Tim Windsor

Cohort profile: The Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA)

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 12-2016

DOI: 10.1093/IJE/DYU196

Age differences in psychosocial predictors of positive and negative affect: A longitudinal investigation of young, midlife, and older adults

Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)

Date: 09-2010

DOI: 10.1037/A0019431

Abstract: Research has consistently shown that despite aging-related losses, older adults have high levels of emotional well-being relative to those in young and midlife adults. We aimed to contribute to knowledge around the factors that predict emotional well-being over the life course by examining age group differences in associations of positive and negative social exchanges and mastery beliefs with positive and negative affect in a s le of 7,472 young, midlife, and older adults assessed on 2 measurement occasions, 4 years apart. Results from structural equation models indicated lower levels of negative affect with advancing age. Mastery was consistently related to higher well-being, with the strongest associations evident for young adults. Older adults reported the most frequent positive and least frequent negative social exchanges however, associations of social relations with affect tended to be stronger among young and midlife adults relative to older adults. Results are discussed in the context of life course perspectives on goal orientations and self-regulatory processes.

Does Awareness of Aging Matter? The Moderating Function of Awareness of Age-Related Change on the Relationships Between COVID-19 Disruption, Perceived Stress, and Affect

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 20-06-2023

DOI: 10.1093/GERONB/GBAD093

Abstract: How people reflect on their own age may influence their well-being in the face of disruptions associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19). Subjective aging was operationalized in terms of one’s awareness of age-related change (AARC), specifically, the gains and losses associated with aging. We developed a measure assessing disruptions to daily life associated with the COVID-19 pandemic across 3 dimensions (i.e., Social and Lifestyle Disruption, Work and Health Disruption, and Others Contracting COVID-19). We hypothesized that COVID-19 disruption would be positively associated with both AARC-losses and AARC-gains. Greater COVID-19 disruption would also be associated with poorer psychosocial outcomes (higher perceived stress and negative affect [NA] and lower positive affect [PA]) and these associations would be stronger for those reporting greater AARC-losses and weaker for those reporting greater AARC-gains. Cross-sectional questionnaire data were collected from 263 participants from the United States (aged 40–83 mean age: 62.88 years, standard deviation = 9.00 56.3% females). After controlling for age, gender, education, employment, socioeconomic status, and physical functioning, greater Work and Health Disruption was associated with greater AARC-losses. Greater Social and Lifestyle Disruption was associated with both greater AARC-gains and AARC-losses. Moderation effects showed an exacerbating effect of AARC-losses on NA in the face of Work and Health Disruption and a protective effect of AARC-gains on PA in the context of Social and Lifestyle Disruption. We extend research detailing antecedents of AARC and highlight the need for longitudinal research that considers the ever-changing nature of the pandemic.

Considering relocation to a retirement village: Predictors from a community sample

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 17-10-2012

DOI: 10.1111/J.1741-6612.2012.00618.X

Abstract: To identify characteristics distinguishing older adults who have considered relocation to a retirement village in the future from those who have not. Community-living residents (n = 517), aged 55 to 94, randomly selected from the Australian Capital Territory completed a postal survey. Consistent with prior research, the majority of respondents had not considered relocation to a retirement village. Retired persons, those aged 55-64 years, and persons reporting sufficient financial resources, poorer physical health and poorer current neighbourhood cohesion were most likely to have considered future relocation. The identification of factors characterising older adults seeking retirement village housing in the future is important in developing an understanding of the needs and expectations of the older population, and may allow aged care providers to better target the development of services to population needs (e.g. health-care supports). Further investigation into the specific expectations of the 55-64 year cohort is required.

Is Occupational Complexity Associated with Cognitive Performance or Decline? Results from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Publisher: S. Karger AG

Date: 2017

DOI: 10.1159/000475559

Abstract: b i Background: /i /b Long-term protective associations proposed between previous complex occupational tasks and cognitive functioning in later life point to work roles contributing to cognitive reserve. b i Objective: /i /b To examine occupational complexity involving data, people, and things in relation to the level of, and rate of change in, cognitive functioning. b i Methods: /i /b Participants were 1,290 members of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing and initially aged 65-102 years (mean = 79). Information about main lifetime occupation was collected retrospectively. Cognition was assessed 4 times over a 13-year interval. b i Results: /i /b In multilevel models adjusted for demographics, medical conditions, and depressive symptoms, higher complexity involving data was associated with faster speed (β = 0.73, i /i 0.001), better memory (β = 0.32, i /i 0.05), and mental status (β = 0.40, i /i 0.001) at baseline. These associations remained statistically reliable after adjusting for complexity with people and things, sedentary and heavy physical work, retirement age, and leisure activity. Complexity with things was associated with slower speed (β = -0.50, i /i 0.001) and poorer mental status (β = -0.26, i /i 0.01) and was not explained by other variables. There were no associations of occupational complexity with rates of cognitive decline over time. b i Conclusion: /i /b Older in iduals retired from occupations characterized by higher complexity with data maintain their cognitive advantage over those with lower complexity into older adulthood, although without additional moderation of this advantage in terms of less postretirement cognitive decline. Complexity of work with things confers a negative relation to cognition whilst also not affecting postretirement cognitive change. Although the relative contributions of occupation or other early life influences for cognition remain to be established, it nevertheless may be beneficial to promote workplace design strategies and interventions that incorporate complex activities, particularly tasks involving data.

A behavioural activation intervention to increase engagement with life and wellbeing in older adults: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Date: 05-12-2022

DOI: 10.1186/S40359-022-00988-1

Abstract: Meaningful activity engagement is a critical element of ageing well. Interventions designed to increase activity engagement tend to be activity-specific and do not always meet the needs of older adults with erse interests and capacities. Behavioural activation (BA) provides a promising person-centred framework for promoting engagement in valued activities. This study will examine the effectiveness of a behavioural activation-based intervention for promoting engagement with life and wellbeing among older adults. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two conditions (BA intervention, Active Control) and take part in a six-week intervention that consists of one-on-one weekly sessions of up to one hour to be administered either via telephone or online video conferencing with a trained facilitator. This study will recruit 120 + participants aged 65 + who score at or below the median on a test of life engagement. Participants will complete questionnaires of primary and secondary measures both pre-program, one-week and three months post-program. Participants will also complete a daily diary questionnaire during the fourth and fifth weeks of the intervention. The primary outcome measure is the Life Engagement Test, and secondary outcome measures include assessments of subjective wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, mental health, self-reported health, social engagement, loneliness and life satisfaction. The outcomes from this study will provide evidence as to whether a BA based approach represents an effective method for promoting engagement with life and wellbeing among older community-dwelling adults. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (Reg no. ACTRN 12621001192875). Trial retrospectively registered 6th September, 2021.

Health literacy of older drivers and the importance of health experience for self-regulation of driving behaviour

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Date: 05-2011

DOI: 10.1016/J.AAP.2010.11.012

Abstract: This study provides much needed information on the education level of older drivers regarding the impact of health conditions and medications on personal driving safety, where they source this information, and how this knowledge influences self-regulation of driving. Random and convenience s ling secured 322 Australian drivers (63.9% males) aged 65 years and over (M = 77.35 years, SD = 7.35) who completed a telephone interview. The majority of respondents (86%) had good knowledge about health conditions (health knowledge) and driving safety, however more than 50% was classified as having poor knowledge on the effects of certain medications (medication knowledge) and driving safety. Poorer health knowledge was associated with a reduced likelihood of driving over 100 km in adjusted models. Being older and having more than one medical condition was found to increase the likelihood of self-regulation of driving. Results indicate that health knowledge was less important for predicting driving behaviour than health experience. Of great interest was that up to 85.7% of respondents reported not receiving advice about the potential impact of their medical condition and driving from their doctor. The findings indicate a need for improved dissemination of evidence-based health information and education for older drivers and their doctors.

