The effect of time volunteering and charitable donations in later life on psychological wellbeing

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 590-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
NAMKEE G. CHOI ◽  
JINSEOK KIM
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Moderate Amount ◽  
Charitable Donations ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Positive Direct

ABSTRACTAlthough accumulated research findings point to both short- and long-term salutary effects of time volunteering on older adults' physical and mental health, little research has been done on the effect of older adults' making charitable donations on their wellbeing. Guided by activity theory and the theory of volunteering and using data from the first and second waves of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS, 1995–1996 and MIDUS II, 2004–2006), this study examined the question of whether time volunteering and charitable donations nine years earlier had a positive direct effect on psychological wellbeing among individuals age 55 and above. Controlling for time 1 (T1) psychological wellbeing and T1 human, cultural, and social capital resources, a moderate amount (up to ten hours monthly) of T1 time volunteering and any amount of T1 charitable donations had a direct positive effect on time 2 (T2; nine years later) psychological wellbeing. The findings also show a greater effect on psychological wellbeing of any amount of charitable donations than of any amount of time volunteering, although the extent of the effect of both time volunteering and charitable donations was small. With regard to human, cultural, and social capital resources, T1 self-rated health and generative quality were significant predictors of T2 psychological wellbeing, but T1 social capital had no significant effect on T2 psychological wellbeing.

scholarly journals EXPLORING THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL PATHWAYS LINKING SOCIAL STATUS AND HEALTH AMONG OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S818-S818
Author(s):  
Heather R Farmer ◽  
Amy Thierry ◽  
Linda A Wray
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Using Data

Abstract An abundant literature has documented the social patterning of health, where those with lower social status experience poorer outcomes relative to those with higher status. This symposium examines how social status (e.g., age, race/ethnicity, gender, and SES) impacts various aspects of midlife and older adults’ lives and their psychological and physical health. The research presented in this symposium lend support to utilizing a biopsychosocial framework for understanding mechanisms of health and aging. First, Heather Farmer et al. will explore race and gender differences in elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation linked to poor acute and chronic outcomes, using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Linda Wray and Amy Thierry will use HRS data to test whether race/ethnicity and sex interact to produce unequal outcomes in functional status. Jen Wong et al. will utilize data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) survey to investigate the moderating influences of age, gender, marital status, and social support on caregiving and psychological well-being. Collin Mueller and Heather Farmer will use HRS data to examine how perceptions of unfair treatment are associated with healthcare satisfaction and self-rated health across Black, Latinx, and White subpopulations. Taken together, this work highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to better address physical and mental health disparities over the life course. After attending this session, participants will have a stronger understanding of how social status shapes important outcomes in older adults’ lives and some of the mechanisms responsible for these variations.

scholarly journals Gender Differences in Pain: Examining Explanations for the Association

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 894-895
Author(s):  
Cherish Michael ◽  
Anne Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
The Body ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Using Data

Abstract Physical pain is a gendered experience: Women report higher levels of it than do men. This pattern may stem from differences in experiences of the body. Women are socialized to be attentive to its functioning, appearance, and sensations, while men are discouraged from paying much attention to their bodies. Little is known, however, about the precise social and economic pathways leading to gender differences in pain, especially in middle and later life when pain is most prevalent. We examine this issue using data from Wave 3 of Midlife in the United States (2013-2014). We consider four possible explanations for women’s more frequent reports of pain: economic security, physical and mental health, social relationships, and discrimination. Results indicate that women are more likely than men to report experiencing chronic pain, as well as greater effects of it on their everyday lives. However, only two of the explanations contributed to explaining this association. Economic security and physical and mental health accounted for substantial portions of the association between gender and pain – 57 and 73 percent, respectively. In contrast, no mediating role was observed for either women’s social relationships, in particular the greater strain they experience in them, or their more frequent reports of everyday and lifetime discrimination. The final model including all the possible explanations revealed that gender was no longer significant, suggesting that middle-aged and older women’s greater pain is explained by their worse health and economic circumstances.

scholarly journals Contributors to and Consequences of Poor Sleep in Older Adults: Biopsychosocial Perspectives

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 578-578
Author(s):  
Adam Spira ◽  
Katie Stone
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Older Parents ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Objectively Measured ◽  
Ecological Momentary

Abstract Sleep is a significant contributor to health and wellbeing across the lifespan, especially in later life. Poor sleep is common among older adults and can be both a risk factor for and consequence of numerous physical and mental health-related outcomes. In this symposium, we will present novel results from four studies that will advance understanding of the biological, psychological, and social factors that may contribute to or result from poor sleep in older adults. Specifically, Study 1 will present findings tying objectively measured sleep to performance on cognitive tasks administered using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in the day-to-day lives of older adults with or without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Study 2 will examine associations of personality dimensions and facets with insomnia symptoms in well-functioning older adults. Study 3 will examine psychological pathways linking parent-child relationships to subjective and objective sleep characteristics among older parents. Finally, study 4 will examine use patterns of cannabis for the treatment of sleep problems in older adults, and the ways in which this might differ from patients using cannabis for other reasons (e.g., pain). Together, this symposium will highlight novel links of an array of factors with sleep health in the aging population and their implications for prevention. Sleep, Circadian Rhythms and Aging Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.

