scholarly journals The Digital Divide and Active Aging in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12675
Author(s):  
Lingchen Liu ◽  
Fan Wu ◽  
Huiying Tong ◽  
Cuihong Hao ◽  
Tingting Xie
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The Body ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Active Aging ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
The Impact

With the rapid development of society, especially the advent of intelligent technology of life services, the ability of the elderly to adapt to modern digital life is getting weaker and weaker, the dilemma of the “digital divide” for the elderly has aroused heated public debate. In the era of aging and information superposition, in-depth study of the multi-dimensional impact of the digital divide on the elderly has become an effective content of China’s active aging strategy. Based on the micro-data of the Chinese General Social Survey in 2017, this paper uses the entropy right method to construct the digital divide index system for the elderly over 60 years of age from the perspective of essential equipment, Internet utilization degree, and Basic Internet usage skills. At the same time, this paper constructs China’s comprehensive index of active aging from three aspects: health, social participation, and guarantee of the elderly, to study the impact of the digital divide on China’s active aging. The following conclusions have been drawn: the digital divide among the elderly significantly inhibits China’s active aging. The digital divide reduces the level of physical and mental health and social participation of older persons and inhibits the level of guarantee of older persons, thus impeding their active aging. In addition, it also reduces the overall life satisfaction of the elderly. The use of the Internet, skills, and other digital technology abilities of the elderly have effectively promoted active aging. The more Internet access devices older people have, the higher their level of social participation. The higher the Internet frequency of the elderly, the healthier the body and mind. Furthermore, the greater the level of physical and mental health and social participation of older groups who use online payments. The digital divide among the elderly inhibits the process of China’s active aging, and the unique course and stage characteristics of the development of the aging of the Chinese population require us to pay full attention to the relationship between the digital divide and active aging and how to construct a “digital-friendly” aging system is an essential issue for China’s social development to consider.

A systematic review of Karen refugee health

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah J. Hoffman ◽  
Cheryl L. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Forced Migration ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Karen Refugees ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive perspective of the documented physical and mental health issues Karen refugees from Burma face as a result of war and refugee trauma, and migration. The review will address the question: What is the impact of trauma and migration on the physical and mental health of Karen refugees? Design/methodology/approach – A total of 18 articles were systematically selected for inclusion in the final review. The focal content for included articles includes qualitative and quantitative research representative of the health and migration experiences of Karen refugees. Findings – The findings of this review demonstrate significance for health providers from a public health standpoint as programs and services are targeted to meet the specific health needs of the Karen community. It also highlights the contribution of the Karen forced migration experience to the complexity of individual and community health needs, particularly as a result of the protracted conflict. Originality/value – This critical appraisal of the body of literature describing the health experiences of Karen refugees from Burma, with a particular focus on outcomes relevant to resettlement, demonstrates value as programs are developed with an integrated refugee perspective.

scholarly journals Pet Ownership and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review of the Literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 332
Author(s):  
Kristel J. Scoresby ◽  
Elizabeth B. Strand ◽  
Zenithson Ng ◽  
Kathleen C. Brown ◽  
Charles Robert Stilz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
The Body ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Pet Ownership ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal ◽  
The Impact

Pet ownership is the most common form of human–animal interaction, and anecdotally, pet ownership can lead to improved physical and mental health for owners. However, scant research is available validating these claims. This study aimed to review the recent peer reviewed literature to better describe the body of knowledge surrounding the relationship between pet ownership and mental health. A literature search was conducted in May 2020 using two databases to identify articles that met inclusion/exclusion criteria. After title review, abstract review, and then full article review, 54 articles were included in the final analysis. Of the 54 studies, 18 were conducted in the general population, 15 were conducted in an older adult population, eight were conducted in children and adolescents, nine focused on people with chronic disease, and four examined a specific unique population. Forty-one of the studies were cross-sectional, 11 were prospective longitudinal cohorts, and two were other study designs. For each of the articles, the impact of pet ownership on the mental health of owners was divided into four categories: positive impact (n = 17), mixed impact (n = 19), no impact (n = 13), and negative impact (n = 5). Among the reviewed articles, there was much variation in population studied and study design, and these differences make direct comparison challenging. However, when focusing on the impact of pet ownership on mental health, the results were variable and not wholly supportive of the benefit of pets on mental health. Future research should use more consistent methods across broader populations and the development of a pet-ownership survey module for use in broad, population surveys would afford a better description of the true relationship of pet ownership and mental health.