Conscientiousness, Activity Engagement and Momentary Affect in Oldest-old Adulthood.

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 26-08-2020

DOI: 10.1093/GERONB/GBAA136

Abstract: Remaining engaged with life is a hallmark of aging well and pursuing personally meaningful activities is presumably important for late-life affect. We examined how moment-to-moment variability in meaning and degree of challenge ascribed to daily activities relate to positive and negative affect in very old adults. Possible moderating effects of between-person differences in conscientiousness on meaning-affect associations were also examined. Participants were 73 adults aged 89 years on average from the Australian Daily Life Time-S ling module of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Aging. Participants provided self-report data on activity engagement (meaning and challenge associated with activities) and affect, on 5 occasions per day for a period of 7 consecutive days. Within-person associations of activity meaning with affect varied as a function of within-person challenge ratings. Specifically, gains in positive affect associated with meaningful activity were more strongly evident when activities were regarded as more challenging. In contrast, meaningful activity was associated with higher negative affect when activities were regarded as more challenging and lower negative affect when activities were regarded as less challenging. Conscientiousness did not moderate associations of activity meaning with affect. Our findings shed light on the intricate interplay between maintaining meaningful engagement and daily emotional experiences in very old age. We discuss theoretical and practical implications and consider the role of late-life conscientiousness for self- and emotion regulation.

Age differences in the use of emotion regulation strategies derived from the process model of emotion regulation

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Date: 17-11-2019

DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2017.1396575

Abstract: This review examines differences in the use of emotion regulation (ER) strategies among younger and older adults. A systematic review using search terms related to ageing and ER identified 23 relevant studies. Narrative synthesis was adopted to analyse the findings. Generally, greater use of situation selection and attentional deployment was identified among older adults, although these relationships were dependent on contextual/moderator variables. While older adults employed greater levels of situation modification in response to negative stimuli, there was considerable variation in age differences across specific situation modification subtypes. Available evidence pointed to an absence of age differences in the cognitive change strategy of cognitive reappraisal. The use of relatively less-cognitively demanding cognitive change subtypes (e.g. acceptance) was, under particular circumstances, greater among older adults. Findings regarding the response modulation strategy of expressive suppression were equivocal. Adult development is not characterised by straightforward shifts in preferences for use of different ER strategies. Moderator variables appear to be of central importance in shaping the emergence of age differences in ER. Systematically examining interactions of age with in idual difference variables and situational factors in s les including oldest-old adults will be important for advancing knowledge regarding developmental differences in ER.

The relationship between Big-5 personality traits and cognitive ability in older adults - A review

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Date: 28-02-2015

DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2014.888392

Abstract: It is well established that fundamental aspects of cognition such as memory and speed of processing tend to decline with age however, there is substantial between-in idual variability in levels of cognitive performance in older adulthood and in rates of change in cognitive abilities over time. Recent years have seen an increasing number of studies concerned with examining personality characteristics as possible predictors of some of this variability in cognitive aging. The purpose of this article is to review the literature, and identify patterns of findings regarding the relationships between personality (focusing on the Big-5) and cognitive ability across nonclinical populations of older adults. Possible mechanisms underlying associations of personality characteristics with cognition are reviewed, and assessed in the context of the current literature. Some relatively consistent relationships are identified, including positive associations between openness and cognitive ability, and associations of conscientiousness with slower rates of cognitive decline. However, the relationships between several personality traits and cognitive abilities in older adults remain unclear. We suggest some approaches to research design and analysis that may help increase our understanding of how personality differences may contribute to cognitive aging.

Awareness of age-related gains and losses as moderators of daily stress reactivity in middle- and older-adulthood

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Date: 26-08-2022

DOI: 10.3389/FPSYT.2022.929657

Abstract: Associations between awareness of one’s own aging and wellbeing have received increasing attention in the field of gerontology over the last decade. The current study examines how between-person differences and within-person fluctuations of awareness of age-related change (AARC) relate to daily negative affect and vitality. Of key interest was the extent to which fluctuations in AARC moderated reactivity to stressor exposure. We predicted that higher positive perceptions of aging (AARC-gains) would buffer the relationship between daily stressors and negative affect/vitality. Conversely, we expected that higher negative perceptions (AARC-losses) may exacerbate the relationship between daily stressors and the outcome variables. Data were collected from a community-based s le of 152 Australian adults aged 53–86 ( M = 69.18, SD = 5.73). For 10 consecutive days, participants completed surveys on their smartphones measuring daily stressors, AARC, and affect (positive and negative). Bayesian hierarchical linear models were used to examine whether AARC-gains and AARC-losses moderated within-person associations of daily stressors and affect (i.e., stress reactivity). At the between-person level, higher AARC-gains was associated with lower negative affect and higher vitality, whereas those reporting higher AARC-losses scored higher on negative affect and lower on vitality. Within-person variables revealed that on days when AARC-gains was higher and AARC-losses was lower, this corresponded with lower negative affect and higher vitality. There was no evidence in support of in idual moderating effects of within-person AARC-losses or within-person AARC-gains on stress reactivity. A trend was evident in support of a three-way WP Stress severity × WP AARC-gains × WP AARC-losses interaction in the prediction of negative affect, indicating that on days when AARC-losses was higher, the association of stress severity with negative affect was weaker if AARC-gains was higher. Follow-up analyses modeling quadratic stress severity revealed a trend suggesting an interaction of within-person stress severity and within-person AARC-losses. Results indicate that both in idual differences and short-term fluctuations in AARC are associated with daily negative affect and vitality. The results provided qualified support for a possible protective role of AARC-gains in the context of stress reactivity.

Disability and depressive symptoms in later life: The stress-buffering role of informal and formal support

Publisher: S. Karger AG

Date: 28-04-2011

DOI: 10.1159/000314158

Abstract: i Background: /i Despite the increasing utilization of formal services by older adults in many nations, there is a paucity of research that has examined the relationships between disability, i formal /i support and depressive symptoms in later life. i Objective: /i We investigated whether support received for daily activities, either from formal and/or informal sources, weakened the deleterious relationship between disability and depression symptoms in later life and whether these stress-buffering effects were stronger in later years of older adulthood. i Methods: /i Participants were 1,359 community-dwelling older adults drawn from Wave 1 of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Hierarchical multiple regression was used. i Results: /i In iduals receiving support from (1) informal sources only and (2) both informal and formal sources had weaker relationships between disability and depressive symptoms, relative to those receiving no support. The interaction between informal and formal support and disability also revealed that for in iduals with above average functional limitations, receipt of this support type was associated with fewer depressive symptoms. However, for in iduals with no functional limitations, receipt of both informal and formal support was not associated with depressive symptoms. The stress-buffer age variation hypothesis received no support. i Conclusions: /i Findings suggest that receiving a combination of informal and formal support may be sufficient to offset the harmful association between disability and depressive symptoms in later life. In addition, findings further emphasized the importance of informal support in later life. In contrast, formal support in isolation may not be sufficient to confer a protective effect. Given the expected increase in utilization of formal services among older adults in the coming decades, it is essential that future research investigates the possible factors that underlie this null result.