Let’s Drink to Being Socially Active: Family Characteristics, Social Participation, and Alcohol Abuse across Mid- and Later-life

2020 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-469
Author(s):  
Eric M. Vogelsang ◽  
Joseph T. Lariscy
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Alcohol Abuse ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
Marital Dissolution ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Linked Lives ◽  
Using Data

Researchers and practitioners often extol the health benefits of social relationships and social participation for older adults. Yet they often ignore how these same bonds and activities may contribute to negative health behaviors. Using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (16,065 observations from 7,007 respondents), we examined how family characteristics, family history, and social participation predicted three measures of alcohol abuse between ages 53 and 71. Results indicate that, generally, greater social participation is associated with increased drinking days per month. We also found that religious participation and having ever lived with an alcoholic are each associated with reporting possible alcohol dependence but not with alcohol consumption itself. Lastly, we identified gendered associations between marital dissolution and drinking behavior. These findings contextualize the increasing rates of alcohol abuse among older adults by emphasizing the possible negative consequences of “linked lives” on health via relationship stress and group norms.

SUICIDE, SOCIAL CAPITAL, AND HATE GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES

World Affairs ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 004382002110538
Author(s):  
Brendan Szendro
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Public Support ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Far Right ◽  
Hate Groups ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Enduring Power

In recent years, hate groups have increasingly attracted public attention while at the same time escaping the purview of scholars. Although overt prejudiced attitudes have lost public support in recent decades, hate group and hate-group activity has remained relatively consistent. What, then, explains the enduring power of hate? I argue that hate groups have arisen in reaction to the loss of social capital, particularly in regard to rural and exurban communities. Using county-level suicide rates as a proxy for the loss of social capital, I test this theory using data from the lower 48 states from 2010 to 2019. I find that each 5.38 percent increase in suicide rates is associated with 1 additional hate group forming. These findings highlight the importance of examining quality-of-life in understanding far-right activity, and challenge previous findings with regard to rurality and hate.

scholarly journals THE EFFECTS OF CHRONIC PAIN AND LONELINESS ON FUNCTIONING AMONG LATINO AND WHITE OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S585-S585
Author(s):  
David Camacho ◽  
Maria P Aranda ◽  
Denise Burnette ◽  
Ellen Lukens
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Racially Diverse ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Diverse Groups ◽  
White Adults

Abstract The detrimental effects of loneliness and chronic pain on functioning in later life are well documented, yet there is little evidence of whether these patterns hold across racially diverse older adults. Guided by the Biopsychosocial Model of Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment of Chronic Pain, we used data from Waves 2 and 3 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) to examine the additive and interactive effects of loneliness and chronic pain on Elemental and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADLs & IADLs) among a sample of 1046 Latino and White adults aged 50 and over. Using linear regression analyses, our final models (Adjusted R-squares: .316 & .304) included demographic characteristics, physical and mental health, medication, health behaviors and social factors. In this sample, approximately 33% experienced chronic pain, 50% reported at least transitory loneliness and 22% experienced both. Neither loneliness nor chronic pain was independently associated with functioning impairment. However, these two factors in combination were associated with lower scores on ADLs and I-ADLs. In addition, Latinos who reported chronic pain were more likely to report lower scores on ADLs only. Results highlight variations in the detrimental effects of loneliness and chronic pain for white and Latino elders. Findings suggest the need for interventions that address chronic pain and loneliness simultaneously. Future studies should examine how culturally-grounded experiences of loneliness and chronic pain may contribute to worsening of functioning among diverse groups of Latino elders.

