scholarly journals Loneliness and Isolation Versus Wisdom and Compassion During the Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 546-546
Author(s):  
Dilip Jeste
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
National Level ◽  
Inverse Correlation ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Alpha And Beta Diversity ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Biological Patterns ◽  
Better Than

Abstract Our studies of US national-level samples across adult lifespan as well as older adults in California and in Italy’s Cilento region have found a consistently strong inverse correlation between loneliness and wisdom, especially its compassion component. Loneliness and social isolation are associated with worse physical and mental health while the reverse is true for wisdom and compassion. Follow-up of older adults in San Diego during the Covid-19 pandemic showed no change in this pattern. While the effects of the pandemic and the necessary social distancing were heterogeneous, older adults generally handled these stresses better than younger adults, with less loneliness and greater compassion. Our recent studies assessing EEG responses to emotional stimuli as well as alpha and beta diversity in gut microbiome showed opposing biological patterns characterizing loneliness and wisdom. I will also present preliminary data from a compassion training intervention to reduce loneliness among older adults.

scholarly journals When twice is better than once: increased liking of repeated items influences memory in younger and older adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocco Palumbo ◽  
Alberto Di Domenico ◽  
Beth Fairfield ◽  
Nicola Mammarella
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Recognition Memory ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Memory Encoding ◽  
Mere Exposure Effect ◽  
Differential Impact ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Repeated Presentation ◽  
Exposure Effect ◽  
Better Than

Abstract Background Numerous studies have reported that the repeated presentation of a stimulus leads to an increase in positive affect towards the stimulus itself (the so-called mere exposure effect). Here, we evaluate whether changes in liking due to repetition may have a differential impact on subsequent memories in younger and older adults. Method In two experiments, younger and older adults were asked to rate a series of nonwords (Experiment 1) or unfamiliar neutral faces (Experiment 2) in terms of how much they like them and then presented with a surprise yes–no recognition memory task. At study, items were repeated either consecutively (massed presentation) or with a lag of 6 intervening items (spaced presentation). Results In both experiments, participants rated spaced repeated items more positively than massed items, i.e. they liked them most. Moreover, older adults remembered spaced stimuli that they liked most better than younger adults. Conclusions The findings are discussed in accordance with the mechanisms underlying positivity effects in memory and the effect of repetition on memory encoding.

scholarly journals Age differences in the precision of memory at short and long delays

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Rhodes ◽  
Emily E Abenne ◽  
Ashley M Meierhofer ◽  
Moshe Naveh-Benjamin
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Age Difference ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Recall Error ◽  
Successful Recall ◽  
Error Distance

Age differences are well established for many memory tasks assessing both short-term and long-term memory. However, how age differences in performance vary with increasing delay between study and test is less clear. Here we report two experiments in which participants studied a continuous sequence of object-location pairings. Test events were intermixed such that participants were asked to recall the precise location of an object following a variable delay. Older adults exhibit a greater degree of error (distance between studied and recalled locations) relative to younger adults at short (0-2 intervening events) and longer delays (10-25 intervening events). Mixture modeling of the distribution of recall error suggests that older adults do not fail to recall information at a significantly higher rate than younger adults. Instead, what they do recall appears to be less precise. Follow up analyses demonstrate that this age difference emerges following only one or two intervening events between study and test. These findings are consistent with the suggestion that aging does not greatly impair recall from the focus of attention but age differences emerge once information is displaced from this highly accessible state. Further, we suggest that age differences in the precision of memory, but not the probability of successful recall, may be due to the use of more gist-like representations in this task.

scholarly journals Intergenerational Service Learning Program Improves Aging Knowledge and Expectations and Reduces Ageism in Younger Adults

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 47-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Francis ◽  
Jennifer A. Margrett ◽  
Kara Hoerr ◽  
Marc J. Peterson ◽  
Abbie Scott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Learning Program ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Program Evaluations ◽  
Activity Program ◽  
Contact Hours ◽  
Aging Expectations ◽  
Aging Knowledge

This article discusses a study which evaluated the effects of an intergenerational service-learning exergaming program for older adults on younger adults’ aging knowledge, expectations, and perceptions. Eighteen college students (ages 19-26 years) served as trainers for an 8-week exergaming physical activity program for older adults (12 contact hours). Questionnaires assessing aging knowledge, ageist attitudes and aging expectations were completed at Weeks 1, 8, and 25 (follow-up); program evaluations were completed at Weeks 8 and 25. Significant improvement from Week 1 to Week 25 was found for: Aging knowledge scores (p

scholarly journals MEASURING QUALITY OF LIFE IN OLDER ADULTS LIVING WITH T2DM: A COMPARISON WITH YOUNGER ADULTS USING 2015 BRFSS DATA

