International Journal of Aging & Human Development最新文献

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of far-infrared (FIR) heat on quality of life (QOL) in older adults. Participants were assigned to either a convective heat group (CON) or a convective and FIR group. Participants received six, 30-min heat sessions over the course of three weeks. Pre- and post-assessments included physical measures such as range of motion, gait speed, Timed Up and Go, and hand grip strength. Standardized questionnaires were used to determine pain severity and its interference with daily life, and the impact pain had on overall QOL. Pain severity was significantly reduced (from 3.31 to 2.5, p < .05) in the FIR group from pre-to-post, and pain interference was significantly reduced (from 1.26 to 0.43, p < .05) in the CON group from pre-to-post testing. Findings suggest that heat therapy was successful in reducing pain over time.

This article offers a general approach to plan and implement an educational program by illustrating the evaluation process and data from the AGE-ADAR Scholars Program. A well-designed program evaluation will also include a plan for stakeholder dissemination. We adapted a framework from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which includes hard and soft outcomes. Hard outcomes include improved academic metrics, including test scores and graduation rates. Soft outcomes include changes in students' attitudes, particularly those related to reduced ageism as well as readiness to pursue graduate study. While our hard and soft outcomes suggest that the ADAR program is effective in increasing interest in rural health disparities and aging research, we are hopeful that our impact will continue to enrich the lives of our students and the communities in which they live and work.

Background: The Cultivating Health and Aging Researchers by Integrating Science, Medicine, and Aging (CHARISMA) program at the University of Chicago (UC), is an NIA-funded longitudinal clinical research training program for undergraduate students from groups underrepresented in the sciences and medicine. CHARISMA students participate in an aging-focused: 1) realistic research career experience, 2) didactic curriculum, and 3) multi-tiered mentorship program. This manuscript describes CHARISMA and early quantitative data demonstrating its success. Methods: Students apply for and are accepted into CHARISMA in year-long intervals, with programming lasting from June to May. Short-term outcomes are measured using student surveys, including an adapted 23-question version of the critical research appraisal inventory (CRAI), the Geriatrics Attitude Scale for Primary Care Residents, and questions rating the overall program, mentor, importance of aging research, and career interests. Results: Twenty-two students have completed CHARISMA. After completing CHARISMA, student aggregate CRAI scores increased (6.8 to 7.5, p = 0.04). Additionally, the substantial majority of students completing CHARISMA were definitely, very or somewhat Additionally, 87% (19/22), 73% (16/22), and 82% (18/22) of students were definitely, very, or somewhat interested in pursuing a career in medicine that serves older adults, pursuing a career in clinical research, or pursuing a career focused on aging-related research. Conclusion: Early data demonstrates that CHARISMA increases undergraduate student knowledge of and interest in aging-related clinical research.

Measures of life outlook in older adults have been investigated in connection to pain, as both pain management and outlook are important factors of successful aging. We hypothesized that higher pain is associated with lower optimism among community-dwelling older adults. We utilized data from the UC San Diego Successful Aging Evaluation (SAGE), a prospective longitudinal cohort study initiated in 2010, to evaluate the relationship between pain and optimism in 378 community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years. We used the revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) to measure optimism and three pain subscales-PROMIS Pain Interference, PROMIS Pain Intensity, and MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36)-as pain measures. Regression analyses reveal negative relationships between pain and optimism for all three pain scales, with regression coefficients of -0.277 (p < .0001), -0.246 (p < .0001), and 0.269 (p < .0001) respectively. This indicates value in considering physical and psychological elements in future intervention research to promote healthy aging.

We examined the relationship between subjective and objective sleep outcomes and loneliness in older women at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our sample consisted of 39 participants (aged 65+) with mild cognitive deficits who completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and an at home sleep test, to determine presence of obstructive sleep apnea. Based on sleep quality scores, individuals categorized as "poor sleepers" had significantly higher loneliness scores than "good sleepers." However, total loneliness scores did not significantly differ between groups with or without sleep apnea. We found that higher loneliness was significantly associated to lower habitual sleep efficiency and sleep duration and was also influenced by use of sleep medication. Our findings suggest that increased loneliness relates to worse subjective sleep quality, but not to sleep apnea. These findings suggest that combined interventions targeting loneliness and sleep quality may be important for older women.

This study delves into the complex challenges surrounding the employment of older adults, investigating perceived barriers and their interaction with sociodemographic variables and life satisfaction. Utilizing data from 153 older adults and employing a cross-sectional design and multivariate analysis of covariance, the study uncovers significant associations between gender, age, race, and perceived barriers. Female, older, and racially diverse individuals report higher perceived employment barriers, indicating disparities influenced by sociodemographic factors. Gender and race interactions on these barriers are substantial, with life satisfaction emerging as a significant covariate affecting perceived employment barriers. These findings stress the importance of targeted interventions and policy reforms to address systemic inequalities and promote age-inclusive practices. By embracing diversity, fostering inclusivity, and championing age-friendly policies, stakeholders can create a more equitable labor market, empowering older adults to contribute meaningfully to society.

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.

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.

Grounded in Lin and Giles' communication model of elder abuse and neglect and McCubbin and Patterson's double-ABCX model of family stress, this study examined whether caregiver self-efficacy and perceptions of positive caregiving outcomes predicted caregivers' lowered tendency to engage in potential harmful behaviors (PHB) toward care receiver directly or indirectly through lowered reports of care receivers' problem behaviors and negative coping strategy (i.e., communication neglect coupled with expressed anger). These expectations were tested through structural equation modeling of survey responses of 339 family caregivers in the U.S. Model results identified "negative coping strategy" as a strong mediating variable for the effects of reports of care receivers' problem behaviors on PHB. A serial mediation path from higher caregiver self-efficacy to lowered reports of care receivers' problem behavior, to reduced use of "negative coping strategy" and finally to reduced PHB was significant. Perceptions of positive caregiving outcomes did not yield similar results.