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... The concept of active aging has gradually developed from the concepts of successful aging, productive aging, and healthy aging. Among these, successful aging is a core concept of health policies for older adults worldwide [1][2][3]. Rowe and Kahn (1997) defined successful aging as a process comprising three elements: (1) reduced incidence of disease and disability; (2) consistently high levels of cognitive and physical function; and (3) active participation in daily activities [4]. Subsequently, scholars such as Crowther et al. (2002) added a fourth element, positive spirituality, which is the positive influence of religious belief and spirituality on older adults [5]. ...
... Among these, successful aging is a core concept of health policies for older adults worldwide [1][2][3]. Rowe and Kahn (1997) defined successful aging as a process comprising three elements: (1) reduced incidence of disease and disability; (2) consistently high levels of cognitive and physical function; and (3) active participation in daily activities [4]. Subsequently, scholars such as Crowther et al. (2002) added a fourth element, positive spirituality, which is the positive influence of religious belief and spirituality on older adults [5]. ...
... In response to the global issues and challenges related to rapid population aging, researchers are carefully examining the physiological, psychological, and social challenges of old age. Research concepts such as productive aging, successful aging, healthy aging, active aging, robust aging, and gerotranscendence have become focal, and among the aforementioned terms, successful aging was the first to be proposed and is the most frequently cited [2,22]. Wolfe (1990) emphasized that successful aging should be assessed on the basis of physical and mental health, centered on physical and psychological aspects, and less focused on the social aspect [23]; in contrast, the concept of successful aging proposed by Griffith (2001) emphasizes the social aspect and the extent of individual participation in activities without mentioning the physical and psychological aspects [24]. ...
This study explored Richard Shusterman’s somaesthetics to understand the rationale for his view on enhancing the body experience of older adults and increasing their participation in art; it also examined methods or successful aging to enhance the theoretical foundation for educational gerontology. Accordingly, the research objectives were to (1) analyze the definition of successful aging; (2) clarify the role of body experience and participation in art in promoting successful aging among older adults; (3) explore and discuss Shusterman’s somaesthetics; and (4) explore methods for successful aging derived from Shusterman’s somaesthetics. This study mainly explored educational philosophy by collecting, reading, analyzing, logically reviewing, and interpreting the literature on this topic. During this exploration, methods for successful aging were reviewed. The findings are as follows: (1) shifting focus of successful aging to the bodies of older adults; (2) cultivating the body consciousness of older adults enables them to understand themselves and pursue virtue, happiness, and justice; (3) popular art can be integrated to promote the aesthetic ability of older adults and encourage their physical participation in the aesthetic process; (4) older adult education should cultivate the somaesthetic sensitivity of older adults; (5) older adult education should incorporate the physical training of older adults to help them enhance their self-cultivation and care for their body, cultivate virtue, and live a better life; and (6) older adult education should integrate the body and mind of older adults.
... In gerontology, the new paradigm in aging is successful aging [1]. The subject of successful aging is extensively researched, and it is widely acknowledged as a multifaceted notion [1]. ...
... In gerontology, the new paradigm in aging is successful aging [1]. The subject of successful aging is extensively researched, and it is widely acknowledged as a multifaceted notion [1]. Previous research has revealed protective and risk variables for multidimensional effective aging [2][3][4][5]. ...
... The RAs had four days of training prior to the survey. Following the study of previous intervention research [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18], medical professionals created successful aging indicators materials. The training was conducted utilizing a Bangla-language field manual. ...
Purpose: The aims of this research was to see whether a community-based intervention could be effective in promoting comprehensive indicators for successful aging. Methods: The participants (60 years old and above) were recruited from rural and urban parts of Bangladesh's Rangpur district for this seven-month intervention program. Successful aging indicators included blood pressure control or diabetes management, adherence to recommended physical exercise and diet, cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, engagement in social activities, religious activities, and volunteer activities. Results: In the follow-up period the likelihood to control hypertension and diabetes in comparison to the baseline were 1.64 (95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.12- 3.38) and 1.89 (95 % CI = 1.44- 2.87) times higher. Participants in the follow-up were 2.21 (95 % CI = 1.87–3.45), 2.01 (95 % CI = 1.61–2.99) times more likely to adherence to recommended physical activity and diet compared with the baseline. This intervention was shown to be significantly linked to lower likelihood of developing cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms. In the follow-up period group activities increased 98% as compared to baseline. Novelty/Value: This community-based intervention was found to be helpful in boosting successful aging markers for chronic disease management, maintaining good mental and physical function, and maintaining life engagement. Type of Research: Empirical Research.
... In their 2015 article, Rowe and Kahn, acknowledged the relative absence of social factors in their initial MacArthur model of successful aging (Rowe & Kahn, 1998), and stressed that "successful aging at the societal level will obviously facilitate successful aging at the level of the individual" (Rowe & Kahn, 2015, p.594). According to them the necessities of contemporary society demand that successful aging of the person must be supplemented with a corpus of theoretical inquiry and empirical research at the societal level. ...
There is a growing recognition of the importance of subjective definitions of successful aging from a clinical and policy perspective, and for their social and cultural relevance. However, the voices of older Indians remain largely underrepresented in the emerging body of qualitative literature on successful aging. Given this gap, and India’s burgeoning older population, the present study set out to examine their subjective perception of successful aging. Using convenience sampling, data was collected from older men and women (N = 63, M Age = 71.21) living in the community, and in old age homes in Delhi NCR, through face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions. Reflexive thematic analysis resulted in four primary themes and eight sub-themes - Successful Aging as Personal Well-being, Tensions between Agency and Fatalism, comprising three sub-themes viz. the person as an active agent, co-existence of agency and fatalism, and negotiating with the invisible powers; Linked Lives comprising two sub-themes viz. the aging parent and the adult child, and spousal interrelationship; and The Social and Built Environment comprising three sub-themes, viz. complexity of social life: the health interface, social life in the neighborhood, and the good house. These findings provide a culture-specific view of successful aging in the Indian context, and reveals the multifaceted conceptualization of successful aging of older Indians - one that encompasses various biopsychosocial components.
... In their research, having a positive perspective, being able to cope, having active independence, meaningful relationships, freedom, having a relationship with God, and a sense of spirituality were indicated by the participants as some of the aspects contributing to "successful ageing" (Sadler & Biggs, 2006). Rowe and Kahn (1998) state that one of the key components of successful aging is active engagement in life, which can be realized through religious involvement. Malone (2018) argues that positive aging goes beyond specific health issues and that incorporating religious or spiritual needs into health care those who want it should be practiced as an important element of an individualized and person-centered care. ...
The aim of this study was to examine if church attendance was associated with quality of life (QoL) and feeling of loneliness among older adults in Poland, and if feeling of loneliness mediated the association. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with randomly selected community-dwelling individuals aged 65+ from the general population, hospital patients, and social service users. Church attendance was positively associated with QoL regardless of confounding factors. Older adults attending church frequently felt less lonely and evaluated their health better. Feeling of loneliness mediated the association between church attendance and QoL. Religiousness should be considered as an important determinant of healthy aging.