Barriers and enablers for the implementation of trauma-informed care in healthcare settings: a systematic review

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Date: 05-05-2023

DOI: 10.1186/S43058-023-00428-0

Abstract: Healthcare services can be re-traumatising for trauma survivors where they trigger memories of past distressing events and exert limits to a survivor’s sense of autonomy, choice, and control. The benefits of receiving trauma-informed healthcare are well established however, factors that promote or impede the implementation of trauma-informed care are not yet well characterised and understood. The aim of this review was to systematically identify and synthesise evidence regarding factors that promote or reduce the implementation of TIC in healthcare settings. This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2.0 guidelines. Scopus, MEDLINE, Proquest, PsycINFO and grey literature were searched for original research or evaluations published between January 2000 and April 2021 reporting barriers and/or facilitating factors for the implementation of trauma-informed care in a healthcare setting. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of each included study using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) Checklist. Twenty-seven studies were included, 22 of which were published in the USA. Implementation occurred in a range of health settings, predominantly mental health services. The barriers and facilitators of implementing trauma-informed care were categorised as follows: intervention characteristics (perceived relevance of trauma-informed care to the health setting and target population), influences external to the organisation (e.g. interagency collaboration or the actions of other agencies) and influences within the organisation in which implementation occurred (e.g. leadership engagement, financial and staffing resources and policy and procedure changes that promote flexibility in protocols). Other factors related to the implementation processes (e.g. flexible and accessible training, service user feedback and the collection and review of initiative outcomes) and finally the characteristics of in iduals within the service or system such as a resistance to change. This review identifies key factors that should be targeted to promote trauma-informed care implementation. Continued research will be helpful for characterising what trauma-informed care looks like when it is delivered well, and providing validated frameworks to promote organisational uptake for the benefit of trauma survivors. The protocol for this review was registered on the PROSPERO database (CRD42021242891).

Subjective perceptions of age-related gains buffer negative associations of perceived age-related losses with health, well-being, and engagement

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Date: 13-09-2021

DOI: 10.1177/01650254211039025

Abstract: People reflect on their own aging, and this subjective awareness has an influence on developmental outcomes. Scholars have recently operationalized subjective aging in terms of awareness of age-related change (AARC), which captures awareness of both gains and losses. We examined associations of AARC-gains and AARC-losses with physical functioning, subjective well-being, and engagement with life (enjoyable activities and sense of purpose). Importantly, we extended previous research by not only assessing main effects of gains and losses but also testing their interaction. We hypothesized that awareness of losses would be more weakly negatively associated with health and well-being among those who possessed higher awareness of gains. A total of 399 older participants aged 65 to 91 (235 women and 164 men) were recruited via Prime Panels crowd-sourcing platform to complete an online questionnaire. Greater AARC-losses was associated with poorer health, lower subjective well-being, and lower sense of purpose. AARC-gains was associated with better outcomes in general, and moderated associations of AARC-losses with physical functioning, subjective well-being, and sense of purpose (but not engagement in leisure activities). Consistent with predictions, moderation effects showed that negative associations of AARC-losses with the outcomes were weaker among those who reported higher AARC-gains. Results provided some support for a role of AARC-gains in buffering negative effects of AARC-losses on developmental outcomes.

Activity engagement is related to level, but not change in cognitive ability across adulthood

Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)

Date: 2012

DOI: 10.1037/A0024667

Abstract: It is unclear whether the longitudinal relation between activity participation and cognitive ability is due to preserved differentiation (active in iduals have higher initial levels of cognitive ability), or differential preservation (active in iduals show less negative change across time). This distinction has never been evaluated after iding time-varying activity into its two sources of variation: between-person and within-person variability. Further, few studies have investigated how the association between activity participation and cognitive ability may differ from early to older adulthood. Using the PATH Through Life Project, we evaluated whether between- and within-person variation in activity participation was associated with cognitive ability and change within cohorts aged 20-24 years, 40-44 years, and 60-64 years at baseline (n = 7,152) assessed on three occasions over an 8-year interval. Multilevel models indicated that between-person differences in activity significantly predicted baseline cognitive ability for all age cohorts and for each assessed cognitive domain (perceptual speed, short-term memory, working memory, episodic memory, and vocabulary), even after accounting for sex, education, occupational status, and physical and mental health. In each case, greater average participation was associated with higher baseline cognitive ability. However, the size of the relationship involving average activity participation and baseline cognitive ability did not differ across adulthood. Between-person activity and within-person variation in activity level were both not significantly associated with change in cognitive test performance. Results suggest that activity participation is indeed related to cognitive ability across adulthood, but only in relation to the starting value of cognitive ability, and not change over time.

Social activity in midlife and older age

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 11-2016

DOI: 10.1093/GERONT/GNW162.1093

“Calm Down,” “Cheer Up”: How Age Influences the Way We Manage Emotion in Social Partners

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Date: 28-07-2020

DOI: 10.1177/0164027520946680

Abstract: This study examines how in iduals (regulators) manage emotion in their social partners (targets) and whether the age of the regulator or the age of the target influences extrinsic emotion regulation strategy preference. An online questionnaire was used to assess extrinsic emotion regulation among 580 participants aged 18–87 years ( M = 50.04, SD = 18.13). Participants (regulators) indicated the extent to which they would be likely to use different strategies when interacting with a younger or older target who was upset. Results of multi-level modeling showed that older regulators endorsed less use of situation modification than younger regulators, but age differences in regulators’ use of other strategies were not significant. After adjustment for relationship-specific covariates, regulators endorsed less use of attentional deployment and cognitive change, for older targets than younger targets. Results are discussed in the context of lifespan perspectives on social behavior and emotion regulation.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of an App-Based Mindfulness-Meditation Program Among Older Adults

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 14-08-2021

DOI: 10.1093/GERONT/GNAA093

Abstract: Few studies have focused on the utility of mindfulness-meditation for well-being in older adults. The present study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an app-based mindfulness-meditation program among older adults. A community-based s le of 46 participants aged between 63 and 81 (M = 70.85, SD = 4.70) engaged with a 30-day app-based mindfulness-meditation program for 10 min daily on their smartphones. Each meditation session comprised focusing on the breath, mentally scanning the body, monitoring the mind’s activity, and cultivating a nonjudgmental orientation toward experiences. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, day 10, and day 30. On average, participants completed 25 sessions and almost 4 h of application use across the 30 days. Results of linear mixed effects models showed significant improvements in positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction across the study interval, but no meaningful change in total mindfulness or perceived stress. Furthermore, relative to high levels of smartphone efficacy, low smartphone efficacy was associated with higher perceived stress and negative affect, and less life satisfaction at baseline and steeper improvements on these outcomes across the study interval. On average, older adults rated the app-based mindfulness-meditation training as interesting, enjoyable, valuable, and useful. The findings provide preliminary support for the feasibility and acceptability of an app-based mindfulness-meditation program with community-dwelling older adults and demonstrate potential benefits for well-being. Results suggest the value of further research investigating the efficacy of digital mindfulness-meditation interventions for older adults via larger randomized controlled trials.