The Impact of Variable Factors on the Health-Related Quality of Life in the Elderly in Japan and Russia

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-128
Author(s):  
Kirill Kosilov ◽  
Hiroki Amedzawa ◽  
Irina Kuzina ◽  
Vladimir Kuznetsov ◽  
Liliya Kosilova
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Living Together ◽  
Elderly Japanese ◽  
The Impact

Aim: The study of the impact of socio-economic, demographic factors and polymorbidity on the quality of life associated with health (HRQoL) in elderly people from Japan and Russia. Background: Factors affecting the quality of life of the elderly in both countries are poorly understood. Objective: Make a comparative analysis of factors affecting the quality of life of the elderly of both sexes in Japan and Russia. Methods: The age range in this study is 65-95 years old. For the study of HRQoL, a questionnaire Health Status Survey-Short Form 36v2 was used, including two main domains: physical and mental health. The level of polymorbidity was studied using CIRS-G. The linear regression model of the influence of variables upon HRQoL was calculated for SES, demographic characteristics, and morbidity. Results: Strong associations with HRQoL in the combined sample had a living together with relatives (r=6.94 (5.17-8.72) p<0,05), the incidence rate (r=8.50 (5.51-11.49), p<0.01) and the older age (r=5.39 (2.63-8.16), p<0,01.). The elderly inhabitants of Japan had a higher self-assessment for physical health in the age ranges 65-74 and over 85 years old (p<0.05), and a higher selfassessment of mental health at the age of 75-84 years old. Sixty-eight elderly Japanese and 48% Russians estimated their physical health as normal. Conclusion: The effect of living together, morbidity and age upon HRQoL is manifested equally strongly both among the inhabitants of Japan and among the Russians. The elderly Japanese estimate the state of physical and mental health as a whole higher than their Russian peers.

scholarly journals 556 - The Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on elderly’s mental health

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 96-97
Author(s):  
Sofia Ramos Ferreira ◽  
Daniela Pereira ◽  
Horácio Firmino
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
World Health ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Geriatric Population ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

Background:Since the disease caused by the SARS-Cov-2 virus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, countries around the globe adopted measures of social distancing to limit the spread of the virus. Although social distancingmeasures are essential preventive mechanisms, they can promote feelings of loneliness and influence the onset or exacerbation of psychiatric disorders. Current knowledge about the impact of COVID-19 on mental health - and in particular on mental health of the geriatric population - is still scarce.Research Objective:The present review aimed to analyze the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the elderly´s mental health and to suggest measures that can mitigate this impact.Method:A non-systematic review of the literature, through bibliographic research in Pubmed and Embase databases - using the keywords “COVID-19", “SARS-CoV-2", “Coronavirus”, “Aging”, “Older adults”, “Elderly”, “Quarantine” and “Mental health” -was performed.Preliminary results of the ongoing study:The available literature points towards a likely increase in mental disorders as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This phenomena may be particularly relevant in the elderly population. Several measures – pharmacological and non-pharmacological – can help to maintain the physical and mental health of the elderly.Conclusion:The COVID-19 pandemic had an important impact in elderly’s mental health. This subject should be addressed by profissionals/caregivers and measures tominimize negative consequences are in order.

scholarly journals Experiences of Older People with Dancing as a Form of Physical Activity / Iskustva starijih osoba s plesom kao oblikom fizičke aktivnosti

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Štambuk ◽  
Valentina Tomičić
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Active Aging ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Environment Enrichment ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Good Organization