... The core ideas of "Western", "productivist" ageing became manifest through a paradigm shift critical of the conception of ageing as a gradual disengagement by Rowe and Kahn (1997). Productivist ideals of ageing, such as the ideas of successful ageing, have permeated Western societies including the aspiration of policymakers, practitioners, civil society, and the elderly, professional and civic organisations. ...
This study sheds light on the value systems of the middle-class metropolitan older adults living alone, on the ageing self and the person's relationship to the surrounding society based on eight interviews. Ageing research has emphasized the traditional features of elderly care in India including its collectivist values rooted in filial piety and the extended family as well as embracement of disengagement influenced by the Hindu texts on two phases in later life: "hermit" and "renunciate". Increased social and geographical mobility, however, challenges traditional family systems. Using the example of the urban middle-class older adults living alone, this study explored whether living alone constitutes a challenge to the norms that previous research associated with Indian elderly care. Using abductive phenomenographic analysis the study found that the under-standings of older adults in the study show great reflexivity concerning key aspects of their lives. Although the life conditions of older adults living alone deviated in many aspects from dominant traditional norms of filial piety and a care regime based on strong intergenerational interdependence, their responses and reflections mirrored assemblages of values deeply rooted in Hindu Vedic philosophy of the Ashramas and perceptions of independence, autonomy and self-reliance associated with Western "productive" aging.
... This variable also emphasizes the importance of individuals' control over change. It is consistently found that level of control is associated with key aging outcomes such as economic status, health, life satisfaction, and wellbeing (Rowe & Kahn, 1998;Lachman & Firth, 2004;Lachman, 2006). Those with higher control believe that changes associated with aging are preventable or modifiable. ...
Despite the importance and prevalence in the use of the term “aging well,” there has been an absence of an empirically valid aging well model for conceptualization and measurement of the phenomenon. The purpose of the study was to conceptualize and test a model for aging well. A sample of 554 non-institutionalized individuals was taken using primary sampling units (PSUs), and a higher-order confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test a model for aging well. This study confirmed a five-factor structure of aging well, including (a) daily life activity, (b) social resources and supports, (c) mental efficacy, (d) physical health and functional status, and (e) material security. Although all five dimensions strongly contribute to the aging well construct, the statistical results have shown that Social Resources and Support (SRS) and Daily Life Activity are the most important in explaining aging well. Material Security is the weakest latent variable in the model. The study indicates the model for aging well is a single, holistic, and multidimensional framework with a strong theoretical and empirical base.
... This includes expectations that they continue to be healthy, fit, and mentally sharp, as well as socially and economically engaged. As discussed by Pavlova and Silbereisen (2016) this broad definition of activation derives from studies in the gerontology field, which focused on active (World Health Organization [WHO], 2002), successful (Rowe & Kahn, 1998), and productive aging (Bass & Caro, 2001). ...
This chapter focuses on prescriptive views of aging, which reflect expectations about how older adults should be and behave. We identify four prescriptive views of aging: Disengagement (making way for young people, using resources moderately, not trying to appear young), activation (staying fit and healthy, maintaining an active and productive lifestyle), wisdom (knowing what is important in life, transcending a personal and self-focused perspective on life), and dignity (leading a dignified life, being respected, and valued). Further, we present two studies in which we investigated our proposed model of prescriptive views of aging. In the first study, we showed that endorsement of disengagement and activation increases with age, reflecting an internalization of those age-based prescriptions. Although these two prescriptive views seem to make opposite claims on older people, we found a positive correlation between them, indicating that both disengagement and activation tapped into the overarching social expectation that older adults should not become a burden to others or to society. In the second study, we found evidence that young people implicitly endorse all four prescriptive views of aging. Prescriptive views of wisdom and dignity specify a meaningful identity for older people and provide guidelines for living well in old age. Alternatively, prescriptive views of disengagement and activation are more ambiguous in that individuals and societies may misuse them for social control functions that aim at justifying maltreatment and exclusion of older people based on the assumption that life becomes less worth living in old age.
... This includes expectations that they continue to be healthy, fit, and mentally sharp, as well as socially and economically engaged. As discussed by Pavlova and Silbereisen (2016) this broad definition of activation derives from studies in the gerontology field, which focused on active (World Health Organization [WHO], 2002), successful (Rowe & Kahn, 1998), and productive aging (Bass & Caro, 2001). ...
This closing chapter discusses the major advances in theory, research, and practice to show that the field of subjective views of aging (VoA) has indeed reached a qualitatively new developmental stage. At the theoretical level there is an increasing consensus that a lifespan developmental perspective may be most appropriate to study VoA across the adult years and into late life. This perspective can serve as a unifying framework with important implications for the integration of diverse literatures and increased methodological diversity and sophistication. Specifically, the impact of greater methodological diversity and sophistication is seen at the level of empirical research, including the greater diversity in study designs, the emerging focus on multilevel investigations (e.g., the concomitant study of biological, psychological, and social processes), and the translation into areas of intervention and prevention. All these advances bode well for the future of the field of VoA research and lay the foundation for promising future directions.
... Maintaining social connectivity and social relationships is important for health, well-being, and quality of life and can help support successful aging (Pruchno et al., 2010;Rowe & Kahn, 1998). Unfortunately, older adults often experience isolation due to loss of a partner, mobility and health problems, and changes in employment/economic status. ...
Background and objectives:
Numerous longitudinal studies suggest that technology use in late adulthood is associated with cognitive benefits. Using data from a randomized controlled trial, the current study examined whether computer use improves cognition in older adults with little to no previous computer experience.
Research design and methods:
This study used data from the Personal Reminder Information and Social Management (PRISM) trial (Czaja et al., 2018). Community-dwelling older adults with little previous computer experience (MAge = 76.15) were randomly assigned to learn and use a computer (the PRISM system, n = 150) or interact with parallel content delivered in a non-digital format (paper binder, n = 150) for 12 months. Objective and subjective cognitive outcomes were measured before (pretest) and after the intervention (posttest). Latent change score models and Bayesian ANOVAs were used to examine cognitive change at the ability and individual measure level.
Results:
Computer training and use for 12 months did not lead to cognitive improvements at the ability level. Strong evidence against cognitive benefits at the individual measure level was also observed.
Discussion and implications:
Casual computer use does not provide enough cognitive stimulation to improve cognition in late adulthood. Cognitive benefits observed in longitudinal studies may be mediated by other factors or influenced by confounding variables.
