Publications (17)33.34 Total impact
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Article: Using ecological frameworks to advance a field of research, practice, and policy on aging-in-place initiatives.
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ABSTRACT: Initiatives to promote aging in place have emerged rapidly in the United States across various health care settings (e.g., acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities) and broader community settings (e.g., public social service agencies). Moreover, recent federal policies include a growing number of provisions for local efforts to promote aging in place. Despite emerging bodies of research that have described singular initiatives in their own right, there has been very little scholarship that forges conceptual linkages across this increasingly vast domain of research, practice, and policy. Integrative theory development is critical to ensure that aging-in-place initiatives do not become fragmented from each other. This article uses insights from ecological frameworks-specifically Urie Bronfenbrenner's bioecological systems theory and M. Powell Lawton's general ecological model of aging-to conceptualize a range of programs as aging-in-place initiatives and for describing their similarities and differences, particularly in terms of the features through which they intend to promote aging in place. Theoretically derived dimensions along which to characterize aging-in-place initiatives include environment-focused aspects (e.g., the types of social systems and structures that the initiatives target for change) and person-focused aspects (e.g., the extent to which the initiatives target particular subgroups of older adults). The article concludes with a discussion on how these theoretically derived dimensions can be used to advance and integrate research, practice, and policy to systematically develop and expand aging-in-place initiatives.The Gerontologist 11/2011; 52(1):1-12. · 2.48 Impact Factor -
Article: Childhood abuse as a risk factor for sleep problems in adulthood: evidence from a U.S. national study.
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ABSTRACT: Accumulating evidence indicates that stress impairs sleep quality. Few studies, however, have examined the extent to which early life stress can jeopardize sleep in adulthood. Guided by a life course epidemiological perspective on health, this study examined associations between childhood abuse and adult sleep problems. We used data from 835 respondents in the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS). Self-report measures assessed the frequency of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse in childhood, as well as global and component indicators of sleep problems in adulthood. Having experienced all three types of childhood abuse-even infrequently-was associated with global sleep pathology, as well as specific types of sleep problems. Reports of both frequent physical and frequent emotional abuse-even in the absence of sexual abuse-were also associated with poor sleep. Childhood abuse is a risk factor for individuals' long-term sleep problems.Annals of Behavioral Medicine 06/2011; 42(2):245-56. · 4.20 Impact Factor -
Article: Identifying Living Arrangements That Heighten Risk for Loneliness in Later Life: Evidence From the U.S. National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project
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ABSTRACT: Studies have identified living alone as a risk factor for loneliness in later life without examining whether other living arrangements might also pose risk. The authors used data from a national sample of adults aged 57 and older to estimate associations between a variety of living arrangements and loneliness. In contrast to respondents living with a spouse/partner, respondents who were living alone, living with children without a spouse/partner, and living with other relatives or friends without a spouse/partner reported more loneliness. Living alone was associated with greater loneliness among men than women, but living with children without a spouse/partner was associated with greater loneliness among women. Results suggest the importance for interventions aimed at reducing loneliness to target adults who live alone, as well as adults who live with others besides intimate partners, and to consider gender differences in the propensity for particular types of living arrangements to affect loneliness.Journal of Applied Gerontology - J APPL GERONTOL. 01/2011; 30(4):524-534. -
Article: Witnessing domestic abuse in childhood as an independent risk factor for depressive symptoms in young adulthood.
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ABSTRACT: This study addresses the relationship between retrospective reports of witnessing domestic abuse in childhood and levels of depressive symptoms in young adulthood. We examine whether the association between having witnessed violence in childhood and depression is independent of having been the direct target of sexual and/or physical abuse, as well as other characteristics and experiences linked with family violence. We used two waves of data collected from a sample of 1,175 young adults (ages 20-24) in Miami, Florida. Retrospective self-reports of witnessed abuse and measures of family context and adversities were obtained in 1998-2000. The respondents' level of depressive symptoms was assessed 2 years later in 2000-2002. Multivariate results indicate that frequently having witnessed domestic abuse predicts higher levels of depressive symptoms in young adulthood, independently of other risk factors for depression and family violence. Results provide preliminary evidence that frequent exposure to domestic abuse is an independent risk factor for depressive symptoms in young adulthood. Results support a renewed call for (a) increased attention to depression among children exposed to adults' interpersonal violence, and (b) greater efforts to bridge prevention and intervention efforts regarding domestic violence and child maltreatment.Child abuse & neglect 06/2010; 34(6):448-53. · 2.34 Impact Factor -
Article: Child abuse as a life-course social determinant of adult health.
