Age Differences in Coping: Does Less Mean Worse?

1989 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Meeks ◽  
Laura L. Carstensen ◽  
Brenda-Fay Tamsky ◽  
Thomas L. Wright ◽  
David Pellegrini
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Adaptive Strategies ◽  
The Other ◽  
The Third ◽  
Older Subjects ◽  
Quantitative Changes

Previous research suggests that elderly people utilize fewer coping strategies than younger people. Some researchers suggest that these quantitative changes reflect decreases in the use of maladaptive strategies; others contend that they reflect decreases in the use of adaptive strategies by older adults. The present article reports the findings of three studies of coping in older people, two addressing coping with health problems, and the other addressing coping with moving. In all three studies, the number of self-reported coping strategies decreases with age. Results do not support the idea that decreases in the number of strategies imply decrements in the quality of coping, however: in two studies, age was unrelated to the effectiveness of strategies, in the third, effectiveness ratings were higher for older subjects. The need for evaluation of specific outcomes of coping strategies is discussed, along with the need for task-specific measurement of coping. It is proposed that decreases in the number of coping strategies reflect improved coping efficiency, rather than a deterioration of adaptational skills.

scholarly journals AGE DIFFERENCES IN POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT: ROLE OF SELF-RELEVANCE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S785-S785
Author(s):  
Tze Kiu Wong ◽  
Helene H Fung
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Older People ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Political Behavior ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Political Engagement ◽  
Political Discussion ◽  
Younger Adults

Abstract Previous studies usually found that older people are less politically engaged than younger adults, especially when considering political behavior other than voting. The current study extends the Selective Engagement hypothesis (Hess, 2014) to political engagement. 81 younger adults and 79 older adults rated 8 issues on self-relevance and their willingness to engage in political discussion, arguments and collective action on each issue. The predicted moderating effect of self-relevance was not found, but older people indeed are more willing to discuss (B = 0.07, p = 0.027) and argue with others on more self-relevant issues (B = 0.06, p = 0.031). Perceived cost of collective action was found to be a moderator, such that self-relevance was less important than other factors for high-cost actions (B = -0.016, p = 0.013). The current research sheds light on potential ways to increase older adults’ engagement in social issues.

Virtual Reality to Help Older People in Nursing Homes: A New Way to Reduce Psychological Symptoms?

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaillant Ciszewicz AJ ◽  
◽  
Guerin O ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Older People ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Psychological Disorders ◽  
Innovative Approach ◽  
Older Population

Older people living in nursing homes often present with psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety and apathy. Numerous studies focused on the effects of Virtual Reality (VR) in the older population. This innovative approach could lead to a significant reduction in psychological disorders in older adults and improve their quality of life.

Improvement for some: poverty and social exclusion among older people and pensioners

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Demi Patsios
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
General Position ◽  
Social Resources ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Policy Action

This chapter focuses on several key areas of poverty and social exclusion experienced by older people and pensioners using B-SEM. Analyses by pensioner household type (n=2,296) show differences in older adults’: access to material, economic and social resources; participation in common social activities and civic and political participation; and quality of life. Younger pensioners (particularly couples) are least likely to report lower resources and exclusion from participation, and more likely to report higher quality of life. In contrast, older and single (particularly female) pensioners are most likely to report lower levels of economic and social resources and lower scores on participation and quality of life sub-domains. Although the general position of pensioners has improved over the past decade, the findings conclude that this has not been the case for all pensioners. The policy situation explaining some of these disparities and the implications for further policy action are discussed.

Four decades of Universities of the Third Age: past, present, future

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARVIN FORMOSA
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Liberal Arts ◽  
Liberal Arts Education ◽  
Older Learners ◽  
Third Age ◽  
Group Activities ◽  
The Third ◽  
Learning Instruction ◽  
Ethnic Biases

ABSTRACTThis paper discusses the origins and development of Universities of the Third Age (U3As) whilst also forwarding suggestions for possible roles, opportunities and directions in the future. The U3A has been rightly described as both an idea and movement, as each centre has a local foundation and relatively unique features. Whilst some U3As are attached to traditional universities and colleges, others are sturdily autonomous and wholly dependent on the efforts of volunteers. One also finds a variety of ethos, ranging from the provision of a traditional type of liberal-arts education, to the organisation of interest-group activities conducted through peer learning, to showing solidarity with vulnerable sectors of the older population. Academic commentaries on the U3A movement have been both supportive and critical. Whilst U3As have been lauded for leading older learners to improved levels of physical, cognitive, social and psychological wellbeing, other reports emphasise how many centres incorporate strong gender, social class, ageist and ethnic biases. One hopes that in future years the U3A movement will continue to be relevant to incoming cohorts of older adults by embracing a broader vision of learning, improving the quality of learning, instruction and curricula, as well as a wider participation agenda that caters for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive challenges.

Factors Affecting the Extent and Quality of Nature Engagement of Older Adults Living in a Range of Home Types

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 799-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolanda van Heezik ◽  
Claire Freeman ◽  
Yvette Buttery ◽  
Debra L. Waters
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Frailty Status ◽  
Nature Contact ◽  
Nature Connectedness ◽  
Nature Experience ◽  
Access To Nature

Nature interaction is seen as a potentially inexpensive intervention to address many health issues. Aging is associated with declining health and mobility. Older people are known to benefit from nature contact; however, less is known about how aging limits access to nature. We investigated older adults occupying family, downsized, and rest homes to determine factors driving changes in nature engagement, and the quality of available nature. Less time was spent in natural places as people aged, depending on the extent of nature connectedness, frailty status, home type, and whether they lived alone or not. Most reported reduced nature engagement and expressed feelings of sadness, frustration, and anger. Gardens assumed an important role in enabling nature contact to continue, in that time spent in gardens was unrelated to age or frailty. Garden variability meant the quality of the nature experience was likely lower for those living in downsized and rest homes.