Older adults faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic but also demonstrated great resilience. Investigating these strengths may enhance and inform strategies to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. To gain insight into the resilience processes of older adults during the first year of the pandemic, we conducted a photovoice study with 26 older adults (aged over 60) in the province of Quebec, Canada. Participants met online weekly for three weeks in small groups to discuss their photographs and share their resilience strategies. The thematic analysis revealed three interrelated themes. First, participants distanced themselves from the pandemic by engaging in activities that took their focus away from COVID-19 and that afforded much-needed respite. Second, participants regained their bearings by reorganizing their schedules and establishing new routines that bolstered occupation rather than rumination. Third, participants used the pandemic to self-reflect and revise their priorities, leveraging the pandemic as an opportunity for growth. Together, these themes demonstrate the strengths, coping strategies and resilience of older adults and contrast the stereotypes of older adults as vulnerable and resourceless. These findings have the potential to inform the implementation of strength-based health promotion initiatives to mitigate the harms of the pandemic.
Polypharmacy is associated with poorer self-rated health (SRH). However, whether polypharmacy has an impact on the SRH progression is unknown. This study investigates the association of polypharmacy with SRH change in 1428 participants of the Berlin Initiative Study aged 70 years and older over four years. Polypharmacy was defined as the intake of ≥5 medications. Descriptive statistics of SRH-change categories stratified by polypharmacy status were reported. The association of polypharmacy with being in SRH change categories was assessed using multinomial regression analysis. At baseline, mean age was 79.1 (6.1) years, 54.0% were females, and prevalence of polypharmacy was 47.1%. Participants with polypharmacy were older and had more comorbidities compared to those without polypharmacy. Over four years, five SRH change categories were identified. After covariate adjustment, individuals with polypharmacy had higher odds of being in the stable moderate category (OR 3.55; 95% CI [2.43–5.20]), stable low category (OR 3.32; 95% CI [1.65–6.70]), decline category (OR 1.87; 95% CI [1.34–2.62]), and improvement category (OR 2.01; [1.33–3.05]) compared to being in the stable high category independent of the number of comorbidities. Reducing polypharmacy could be an impactful strategy to foster favorable SRH progression in old age.
Happiness represents an important driving force for individuals at any life stage and continues to be so in midlife and older age. While ageing is usually associated with experiencing less happiness, research findings show that people tend to be happier as they grow older (i.e. the positivity effect). In this chapter, I will examine happiness in midlife and older age, including attempts to explain the age-related positivity effect. In this sense, I will describe how happiness is defined in midlife and older age and what factors can influence it. Additionally, I will examine how happiness can be measured objectively by using various scales and how middle-aged and older individuals describe happiness from their point of view. Next, I will consider the existing links between happiness and personal growth in all life domains (i.e. cognitive, emotional, social, personality, physical). Starting from the existing evidence-base and theoretical models concerning happiness in midlife and older age, I will then go on to examine how can positive psychology principles and developmental assets be applied to design interventions to promote happiness among middle-aged and older adults.
Development in any life domain (e.g. physical, cognitive, social, emotional, personality) starts with an evaluation of what we want to change, how to achieve change, and how to measure the accomplishment of our change goals. In this sense, defining and operationalizing development in midlife and older age are relevant for formulating criteria for personal growth, exploring change process, and evaluating the achievement of developmental goals. The first part of this chapter deals with issues such as how one measures development in middle and older age, how people themselves define and evaluate positive ageing, and what implications such definitions have for assessing development in older age. Criteria and standards for evaluating self-improvement or change are examined in the context of ageing and development research. The relevance of criteria versus process-oriented theories of positive ageing are analysed in reference to developmental issues. In the second part of the chapter, different quantitative and qualitative methods for studying development in older age are presented and discussed.
Depression has negative consequences for development across the lifespan, however little is known about what role it can play for personal growth in older age. Also, depression usually constitutes part of an ageing stereotype that it is normal to experience depression in older age when there is not much to expect from life. Positive psychology focuses mainly on increasing or maintaining positive emotions. Thus, addressing depression prevention and interventions from a positive psychology perspective constitutes an interesting challenge. The present chapter will explore the characteristics of depression in older age as well as how it can be diagnosed among older adults. Next, I will examine what factors explain the occurrence of depression in older age and how depression may affect personal development in several areas of growth (i.e., cognitive, emotional, social, physical, personality). Finally, I will analyse how one can apply positive psychology principles to design prevention programs and interventions to enhance developmental assets and help older individuals who suffer from depression.
When setting out to reach our developmental goals in various life domains (e.g. physical, cognitive, emotional, social, personality), we need theory and evidence-based interventions to guide us on our journey of personal growth. This chapter aims to explore what type of interventions can be effective in fostering development in middle and older age and how to design these. In this sense, it describes some models that can provide a good theoretical frame for developmental interventions. Additionally, the chapter proposes several positive psychology strategies that can be used to stimulate development across midlife and old age. The first part of the chapter focuses on how to use theoretical models from developmental and positive psychology to formulate intervention aims and identify suitable change strategies. The second part of the chapter deals with how to apply positive psychology principles to design developmental interventions for middle-aged and older individuals. In this context, the chapter includes some examples to provide guidance for designing interventions that target positive development in midlife and older age.
This study aimed to determine the relationship between successful aging (SA) and anthropometric parameters in older adults. We used body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference to reflect anthropometric parameters. SA was assessed by the following five aspects: self-rated health, self-rated psychological status or mood, cognitive function, activities of daily life, and physical activity. Logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the relationship between anthropometric parameters and SA. Results showed that larger BMI, waist circumference, and calf circumference are related to a higher prevalence of SA in older women; greater waist circumference and calf circumference are associated with a higher rate of SA in old-old adults. These findings suggest that the greater BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference are associated with a higher rate of SA in older adults, and the associations are influenced to some extent by the sex and age.
Background:
Older adults are vulnerable to social exclusion and its detrimental health outcomes. However, few existing studies focus on the social exclusion of older adults as immigrants and ethnic-minority individuals. To fill the gap, drawing on the conceptual framework of old-age vulnerability, this study explored the multi-dimensional experience of social exclusion for older Chinese immigrants in the U.S. and investigated how old age and immigration exacerbated older adults' experiences of social exclusion.
Method:
The study included 24 in-depth face-to-face individual interviews in Los Angeles and employed thematic analysis on the qualitative data. Themes were identified until consensus was reached among the research-team members. Triangulation of multiple analysts was used to avoid analytic bias.
Findings:
Findings showed that older Chinese immigrants experienced social exclusion in the following dimensions: basic services; material and financial resources; social relations and activities; socio-cultural aspects; and neighborhood/territory/community. In addition to age-related factors, immigration-related factors, including changes in physical and socio-cultural environments and legal status, also contributed to older immigrants' extra vulnerabilities to social exclusion.
Conclusions:
This study provides useful information and strategies for human and healthcare service providers to find ways to overcome social exclusion and enhance older Chinese immigrants' social inclusion in the U.S.
