ORCID Profile
0000-0002-3618-6949
Current Organisation
University of Surrey
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Publisher: Research Square Platform LLC
Date: 28-02-2022
DOI: 10.21203/RS.3.RS-1401908/V1
Abstract: The continuing COVID-19 pandemic and social restrictions have impacted on the cognitive decline and mental health of people with dementia. Social isolation and loss of activities due to social restrictions may also have implications as to sense of identity for people with dementia. As part of the INCLUDE component of the IDEAL cohort study, the overall aim of this subtle realist qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of people with dementia on living through the COVID-19 pandemic in England and Wales during the post-vaccine time period also with focus on the study findings in relation to understandings of identity in dementia. Seven people with mild-to-moderate dementia were interviewed, and themes derived using framework analysis. Themes suggest interviewees’ stoic acceptance of the pandemic and social restrictions but also fear of decline related to the temporality of their condition as well as loss of self-confidence to re-engage with the world, and loss of social connections. Under threat due to lack of access to dementia groups, the importance of a shared, social identity, particularly for people with young-onset dementia, was apparent. With valued activities also prevented or reinvented during the pandemic, the relevance of occupation for identity is discussed. Although under continued pressure, services must consider how people with dementia and their family caregivers can best be supported during the ongoing pandemic.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 07-07-2022
Abstract: Understanding whether and how caregivers’ capability to “live well” changes over time, and the factors associated with change, could help target effective caregiver support. We analyzed 3 time points (12 months apart) of Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) cohort data from coresident spouse caregivers of community-dwelling in iduals who had mild-to-moderate dementia at baseline, using latent growth and growth mixture models. Capability to “live well” was derived from measures of quality of life, well-being, and satisfaction with life. Data from 995 spouse caregivers at Time 1, 780 at Time 2, and 601 at Time 3 were included. The mean “living well” score decreased slightly over time. We identified 3 classes of caregivers: one with higher baseline scores declining slightly over time (Stable 66.8%), one with low baseline scores remaining stable (Lower Stable 26.0%), and one with higher baseline scores showing marked decline (Declining 7.2%). Scores on baseline measures differentiated the Lower Stable, but not the Declining, from the Stable class. Longitudinally, the Declining class was associated with care recipient cognitive decline and increasing hours providing care, as well as caregiver stress and depression. Findings were similar when caregivers with other kin relationships were included. The findings indicate the importance of prompt identification of, and support for, caregivers at risk of the declining capability to “live well” and may assist in identifying those caregivers who could benefit most from targeted support.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 13-05-2023
Abstract: We test whether higher awareness of age-related gains (AARC-gains), lower awareness of age-related losses (AARC-losses), and more positive attitudes toward own aging (ATOA) are cross-sectionally related to more frequent social media use. We also investigate the strength and direction of the associations of AARC-gains, AARC-losses, and ATOA with social media use over 1 year, from before to after the onset of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic. We used cross-sectional data from 8,320 in iduals (mean age = 65.95 years standard deviation = 7.01) and longitudinal data from a subs le of 4,454 in iduals participating in the UK PROTECT study in 2019 and 2020. We used ordered regression models, linear regression models, and tests of interaction. Models were adjusted for age, sex, education, and employment. Higher AARC-gains and more positive ATOA, but not AARC-losses, were cross-sectionally associated with more frequent social media use. Social media use became more frequent at follow-up. In the longitudinal models controlling for baseline levels of the outcome variable, more frequent baseline social media use predicted increases in AARC-gains, whereas baseline AARC-gains did not significantly predict the frequency of social media use at follow-up. Baseline frequency of social media use did not significantly predict AARC-losses, nor ATOA at follow-up, whereas lower levels of AARC-losses and more positive ATOA predicted more frequent social media use at follow-up. Although effect sizes were small, decreasing negative views on aging may help increase the engagement of middle-aged and older people with social media. At the same time, fostering social media use could promote positive self-perceptions of aging.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 05-08-2021
DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2021.1960989
Abstract: We explored which factors are associated with subjective age (SA), i.e. feeling younger, the same as, or older than one's chronological age, and whether these factors differ between men and women and between two age sub-groups. Cross-sectional study using qualitative and quantitative data for 1457 in iduals (mean age= 67.2 years). Participants reported how old they feel they are and provided comments in relation to their SA judgments. By using content analysis participants' comments were assigned to 13 categories, grouped into three higher-order categories ( In iduals reporting an older SA may benefit from interventions promoting adaptation to negative age-related changes. There is the need to eradicate negative societal views of older women.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2023
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 28-07-2022
DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2022.2098920
Abstract: We explored (1) social, cultural, and economic capital in spousal carers of people with dementia (2) profiles of carers with different levels of capital (3) whether the identified profiles differ in levels of stress and positive experiences of caring, and likelihood of depression over time. Baseline (2014-2016), 12-month, and 24-month follow-up data were analyzed for 984 coresident spousal carers of people with dementia. We assessed social, cultural, and economic capital, stress, positive experiences of caring, depression. On average, carers reported infrequent social and cultural participation. Most carers were not socially isolated, trusted their neighbours, had education at least to age 16, and had an income aligned with the 2014 UK average. We identified four groups of carers with different levels of capital. Although on average stress was low, depression was infrequent, and positive experiences of caring were moderately frequent, the group of carers with lowest capital was the least stressed and reported the most positive experiences of caring over time. Compared to the two groups with better capital, those with poorer capital were more likely to be depressed over time. Social, cultural, and economic resources may decrease likelihood of depression, but not stress, in carers of people with dementia.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 27-07-2019