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S258-S259
Author(s):  
Brittany Smalls ◽  
Myles Moody ◽  
Matthew Rutledge ◽  
Amy Cowley
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Burden Of Disease ◽  
National Level ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Physical Burden ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Gender Education ◽  
The Us ◽  
Optimal Health

Abstract Challenges due to burden of disease can affect adherence to self-care behaviors and optimal health outcomes in those living with T2DM. This study utilized state- and national-level data from the 2015 BRFSS to compare QoL measured by the prevalence of physical and mental burden days among older adults (OAs) compared to younger adults living with T2DM. The results of our analysis showed that OAs living in the US were significantly less likely to experience at least one mental burden day when compared to their younger counterparts (OR =0.61, 95% CI: 0.58, 0.64), while gender, education, race, BMI, and depression, CVD, or another chronic condition were significantly associated with the odds of experiencing at least one mental burden day. Whereas, in Kentucky OAs were less likely to experience at least one mental burden day when compared to their younger counterparts (OR= 0.48, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.66). Gender, education, BMI, and depression were significantly associated with the odds of experiencing at least one mental burden day or one physical burden day. The findings of this study suggests that the questions used by BRFSS to measure QoL may not be the most suitable for OAs who likely have different criteria for self-reported mental or physical burden days. When assessing QoL or burden of disease among the aging at a population level, considerable thought should be given into the questions asked and if they appropriately examine patient-level QoL in this population.

scholarly journals MECHANISM OF ACTION: AGE DIFFERENCES IN RESPONSE TO ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY FOR CHRONIC PAIN

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S809-S809
Author(s):  
Julie L Wetherell ◽  
Matthew Herbert ◽  
Niloofar Afari
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Pain Interference ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Pain Acceptance ◽  
Commitment Therapy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment

Abstract A recent randomized comparison of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) vs. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for chronic pain found a clear age interaction effect, such that older adults benefitted more from ACT. In a subsequent study comparing ACT delivered in person to ACT delivered via telehealth to a sample of veterans (N=128, mean age 51.9, SD 13.3, range 25-89), we found no significant age by modality interactions, suggesting that older veterans responded as well as younger people did to telehealth delivery. Consistent with our previous findings, we found a trend for older adults to experience greater reduction in pain interference (p = .051) and significantly greater reduction in pain severity (p = .001) than younger adults following ACT. In younger veterans, change in pain acceptance from baseline to posttreatment was related to change in pain interference from baseline to 6-month follow-up (r = -.38), but change in pain interference from baseline to posttreatment was not related to change in pain acceptance from baseline to follow-up (r = .14), suggesting that, consistent with the ACT model, increased pain acceptance at posttreatment was related to reduced pain interference at follow-up. By contrast, in older veterans, both correlations were significant and of comparable magnitude (rs = -.43 and -.46, respectively), providing no support for the idea that change in pain acceptance drove change in pain interference. Overall, our findings suggest that ACT may work better in older adults with chronic pain than in younger adults, but via a different mechanism.

Self-Efficacy for Physical Activity—A Question of Item Framing and Age?

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-179
Author(s):  
Johanna Popp ◽  
Nanna Notthoff ◽  
Lisa Marie Warner
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Positive Information ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Positivity Effect ◽  
Initial Support ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Activity Questionnaire

Older adults process and remember positive information relatively better than negative information, compared with younger adults; this is known as the positivity effect. This study examined whether older adults compared with younger adults also respond differently to positively and negatively framed questionnaire items. Participants (N = 275; age = 18–81 years) were randomly assigned to a positively or negatively framed version of a self-efficacy for physical activity questionnaire. Self-efficacy, physical activity intentions, and planned physical activity in the following week were regressed on experimental group and age, controlling for baseline physical activity and covariates. A significant Age × Frame interaction showed that item framing made a difference in planned physical activity for the oldest age group (+350 min compared with the youngest group). This study provides initial support for the positivity effect in item framing on physical activity plans, but not on intentions or self-efficacy. Item framing should be taken into consideration for accurate measurement, but could also be a simple intervention approach.

scholarly journals Age differences in recall and liking of arousing television commercials

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margot J. van der Goot ◽  
Eva A. van Reijmersdal ◽  
Mariska Kleemans
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Television Commercials ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Brand Recall ◽  
Advertising Effects ◽  
Linear Relationships ◽  
Better Than

AbstractThis article examines whether there are differences between older and younger adults in recall and liking of arousing television commercials. As hypothesized, the experiment demonstrated that older adults remembered brands and products in calm commercials better than in arousing commercials, and they also liked calm commercials more. In contrast, younger adults remembered brands and products in arousing commercials better and they liked these commercials more. In addition, (curvi)linear relationships showed that for older adults arousal deteriorates their recall and liking, whereas for younger adults arousal – up to a certain point – is beneficial. These findings strongly suggest that advertising effects found in younger samples are unlikely to be the same for older target groups. An important practical implication is that it currently seems wise to make commercials targeted towards older adults calm instead of arousing when the aim is to generate brand recall and liking.