The rate of aging is growing faster than ever. The global society must prepare adequate measures to support this imminent change. Following this social trend, research has been conducted on the quality of life of the aging population in a different fields, including gerontology. Since the idea of successful aging was conceptualised, research on the quality of life of older adults has been actively conducted. The current study aims to contribute to the aging research field by adding a factor (religious engagement) to Rowe and Kahn’s model. We utilized the longitudinal design to examine the longstanding effect of demographic, physical, social, psychological, and religious factors on life satisfaction among older Korean adults (N = 4013). Hierarchical regression analyses were employed to understand how these factors influence older adults’ life satisfaction in a nationally representative sample. Study findings indicated (a) after controlling for demographic background, all subdimensions of physical, social, psychological, and religious factors exerted a significant effect on later life satisfaction; (b) the final model showed that highly educated, regular exercise, frequent meeting with friends and family, less depressed, feeling less lonely, and higher religious engagement ultimately affected the subsequent life satisfaction of Korean older adults; (c) among different variables, psychological health and religious engagement were found to be crucial factors. The findings confirm the explanatory power of successful aging theory while providing empirical evidence that religious engagement may be an additional factor contributing to enhancing the life satisfaction of older adults.
Long COVID, the postviral disorder caused by SARS-CoV-2 is expected to become one of the leading causes of disability in Europe. The cognitive consequences of long COVID have been described as “brain fog” and characterized by anxiety and depression, and by cognitive deficits. Long COVID is assumed to be a complex condition arising from multiple causes, including per-sistent brainstem dysfunction and disrupted vagal signaling. We recommend the potential ap-plication of auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (atVNS) as ADD-ON instrument to compensate for the cognitive decline and to ameliorate affective symptoms caused by long COVID. This technique enhances vagal signaling by directly activating the nuclei in the brain-stem, which are hypoactive in long COVID to enhance mood and to promote attention, memory, and cognitive control—factors affected by long COVID. Considering that atVNS is a non-pharmacological intervention, its ADD-ON to standard pharmaceutical agents will be useful for non-responders, making of this method a suitable tool. Given that atVNS can be employed as an ecological momentary intervention (EMI), we outline the translational advantages of atVNS in the context of accelerating the cognitive and affective recovery from long COVID.
Redox homeostasis is a delicate balancing act of maintaining appropriate levels of antioxidant defense mechanisms and reactive oxidizing oxygen and nitrogen species. Any disruption of this balance leads to oxidative stress, which is a key pathogenic factor in several ocular diseases. In this review, we present the current evidence for oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in conditions affecting both the anterior segment (e.g., dry eye disease, keratoconus, cataract) and posterior segment (age-related macular degeneration, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma) of the human eye. We posit that further development of therapeutic interventions to promote pro-regenerative responses and maintenance of the redox balance may delay or prevent the progression of these major ocular pathologies. Continued efforts in this field will not only yield a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of ocular diseases but also enable the identification of novel druggable redox targets and antioxidant therapies.
This study aimed to inform a measurement approach for older persons who wish to engage in active living such as participating in a walking program. The Patient Generated Index, an individualized measurement approach, and directed and summative content analyses were carried out. A sample size of 204 participants (mean age 75 years; 62% women) was recruited; it generated 934 text threads mapped to 460 unique categories within 45 domains with similarities and differences for women and men. The Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behaviors Model best linked the domains. The results suggest that older persons identify the need to overcome impaired capacity, low motivation, and barriers to engagement to live actively. These are all areas that active living programs could address. How to measure the outcomes of these programs remains elusive.
The World Health Organization (WHO) started the initiative on healthy ageing from 2016 to 2020, which has now continued into the United Nations (UN) Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030. Research into healthy ageing and healthy ageing communities have emphasized that the concept of healthy ageing encompasses a plurality of views and has multiple dimensions. Anchored in a transdisciplinary approach, the present report thus aimed to investigate public perceptions of healthy ageing via a deep analysis of social media posts on Twitter. Original tweets, containing the terms “Healthy Ageing” OR “healthy aging” OR “healthyageing” OR “healthyaging”, and posted in English between 1 January 2012 and 30 June 2022 were extracted. Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) Named Entity Recognition was applied to select for individual users. Topic modelling, specifically BERTopic was used to generate interpretable topics and descriptions pertaining to the concept of healthy ageing. Subsequently, manual thematic analysis was performed by the study investigators, with independent reviews of the topic labels and themes. A total of 63,809 unique tweets were analyzed and clustered semantically into 16 topics. The public perception of healthy ageing could be broadly grouped into three themes: (1) healthy diet and lifestyle, (2) maintaining normal bodily functions and (3) preventive care. While most perceptions dovetail WHO's definition, there are some points regarding skin appearances, beauty and aging that should be closely considered in the design of initiatives in the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and beyond.
Older adults are living longer in the United States and the proportion of those belonging to minoritized groups is growing. The value and characteristics of quality of life (QoL) at an older age have becoming of central concern to policy makers. To investigate the wicked problem of ageing and QoL, we conducted and compared two group model building workshops in St. Louis City, one with 16 White and another with 10 Black American older adults, age 65 and older. Group model building workshops involve communities in the identification and testing of shared solutions to pressing and complex problems. Findings demonstrated that racial disparities in terms of material and environmental resources represent significant barriers to QoL for both Black and White participants. Results underscore the need to address social determinants of health that impede healthy ageing and damage well‐being and QoL of older adults.
Background
Healthy ageing (HA) has been defined using multiple approaches. We aim to produce a comprehensive overview and analysis of the theoretical models underpinning this concept and its associated normative terms and definitions.
Methods
We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed HA models in Embase.com, Medline (Ovid), Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science until August 2022. Original theoretical papers, concept analyses, and reviews that proposed new models were included. Operational models/definitions, development psychology theories and mechanisms of ageing were excluded. We followed an iterative approach to extract the models’ characteristics and thematically analyze them based on the approach of Walker and Avant. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021238796).
Findings
Out of 10,741 records, we included 59 papers comprising 65 models/definitions, published in English (1960–2022) from 16 countries in Europe, Asia, and America. Human ageing was described using 12 normative terms, mainly (models (%)): successful (34 (52%)), healthy (eight (12%)), well (five (8%)), and active (four (6%)). We identified intrinsic/extrinsic factors interacting throughout the life course, adaptive processes as attributes, and outcomes describing ageing patterns across objective and subjective dimensions (number of models/definitions): cognitive (62), psychological (53), physical (49), social (49), environmental (19), spiritual (16), economic (13), cultural (eight), political (six), and demographic (four) dimensions. Three types of models emerged: health-state outcomes (three), adaptations across the life course (31), or a combination of both (31). Two additional sub-classifications emphasized person-environment congruence and health promotion.
Interpretation
HA conceptualizations highlight its multidimensionality and complexity that renders a monistic model/definition challenging. It has become evident that life long person-environment interactions, adaptations, environments, and health promotion/empowerment are essential for HA. Our model classification provides a basis for harmonizing terms and dimensions that can guide research and comparisons of empirical findings, and inform social and health policies enabling HA for various populations and contexts.
Funding
MM, ZMRD, and OI are supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant No 801076, and MM is also supported by the Swiss National Foundation grant No 189235.