Abstract: This systematic review aimed to synthesize and quantify the associations of awareness of age-related change (AARC) with emotional well-being, physical well-being, and cognitive functioning. We conducted a systematic review with a correlational random effects meta-analysis. We included quantitative studies, published from January 1, 2009 to October 3, 2018, exploring associations between AARC and one or more of the following outcomes: emotional well-being, physical well-being, and cognitive functioning. We assessed heterogeneity (I2) and publication bias. We included 12 studies in the review, 9 exploring the association between AARC and emotional well-being and 11 exploring the association between AARC and physical well-being. No study explored the association between AARC and cognitive functioning. Six articles were included in the meta-analysis. We found a moderate association between a higher level of AARC gains and better emotional well-being (r = .33 95% CI 0.18, 0.47 p & .001 I2 = 76.01) and between a higher level of AARC losses and poorer emotional (r = −.31 95% CI −0.38, −0.24 p & .001 I2 = 0.00) and physical well-being (r = −.38 95% CI −0.51, −0.24 p & .001 I2 = 83.48). We found a negligible association between AARC gains and physical well-being (r = .08 95% CI 0.02, 0.14 p & .122 I2 = 0.00). Studies were of medium to high methodological quality. There is some indication that AARC gains and losses can play a role in emotional well-being and that AARC losses are associated with physical well-being. However, the number of included studies is limited and there was some indication of heterogeneity. CRD42018111472.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 23-01-2023
DOI: 10.1017/S0144686X22001350
Abstract: The continuing COVID-19 pandemic and social restrictions have impacted on the cognitive decline and mental health of people with dementia. Social isolation and loss of activities due to social restrictions may also have implications as to sense of identity for people with dementia. As part of the INCLUDE (Identifying and Mitigating the In idual and Dyadic Impact of COVID-19 and Life Under Physical Distancing on People with Dementia and Carers) component of the IDEAL (Improving the Experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life) cohort study, the overall aim of this subtle realist qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of people with dementia on living through the COVID-19 pandemic within the context of the ‘post-vaccine’ period and the national lockdowns in England and Wales and to determine perceived challenges to and facilitators of ‘living well’ during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond as restrictions were eased. In addition, the study findings are considered in relation to understandings of identity in dementia which the broader accounts of living through the pandemic have highlighted. Seven people with mild-to-moderate dementia were interviewed and themes were derived using framework analysis. Themes suggest interviewees' stoic acceptance of the pandemic and social restrictions but also fear of decline related to the temporality of their condition as well as loss of self-confidence to re-engage with the world. Interviewees managed threats to social identity by striving to maintain social and emotional connections, where the importance of a shared, social identity, particularly for people with young-onset dementia, was also apparent. Unlike in previous studies during the pandemic, the relevance of occupation for identity was observed, where maintaining previous or new activities or occupations was important to facilitate identity as well as to keep a sense of purpose. Therefore, as well as supporting people with dementia as the pandemic eases, future research into occupation and identity in dementia is of potential value.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 14-04-2021
DOI: 10.1017/S1041610221000375
Abstract: Evidence linking subjective concerns about cognition with poorer objective cognitive performance is limited by reliance on unidimensional measures of self-perceptions of aging (SPA). We used the awareness of age-related change (AARC) construct to assess self-perception of both positive and negative age-related changes (AARC gains and losses). We tested whether AARC has greater utility in linking self-perceptions to objective cognition compared to well-established measures of self-perceptions of cognition and aging. We examined the associations of AARC with objective cognition, several psychological variables, and engagement in cognitive training. Cross-sectional observational study. The s le comprised 6056 cognitively healthy participants (mean [SD] age = 66.0 [7.0] years) ided into subgroups representing middle, early old, and advanced old age. We used an online cognitive battery and measures of global AARC, AARC specific to the cognitive domain, subjective cognitive change, attitudes toward own aging (ATOA), subjective age (SA), depression, anxiety, self-rated health (SRH). Scores on the AARC measures showed stronger associations with objective cognition compared to other measures of self-perceptions of cognition and aging. Higher AARC gains were associated with poorer cognition in middle and early old age. Higher AARC losses and poorer cognition were associated across all subgroups. Higher AARC losses were associated with greater depression and anxiety, more negative SPA, poorer SRH, but not with engagement in cognitive training. Assessing both positive and negative self-perceptions of cognition and aging is important when linking self-perceptions to cognitive functioning. Objective cognition is one of the many variables – alongside psychological variables – related to perceived cognitive losses.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 03-02-2022
Abstract: We aimed to examine change over time in self-rated quality of life (QoL) in people with mild-to-moderate dementia and identify subgroups with distinct QoL trajectories. We used data from people with mild-to-moderate dementia followed up at 12 and 24 months in the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) cohort study (baseline n = 1,537). A latent growth model approach examined mean change over time in QoL, assessed with the QoL-AD scale, and investigated associations of baseline demographic, cognitive, and psychological covariates with the intercept and slope of QoL. We employed growth mixture modeling to identify multiple growth trajectories. Overall mean QoL scores were stable and no associations with change over time were observed. Four classes of QoL trajectories were identified: 2 with higher baseline QoL scores, labeled Stable (74.9%) and Declining (7.6%), and 2 with lower baseline QoL scores, labeled Stable Lower (13.7%) and Improving (3.8%). The Declining class had higher baseline levels of depression and loneliness, and lower levels of self-esteem and optimism, than the Stable class. The Stable Lower class was characterized by disadvantage related to social structure, poor physical health, functional disability, and low psychological well-being. The Improving class was similar to the Stable Lower class but had lower cognitive test scores. Understanding in idual trajectories can contribute to personalized care planning. Efforts to prevent decline in perceived QoL should primarily target psychological well-being. Efforts to improve QoL for those with poorer QoL should additionally address functional impairment, isolation, and disadvantage related to social structure.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: Switzerland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for serena sabatini.