In terms of active aging, physical activity, which is considered a major factor inpreserving good physical and mental health, is particularly emphasized. In thispaper, the focus is on dancing as an activity that includes motor skills, cognitive andsensorimotor capacities, emotional and social tendencies and sensory abilities. Theaim of the study was to gain an insight into some aspects of participation in danceactivities from the perspective of older persons who participate in dance activities. Theresults of the research demonstrate that older persons cite new life circumstances as areason for engaging in dance activities, as well as good organization of dance activitiesfor older persons. They also highlight the characteristics and relationships amongmembers of a dance group, as well as the importance of the leader’s role, responsesof their social environment, enrichment of daily life by dance and the discovery ofdancing as a talent that contributes to the sense of community at a higher level.Certain difficulties related to participation in dance activities are highlighted as well(e.g. differences in participants’ abilities to master dance steps). Older persons regardparticipation in dance activities as yielding multiple benefits: as a determinant ofphysical and mental health, preserving cognitive functions, expanding the network offriends and acquaintances, and a feeling of having free time that is rich in activities.It can be concluded that dancing plays an important role in the lives of persons whoparticipate in these activities, as well as that it represents a positive contribution tovarious aspects of their lives.Key words: active aging; andragogy; physical activity; dancing; older persons.-Kod aktivnog starenja osobito se ističe fizička aktivnost koja se smatra glavnimfaktorom za očuvanje dobrog fizičkog i psihičkog zdravlja. U ovom radu fokus je naplesu kao aktivnosti koja uključuje motoričke vještine, kognitivne i senzomotornekapacitete, emocionalne i socijalne sklonosti te osjetilne sposobnosti. Cilj istraživanjabio je dobiti uvid u neke aspekte sudjelovanja u plesnim aktivnostima iz perspektivestarijih osoba koje sudjeluju u plesnim aktivnostima. Rezultati istraživanja pokazujuda starije osobe za sudjelovanje u plesnim aktivnostima navode nove životneokolnosti kao razloge bavljenja plesom i dobru organizaciju plesnih aktivnosti zastarije. Također ističu karakteristike i odnose među članova plesne skupine kao ivažnost uloge voditelja, reakcije okoline, obogaćenost svakodnevnog života plesom teotkrivanje plesa kao talenta koji doprinosi zajedništvu na višoj razini. Istaknute su ineke teškoće vezane uz sudjelovanje u plesnim aktivnostima (npr. različite mogućnostisudionika u svladavanju plesnih koraka). Sudjelovanje u plesnim aktivnostima starijeosobe doživljavaju višestruko korisnima: kao odrednicu fizičkog i psihičkog zdravlja,očuvanje kognitivnih funkcija, širenje mreže prijatelja i poznanika te osjećaj dobroispunjenog slobodnog vremena. Može se zaključiti kako ples ima važnu ulogu u životustarijih osoba koje sudjeluju u navedenim aktivnostima kao i pozitivan doprinosrazličitim aspektima njihovog života.Ključne riječi: aktivno starenje; andragogija; fizička aktivnost; ples; starije osobe

MENTAL HEALTH OF OLDER PERSONS IN THE CONTEXT OF CONTEMPORARY REALITIES

2021 ◽  
pp. 50-53
Author(s):  
M. Akhil'gova
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The Impact

The article is devoted to the consideration of the peculiarities of maintaining the mental health of the elderly in modern society. Special attention is paid to new formats of communication, the impact of digital technologies, as well as the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals ‘Bad for the Health of the Body, Worse for the Health of the Mind’: Female Responses to Imprisonment in England, 1853–1869

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Prison System ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Gender Beliefs ◽  
The Mind ◽  
Female Responses ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Upon committal to one of the newly established female convict prisons in the mid-nineteenth century, women entered a system intended to regulate them in body and in mind for the ends of reform. This article interrogates how women’s health needs were identified and contested by the prison officials and doctors tasked with their custody and care. It highlights the importance of broader temporal gender beliefs in dictating their treatment in this carceral space and explores how the women themselves exercised agency over the terms of their imprisonment. In addition, it reveals the previously underexplored transference of women between the institutions that made up the female convict estate that was prompted by concerns about the impact of a rigorous prison system on their physical and mental health.