Background
In an aging society, it is necessary to promote successful aging by helping older adults maintain engagement in social activities, especially after retirement. Focusing on psychological independence is critical for helping community-dwelling older adults maintain their ability to do things independently and build appropriate relationships with neighbors. However, shifting one’s mindset from the workplace to the local community can be difficult, especially for Japanese people who prioritize work over local community activities. Few studies have investigated the factors associated with the psychological independence of community-dwelling older adults, so this study examined the factors influencing the psychological independence of older adults in T town, a typical commuter town in Japan.
Methods
A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 246 neighborhood association members aged 65 and older. T -test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, Cronbach’s alpha, and multiple regression analysis were used to develop a model for predicting psychological independence and its two subconstructs, purposefulness and personal accountability.
Results
The results demonstrated that psychological independence, purposefulness, and personal accountability were significantly predicted by having abilities that are useful to other people (β = 0.399, p = 0.001; β = 0.277, p = 0.019; and β = 0.394, p = 0.001, respectively).
Conclusion
The findings suggest that older adults can maintain psychological independence using their existing characteristics, such as hobbies and life skills that are useful to others in the community.
Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden theoretische und konzeptuelle Perspektiven systematisiert, die sich mit Diskriminierungen über das Lebensalter, insbesondere das höhere Lebensalter, befassen. Hierzu werden Schwerpunkte der sozialwissenschaftlichen Altersforschung sowie der Lebenslaufforschung dargestellt, die sich mit Ursachen, Formen und Folgen von Altersdiskriminierung auseinandersetzen, diese in Teilen aber auch reproduzieren. Es wird herausgearbeitet, inwiefern sich Altersdiskriminierung von an anderen Diskriminierungsformen unterscheiden lässt und vorgeschlagen, das Lebensalter nicht auf individueller Ebene zu diskutieren, sondern als strukturelles Ordnungsprinzip zu verstehen, das Diskriminierung systematisch hervorbringt.
Background
Research has demonstrated that there is a beneficial effect of acute exercise on cognitive function; however, the moderators of the acute resistance exercise (RE) effect on executive function (EF) are underestimated. This systematic review aims to clarify the effects of acute RE on EF by examining the moderating effect of exercise intensity (light, moderate, and vigorous) and EF domains (inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility), as well as their interactions.
Methods
The search strategy was conducted in four databases (PubMed, Scopus, PsycARTICLES, and Cochrane Library) prior to January 29, 2022. Included studies had to: (1) investigate acute RE in adults with normal cognition and without diagnosed disease; (2) include a control group or control session for comparison; (3) include outcomes related to the core EF domains; and (4) be published in English. The methodological quality of the included studies was judged according to the PEDro scale guidelines.
Results
Nineteen studies were included which included a total of 692 participants. More than half of the outcomes (24/42, 57.14%) indicate that acute RE had a statistically significant positive effect on overall EF. In terms of RE intensity and EF domain, moderate intensity acute RE benefited EF more consistently than light and vigorous intensity acute RE. Acute RE-induced EF benefits were more often found for inhibitory control than for working memory and cognitive flexibility. When considering moderators simultaneously, measuring inhibitory control after light or moderate intensity RE and measuring working memory or cognitive flexibility after moderate intensity RE most often resulted in statistically significant positive outcomes.
Conclusion
Acute RE has a beneficial effect on EF, observed most consistently for inhibitory control following moderate intensity RE. Future studies should include all exercise intensities and EF domains as well as investigate other potential moderators to enable a better understanding of the benefits of acute RE on EF.
El edentulismo es una condición irreversible. La pérdida dental encuentra conexión con los discursos positivos del envejecimiento, así como unas amplias repercusiones en estos, que han cobrado fuerza hacia finales del siglo XX y principios del siglo XXI, limitando procesos de participación social, generando cambios en la calidad de vida, teniendo una articulación fuerte con las relaciones biológicas de las personas y siendo altamente inequitativo entre grupos sociales. Dado lo anterior, el presente artículo pretende desarrollar y argumentar tres ideas clave para sustentar que el envejecimiento desde el discurso positivo se ve limitado cuando la persona no tiene dientes: la primera es que la vida sin dientes restringe el desarrollo personal y social, la siguiente es que la conexión de la cavidad oral con las condiciones biológicas es muy estrecha y la tercera es la estereotipación y el juzgamiento del viejo edéntulo en la sociedad actual. Las ideas sustentadas argumentaron y soportaron la necesidad de dar importancia a la condición de ser edéntulo en el marco de un envejecimiento positivo y como interven- ción en salud pública. Envejecer bien es la bandera de las políticas mundiales, incluyendo la Década del Envejecimiento Saludable (2020-2030); el entender y la cohesión de la salud en todas sus disciplinas es trascendental en pro del viejo actual y del logro de su gerotrascen- dencia. La geriatría, la gerontología, la salud pública e incluso la misma odontología, hoy más que nunca, deben trabajar en favor de la mitigación de la aparición del edentulismo en las sociedades actuales.
Aim
To explore the impact of social capital on successful ageing among empty nesters in China.
Design
A cross‐sectional study.
Methods
The data for this study came from the survey of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2018. Overall, 6098 empty nesters aged 60 years and over were included. Successful ageing was defined according to Rowe and Kahn's model. Social capital includes social trust, social support, reciprocity and social networks. Multivariable logistic regression and a classification and regression tree model were applied to estimate the impact of social capital on successful ageing. For this study, we followed the Reporting of Studies Conducted Using Observational Routinely Collected Health Data (RECORD) reporting guidelines, an extension of Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines.
Results
The successful ageing rate of empty nesters in China was 9.2%. Empty nesters who had a higher level of reciprocal behaviour and caregiving support in several dimensions of social capital and who were members of organizations in their social networks have had higher odds of achieving successful ageing. We also observed interactions with social capital associated with successful ageing, suggesting that special attention should be given to empty nesters who are less educated, have no caregiving support, live in rural areas, have worse self‐rated health, are older, do not have reciprocal behaviours and are unmarried.
Conclusions
The results of this study show that social capital, especially in terms of reciprocity, caregiving support and organizational membership in a social network, can contribute to the achievement of successful ageing among empty nesters.
Impact
This study confirms the impact of social capital on the successful ageing of empty nesters for the first time and provides new ideas for state, community and health care workers to address ageing issues.
No Patient or Public Contribution
Because of the public database data used in this study, all data were collected by survey agency personnel, so this section is not applicable to this study.
Study objectives:
Insomnia may be a modifiable risk factor for later-life cognitive impairment. We investigated: (1) which insomnia symptoms are associated with subsequent cognitive functioning across domains; (2) whether insomnia-cognition associations are mediated by mental and physical health; and (3) whether these associations are modified by gender.
