires included the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale and subscales of the Questionnaire God Representations and the Brief Religious Coping scale. Analyses were performed using mixed model analysis and logistic regression. Positive feelings toward God were associated with fewer depressive symptoms over time. Anxiety toward God, discontent about God, and negative religious coping predicted more depressive symptoms over time (between-subject effects) but also tended to run parallel to the course of depressive symptoms (within-subject effects).

Background: Informal childcare supply may have a double-edged effect on grandparents' health and quality of life, as different aspects of it may exceed or subceed the capacity of the older persons, in various ways. This study aimed to assess the effect of grandparenting on physical activity, nutrition, and quality of life of older people. Methods: The study involved 152 grandparents ≥65 years old (69.2 ± 4.5 years). Data were collected by a self-reported questionnaire consisting of four sections: (a) sociodemographic profile, (b) physical activity assessment (IPAQ), (c) compliance with the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet score), and (d) quality of life assessment (WHOQOL-BREF). Results: Significant correlations were found concerning the care of grandchildren with physical activity, eating habits, and quality of life of older adults. The most notable results of regression analysis, regarding grandparenting effect, were the number of grandchildren being taken care of, which had a statistically significant negative effect on dietary habits, physical activity and quality of life, and being the only caregivers, which was positively associated with dietary habits, but negatively with the two other outcomes (all p < .01). Conclusion: The results showed that different aspects of informal childcare had statistically significant effects on dietary habits, physical activity, and overall quality of life in older people.

Situations of vulnerability are associated with reduced life satisfaction. Although social support moderates the influence of situations of vulnerability, little is known about their associations. This study aimed to document situations of vulnerability and examine their association with life satisfaction among older adults, and the moderating effect of social support. Secondary analyses of cross-sectional data (n = 21,491; 73.4 ± 0.04) from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, stratified by sex. Confirmatory factor analysis identified a vulnerability variable from physiological, psychological, socioeconomic and social indicators. Regression models examined the associations. For both sexes, depressive symptoms, chronic conditions and insufficient income best explained vulnerability, followed by dependence in basic activities of daily living, less social participation and living with fewer people. Vulnerability was associated with lower life satisfaction, and social support acted as a buffer against vulnerability. The buffering effect of social support reinforces recommendations concerning policies and interventions designed to increase networks.

The present study evaluates the impact of grandchild distress on parental competence as mediated by Baumrind's parental styles in a sample of 238 custodial grandparents (M age = 58.06). AMOS structural equation findings yielded a model which indicated that both the Laissez-Faire and Authoritarian styles each predicted role stress and/or parental efficacy. Laissez-Faire's mediating role was defined by its link to the grandparent age-internalizing/externalizing behaviors relationship in predicting parental efficacy (beta = -.54, p < .05) and parental role stress (beta = .36, p < .05). The Authoritarian style's mediating role was driven by child externalizing behaviors (beta = .22, p < .05), where Authoritarian styles in turn predicted (beta = .21, p < .05) parental efficacy. The Authoritative style did not emerge as mediational in nature. These findings illuminate the role of parental styles as explanatory factors in understanding the parental challenges that grandparents face in raising their grandchildren.