Perceived Control Moderates the Effects of Functional Limitation on Older Adults' Social Activity: Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 30-09-2017

DOI: 10.1093/GERONB/GBV088

Factor structure and measurement invariance of the older people’s quality of life scale

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Date: 07-01-2022

DOI: 10.1007/S12144-021-02507-8

Cohort profile: The dynamic analyses to optimize ageing (DYNOPTA) project

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 17-01-2010

DOI: 10.1093/IJE/DYN276

Older Adults’ Views on Characteristics of Groups to Support Engagement

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Date: 26-08-2023

DOI: 10.1080/01924788.2023.2249722

Barriers to activity engagement in older adulthood: Results of a community survey

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 12-08-2022

DOI: 10.1111/AJAG.13124

Abstract: Losses that occur with age can create barriers to meaningful activity engagement, a crucial aspect of ageing well. Research on this topic is frequently qualitative, with few studies accessing large community s les. This study (a) assessed the frequency specific personal and environmental barriers (such as poor health and limited transport access), identified by older adults in previous research, were endorsed (b) used latent class analysis (LCA) to identify population subgroups based on combinations of these barriers, and (c) examined associations of subgroups with purpose in life and quality of life. Four hundred and thirty‐two randomly selected Australian adults aged 65+ years (average age 76.7, 58% female) completed a telephone survey. They were asked whether certain barriers affected engagement and provided data on sense of purpose and quality of life. Physical health/mobility were the most frequently reported barriers, followed by sensory difficulties, financial limitations, and caring responsibilities. The LCA revealed up to three subgroups/classes of participants according to the barriers endorsed. Class 1 had low endorsement of all barriers, including physical health. The majority of Class 2 endorsed physical health barriers and other barriers more frequently than Class 1. Class 3 were comparable to Class 2, but also frequently endorsed community access barriers. Class 1 were younger and reported a greater sense of purpose and higher quality of life. Physical health/mobility barriers to engagement are those most frequently endorsed by older adults. These barriers may increase vulnerability to, or exacerbate the impact of additional barriers, such as sensory difficulties, access to transport and lack of finances.

Social resource correlates of levels and time-to-death-related changes in late-life affect.

Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)

Date: 03-2015

DOI: 10.1037/A0038757

Structural and functional social network attributes moderate the association of self-rated health with mental health in midlife and older adults

Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Date: 24-07-2016

DOI: 10.1017/S1041610215001143

Abstract: Social relationships are multifaceted, and different social network components can operate via different processes to influence well-being. This study examined associations of social network structure and relationship quality (positive and negative social exchanges) with mental health in midlife and older adults. The focus was on both direct associations of network structure and relationship quality with mental health, and whether these social network attributes moderated the association of self-rated health (SRH) with mental health. Analyses were based on survey data provided by 2001 (Mean age = 65, SD = 8.07) midlife and older adults. We used Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to classify participants into network types based on network structure (partner status, network size, contact frequency, and activity engagement), and used continuous measures of positive and negative social exchanges to operationalize relationship quality. Regression analysis was used to test moderation. LCA revealed network types generally consistent with those reported in previous studies. Participants in more erse networks reported better mental health than those categorized into a restricted network type after adjustment for age, sex, education, and employment status. Analysis of moderation indicated that those with poorer SRH were less likely to report poorer mental health if they were classified into more erse networks. A similar moderation effect was also evident for positive exchanges. The findings suggest that both quantity and quality of social relationships can play a role in buffering against the negative implications of physical health decline for mental health.

State mindfulness and affective well-being in the daily lives of middle-aged and older adults.

Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)

Date: 08-2021

DOI: 10.1037/PAG0000596

Within-person associations of daily self-efficacy with activity in middle-aged and older adults

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 23-10-2015

DOI: 10.1093/GERONT/GNV645.04

Perceived ease of activity (but not strategy use) mediates the relationship between self-efficacy and activity engagement in midlife and older adults

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Date: 18-10-2019

DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2018.1484882

Longitudinal change in spousal similarities in mental health: Between-couple and within-couple perspectives.

Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)

Date: 06-2013

DOI: 10.1037/A0032902

Abstract: Research based on between-couple perspectives indicate that spouses share similarities in a range of psychosocial characteristics. In this study, the authors add to existing research by examining spousal similarities in mental health and its time-related change from both between-couple and within-couple perspectives. The authors apply latent growth models to 9-wave annual longitudinal data obtained from 3,410 adult couples in the Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia Survey (HILDA Mage wives = 48 years, Mage husbands = 50 years). In a first step, the authors corroborate extant findings from a between-couple perspective that spouses show considerable similarities in levels of and changes in mental health. In a second step, they calculate a within-couple similarity index (i.e., using absolute difference scores calculated based on the 2 partners' mental health). The authors show that mental health ratings between partners within a given spousal unit differed considerably (0.88 SD) and that these differences remained relatively stable over time. Examining between-couple differences in within-couple similarity revealed that larger discrepancies were associated with lower mental health (of in idual partners), chronic health conditions, less marital satisfaction, and elevated risks for dissolution of the partnership. The authors discuss ways to integrate this counterintuitive set of findings with research originating from between-couple and within-couple perspectives, argue that a certain degree of spousal differences-if kept within certain bounds-can be adaptive serving developmental and relationship functions, and suggest routes for future inquiry on spousal similarities.

64th Annual Scientific Meeting Lifestyle->Lifespan

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 11-2011

DOI: 10.1093/GERONT/GNS068

Normative data and longitudinal invariance of the Life Engagement Test (LET) in a community sample of older adults

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Date: 16-03-2013

DOI: 10.1007/S11136-012-0146-2

Abstract: Interest in evaluating purpose in life as an important component of ageing well is growing however, investigation into the appropriate measurement of this construct is required. The purpose of this paper was to examine the measurement properties of the Life Engagement Test (LET) and to provide normative data for a non-clinical s le of community-dwelling older adults. A random s le of 545 adults, aged 55-94 years, completed the LET twice over a 12-month period as part of a larger survey on relocation in later life. Consistent with previous research, participants typically reported high levels of purpose in life. Scores were also observed to vary over the 12-month duration, with, on average, an increase in purpose in life at Time 2. However, tests of longitudinal invariance were inconclusive. Future research is needed to further examine the content validity of the LET, and its factorial invariance over longer measurement intervals, and across different populations including non-residential/aged care settings.

Correction to: Factor structure and measurement invariance of the older people’s quality of life scale

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Date: 11-06-2022

DOI: 10.1007/S12144-022-03291-9

Social Resources as Compensatory Cognitive Reserve? Interactions of Social Resources With Education in Predicting Late-Life Cognition

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 10-12-2018

DOI: 10.1093/GERONB/GBY143

Abstract: Access to social relationships has been linked with better cognitive performance. We examined whether social resources interact with education to predict cognitive outcomes, which could indicate that social resources fulfill a compensatory role in promoting cognitive reserve. We applied multilevel growth models to 6-wave, 13-year longitudinal data from the Berlin Aging Study (aged 70–103 years at first occasion M = 84.9 years, 50% women) and have taken into account key in idual difference factors, including sociodemographic variables, medically diagnosed comorbidities, and depressive symptoms. To account for possible reverse causality, analyses were conducted on a subset of the BASE participants without dementia (n = 368), and in follow-up analyses with the full s le (n = 516) using wave-specific longitudinal assessments of probable dementia status as a covariate. Larger networks were associated with better performance on tests of perceptual speed and verbal fluency, but did not interact with education, providing little support for a compensatory reserve hypothesis. An interaction of education with emotional loneliness emerged in the prediction of perceptual speed, suggesting that the educational ide in speed was minimal among people who reported lower levels of loneliness. We discuss our results in the context of differential implications of social resources for cognition and consider possible mechanisms underlying our findings.