Methods:
Participants included 2,595 adults ages 51-88 at baseline (Mage=64.00±6.66, 64.5% women) in the Health and Retirement Study. The frequency of insomnia symptoms (difficulty initiating sleep, nighttime awakenings, early awakenings, and feeling unrested upon awakening) at baseline (2002) were quantified using a modified Jenkins Sleep Questionnaire. Cognition was assessed in 2016 via the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol and operationalized with factor scores corresponding to five domains. Depressive symptoms and vascular conditions in 2014 were assessed via self-report. Structural equation models estimated total, indirect, and direct effects of insomnia symptoms on subsequent cognition through depressive symptoms and vascular diseases, controlling for baseline sociodemographics and global cognition.
Results:
Frequent difficulty initiating sleep was associated with poorer episodic memory, executive function, language, visuoconstruction, and processing speed 14 years later (-0.06≤β≤-0.04; equivalent to 2.2-3.4 years of aging). Depressive symptoms explained 12.3%-19.5% of these associations and vascular disease explained 6.3%-14.6% of non-memory associations. No other insomnia symptoms were associated with cognition, and no associations were modified by gender.
Conclusions:
Difficulty initiating sleep in later life may predict future cognitive impairment through multiple pathways. Future research with longitudinal assessments of insomnia, insomnia treatments, and cognition is needed to evaluate insomnia as a potential intervention target to optimize cognitive aging.
The global population is aging at an unprecedented rate, increasing the necessity for effective interventions targeting the mental health needs of older adults. Technology addressing the aging process of older adults (i.e., gerontechnology) is an avenue for the efficient delivery of programs that enhance adult well-being. Virtual reality (VR) is a type of gerontechnology with the potential to improve mental health and well-being (e.g., by increasing resilience, mindfulness, compassion, connection with nature, and decreasing stress, depression, anxiety); however, evidence in this area is currently lacking and more rigorous research on the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of mental health programming via VR for older adults, such as nature, mindfulness, or compassion-based interventions, is necessary. The present literature review: 1) explores, synthesizes, and critically evaluates the literature on older adult mental health, well-being and gerontechnology, with a focus on virtual reality-based nature, mindfulness, and compassion-based interventions; 2) examines research to date on the relationship between virtual reality technology and nature, mindfulness, and self-compassion; 3) identifies gaps, contradictions, and limitations of existing research; 4) identifies areas for further investigation; and 5) discusses implications for research and clinical practice.
This study examined three social campaigns for the eradication of ageism that were undertaken in Israel during the COVID‐19 pandemic (April, 2020–May, 2021). The documentation and analysis of the campaigns were undertaken via the lens of the Theory of Change and Five Key Principles for social campaigns: planning strategically, communicating effectively, fostering community engagement, implementing key activities, and using research. We conducted desk reviews and qualitative interviews with the campaigns’ organizers. The Theory of Change implemented by the campaigns targeted self‐ageism among independent older people and/or employers of older adults. All campaigns emphasized “active aging” and “successful aging,” to decrease (self)‐ageism. The focus on one dimension of active and positive aging may result in ageism and exclusion of older people who do not fit into the category of independent and active people. The complex timing of the campaigns had influenced the degree of implementation of the five key principles. The joining of forces of different organizations and the employment of more diverse representations of old age, may facilitate the achievement of campaign goals. Finally, an empirical evaluation of social campaigns’ efforts is still necessary to gather evidence about the effectiveness of social campaigns.
This chapter raises and analyses the millenary tradition of ageism that still persisted in Western society. Fed by prejudices, myths and the plot of the social imaginary, the scientific approach of ageing is permanently delayed and postponed. The pandemic time coronavirus continues this path and is uses as a legitimiser of stigmatisation and confinement, perspectives that also respond to a perverse logic of scarcity, of what is left over, of what must be discarded, within an increasingly precarious and weak social fabric. So, as social imaginery, coronavirus poses challenges and problems to ageism through the re-emergence of the paradigm of decrepit ageing, vulnerable and inevitably facing death.
Zusammenfassung
Ziel des Beitrages ist es, den semantischen Wandel des Fitnessbegriffes im Verhältnis zur präventivmedizinischen Bewegung am Beispiel des Konzepts des aktiven Alterns zu untersuchen. Parallel dazu soll der Einfluss von Tracking-Technologien und Anwendungen auf einen möglichen Bedeutungswandel in der Wechselbeziehung zwischen Gesundheit und Fitness bzw. Wellness analysiert werden.
Im Rahmen der Etablierung eines dominanten Gesundheitsdispositivs leisten Fitness und Wellness einen erheblichen Beitrag zur Klassifizierung, Konkretisierung und Aktualisierung von gesundheitsnormativen Idealen, was in den verschiedenen Bedeutungsverschiebungen und Interpretationsstrukturen deutlich wird. Durch die Tracking-Technologien im Prozess des aktiven Alterns und durch die Formierung neuer Subjektordnungen wird der Bedeutungswandel in der Wechselbeziehung zwischen Gesundheit und Fitness bzw. Wellness beschleunigt.
China’s population of older individuals reached 264.02 million in 2020, an increase of 5.44% from 2010. This study explores how participation in serious leisure sports, which have enduring benefits for older adults, contributes to active aging. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 older participants aged 60–78 years who had participated in a leisure sport activity for 1 year or longer. A thematic analysis was conducted, and four themes emerged: body improvements, positive emotions, optimistic life attitudes, and social interactions. Older adults who participate in serious leisure sports are empowered via practice and learning opportunities to engage with their aging bodies, pursue psychological benefits, and jointly maintain leisure groups. The findings of this study contribute to our understanding of the “rights-based” approach to active aging and allow us to identify serious leisure sports as an active way for older adults to improve their quality of life.
This paper uses the concept of generativity to challenge the ageist view of older adults' reduced social and economic contributions in a neoliberal economy and support an age-integrated society. It revisits Erik Erikson's life cycle theory and brings forth the argument that the core quality of the seventh stage of human ego development, generativity vs stagnation, transverses all previous developmental stages and creates a forever-moving life cycle through intergenerational connections. Generativity is critical to human ageing as it is closely linked to notions of transfer of knowledge. This paper investigates generativity in relation to ego, libido and ageing. It discusses the ego as the medium of generativity and libido as its source of energy. It also explores how opportunities for intergenerational exchange, transfer of knowledge, and creativity are fashioned to suit the larger economic and socio-cultural context through sublimation. The paper concludes that generativity is the most promising route to an age-friendly society.
The following article offers a intergenerational learning experience through service-learning (SL). It is an educational method based on experience that allows the students to be involved in their own learning beyond the traditional classroom model. Its aim is to analyze the educational benefits that this method provides, during a project based on the intergenerational Outreach Program that took place in the Bachelor’s Degree of Social Education, taught at the University of Valladolid. Through case study methodology, the participant’s voices are taken into account, while highlighting the importance of self-reflective praxis shared with the students and the knowledge that links community needs to curriculum. It explores the necessary balance between professional growth and social commitment, coming from a University that is open to the outside world, offering its students practical experiences in a real world setting, which turns SL into a high-impact methodology.