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ABSTRACT: Despite prevention efforts worldwide, many children today continue to experience abuse within close relationships, and many adults carry with them histories of abuse. This narrative review focuses on the growing body of research regarding the long-term health consequences of child abuse. First, the review presents a brief introduction to the phenomenon of child abuse, as well as a discussion of theoretical approaches to describing processes through which child abuse can jeopardize later adult health. The review then provides an integrative summary of studies based on community samples that examine associations between physical, psychological, and sexual abuse in childhood and adult mental and physical health. The article concludes with a discussion of conceptualizing child abuse as a life-course social determinant of adult health for both clinical and public health purposes and calls for translational research that can inform efforts to promote the health of diverse individuals and populations with histories of child abuse.Maturitas 03/2010; 66(1):51-5. · 2.77 Impact Factor -
Article: Identifying experiences of physical and psychological violence in childhood that jeopardize mental health in adulthood.
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ABSTRACT: This study examined associations between profiles of physical and psychological violence in childhood from parents and two dimensions of mental health in adulthood (negative affect and psychological well-being). Profiles were distinguished by the types of violence retrospectively self-reported (only physical, only psychological, or both psychological and physical violence), as well as by the frequency at which each type of violence reportedly occurred (never, rarely, or frequently). Multivariate regression models were estimated using data from the National Survey of Midlife in the U.S. (MIDUS). An adapted version of the Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS) was used to collect respondents' reports of physical and psychological violence in childhood from each parent. Respondents also reported on current experiences of negative affect and psychological well-being. Regarding violence from mothers, reports of frequent psychological violence-even when coupled with never or rarely having experienced physical violence-were associated with more negative affect and less psychological well-being in adulthood. Nearly all profiles of violence in childhood from fathers-with the exception of reports of rare physical violence only-were associated with poorer adult mental health. Results provide evidence that frequent experiences of psychological violence from parents-even in the absence of physical violence and regardless of whether such violence is from mothers or fathers-can place individuals' long-term mental health at risk. Moreover, frequent physical violence from fathers-even in the absence of psychological violence-also serves as a risk factor for poorer adult mental health. Findings provide additional empirical support for the importance of prevention and intervention efforts directed toward children who experience physical and psychological violence from parents, as well as among adults who reportedly experienced in childhood only one type of violence and especially psychological violence at high levels of frequency.Child abuse & neglect 03/2010; 34(3):161-71. · 2.34 Impact Factor -
Article: Sense of Community as a Protective Factor against Long-Term Psychological Effects of Childhood Violence.
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ABSTRACT: This study uses a risk and resilience framework for conceptualizing the long-term effects of childhood family violence on mental health. It examines sense of community as a protective factor against adult psychological distress associated with experiences of physical or psychological violence in childhood from parents. Regression models are estimated using data from the 1995 National Survey of Midlife Development in the U.S. and from the 1996-97 National Study of Daily Experiences. Reported experiences of frequent psychological violence, regardless of the frequency of physical violence, is found to be positively associated with adult psychological distress. Adults' sense of community is found to moderate the association between reports of both frequent psychological and frequent physical violence in childhood from parents and adult psychological distress.Social Service Review 03/2010; 84(1):129-147. · 0.72 Impact Factor -
Article: Profiles of physical and psychological violence in childhood as a risk factor for poorer adult health: evidence from the 1995-2005 National Survey of Midlife in the United States.
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ABSTRACT: This study examined linkages between physical and psychological violence in childhood from parents and three dimensions of adult health (self-rated health, functional limitations, chronic conditions). Regression models were estimated using data from the 1995 and 2005 waves of the National Survey of Midlife in the U.S. Responses to an adapted version of the Conflict Tactics Scales in 1995 were used to code respondents into one of nine profiles of violence distinguished by types and frequency of violence. Reports of both frequent physical and frequent psychological violence were associated with poorer health at baseline across the three dimensions of health, as well as with more severe declines in health across all three dimensions over the 10-year study period. Results suggest that having experienced frequent physical and psychological violence in childhood is a risk factor for poorer adult health status and declining trajectories of health throughout adulthood.Journal of Aging and Health 10/2009; 21(7):943-66. · 1.56 Impact Factor -
Article: Felt obligation to help others as a protective factor against losses in psychological well-being following functional decline in middle and later life.