Older and more mindful? Age differences in mindfulness components and well-being

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Date: 02-03-2021

DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2020.1734915

Cohort profile: The PATH through life project

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 24-02-2012

DOI: 10.1093/IJE/DYR025

Associations of Social Networks with Cognition in Old Age

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 30-06-2017

DOI: 10.1093/GERONI/IGX004.2534

66th Annual Scientific Meeting Optimal Aging Through Research

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 11-2013

DOI: 10.1093/GERONT/GNT151

Factors that Explain the Poorer Mental Health of Caregivers: Results from a Community Survey of Older Australians

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Date: 07-2010

DOI: 10.3109/00048671003620202

Abstract: Objectives: To contrast the level of anxiety and depression reported by older Australians providing assistance to someone who is ill, disabled or elderly with that of non-caregivers and to identify secondary stressors and mediating factors which explain caregivers’ poorer mental health. Method: Analysis of data from wave 2 of the PATH Through Life Study, a community survey of 2,222 adults aged 64–69 years conducted in Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia. Mental health was assessed using the Goldberg depression and anxiety scales. Analyses focused on those who identified themselves as a primary carer and/or reported providing care for more than 5 hours per week. Analyses evaluated whether the association between caregiver status and mental health was mediated by financial factors, role strain, physical health, and social support and conflict with family and friends after adjusting for demographics. Results: Caregivers reported significantly poorer mental health than non-caregivers, and also reported poorer physical health, greater financial stress, greater responsibility for household tasks, and more conflict and less social support from their family and spouse. Mediation analysis showed that the poorer mental health of caregivers reflected elevated rates of their own physical impairment, a lack of social support and greater conflict. Conclusions: The relationship between caregiving and mental health was largely explained by social support and levels of conflict within the family, which are modifiable and potentially amenable to change through policy and intervention. Research such as this can assist the development of appropriate interventions to improve the circumstances of informal caregivers in Australia.

Personal and Neighborhood Resources, Future Time Perspective, and Social Relations in Middle and Older Adulthood

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 31-10-2011

DOI: 10.1093/GERONB/GBR117

Abstract: Aging-related changes in motivation and the availability of resources have been hypothesized to result in social network changes in later life. However, few studies have examined associations of both motivation and resources with different aspects of social network composition in the same analytical context. The present study examined associations of key motivational (future time perspective [FTP]) and resource variables (partner status, physical health, and perceived neighborhood cohesion) with social network size and positive and negative social exchanges. A population-based s le of midlife (aged 55-59 years, n = 169) young-old (aged 60-74 years, n = 306) and old-old (aged 75+ years, n = 77) adults completed a questionnaire. Those who were partnered reported larger networks with family, whereas never-married in iduals reported larger networks with neighbors. Perceived neighborhood cohesion was related to larger networks with family, neighbors, and friends. Open-ended FTP was associated with larger networks of friends and more frequent positive social exchanges. Our results point to FTP and resources having different implications for social engagement across network domains.

Understanding ageing in older Australians: The contribution of the Dynamic Analyses to Optimise Ageing (DYNOPTA) project to the evidence base and policy

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 10-2011

DOI: 10.1111/J.1741-6612.2011.00533.X

Positive and negative social exchanges and cognitive aging in young-old adults: Differential associations across family, friend, and spouse domains.

Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)

Date: 03-2014

DOI: 10.1037/A0035256

Abstract: We examined how positive and negative social exchanges with friends, family, and spouses were related to cognitive aging in episodic and working memory, and perceptual speed. To do so, we used a large s le of cognitively intact young-old participants from the PATH Through Life Study (PATH aged 60 to 64 years at baseline, n = 1,618) who were assessed on 3 occasions over 8 years. Additional replication analyses were conducted using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), which provided data on episodic memory. The main analysis of PATH Through Life showed that positive exchanges with friends and family were associated with less decline in perceptual speed, with these associations attenuated by adjustment for physical functioning and depressive symptoms. Negative exchanges with spouses were associated with poorer working memory performance. Positive exchanges with friends were associated with better initial episodic memory in both PATH and HRS. More frequent negative exchanges with friends and family were associated with better episodic memory in the PATH s le. However, these findings were not replicated in HRS. Our findings provide indirect support for the role of social exchange quality in contributing to cognitive enrichment. However, the inconsistent pattern of results across cognitive and social exchange domains points to possibilities of reverse causality, and may also indicate that social exchange quality plays a less important role for cognitive enrichment than other psychosocial characteristics.

Volunteering and subjective well-being in midlife and older adults: The role of supportive social networks

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 03-2012

DOI: 10.1093/GERONB/GBR154

Abstract: This study examined the extent to which associations between volunteering and subjective well-being (SWB) could be related to volunteers having more supportive social networks relative to nonvolunteers. The s le consisted of 561 midlife and older adults (aged 55-94 years) from the TRAnsitions In Later Life study. Multiple mediation analyses examined associations between hours spent volunteering per week availability of social support from friends, relatives, and neighbors positive and negative social exchanges and SWB. The results indicated that the higher life satisfaction and positive affect reported by those who volunteer at moderate levels (up to 7 hr per week) are related to their higher levels of positive social exchanges and greater availability of social support from friends and family, relative to nonvolunteers. Those who volunteer at higher levels (7 hr or more per week) also reported greater levels of positive affect in comparison to nonvolunteers, and this was related to their greater availability of social support from friends. Availability of support from friends accounted for the greatest proportion of the volunteering-SWB associations. The findings suggest that the positive SWB associated with volunteering is related to volunteers' more extensive friend and family networks.

Age, Physical Functioning, and Affect in Midlife and Older Adulthood

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 09-10-2013

DOI: 10.1093/GERONB/GBS088

Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine age differences in high- and low-arousal positive and negative affect, and associations of physical functioning with affect over the latter half of the life course. Participants consisted of 39,958 midlife and older adults contributing to DYNOPTA a large-scale collaborative project concerned with pooling data from Australian studies of aging. Items assessing the experience of discrete emotions were selected to represent different combinations of high- and low-arousal affect, and positive and negative valence affect. Older adults were more likely to endorse low-arousal positive affect, and less likely to endorse negative affect (both high and low arousal) relative to those in midlife. Better self-reported physical functioning was associated with younger age, higher positive, and lower negative affect, with physical functioning emerging as a suppressor of associations of age with affect in regression analyses. The results, based on a very large s le of older adults, are consistent with those of other studies demonstrating lower levels of negative emotion among older, relative to midlife adults. The findings also highlight the relevance of physical functioning to emotional well-being over the latter part of the life course.

A population survey found an association between self-reports of traumatic brain injury and increased psychiatric symptoms

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Date: 11-2004

DOI: 10.1016/J.JCLINEPI.2003.11.011

Abstract: This study determined whether self-reported Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), identified in a community s le and occurring up to 60 years previously, is associated with current psychiatric symptoms, suicidality, and psychologic well-being. Three age cohorts (20-24, 40-44, 60-64) were randomly s led from the cities of Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia, yielding a total of 7,485 participants. The s les were administered scales measuring anxiety, depression, suicidality, positive and negative affect, personality traits, and physical health status. Of the total s le, 5.7% reported history of TBI involving loss of consciousness for at least 15 min, occurring an average of 22 years previously. History of TBI was associated with increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, negative affect, and suicidal ideation. History of TBI is a risk factor for psychiatric morbidity. The effect is greatest in young adults, and occurs up to several decades subsequent to the occurrence of TBI.

Sense of purpose as a psychological resource for aging well.

Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)

Date: 07-2015

DOI: 10.1037/DEV0000023

Abstract: Having a sense of purpose is recognized as an important resource for maintaining health and well-being over the life span. We examined associations of in idual differences in sense of purpose with levels and rates of change in indices of aging well (health, cognition, and depressive symptoms) in a s le of 1,475 older adults (Mage = 77.06 years, SD = 6.27 50% female) assessed on up to 6 occasions over 18 years. We also conducted survival analysis to examine associations of purpose with longevity. We hypothesized that a higher sense of purpose would be associated with better performance on the aging well measures, and that those with a higher sense of purpose would show shallower declines in aging well over time. Results indicated that participants who scored higher on sense of purpose reported lower levels of functional disability, performed better on cognitive tests (episodic memory and speed of processing), and reported better self-rated health and fewer depressive symptoms. Sense of purpose was not associated with in idual differences in rates of change in the aging well indices with the exception of speed of processing, for which a higher sense of purpose was associated with marginally shallower rates of decline. Higher sense of purpose was also associated with increased probability of survival, although this association became weaker over time. The findings support the notion that purposeful living contributes to health and well-being. At the same time, higher sense of purpose may not buffer against more pervasive losses in health that become more common in oldest-old adulthood.

Characterising trauma-informed aged care

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 26-08-2022

DOI: 10.1002/GPS.5802

Abstract: While Trauma‐informed care (TIC) has the potential to improve the quality of aged and dementia care, the challenge remains in translating the principles of TIC into practice. This study aimed to characterise what trauma‐informed aged care looks like in practice, by learning from an aged care service acknowledged as delivering trauma‐informed aged care effectively. We conducted an appreciative inquiry study within a residential aged care service catering for veterans and others with trauma histories. Observation of care behaviours, interviews with staff and residents, and organisational policy mapping were used to identify elements that maximised care safety and accessibility for trauma survivors. Data were analysed and triangulated using a framework analysis approach. The aged care provider embedded the principles of TIC into its staff training (i) to promote understanding of how trauma may affect experiences in care, and (ii) to adapt care when appropriate to promote safety. The service promoted a calm atmosphere where residents could make choices and felt safe. Uniforms and signage provided consistency, clarity, and transparency for residents. Staff behaviours demonstrated respect, fostered trust, and anticipated needs without unnecessarily imposing care. Staff consistently offered choices, used residents' names, sought permission before providing care, and offered reassurance. Staff reported high morale with a commitment to delivering high quality care, and feedback to management. Effective communication promoted information sharing and trust among staff. Trauma‐informed practice was facilitated through organisational policy, a dignified environment, and thoughtful staff behaviour creating safety, choice, and control for residents.

Financial strain and changes in late-life health over 18 years

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 23-10-2015

DOI: 10.1093/GERONT/GNV593.04

Perceived Control and Social Activity in Midlife and Older Age: A Reciprocal Association? Findings From the German Ageing Survey

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 17-06-2016

DOI: 10.1093/GERONB/GBW070

Abstract: Perceived control may promote social activity in older adults because in iduals with greater perceived control have greater confidence in their ability to achieve outcomes and are more likely to choose difficult activities, show persistence, and employ strategies to overcome challenges. Cross-sectional research has linked perceived control with social activity in life span and older adult s les but provides little insight into the direction of influence. We examined reciprocal associations between perceived control and social activity in order to establish temporal sequencing, which is one prerequisite for determining potential causation. Participants were 14,126 midlife and older adults from the German Ageing Survey. Using cross-lagged autoregressive modeling with age as the time metric (40-87 years), we examined reciprocal 3-year lagged associations between perceived control and social activity, while controlling for concurrent associations. Perceived control significantly predicted social activity 3 years later. Reciprocally, social activity significantly predicted perceived control 3 years later. The influence of perceived control on social activity was greater than the influence of social activity on perceived control. The finding that perceived control significantly predicts future social activity has potential implications for developing interventions aimed at promoting social activity in midlife and older adults.

There's More than Meets the Eye: Complex Associations of Daily Pain, Physical Symptoms, and Self-Efficacy with Activity in Middle and Older Adulthood

Publisher: S. Karger AG

Date: 19-10-2017

DOI: 10.1159/000450786

Abstract: b i Background: /i /b Participation in activities is associated with a range of positive outcomes in adulthood. Research has shown that pain and physical symptoms are associated with less activity in older adults, whereas higher self-efficacy is associated with more activity. Such research tends to examine cross-sectional or long-term between-person change, limiting the opportunity to explore dynamic within-person processes that unfold over shorter time periods. b i Objectives: /i /b This study aimed to (1) replicate previous between-person associations of self-efficacy with engagement in activity and (2) examine whether daily variation in pain, physical symptoms, and self-efficacy corresponded with daily within-person variation in different types of activity. We predicted that participants would engage in less activity on days when they experienced more pain or physical symptoms than their average (a negative within-person association) and that participants would engage in more activity on days when self-efficacy was higher than average (a positive within-person association). b i Methods: /i /b This study used an online diary study to assess self- reported daily pain, physical symptoms, self-efficacy, and engagement in activity among 185 adults aged 51-84 years for up to 7 days. Multilevel modelling was used to examine whether between-person (average) and daily within-person variability in pain, physical symptoms, and self-efficacy were associated with social, physical, and mental activity. b i Results: /i /b In line with previous research, between-person self-efficacy was positively associated with social and physical activity. Supporting the hypotheses, within-person self-efficacy was also positively associated with social and physical activity. The results for pain and physical symptoms were less consistent. Between-person pain was positively associated with social activity. Age interactions indicated that within-person pain was negatively associated with social activity and positively associated with physical activity among older adults. Within-person physical symptoms were positively related to social and mental activity. b i Conclusion: /i /b Stable in idual differences as well as short-term within-person variation in physical and psychological functioning are associated with day-to-day variation in activity. Between-person associations did not always reflect within-person associations (e.g., for pain). These complex associations may be influenced by a range of factors including the type of activity and how it is defined (e.g., specific activities and their difficulty), the type of physical symptoms experienced, and age.

Psychological Distress in Non-Drinkers: Associations with Previous Heavy Drinking and Current Social Relationships

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 16-11-2009

DOI: 10.1093/ALCALC/AGP080

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to investigate two possible explanations for the higher levels of psychological distress observed among alcohol abstainers relative to light and moderate drinkers, and to investigate possible moderating effects of age on this association. The possible explanations were that: (i) the higher level of psychological distress among abstainers is due to the presence of a subset of former heavy drinkers in this group and (ii) abstainers have poorer social relationships than light/moderate drinkers. A national cross-sectional survey yielded data from 2856 Australians aged 20-22, 30-32 and 40-42 years (response rate 15.9%). The s le was representative for many socio-demographic factors but under-represented people not in the labour force and over-represented those with university qualifications. In the oldest but not the younger age groups, abstainers reported significantly higher psychological distress relative to light/moderate drinkers. While abstainers in the oldest age group who were former heavy drinkers showed the highest levels of distress, excluding them from the analysis did not account for differences in distress between current abstainers and light/moderate drinkers. Abstainers aged 40-42 years were less socially integrated, less extraverted and had lower social support than light/moderate drinkers, and controlling for these factors partially explained their increased distress. Significantly increased psychological distress of abstainers compared to light/moderate drinkers was demonstrated only in the oldest age group (40-42 years). The higher distress reported by abstainers in this age group was partially explained by abstainers having poorer social relationships than light/moderate drinkers.