Drawing on multidisciplinary research focusing on a spectrum ranging from individual experience to structural system-level risk response and resilience, this article develops a rationale for a Unified Model of Resilience and Aging (UMRA). In response to a broad range of adversities associated with aging, it details the ways in which some individuals are able to bounce back better than others, or adapt better than expected, termed resilience. However, resilience and aging theoretical models have developed out of different disciplinary developments, ranging from individual levels to structural level complex systems, including several gerontological theoretical models addressing adaptation to life course and aging processes. The article reviews and synthesizes prior conceptual and theoretical work, and their empirical groundings, in order to develop an integrated resilience model with wide applications to aging-related problems including chronic illness, mental health, widowhood, poverty, caregiving burden, etc. The article focuses specifically on COVID-19 pandemic risk, response and resilience in order to specify applications of the UMRA, and to suggest avenues for future research and testing of theoretical axioms.
The phrase ‘person‐centred care’ (PCC) reminds us that the fundamental philosophical goal of caring for people is to uphold or promote their personhood. However, such an idea has translated into promoting individualist notions of autonomy, empowerment and personal responsibility in the context of consumerism and neoliberalism, which is problematic both conceptually and practically. From a conceptual standpoint, it ignores the fact that humans are social, historical and biographical beings, and instead assumes an essentialist or idealized concept of personhood in which a person is viewed as an individual static object. From a practical standpoint, the application of such a concept of personhood can lead to neglect of a person's fundamental care needs and exacerbate the problems of social inequity, in particular for older people and people with dementia. Therefore, we argue that our understanding of PCC must instead be based on a dynamic concept of personhood that integrates the relevant social, relational, temporal and biographical dimensions. We propose that the correct concept of personhood in PCC is one in which persons are understood as socially embedded, relational and temporally extended subjects rather than merely individual, autonomous, asocial and atemporal objects. We then present a reconceptualization of the fundamental philosophical goal of PCC as promoting selfhood rather than personhood. Such a reconceptualization avoids the problems that beset the concept of personhood and its application in PCC, while also providing a philosophical foundation for the growing body of empirical literature that emphasizes the psychosocial, relational, subjective and biographical dimensions of PCC.
This study presents a critical gerontological framing analysis of how and why the term “elderly” is presently used in online news media articles in New Zealand, and the potential consequences of such constructions. The article contributes to conceptual debates on aging and later life research by challenging ageist (albeit perhaps subconscious) media practices. Analysis of online news media articles in New Zealand was conducted over an 18-month period before, during and since COVID. Findings revealed that “elderly” was framed as powerless, in predominantly negative (74% of data) stereotypical messages about older adults. The remaining positive stereotypes (26%) used human impact framing. Narratives of “elderly” as vulnerable, declining and a ‘burden’ may be dependent on several factors, including the media's role in both constructing and reflecting ageist societal attitudes and actions towards older adults. Recommendations are given to support re-framing societal attitudes towards age equality through non-discriminatory, respectful language.
When examining research articles on the aging strategies, four ideals (i.e., successful aging, healthy aging, productive aging and active aging) could be explored by conducting bibliometric analyses. For the literature analysis, general information on the four aging ideals was understood through visualization analysis; the intellectual base and research hotspots were intuitively observed. CiteSpace was used as the method to conduct the co-occurrence analysis of keywords in order to obtain research trends and cutting-edge knowledge in the field of aging-related policies. Subsequently, the study revealed the nature of the link between these four aging ideals and disclosed the connection between their fundamental principles. The study ultimately enhanced the understanding of the diverse contexts that have impacted the way in which these ideals influence policy, which has caused dissimilar strategies for policy development. The study also extended the discussion of the definitions of and relationships between these four ideals with the goal of identifying new directions for aging-related practice and providing innovative insights and references for investigators.
Background
The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of adherence to the Mediterranean diet with trajectories of healthy aging.
Methods
The dataset of the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet was the basis for the present longitudinal analysis. In a sample of 1226 older (>65 years) adults (704 women), adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed through the calculation of the MedDietScore. A healthy aging metric was introduced using an item response theory (IRT) approach based on information from validated questionnaires assessing functionality and cognition. Four trajectories of healthy aging were created based on whether the healthy aging status of participants was above or below the median at baseline and follow-up: High-High, High-Low, Low-High and Low-Low. The association of adherence to the Mediterranean diet with the trajectories was investigated using a multinomial logistic regression with the Low-Low group set as reference, while adjusting for potential confounders.
Results
34.3% of participants belonged to the High-High group, 15.7% to the High-Low, 18.6% to the Low-High and 31.4% to the Low-Low group. Greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet was significantly associated with the probability of having one of the healthier trajectories (i.e., Low-High or High-High). Substitution analysis revealed that substituting energy intake from proteins and lipids with carbohydrates was associated with a lower probability of having one of the favorable trajectories.
Conclusion
Greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with more favorable trajectories of aging and policies to raise awareness about its significance should be implemented.
Antecedentes:
Las diversas maneras de envejecer en Chile, especialmente determinadas por la identidad étnica indígena, son escasamente abordadas, siendo necesario dar cuenta de las variables personales, psicosociales y de salud que promueven el Envejecimiento con Éxito (EE).
Objetivos:
Explorar un modelo teórico explicativo del EE en una muestra de personas mayores indígenas y no indígenas, considerando diversas variables personales, psicosociales y de salud relacionas con EE. Asimismo, se busca contrastar el posible efecto de la pertenencia étnica – ser o no ser indígenaen este modelo.
Método:
Estudio cuantitativo y transversal que contó con la participación de 232 personas mayores del Pueblo Aymara y 545 no indígenas que viven en el extremo norte de Chile. Se utilizaron instrumentos previamente validados en población equivalente para medir envejecimiento con éxito, religiosidad y espiritualidad, apoyo social comunitario, problemas de salud, actividades de la vida diaria y depresión. Para comprobar el ajuste del modelo teórico a los datos se utilizó un análisis de ecuaciones estructurales. De manera específica, se estimó un modelo estructural multigrupo para personas indígenas y personas no indígenas.
Resultados:
Los resultados indican que existe invarianza en función de la etnia para el constructo EE. Tal como se muestra en el modelo hipotetizado y posteriormente contrastado, el EE se relaciona directamente con depresión y espiritualidad. La asociación de integración comunitaria, dependencia física en las actividades de la vida diaria y el apoyo social se percibido se produce a través de su asociación con depresión y espiritualidad.
Conclusiones:
Este estudio apoya la hipótesis de que el EE es un proceso multidimensional, relacionado con la pertenencia étnica y que la salud mental ocupa un rol importante en su comprensión.
