Research on Aging最新文献

Using nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018 and the fixed effects model, we examine the association between grandchild caregiving and rural grandparents' participation in social activities in China. We further explore whether this association varies across non-migrant and migrant rural grandparents, as well as how this migration-related heterogeneity varies by gender. The results reveal that grandchild caregiving was positively associated with participation in at least one social activity among rural grandparents, primary driven by nonintensive caregiving. Migration-based heterogeneity indicates that this positive association was observed only among non-migrant rural grandparents. Meanwhile, among those who had already participated in at least one activity, grandchild caregiving was associated with a greater number of activity types and a higher frequency of participation among migrant rural grandparents. Further analysis by gender indicates that this migration-based heterogeneity pattern was observed only among grandfathers. Our findings offer important policy implications in the context of rapid population aging and urbanization in contemporary China as well as in other developing countries.

Age-related differences in facial identity recognition and emotion categorization are well established, but whether these differences extend to dynamic stimuli remains underexplored. We compared younger and older adults' performances in dynamic emotion categorization (phase 1) and identity recognition (phase 2) tasks, incorporating different types of facial occlusion to test their influence on both tasks. Stimuli included whole faces and two types of occlusion (surgical masks, white rectangles). In phase 1, participants observed videos of neutral expressions transitioning to emotional ones and categorized the emerging emotion. In phase 2, static neutral faces were judged as either previously seen or new. Occlusion impaired performances in both groups, with older adults struggling more in emotion categorization. Age had no effect on identity recognition, and occluded faces were better remembered than whole faces. The findings highlight the interplay between emotion processing and identity recognition, stressing the importance of using dynamic stimuli in aging research.

Loneliness in later life is a significant global public health issue that negatively impacts well-being, life satisfaction, and mental health. This study investigates how material, health, and social vulnerabilities contribute to loneliness among older adults using a welfare regime framework. It examines the link between vulnerability and loneliness in the United States, Korea, Sweden, Spain, and Germany using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) alongside its international sister studies, encompassing both Western and East Asian welfare states. Findings indicate that older adults in less generous welfare regimes experience higher levels of loneliness and material vulnerability. A multidimensional approach reveals that the most urgently vulnerable population is the multiply vulnerable group. Vulnerable groups are more likely to experience loneliness, with divergent associations emerging across countries. Cross-national variations demonstrate how institutional arrangements can either mitigate or exacerbate the relationship between vulnerability and loneliness.

This study investigates state-specific frailty risks and common predictors among older adults in India, using data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) wave 1, comprising 27,540 individuals aged 60 and above. By integrating ecological systems theory framework with innovative Bayesian spatial modeling, the methodology incorporates a holistic approach. The findings identify Telangana (RR1.382, 95%CI1.246-1.524), West Bengal (RR1.369, 95%CI1.249-1.482), Sikkim (RR1.286, 95%CI1.075-1.516), and Kerala (RR1.236, 95%CI1.109-1.356) as states with significantly higher frailty risks. Key predictors include living alone (RR5.76, 95%CI5.472-5.969), a history of falls (RR2.55, 95%CI2.501-2.592), and experiences of everyday discrimination (RR2.12, 95%CI 2.048-2.141). These results emphasize the critical need for state-specific interventions that account for the complex interactions of micro, meso, and macro-level determinants. The study advocates for the development of tailored strategies, highlighting the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach in addressing frailty within India's heterogeneous aging population.

This study investigated differences in cognitive risk and objective cognitive performance between lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB; n = 309) and heterosexual (n = 16,207) older adults using baseline data (2011-2015) from the Comprehensive cohort of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). Cognitive risk was assessed using the Australian National University - Alzheimer's Disease Risk Index (ANU-ADRI). Cognitive performance was measured using a composite score based on performance on six cognitive tests. The analytic strategy included a combination of t-tests, chi-square tests, and linear regression models. Contrary to expectations, LGB participants exhibited lower cognitive risk scores (M = -1.08, SD = 8.85) in comparison to heterosexual participants (M = 0.61, SD = 10.62). On subcomponents of the ANU-ADRI score, LGB participants reported higher rates of depression and smoking, and lower social engagement. In terms of cognitive performance, LGB participants scored significantly higher (M = 104.58, SD = 14.72) in comparison to heterosexual participants (M = 100.12, SD = 15.05). This difference remained even after controlling for ANU-ADRI score, race, and income. Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating sociodemographic characteristics into cognitive risk assessments.