Substance Use in Later Life

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Bright
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Subjective Effects ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The United States ◽  
Primary Concern ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
History Of

In the 21st century, we have seen a significant increase in the use of alcohol and other drugs (AODs) among older adults in most first world countries. In addition, people are living longer. Consequently, the number of older adults at risk of experiencing alcohol-related harm and substance use disorders (SUDs) is rising. Between 1992 and 2010, men in the United Kingdom aged 65 years or older had increased their drinking from an average 77.6 grams to 97.6 grams per week. Data from Australia show a 17% increase in risky drinking among those 60–69 between 2007 and 2016. Among Australians aged 60 or older, there was a 280% increase in recent cannabis use from 2001 to 2016. In the United States, rates of older people seeking treatment for cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine have doubled in the past 10 years. This trend is expected to continue. Despite these alarming statistics, this population has been deemed “hidden,” as older adults often do not present to treatment with the SUD as a primary concern, and many healthcare professionals do not adequately screen for AOD use. With age, changes in physiology impact the way we metabolize alcohol and increase the subjective effects of alcohol. In addition, older adults are prone to increased use of medications and medical comorbidities. As such, drinking patterns that previously would have not been considered hazardous can become dangerous without any increase in alcohol consumption. This highlights the need for age-specific screening of all older patients within all healthcare settings. The etiology of AOD-related issues among older adults can be different from that of younger adults. For example, as a result of issues more common as one ages (e.g., loss and grief, identity crisis, and boredom), there is a distinct cohort of older adults who develop SUDs later in life despite no history of previous problematic AOD use. For some older adults who might have experimented with drugs in their youth, these age-specific issues precipitate the onset of a SUD. Meanwhile, there is a larger cohort of older adults with an extensive history of SUDs. Consequently, assessments need to be tailored to explore the issues that are unique to older adults who use AODs and can inform the development of age-specific formulations and treatment plans. In doing so, individualized treatments can be delivered to meet the needs of older adults. Such treatments must be tailored to address issues associated with aging (e.g., reduced mobility) and may require multidisciplinary input from medical practitioners and occupational therapists.

Marital Quality and Well-Being Among Older Adults: A Typology of Supportive, Aversive, Indifferent, and Ambivalent Marriages

2020 ◽  
pp. 016402752096914
Author(s):  
Yingling Liu ◽  
Laura Upenieks
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Life Course Perspective ◽  
Multiple Indicators ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Synergistic Relationship

A large body of work has linked marital quality to the health and well-being of older adults, but there is a lack of agreement on how to best measure dimensions of marital quality. Drawing on a stress-process life course perspective, we construct a typology of marriage type that captures the synergistic relationship between positive and negative marital qualities and health. Using data from Wave 1 (2005/2006) and Wave 2 (2010/2011) of the NSHAP survey from the United States, we examine the association between supportive, aversive, ambivalent, and indifferent marriages for older adults that remained married over the study period on multiple indicators of well-being (depression, happiness, and self-rated health; N = 769 males and 461 females). Results suggest that older adults in aversive marriages reported lower happiness (men and women) and physical health (men). There was less evidence that those in ambivalent and indifferent marriages reported worse well-being.

scholarly journals THE ASSOCIATION OF LONELINESS AND CHRONIC CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT PAIN AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN AND WHITE OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S613-S613
Author(s):  
David Camacho ◽  
Denise Burnette ◽  
Maria P Aranda ◽  
Ellen Lukens
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Social Life ◽  
White Women ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Biopsychosocial Model Of Pain

Abstract Loneliness and pain are significant public health problems in later life, yet limited research has examined how these factors interact among racially diverse older adults. Guided by the Biopsychosocial Model of Pain, we used data from Waves 2 and 3 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project to investigate the relationship between loneliness and chronic pain among 1,102 African-American and White adults aged 50 and over. Using logistic regression analyses, our final models considered demographics, physical and mental health, functioning, medication, health behaviors and social factors. Approximately 32% of African Americans and 28% of Whites reported chronic loneliness. Compared to Whites African-Americans were 2.5 times more likely to experience chronic pain. Among White participants, loneliness was not associated with chronic pain; however, the interaction of being African-American and lonely was associated with decreased odds of chronic pain in main and gendered analyses. African American women were 4 times more likely than White women to report chronic pain. Our results address the objectives of the National Pain Strategy (2016) to elucidate the experiences of chronic pain among diverse elders in the US. Future work should seek a deeper understanding of loneliness and chronic pain among African Americans elders and how cultural dynamics may help explain our counter intuitive findings (e.g., “Superwoman Schema”).

scholarly journals Ageing-friendly communities and social inclusion in the United States of America

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDREW E. SCHARLACH ◽  
AMANDA J. LEHNING
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Basic Needs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Infrastructure ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
The Social

ABSTRACTSynthesising the social capital and ageing-friendly communities literature, this paper describes how efforts to make communities more ageing-friendly can promote social inclusion among older adults. Making existing communities more ageing-friendly involves physical and social infrastructure changes that enable older adults to pursue lifelong activities, meet their basic needs, maintain significant relationships, participate in the community in personally and socially meaningful ways, and develop new interests and sources of fulfilment. Such efforts can enhance bonding, bridging and linking capital, and thereby promote social inclusion. The authors discuss the link between ageing-friendly communities and social inclusion, and provide examples of programmes with potential to change existing communities into ones that promote the social inclusion of older adults.

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