The protective effects of wellbeing and flourishing on long-term mental health risk

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Date: 12-2022

DOI: 10.1016/J.SSMMH.2021.100052

Self-Forgiveness in Older Adulthood

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Date: 2017

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-60573-9_23

What are older adults seeking? Factors encouraging or discouraging retirement village living

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 09-08-2012

DOI: 10.1111/J.1741-6612.2012.00623.X

Abstract: (1) To identify factors that older adults find encouraging or discouraging about the prospect of relocation to a retirement village and (2) to identify features or facilities often associated with retirement communities that are most appealing to prospective residents. Randomly selected community residents (n = 517), aged 55-94 years, from the Australian Capital Territory completed postal surveys to identify the characteristics associated with retirement villages that influence relocation decisions. The provision of outdoor living areas, support in maintaining independence, assisted living facilities and accessibility to medical facilities were identified as factors that would encourage relocation. Luxury services (e.g. heated swimming pools) were indicated as least likely to encourage relocation. Negative perceptions most influential in discouraging relocation reflected a fear of losing independence and privacy. Through identifying the expectations of prospective residents, retirement village providers may better tailor facilities to the needs of their target demographic.

Age group differences and longitudinal changes in approach–avoidance sensitivity: Findings from an 8-year longitudinal study

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Date: 12-2012

DOI: 10.1016/J.JRP.2012.07.002

Subjective Well-Being Mediates the Effects of Resilience and Mastery on Depression and Anxiety in a Large Community Sample of Young and Middle-Aged Adults

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Date: 03-2011

DOI: 10.3109/00048674.2010.529604

Abstract: Objective: The tripartite model of depression and anxiety hypothesizes that positive and negative affect is related to depression and anxiety. However, the specific role of cognitive or psychological well-being constructs like resilience and mastery within a tripartite context and throughout adulthood is unclear. Method: Data was drawn from two longitudinal population-based cohorts, aged 20–24 and 40–44 based in Canberra, Australia (N = 3989). We sought to determine the interrelatedness of two affective measures of subjective well-being, positive and negative affect, with two cognitive measures of psychological well-being, resilience and mastery. We then tested their independent effects on depression and anxiety, and hypothesized, following the tripartite model, that subjective well-being would mediate the effects of the psychological well-being variables on mental health and that the psychological well-being variables would be more strongly related to positive subjective well-being. Results: Principal axis factoring delineated four affective and cognitive dimensions of well-being comprising positive and negative affect, resilience and mastery. Structural equation models identified the psychological well-being variables as significantly related to subjective well-being, which fully mediated the effects of resilience and partially mediated the effect of mastery on depression and anxiety. These findings were consistent throughout both young and middle adulthood. Conclusions: Psychological well-being components are significant predictors of subjective well-being affect states that increase vulnerability to depression and anxiety.

The dynamic interplay of social network characteristics, subjective well-being, and health: The costs and benefits of socio-emotional selectivity.

Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)

Date: 2013

DOI: 10.1037/A0030170

Abstract: This study investigated the interacting dynamics of different aspects of the social network, specifically network structure (size and frequency of contact), social activity engagement, and emotional support, and different aspects of health and subjective well-being in a representative s le of 2034 older adults across 6 years of development. The analysis, using latent change score models, revealed that older age at Time 1 was related to steeper declines in network structure and social engagement, but was unrelated to changes in emotional support. Furthermore, levels of social engagement and levels of emotional support predicted changes in functional health and life satisfaction with equal strength. Changes in social engagement were associated with changes in life satisfaction, positive affect, functional health, and subjective health. Changes in emotional support were only associated with changes in negative affect. Mediation analyses suggested that network structure may stimulate social engagement and emotional support, thereby exerting indirect influences on key aspects of successful aging. The results underscore the importance of considering the multifaceted nature of social relations in understanding their impact on distinct developmental goals, and across different domains of successful aging.

Association of Pulmonary Function with Cognitive Performance in Early, Middle and Late Adulthood

Publisher: S. Karger AG

Date: 2004

DOI: 10.1159/000078352

Abstract: i Background: /i Pulmonary function has been associated with some measures of cognitive performance, mostly in late adulthood. This study investigated whether this association is present for a range of cognitive measures, at three stages of adulthood, and whether it remains after controlling for demographic, health and lifestyle factors. i Method: /i The relationship between forced expiratory volume at 1 s (FEV sub /sub ), a measure of pulmonary function, and cognitive test performance was examined in three cohorts aged 20–24, 40–44 and 60–64. i Results: /i After controlling for demographic variables, smoking, physical activity, and respiratory disease, significant associations between FEV sub /sub and cognitive test performance were evident in each age group for most cognitive measures. The association between FEV sub /sub and measures of speed increased with age. i Conclusion: /i FEV sub /sub has a small but reliable positive association with cognitive test performance throughout adulthood, possibly reflecting a common physiological factor.

Rethinking Social Relationships in Adulthood: The Differential Investment of Resources Model

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Date: 10-01-2022

DOI: 10.1177/10888683211067035

Abstract: Empirical evidence about the development of social relationships across adulthood into late life continues to accumulate, but theoretical development has lagged behind. The Differential Investment of Resources (DIRe) model integrates these empirical advances. The model defines the investment of time and energy into social ties varying in terms of emotional closeness and kinship as the core mechanism explaining the formation and maintenance of social networks. In idual characteristics, acting as capacities, motivations, and skills, determine the amount, direction, and efficacy of the investment. The context (e.g., the living situation) affects the social opportunity structure, the amount of time and energy available, and in idual characteristics. Finally, the model describes two feedback loops: (a) social capital affecting the in idual’s living situation and (b) different types of ties impacting in idual characteristics via social exchanges, social influences, and social evaluations. The proposed model will provide a theoretical basis for future research and hypothesis testing.

Supportive, Aversive, Ambivalent, and Indifferent Partner Evaluations in Midlife and Young-Old Adulthood

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Date: 08-04-2010

DOI: 10.1093/GERONB/GBQ016

Abstract: Age group differences in self-reported supportive, aversive, ambivalent, and indifferent partner relations were examined in a large s le of midlife (aged 40-44 at baseline, n = 1,719) and older (aged 60-64 at baseline, n = 1,675) married and partnered adults assessed on two occasions 4 years apart. Older adults, particularly older men, were more likely to rate their relationship as supportive and less likely to rate their relationship as aversive relative to midlife adults. Midlife adults were more likely to provide ambivalent or indifferent assessments (as opposed to supportive assessments) of their relationship relative to older adults. Results are discussed in the context of possible developmental changes in interpersonal and intimate relations occurring in middle and older adulthood.

Deriving prevalence estimates of depressive symptoms throughout middle and old age in those living in the community

Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Date: 17-11-2011

DOI: 10.1017/S1041610211002109

Abstract: Background: There is considerable debate about the prevalence of depression in old age. Epidemiological surveys and clinical studies indicate mixed evidence for the association between depression and increasing age. We examined the prevalence of probable depression in the middle aged to the oldest old in a project designed specifically to investigate the aging process. Methods: Community-living participants were drawn from several Australian longitudinal studies of aging that contributed to the Dynamic Analyses to Optimise Ageing (DYNOPTA) project. Different depression scales from the contributing studies were harmonized to create a binary variable that reflected “probable depression” based on existing cut-points for each harmonized scale. Weighted prevalence was benchmarked to the Australian population which could be compared with findings from the 1997 and 2007 National Surveys of Mental Health and Well-Being (NSMHWB). Results: In the DYNOPTA project, females were more likely to report probable depression. This was consistent across age levels. Both NSMHWB surveys and DYNOPTA did not report a decline in the likelihood of reporting probable depression for the oldest old in comparison with mid-life. Conclusions: Inconsistency in the reports of late-life depression prevalence in previous epidemiological studies may be explained by either the exclusion and/or limited s ling of the oldest old. DYNOPTA addresses these limitations and the results indicated no change in the likelihood of reporting depression with increasing age. Further research should extend these findings to examine within-person change in a longitudinal context and control for health covariates.