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ABSTRACT: This study examined felt obligation to help others in two domains (close others and society) as protective factors against losses in psychological well-being following functional decline. Lagged-dependent regression models were estimated using data from 849 respondents aged 35-74 years and without any functional limitations at baseline in the 1995-2005 National Survey of Midlife in the United States. Greater felt obligation to help close others protected against declining self-acceptance in the face of more severe functional decline, and greater felt obligation to help society protected against declining personal growth and self-acceptance. Greater felt obligation to help close others and society protected against increasing depressive symptoms at younger ages in adulthood. Findings suggest the importance for additional research on how aspects of altruism can promote psychological adaptation to declining functional health in middle and later life.The Journals of Gerontology Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 10/2009; 64(6):723-32. · 2.62 Impact Factor -
Article: Do formal religious participation and spiritual perceptions have independent linkages with diverse dimensions of psychological well-being?
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ABSTRACT: Recognizing religiosity and spirituality as related yet distinct phenomena, and conceptualizing psychological well-being as a multidimensional construct, this study examines whether individuals' frequency of formal religious participation and spiritual perceptions are independently associated with diverse dimensions of psychological well-being (negative affect, positive affect, purpose in life, positive relations with others, personal growth, self-acceptance, environmental mastery, and autonomy). Data came from 1,564 respondents in the 2005 National Survey of Midlife in the United States (MIDUS). Higher levels of spiritual perceptions were independently associated with better psychological well-being across all dimensions, and three of these salutary associations were stronger among women than men. Greater formal religious participation was independently associated only with more purpose in life and (among older adults) personal growth; greater formal religious participation was also associated with less autonomy. Overall, results suggest a different pattern of independent linkages between formal religious participation and spiritual perceptions across diverse dimensions of psychological well-being.Journal of Health and Social Behavior 07/2009; 50(2):196-212. · 2.72 Impact Factor -
Article: Violence from parents in childhood and obesity in adulthood: using food in response to stress as a mediator of risk.
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ABSTRACT: Guided by a life course perspective and concepts from models of stress and coping, this study tested the extent to which self-reported profiles of physical and psychological violence in childhood from parents were associated with greater odds of obesity in adulthood. This study also examined the extent to which adults' greater use of food in response to stress served as a mediator of potential associations of risk. Multivariate regression models were estimated using data from 1650 respondents in the 1995-2005 National Survey of Midlife in the U.S. (MIDUS). Results indicated that respondents who reported having experienced both psychological and physical violence from parents-with at least one type of violence having reportedly occurred frequently-were more likely to be classified as obese in contrast to respondents who reported never having experienced either type of violence from parents. Evidence from a sequence of models that tested mediation effects indicated that greater use of food in response to stress among respondents with problematic histories of violence explained, in part, their higher risk of adult obesity. Findings contribute to the growing body of evidence regarding psychosocial predictors of obesity, as well as the physical health consequences of childhood family violence. Results further suggest the importance of addressing particular aspects of life course social relationships-such as violence in childhood from parents-and their implications for psycho-behavioral uses of food within efforts to reduce rates of adult obesity.Social Science [?] Medicine 02/2009; 68(5):791-8. · 2.70 Impact Factor -
Article: Religious Social Identity as an Explanatory Factor for Associations between More Frequent Formal Religious Participation and Psychological Well-Being.
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ABSTRACT: Guided by social identity theory, this study investigated having a closer identification as a member of one's religious group as an explanatory mechanism for linkages between more frequent formal religious participation and better subjective psychological well-being (more positive affect, less negative affect, and more life satisfaction). Multivariate regression models were estimated based on data from 3,032 participants, ages 25 to 74, in the 1995 National Survey of Midlife in the U.S. (MIDUS). Results provided support for the mediating effect of religious social identity on the associations between more frequent religious service attendance and all three dimensions of psychological well-being examined. Given the lack of previous empirical attention to social identity within the literature on religiosity and mental health, these findings contribute to our understanding of self, religion, and health, while also pointing to the importance of continuing to draw on well developed social psychological theory in investigations of linkages between religion and health.International Journal for the Psychology of Religion 02/2007; 17(3):245-259. · 1.64 Impact Factor -
Article: Continuous participation in voluntary groups as a protective factor for the psychological well-being of adults who develop functional limitations: evidence from the national survey of families and households.