scholarly journals Online gerontechnological resources analysis for active aging

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Cristina Díaz-Prieto ◽  
Jesús Nicasio García-Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Multivariate Analyses ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Online Resources ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Active Aging ◽  
Areas Of Interest

Gerontechnology has become a new field of interest in aging, showing the potential of these new tools to promote the well-being of the elderly and active aging. Although few studies have focused on analyzing the online resources available for this purpose. Here, we identify and analyze the online resources focused on some of the main areas of interest in active aging, according to its main characteristics, as well as aspects of accessibility, use and quality, with special emphasis on those resources aimed specifically at older people. We identified and coded 557 links. These links are focused on 7 dimensions of active aging. Descriptive and multivariate analyses show a lack of online resources aimed specifically at older people, especially in relation to psychosocial and emotional variables. We have found significant limitations of accessibility, use and quality of resources. We conclude on the need for greater involvement institutional, social and scientific to maximize the possibilities offered by the Internet and to overcome the limitations found and that might serve as some of the causes of the generational digital divide existing.

Effect of Socioeconomic Status on the Physical and Mental Health of the Elderly: The Mediating Effect of Social Participation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunfan Zhang ◽  
Dai Su ◽  
Yingchun Chen ◽  
Min Tan ◽  
Xinlin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Group Exercise ◽  
Physical And Mental Health

Abstract Background: Many studies have shown that socioeconomic status and social participation are important factors affecting the health status of the elderly. However, the specific mechanism and path are unclear. This research aimed to investigate the mediating effect of social participation on the association between the socioeconomic status and the health status of the elderly.Methods: A total of 2018 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey were obtained, including 10 197 elderly people over 65 years old. Bootstrap method was adopted to examine the mediating effect of social participation on the relationship of the socioeconomic status with the physical and mental health of the elderly. Socioeconomic status included three dimensions: income, education level, and main occupation before retirement. The physical and mental health of the elderly were measured with the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL) and the Minimum Mental State Examination (MMSE). The social participation of the elderly was the mediator variable, including group exercise and organised social activities. Results: The average scores of IADL and MMSE were 17.98 and 23.04, respectively. Group-exercise participation had a mediating effect between socioeconomic status and physical health of the elderly, and the highest proportion of the mediating effect of each subdimension was 62.84% (95% CI = 0.165, 0.285). The highest proportion of the mediating effect of group-exercise participation on the mental-health status of the elderly was 16.70% (95% CI = 0.072, 0.153). The mediating effect of interacting with friends between the socioeconomic status and the physical health of the elderly was 30.69% (95% CI = 0.037, 0.196) in each subdimension and 15.46% (95% CI = 0.012, 0.169) in mental health. Participation in organised social activities had a mediating effect only between the socioeconomic status and the physical health of the elderly, and the highest proportion of the mediating effect in each dimension was 13.97% (95% CI = 0.014, 0.088).Conclusion: The socioeconomic status of the elderly plays a mediating role in the process of influencing the physical and mental health of the elderly by participating in group exercise and organised social activities, as well as actively interacting with friends. It can significantly adjust the adverse effects of a disadvantaged socioeconomic status on improvements in physical and mental health to achieve better health outcomes.

Experimental Study of the Impact of Shadowboxing on Mental Health Status of Middle-aged and Elderly People

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 4665-4671
Author(s):  
Liu Datian
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Special Method ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Normal Transformation ◽  
Set Up ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Objectives: Ageing of population in the society has brought people increasing survival pressure. To promote the development of the harmonious society, people must implement the normal transformation of ageing of population, and improve the physical and mental health of the elderly through a variety of means. Methods: In the paper, the impact of shadowboxing on the physical and mental health of the elderly was analyzed, and explored through related experiments. 100 experimental samples were selected as the research object. The experimental group and control group were set up for further analysis. Experiments were conducted with special method. Results: In the actual research, other conditions were consistent except the shadowboxing and conventional teaching mode. Conclusion: Finally, it was found that shadnwhnxing played positive roles in promoting the mental health of middle-aged and eldeMy people.

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