Rising life expectancy, declining fertility, and changing partnership patterns are disrupting traditional families and may increase the importance of friendship in later life. Older adults without partners or children (e.g., unpartnered, childless, and "kinless") might rely more on friendships for support. Yet, friendship remains understudied in aging research, especially across diverse global contexts. This study uses data from the World Values Survey and United Nations (64,277 adults aged 45+ across 87 countries) to examine how family structure, region, and development level influence the value placed on friendship. The results reveal regional variation in friendship emphasis, high value placed on friendship among those who have never had a partner or child regardless of global context, and high emphasis on friendship among those with disrupted partnerships specifically in highly developed countries. Findings highlight the need to prioritize friendship in research and policy, especially with accelerating demographic shifts occurring globally.

Research on LGBTQ+ rural aging is sparse-thus limiting understanding on how best to support this population. Building on equitable aging theory, this community-engaged qualitative study incorporated data from 4 focus groups with 31 LGBTQ+ older adults in rural communities in California to examine challenges, thriving and surviving strategies, and recommendations for policy and practice. Data analysis identified six interrelated domains reflecting challenges and strengths regarding health, housing, technology, transportation, caregiving, and community for LGBTQ+ older adults in rural communities. We identified three themes to illustrate how these domains intersected across levels (micro, mezzo, macro) to explain equitable aging for LGBTQ+ older adults in rural communities: fractured culturally responsive health care and family fortifications, social connections and space, and affordable and accessible housing. Findings around health, housing, technology, transportation, caregiving, and community were interwoven throughout these themes and provide a blueprint for policymakers and practitioners to better support this population.

Automated vehicles (AVs) have the potential to improve road safety and improve transportation access, particularly for older adults. As a cutting-edge technology where few have personal experience, individuals' initial perceptions of the safety of AVs will likely stem from communications originating from various stakeholders. A survey instrument was developed to both implicitly and explicitly estimate how personal perceptions of AV safety are influenced by safety messages from different sources. The implicit measure revealed that younger adults were particularly influenced by positive safety-related information provided by average AV crash rates and official statements from AV companies. When measured explicitly, older adults reported a larger preference for safety-related messages from safety advocacy groups and a decreased preference for information from average crash rates and AV companies. Results are discussed in terms of how safety related messages from various stakeholders might be utilized to affect perceptions of AVs across adulthood.

Research on end-of-life (EOL) planning has largely focused on heterosexual couples, overlooking the experiences of sexual minority spouses. Using dyadic data from the Health and Relationships Project, this study applies a minority stress framework and dyadic perspective (i.e., considering both partner's views) to examine how gay, lesbian, and heterosexual couples engage in informal (e.g., discussions) and formal (e.g., legal arrangements) planning. Multilevel logistic regressions assess how both spouses' health, dementia concerns, social relationships, and experiences of discrimination shape planning behaviors. Results show that gay and lesbian couples are significantly more likely than different-sex couples to engage in both forms of planning. While marital quality, health, friendships, and discrimination are important predictors, they do not explain the observed group differences. This may suggest that same-sex couples are more motivated to plan ahead due to other unmeasured factors, including concerns about legal recognition, potential discrimination in healthcare, legal literacy, or community support.

As chronic conditions dominate mortality trends, the place of death has emerged as a key marker of end-of-life (EoL) care quality. Although many older adults wish to die at home, structural barriers often lead to institutional deaths, especially among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. This study investigates how housing types, defined by economic status, affordability, and congregate features, affect place of death in older adults. Drawing on National Health and Aging Trends Study data (N = 3,145), we examine links between housing type, EoL resource access, unmet needs, and death location. Residents of Subsidized Senior Housing (SSH) report more formal support yet still face unmet functional assistance needs, while traditional home residents depend on informal caregivers. SSH residents more often die in nursing homes or hospitals, whereas higher-income peers more frequently die at home. These findings indicate housing environments shape EoL resource availability, underscoring the need for targeted policy to reduce housing-related EoL disparities.