RESUMEN En este artículo se evalúan los estereotipos explícitos negativos y positivos acerca del envejecimiento entre profesionales de la salud considerando la presencia del COVID-19. El contexto de desven-tajas estructurales para las personas mayores en el país, hacen de la pandemia un propulsor de la precarización de su situación, y por tanto relevante de estudiar. Esta investigación es de tipo descriptivo y transversal, con 378 encuestas contestadas en mayo de 2020. Se evaluó a 308 profesionales de la salud de Chile. Se utilizó la Escala de Imagen del envejecimiento (Levy et al., 2004), previa validación transcultural y evaluación de las propiedades métricas para este contexto, lo que generó la construcción de un índice. Los resultados muestran que los profesionales de la salud tienen una específica imagen del envejecimiento en la que destacan estereotipos positivos (capaz, activo, sabio, positivo, cuidado, centrado en la familia) por sobre los negativos (arrugado, camina despacio y enfermo). Se concluye que existen algunos indicadores de discriminación por edad entre los profesionales de la salud, según los atributos de 0ANTHROPOLOGICA/AÑO XXXIX, N° 47, 2021, pp. 183-220
Research has shown that happiness and well-being play a fundamental role in the health of older adults. For this reason, programs based on Positive Psychology seek to improve quality of life, preventing and reducing the appearance of emotional disorders. The objective of this study was to verify whether an intervention based on Autobiographical Memory, Forgiveness, Gratitude, and Sense of humor would increase quality of life in institutionalized older adults. We used a quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-intervention measures and follow-on measures at 3, 6, and 12 months. A total of 111 institutionalized older adults participated in the study and were randomly assigned to one of three groups: experimental ( n = 36), placebo ( n = 39), and control ( n = 36). Measurements were taken of depression, subjective happiness, satisfaction with life, psychological well-being, and specific memories. Program duration was 11 weeks, followed by refresher sessions of the activities that had been conducted. The results showed that the intervention was effective, producing lasting increase in the participating adults’ well-being, maintained for the following 12 months, in contrast to the other two groups. In conclusion, the proposed intervention proved to be a novel tool that was effective, easily applied, and able to improve quality of life and emotional disorders in older adults.
Objective: The aim of this pilot randomized clinical trial was to test the feasibility and efficacy of an exergame-based cognitive-motor training program in geriatric inpatients.
Methods: The study participants were randomly allocated to either the exergame intervention group or the control group. The control group received the standard rehabilitation treatment offered in the clinic. In addition to the standard rehabilitation program, the intervention group conducted supervised exergame training on 5 days per week using the Dividat Senso, an exergame system specifically designed for older adults. The primary outcome was feasibility, as measured by e.g., adherence rate, attrition rate, occurrence of adverse events, System Usability Scale (SUS) and NASA-TLX score. Secondary outcomes included measures of physical and cognitive functioning such as comfortable walking speed, maximal walking speed, dual task walking speed, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Color-Word Interference test (D-KEFS), Trail Making test A and B (TMT), Go/No-Go test and Step Reaction Time test (SRTT). All secondary outcome measures were assessed pre- and post-intervention.
Results: Thirty-nine persons were included in the study. Average adherence rate was 99%, there were no intervention-related dropouts and no adverse events. The mean System Usability Scale (SUS) score was 83.6 and the mean NASA-TLX score 45.5. Significant time-group interaction effects were found for the dual task walking speed, the Go/No-Go test and Step Reaction Time test (SRTT).
Conclusion: Exergaming is a feasible, safe and effective cognitive-motor training approach in inpatient rehabilitation of geriatric patients. Incorporating exergaming in the rehabilitation program of geriatric patients offers potential to reduce fall risk factors and to increase patients’ exercise motivation and rehabilitation success.
Objectives:
We aimed at examining between-person and within-person associations across age trajectories of perceptual speed and loneliness in old age.
Methods:
We applied multilevel models to four waves of data collected over six years from 1,491 participants of the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II, 60-88 years at baseline, 50% women) to disentangle between-person and within-person associations across age trajectories of perceptual speed and both emotional and social loneliness. Sex and education were considered as relevant individual characteristics and included as covariates in the model.
Results:
Analyses revealed that on average perceptual speed exhibited moderate within-person age-related declines, whereas facets of loneliness were rather stable. Perceptual speed did not predict age trajectories of emotional or social loneliness, at neither the between- nor within-person level. In contrast, loneliness discriminated individuals at the between-person level, such that those feeling emotionally or socially more lonely showed lower cognitive performance than those feeling emotionally or socially less lonely. Predictive effects of social loneliness were stronger for relatively young people (i.e., in their mid- to late-60s) than for relatively older participants (i.e., in their 80s). In addition, predictive effects of social loneliness for perceptual speed at the within-person level were modest and deviated in direction and size from between-person social loneliness effects among those in their mid- to late-60s, whereas they did not among those in their 80s.
Discussion:
We conclude that loneliness may serve as a precursor for basic cognitive functioning in old age and suggest routes for further inquiry.
Introducción:
Las luchas religiosas y espirituales son conflictos psicológicos asociados a la relación con una divinidad o a las prácticas y enseñanzas particulares de organizaciones religiosas. Estas luchas pueden afectar la salud y el bienestar, provocando angustia y dolor emocional.
Objetivo:
El propósito de este estudio fue desarrollar y validar una medida breve que examine las luchas religiosas y espirituales (R/E) desde el marco teórico de Exline.
Método:
Esta investigación tuvo un diseño instrumental. Se utilizó un muestreo por disponibilidad compuesto por 312 participantes residentes de Puerto Rico.
Resultados:
Los análisis psicométricos confirmaron que la escala posee una estructura de cuatro dimensiones (luchas divinas, luchas interpersonales, luchas malignas, luchas intrapersonales) y una sólida confiabilidad, validez de constructo y validez convergente. Los 14 ítems cumplieron con valores adecuados de discriminación.
Conclusiones:
Estos resultados sugieren que el instrumento tiene el potencial para medir e identificar cuatro tipos de luchas R/E en adultos puertorriqueños. Además, permitirá el avance de nuevas investigaciones sobre las luchas R/E en Puerto Rico y América Latina.
Social participation is critical to the health and well‐being of older adults, however, participation often declines with age. Research has identified that personal and environmental factors such as high socioeconomic status and accessible transportation are associated with higher levels of social participation. However, the barriers and facilitators to social participation experienced by older adults receiving community aged care services remains largely unexplored. This qualitative study aimed to generate context‐rich data and identify the barriers and facilitators to effective community care services that can support older adults’ participation in the community and contribute to individual well‐being. Semi‐structured focus groups were conducted with 40 community aged care clients and 21 staff members between January to July 2018 and thematic analysis was undertaken. Environmental factors, such as availability and accessibility of transportation services emerged as the most important factors influencing participation. Older age, self‐attitude towards one's own functional ability and limited social networks were important personal factors affecting participation. Proactive aged care services (e.g., engaged staff, tailored activities) were reported to assist with continual engagement in aged care services. In contrast, the type, location and accessibility of the activity, associated costs and limited options for accessible transportation were key barriers to older adults’ social participation. Pathways contributing to positive engagement were complex and variable, but personal well‐being and local community resources emerged as important factors encouraging higher social participation. These findings are discussed in the context of the ongoing pandemic and implications for future aged care services are provided.
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