Strengths and Satisfaction Across the Adult Lifespan

2003 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek M. Isaacowitz ◽  
George E. Vaillant ◽  
Martin E. P. Seligman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Lower Strength ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
The World ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Positive psychology has recently developed a classification of human strengths (Peterson & Seligman, in press). We aimed to evaluate these strengths by investigating the strengths and life satisfaction in three adult samples recruited from the community (young adult, middle-aged, and older adult), as well as in the surviving men of the Grant study of Harvard graduates. In general, older adults had higher levels of interpersonal and self-regulatory strengths, whereas younger adults reported higher levels of strengths related to exploring the world. Grant study men tended to report lower strength levels than older adults from the community. Among the young adults, only hope significantly predicted life satisfaction, whereas among the middle-aged individuals, the capacity for loving relationships was the only predictor. Among community-dwelling older adults, hope, citizenship, and loving relationships all positively and uniquely predicted life satisfaction, compared with loving relationships and appreciation of beauty in the Grant sample.

scholarly journals Older Adults’ Worry about COVID-19: Associations with Experiences of COVID-19 Among Social Connections

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 744-744
Author(s):  
Amanda Leggett ◽  
Hyun Jung Koo ◽  
Lindsay Kobayashi ◽  
Jessica Finlay ◽  
Hannah Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Disease Symptoms ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Higher Educational Attainment

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the physical and mental health of older adults, yet it is unknown how much older adults worry about their own exposure. As older adults are at increased risk for severe complications from COVID-19, understanding patterns of worry may inform public health guidelines and interventions for this age group. We investigated older adults’ worry about COVID-19 in the early months of the pandemic and associations with familial/friend’s diagnosis or disease symptoms. Data comes from the baseline (April/May 2020), one-month, and two-month follow-up surveys from the COVID-19 Coping Study, a national longitudinal cohort study of US adults aged ≥55. We used linear regression models to investigate the association between self-reported familial/friend diagnosis or symptoms with pandemic worry, accounting for demographic factors and individual diagnosis or experience of COVID-19 symptoms. Participants (Baseline=4379, 1 month= 2553, 2 month=2682) were 67 years old on average, 72% were female, 5.7% were non-White, and 80.5% had a college degree. At baseline, 26.6% of participants had friends or family who had been diagnosed or experienced symptoms of COVID-19. Having friends or family diagnosed or with symptoms of COVID-19 (B=0.08, SE=0.04, p<.05), being female (B=0.42, SE=0.03, p<.001), and having higher educational attainment (B=0.06, SE=0.02, p<.001) were significantly associated with greater worry about COVID-19. These associations were consistent over 3 months. Understanding if worry about the pandemic correlates with following public health guidelines is a key next step so intervention strategies can prioritize older adults and their social networks.

scholarly journals Characteristics of Financial Exploitation in a Sample of Israeli Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 770-770
Author(s):  
Gali Weissberger ◽  
S Duke Han ◽  
Amit Shrira
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Subjective Age ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
Financial Exploitation ◽  
History Of

Abstract Financial exploitation (FE) negatively affects wellbeing in older adulthood. However, characteristics of FE and its health correlates remain poorly understood. In this study, 138 Israeli older adults answered questions regarding FE history, and completed physical and mental health questionnaires. Of 138 participants, 23 reported a history of FE. FE participants were older (M birth year = 1950.35; sd = 9.65) than non-FE participants (M birth year = 1953.79; sd = 6.06; p = 0.028) and reported lower household income (p=0.001). Groups did not differ in education level or sex breakdown. The FE group reported older subjective age (p = 0.022), worse subjective cognition (p = 0.007), more depressive symptoms (p=0.002), and marginally higher anxiety symptoms (p = 0.099) than the non-FE group. Groups did not differ in reported levels of social support or number of medical conditions. When covarying for age, differences between groups in subjective cognition and depressive symptoms remained significant (ps ≤0.022), while subjective age differences became marginal (p = 0.07). The FE group responded to follow-up questions regarding FE experiences. Reported perpetrators included companies/businesses (most commonly reported, 30%), strangers, friends/neighbors, service providers, and family. Eleven reported losing 100 NIS to 10,000 NIS, and 10 reported losing 10,001 to over 100,000 NIS. Additionally, six FE participants reported that the FE is ongoing, and two reported additional FE experiences. Findings suggest that FE is related to mental and physical health of older adults. Findings also provide preliminary information regarding characteristics of FE in a sample of Israeli older adults.

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