Research on Aging最新文献

The intersection of LGBTQ+ aging, family, and social isolation remains understudied. The study examines perceived social isolation (loneliness) among older lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual adults, focusing on the role of relationship status. Drawing on minority stress theory, queer family scholarship, and gerontology research, we test whether: (1) relationship status mediates sexual identity gaps in perceived isolation, and (2) the association between relationship status and isolation varies by sexuality. Analyses are stratified by gender. Using representative data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N = 93,109), logistic regressions show that: (1) gay and bisexual men reported more perceived isolation than heterosexual men while bisexual women, but not lesbian women, reported more isolation than heterosexual women; (2) relationship status mediated more of the isolation gap between gay and heterosexual men; and (3) moderation by sexuality was generally absent, except among gay men. Findings underscore elevated isolation among aging sexual minority population, particularly bisexual and previously married adults.

Support provision may enhance older adults' well-being. Yet support for friends, a voluntary and socially engaging behavior, remains relatively understudied. This study examines daily support to close friends and its within-person links to mood, focusing on gender differences. Older adults (n = 180, Mean age = 74.02, 57% female) completed 5-6 days of ecological momentary assessments, reporting on their positive and negative mood every 3 hours and support exchanges daily. Emotional support to friends being most common, followed by advice and practical help. Findings showed men were less likely than women to provide emotional support to friends. Older adults experienced greater positive mood on days they provided practical support. Men experienced lower positive mood on days they provided emotional support, a pattern not observed in women. Findings highlight gender differences in helping close friends, suggesting potential emotional costs for older men in providing emotional support.

Care workers, whose roles frequently involve physically demanding tasks, gain significant benefits from using assistive devices that alleviate physical strain and improve their work environment. Despite these advantages, the relationship between assistive device use and caregivers' job tenure remains limited. Using propensity score matching (PSM) and data from the Korea Long-Term Care Survey, this study examines differences in caregivers' job tenure associated with the provision of assistive devices in long-term care institutions. We find that social workers and care assistants in institutions with access to assistive devices have longer job tenure, by 4.7 months and 3.3 months respectively, compared to those in institutions without access to these devices. In contrast, we do not observe a statistically significant change in job tenure for other occupations, such as nurses, nurse assistants, physical/occupational therapists, and non-care staff.

This study examined whether the onset of functional limitations shapes older Chinese' friendship characteristics and whether gender, education, and place of residence moderate the association. The study used two waves of China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (2016 as T1 and 2018 as T2) and included 6,954 older Chinese who were free of functional limitations at T1. Friendship was assessed as contact frequency with friends, instrumental support from friends, and emotional support from friends. Functional limitations were assessed as the development of basic (ADL) and instrumental (IADL) activities of daily living limitations. Ordinal logistic regression results showed older Chinese adults with the onset of ADL and IADL limitations over a two-year period were associated with a reduced number of friends available to contact or meet and to provide emotional support, but not instrumental support. Further, the association between functional limitations and friendship characteristics was stronger among older adults who were more educated and who living in rural areas than among those who were less educated and who residing in non-rural areas.

Accessing long-term care can be challenging due to complex care systems. This study aimed to identify evidence on interventions designed to improve access to long-term care for community-dwelling older adults. A systematic search of five databases identified 16 studies published between 2013 and 2023. Interventions were categorized into four types: early identification (n = 6), integrated care (n = 5), partnership (n = 2), and other (n = 3). Common strategies included providing information, making referrals, and providing coordinated care. Most interventions were delivered by healthcare professionals, targeted high-risk older adults, and focused on nursing home admissions, with less attention to other long-term care services. Interventions could target older adults with advanced age or specific health conditions and identify unmet needs at early stages. Future research could document intervention length, explore its impact on service access, and evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of involving non-healthcare professionals in delivering interventions.

Using a nationally representative sample of older adults (age 65+, N = 7,547) and a path model, we examined the direct effects of dementia on social engagement, loneliness, and depressive/anxiety symptoms, and the mediation effects of loneliness and social engagement on the associations between dementia and depressive/anxiety symptoms. Of the study population, 7.7% and 5.5% had possible and probable dementia, respectively; 14.3% and 21.9% of those with possible and probable dementia had moderate to severe depressive/anxiety symptoms. The ratios of the indirect effects of social engagement and loneliness on a possible dementia to the total effect of possible dementia on depressive/anxiety symptoms were 0.26 and 0.28, respectively. The ratios in probable dementia were 0.11 and 0.21. The lack of social engagement and loneliness contribute substantially to depressive/anxiety symptoms in dementia. Strategies to increase social engagement and reduce social isolation are necessary to improve the psychological well-being of people living with dementia.

Despite a growing body of literature linking social activities to cognitive function, studies specifically examining the potential cognitive benefits of friendships and neighbors remain limited. Drawing on eight waves of nationally representative data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2012; N = 29,777), we investigated whether two distinct forms of social activities with friends and neighbors-(1) getting together for a social visit and (2) providing informal helping-were associated with cognitive function, which was assessed with a modified version of the Telephone Interview for Cognition Status (m-TICS). Multilevel models provided evidence of within-person associations between both types of social activities (with friends and neighbors) and better cognitive function, with informal helping showing more robust associations. This study highlights the value of an adequate level of contact with friends and neighbors, emphasizing the importance of accessible and meaningful social activities for older adults' cognitive health.

Objectives: This study examined how Korean American older immigrants recall, integrate, and complete their life reviews through a 15-week psychoeducation class. The class aimed to encourage participants to reflect on and reminisce about their life journeys by interacting with companion robots named "Hyodol." Method: Ten Korean American older adults participated in the psychoeducation classes designed to facilitate life reminiscence. The study employed a bottom-up approach, allowing themes and insights to emerge inductively from the raw data collected. Results: The primary themes merged ere: (1) cultural adaptation for older immigrants, (2) integrating past and present experiences, (3) progression toward peaceful conclusion, and (4) robot-assisted life review. The findings highlighted the previously unheard voices of older Korean American immigrants as they revisited life courses marked by hardship and unresolved family conflicts. Discussion: Gerontologists can play a pivotal role in supporting socially isolated older immigrants through culturally sensitive life review and reminiscence work.

Despite growing attention to the social isolation crisis in the U.S., it remains unclear whether Americans experience a decline in social connection with age. Given the complex nature of social connections, this study argues that we need to ask a different question - which domains of social connections decline with age. Using representative egocentric network data (Person-to-Person Health Interview; N = 2,603) to measure core discussion networks and representative time-diary data (American Time Use Survey; N = 35,900) to measure daily social interactions, we find diverging age differences across two dimensions of social connections. These results present a complex picture of social connections. Specifically, people maintain a consistent core discussion network of confidants across all ages. However, daily social interactions decline with age. Additionally, we find that social roles have a sizable impact on daily social interactions but little impact on core discussion networks across the life course.

Stress theories propose that the mental health consequences of physical health problems are buffered by social support and amplified by relationship strain, yet it is unclear how older adults' friendships moderate these associations. Using data from 2016 and 2018 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 8,558), we evaluate whether associations between number of physical limitations and depressive symptoms (CES-D) are moderated by friend support and strain, and whether these patterns differ by gender and partnership status. Multivariable OLS regressions show friend strain amplifies and friend support mutes the association between having 3+ physical limitations and depressive symptoms. Protective effects of friend support are larger for unpartnered versus partnered persons, although patterns do not differ by gender. The egalitarian nature of supportive friendships may make them particularly protective for older adults with physical limitations. Health problems may undermine equity in friendships, intensifying the psychological consequences of friend strain.