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ABSTRACT: Although previous studies have indicated that declining functional health is associated with individuals' poorer psychological well-being, few studies have examined factors that can protect adults from the loss of well-being following functional decline. Guided by continuity theory, this study investigated the extent to which continuous participation in voluntary groups (recreational, religious, and civic) buffers individuals against the harmful psychological effects of developing functional limitations. Longitudinal data came from 4,646 respondents aged 35 to 92 in the National Survey of Families and Households (1987-1993) who reported having no functional limitations at Time 1. Multivariate models controlling for sociodemographic factors, as well as psychological well-being at Time 1, indicated that developing functional limitations over a 5-year period was associated with greater increases in depressive symptoms and lower levels of personal growth. Increases in depressive symptoms, however, were less severe among men who were continuously involved in recreational groups than among men who were not continuously involved in recreational groups. Additionally, the association between developing functional limitations and lower levels of personal growth did not hold for men or women who continuously participated in religious groups. Findings suggest that continuous participation in certain types of voluntary groups can moderate the problematic effects of developing functional limitations on psychological well-being.The Journals of Gerontology Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 02/2007; 62(1):S60-8. · 2.62 Impact Factor -
Article: Linked Lives: Adult Children's Problems and Their Parents' Psychological and Relational Well-Being.
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ABSTRACT: This study examined associations between adult children's cumulative problems and their parents' psychological and relational well-being, as well as whether such associations are similar for married and single parents. Regression models were estimated using data from 1,188 parents in the 1995 National Survey of Midlife in the United States whose youngest child was at least 19 years old. Participants reporting children with more problems indicated moderately poorer levels of well-being across all outcomes examined. Single parents reporting more problems indicated less positive affect than a comparable group of married parents, but married parents reporting more problems indicated poorer parent-child relationship quality. Findings are congruent with the family life course perspective, conceptualizing parents and children as occupying mutually influential developmental trajectories.Journal of Marriage and Family 06/2006; 68(2):442-454. · 2.03 Impact Factor -
Article: Formal volunteering as a protective factor for older adults' psychological well-being.
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ABSTRACT: Guided by interactional role theory and employing a resilience framework, this study aimed to investigate whether formal volunteering protects older adults with more role-identity absences in major life domains (partner, employment, and parental) from poorer psychological well-being. We used data from 373 participants, aged 65-74, in the 1995 National Survey of Midlife Development in the U.S. (MIDUS). Multivariate regression models estimated the effects of major role-identity absences, formal volunteering, and the interaction between major role-identity absences and volunteering on respondents' negative affect, positive affect, and purpose in life. Participants with a greater number of major role-identity absences reported more negative affect, less positive affect, and less purpose in life. Being a formal volunteer was associated with more positive affect and moderated the negative effect of having more major role-identity absences on respondents' feelings of purpose in life. Consistent with previous studies, findings indicate that having more role-identity absences constitutes a risk factor for poorer psychological well-being. Results further demonstrate that being a formal volunteer can protect older adults with a greater number of major role-identity absences from decreased levels of purpose in life. The findings suggest that associations between volunteering and psychological well-being might be contingent upon the volunteer's role-identity status and the dimension of psychological well-being examined.The Journals of Gerontology Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 10/2004; 59(5):S258-64. · 2.62 Impact Factor -
Article: Formal Religious Participation and Daily Spiritual Experiences: Separate, but Equal, Linkages with Psychological Well-Being?
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Article: Volunteering Protects Older Adults at Risk for Loss of Purpose in Life
Top Journals
Institutions
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2009–2011
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Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- School of Social Work
New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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2010
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Visiting Nurse Service of New York
- Center for Home Care Policy and Research
New York City, NY, USA
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2004–2007
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University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies
Madison, MS, USA
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