Design of Telephone Answering Machines for Older Adults

1997 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 1367-1367
Author(s):  
Chin Chin Lee ◽  
Jessica D'Agostini ◽  
Sara J. Czaja ◽  
Joseph Sharit
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Task Analysis ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Hearing Impairments ◽  
Usage Patterns ◽  
Automatic Teller Machines

Older adults frequently have difficulty when attempting to use various forms of technology such as computers or automatic teller machines. This study evaluated the usability of telephone answering machines for older adults. Initially, a task analysis of four commonly used answering machines was performed to identify the subtasks involved in using an answering machine. A questionnaire was then developed which assessed usage patterns and usability issues associated with answering machines. This questionnaire was administered to a sample of 68 people aged 65+ yrs. and 50 people aged 20 — 30 yrs. The data indicated that most older people own answering machines and perceive them as useful. There were, however, some age differences in aspects of usability. The older adults were more likely to have difficulty understanding messages than the younger people and to perceive the messages as distorted. Further, the older people reported that they have difficulty replaying messages and accessing messages remotely. The results also indicated that older people with hearing impairments were more likely to have problems with message distortion than those without hearing impairments. Overall, the data suggest features of answering machines which affect the usability of this technology for older age groups. Data is currently being collected regarding the ability of a sample of older people to perform a common set of tasks using two different answering machines. The results from the research are being used to develop recommendations for improving the design of telephone answering machines for people of all age groups.

Elizabeth Bishop and ‘a bad case of the Threes’

2019 ◽  
pp. 164-176
Author(s):  
Katrina Mayson
Keyword(s):  
Third Space ◽  
The Other ◽  
Elizabeth Bishop ◽  
Gerard Manley Hopkins ◽  
Safe Place ◽  
Holy Trinity ◽  
The Third ◽  
Lyric Poet ◽  
Structural Manipulation

This chapter explores aspects of Bishop’s poetics through the lens of the number three, contributing to the debate about Bishop’s place as a ‘lyric’ poet. It does this by charting the myriad ways Bishop used the number three and all its connotations in her poetry. These range from her use of the tercet form to a structural manipulation of time and perspective. Threes are everywhere in Bishop, ranging from the influence of Gerard Manley Hopkins, the Holy Trinity and Dante to ekphrastic notions of shadow boxes in ‘Objects & Apparitions’. That three underpins Bishop’s aphoristic ear is most clearly heard in her prose and letters, for example in her famous statement that ‘The three qualities I admire in the poetry I like best are: Accuracy, Spontaneity, Mystery’ (in ‘Writing Poetry is an Unnatural Act’). Bishop scholars and readers often identify with the quality of reticence in her poetry, often referred to as ‘the other’ or the ‘third space’ where the reader can find or suggest meaning between the hidden and the said. What is less commonly acknowledged is that the threes can also be constructed to create a safe place in which to allow dangerous emotions or thoughts to be expressed.

scholarly journals How could discourse theories of identity formation critically engage patient-centered care in older adults?

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-216
Author(s):  
Anna Horton ◽  
Simon Horton
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Clinical Encounters ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Conceptual Paper

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how discourse theories can contribute to the concept of identity formation within a patient- or person-centered care (PCC) orientation, to enable more critical engagement with PCC in older people. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual paper. Findings This paper concludes that the discourse literature has important insights for understanding identity formation in older people as operationalized in the context of PCC in three particular ways: accounting for multiplicity in patients’ identity; exploring “the devolution of responsibility” to address shifts in performing identities in clinical encounters; and attending to a “crisis of positioning” to engage empowerment discourse within a PCC philosophy. Originality/value Whilst a notion of patient identity is at the heart of PCC, the concept remains inconsistent and underdeveloped. This is particularly problematic for the quality of care in older adults, as PCC has become increasingly synonymous with care of older people. Discourse theories of identity formation can be used to critically engage with identity within the context of PCC, so as to develop more nuanced understandings of “the person” or “the patient,” with the potential to improve research into care for aging and older adults.

scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF A PARO INTERVENTION ON DEPRESSION AND WELL-BEING IN OLDER ADULTS WITH DEPRESSION

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S341-S341
Author(s):  
Shu-Chuan Chen ◽  
Wendy Moyle ◽  
Cindy Jones
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to explore the effect of a social robot Paro intervention on depression and well-being in older adults with depression living in long-term care facilities in Taiwan. Methods: This study was adopted a single group and quasi-experimental with repeated measures design. Each participant participated in two stages: observation and Paro intervention stages. Stage 1 was an 8-week observation stage in long-term care facilities where the purpose was to observe the normal mood, behaviour and activities of older adults with depression. In stage 2, each participant was given a Paro by the researcher to keep for 24 hours for 7 days in for 8 weeks. Outcome measurements were obtained 4 times: a week before the intervention (T1), immediately the end of 8-week observation (T2), mid-point of Paro intervention (T3), and immediately the end of 8-week Paro intervention (T4). Instruments included the Geriatric Depression Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale version 3, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-OLD. Results: There were 20 participants completed the study. The mean age of participants was 81.1years (SD = 8.2). After 8-week Paro intervention, statistically significant differences in changes were found on depression, loneliness, and quality of life from pre-intervention to post-intervention. Conclusion: This study was found that Paro intervention has beneficial effects on depression and mental well-being for older people with depression in long-term care facilities. Paro Intervention might be a suitable psychosocial intervention for older people with depression and should be considered as a useful tool in clinical practice.

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