The Increasing Importance of Friendship in Late Life: Understanding the Role of Sociohistorical Context in Social Development

Publisher: S. Karger AG

Date: 2020

DOI: 10.1159/000505547

Abstract: Historically, family ties have been understood as the primary source of support for aging adults, and past empirical and theoretical work has highlighted the tendency of older adults to focus on close family. However, in line with demographic changes and historical increases in the ersity of social structures, friendships are increasing in importance in recent generations of older adults. Given the powerful role of context in shaping these changes, this paper offers a conceptual analysis linking in idual agency to sociohistorical context as a way to understand this increasing ersity of social ties. More specifically, we propose that the in idual invests time and energy to form and maintain social ties, and that each in idual has a specific i social opportunity structure /i (all potential ties that are available to invest in, as well as the i costs /i of those investments). Furthermore, this investment of time and energy is determined in part by in idual differences in capacities and motivations. We argue that sociohistorical context influences this process in three important ways: (1) in its effect on the social opportunity structure (2) in its direct effect on time and energy and (3) in its effect on in iduals’ capacities and motivations. We believe that these mechanisms can account for the increasing ersity of social ties across adulthood, as well as the potential for future historical changes.

Are ecstasy users biased toward endorsing somatic mental health symptoms? Results from a general community sample

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Date: 08-12-2010

DOI: 10.1007/S00213-010-2100-8

Abstract: Whether the reported poorer mental health of ecstasy users is due to a bias in endorsement of somatic symptoms has been postulated, but rarely examined. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether levels of ecstasy use were associated with differential probabilities of endorsing somatic mental health symptoms. Current ecstasy users aged 24-30 years (n = 316) were identified from a population-based Australian study. Measures included frequency of ecstasy, meth/ hetamine, and cannabis use and the Goldberg anxiety/depression symptom scales. Multiple indicator, multiple cause models demonstrated no bias towards endorsing somatic symptoms with higher ecstasy use, both with and without adjustment for gender, cannabis, and meth/ hetamine use. Other studies using alternate measures of mental health should adopt this approach to determine if there is a bias in the endorsement of somatic symptoms among ecstasy users.

Adapting to Retirement Community Life: Changes in Social Networks and Perceived Loneliness

Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Date: 2015

DOI: 10.1017/JRR.2015.5

Abstract: Improved social relationships and connectedness is a frequently cited benefit of retirement community living. However, few studies have prospectively investigated changes in loneliness or social networks following relocation. This study involved 83 Australians (aged 57–90 years) relocating to independent living units within a retirement community. A prospective longitudinal design was employed whereby data was collected prior to relocation, and 1, 6 and 12 months post relocation. Comparisons were made with a s le of community-dwelling ( N = 549) residents of the same age. In idual characteristics (e.g., personality characteristics) associated with change were also explored. Results indicated reduced loneliness and increased neighbour support networks following relocation. A reduction in contact with friends was also observed. This study provides an important contribution to our understanding of the initial impact of transitioning into a retirement community on personal relationships. Through exploring factors associated with successful transition, we can begin to understand the characteristics of those in iduals most likely to thrive in this type of environment.

Awareness of age-related change, future time perspective, and implications for goal adjustment in older adulthood

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Date: 06-03-2021

DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2021.1893269

Abstract: How people adjust their goals is central to adaptation across the lifespan. However, little is known about in idual difference characteristics that predict how and why people use different self-regulatory strategies. The present study investigated associations of perceived age-related gains and losses, and their interaction, as predictors of goal adjustment in older adulthood. Furthermore, we examined whether future time perspective (FTP) mediated relationships between awareness of age-related change (AARC) and goal adjustment. A community-based s le of 408 adults (aged 60-88 years) was recruited via an internet-based research platform. Participants completed questionnaire measures of AARC, FTP, goal disengagement, and goal re-engagement. A flexibility index reflecting tendencies toward use of both goal disengagement and goal re-engagement strategies was also analyzed. Although AARC-losses was associated with lower goal re-engagement and goal flexibility, this association was weaker among those with higher AARC-gains, indicating AARC-gains may be protective in the relationship between AARC-losses and goal adjustment. The association between AARC and goal adjustment was also shown to be mediated by FTP. Higher AARC-gains was associated with more expansive FTP, which was associated with lower goal disengagement and higher goal re-engagement. On the other hand, higher AARC-losses was associated with more restricted FTP, which was associated with higher goal disengagement and lower goal re-engagement. Results have implications for how we conceptualize the combined effects of age-related gains and losses on developmental outcomes relevant to adaptive aging. Furthermore, perceptions of future time with advancing age may be implicated in processes linking AARC with goal adjustment.

Can Positive Social Exchanges Buffer the Detrimental Effects of Negative Social Exchanges? Age and Gender Differences

Publisher: S. Karger AG

Date: 18-07-2012

DOI: 10.1159/000339747

Abstract: b i Background: /i /b Findings from existing research exploring whether positive social exchanges can help to offset (or ‘buffer’ against) the harmful effects of negative social exchanges on mental health have been inconsistent. This could be because the existing research is characterized by different approaches to studying various contexts of ‘cross-domain’ and ‘within-domain’ buffering, and/or because the nature of buffering effects varies according to sociodemographic characteristics that underlie different aspects of social network structure and function. b i Objective: /i /b The purpose of this study was to examine whether the buffering effects of i global /i perceptions of positive exchanges on the link between i global /i negative exchanges and mental health varied as a function of age and gender. b i Method: /i /b We used a series of regressions in a s le of 556 Australian older adults (ages 55–94) to test for three-way interactions among gender, positive social exchanges, and negative social exchanges, as well as age and positive and negative social exchanges, in predicting mental health, controlling for years of education, partner status, and physical functioning. b i Results: /i /b We found that positive exchanges buffered against negative exchanges for younger old adults, but not for older old adults, and for women, but not for men. b i Conclusions: /i /b Our findings are interpreted in light of research on in idual differences in coping responses and interpersonal goals among late middle-aged and older adults. Our findings are in line with gerontological theories (e.g. socioemotional selectivity theory), and imply that an intervention aimed at using positive social exchanges as a means of coping with negative social exchanges might be more successful among particular populations (i.e. women, ‘younger’ old adults).

Flinders University

Location: Australia

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Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP0990974

Start Date: 01-2011

End Date: 10-2014

Amount: $270,000.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP110102435

Start Date: 2011

End Date: 12-2013

Amount: $70,000.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP0989584

Start Date: 04-2009

End Date: 03-2013

Amount: $150,000.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP130100428

Start Date: 2013

End Date: 12-2016

Amount: $355,249.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

ARC Future Fellowships - Grant ID: FT100100228

Start Date: 01-2011

End Date: 01-2015

Amount: $552,652.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP170100461

Start Date: 02-2019

End Date: 12-2023

Amount: $202,623.00

Funder: Australian Research Council