Exploring the Relationship Between Internet Use and Leisure Satisfaction Among Older Adults

Using the Internet is an important aspect of leisure among older adults, and satisfaction with Internet usage may be conducive to the well-being of older adults. This study explored via questionnaires the relationship between older adults' leisure satisfaction and their affinity for the Internet. A total of 103 older adults were recruited from a local aging agency in a Midwestern city in the United States. The results showed that low and high affinity groups had significantly different means for psychological benefits, educational stimulation, social relationship, and relaxation. The findings suggest that older adults with higher levels of affinity for the Internet are likely to be satisfied with their leisure pursuits. While some studies have reported negative aspects of using the Internet, such as increased depression and loneliness, the present study supports the results from a variety of studies that suggest that using the Internet has positive outcomes for older adults.     

Life Satisfaction of Older Chinese Adults Living in Rural Communities

Guided by the socio-environmental theoretical framework, this study examined factors associated with life satisfaction experienced by older Chinese adults living in rural communities. The data used in this study were extracted from the Sample Survey on Aged Population in Urban/Rural China conducted by the China Research Center on Aging in 2000. This study included 10,084 rural older adults in mainland China. In this study 60.2 % of rural older adults were satisfied with their lives. Results from a multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that life satisfaction reported by rural older Chinese adults was significantly related to education, financial resources, self-rated health, financial support from children, satisfaction with children’s support, house sitting for their children, visiting neighbors, and being invited to dinner by neighbors. Research and policy implications of these findings are also discussed.     

Activity Preferences and Satisfaction Among Older Adults in a Veterans Administration Long-Term Care Facility

Activities can be a nonpharmacological intervention for depression in long-term care. To address the activity needs of men, 183 residents of a VA long-term care facility were surveyed about activity interests, past and present, and activity satisfaction. With a 30% return rate, residents reported 85% overall satisfaction with activities and identified television as the most preferred activity, past and present. Bingo, movies, and listening to music ranked high for current activities. Prayer, reading, and pets increased in popularity. Current satisfaction with flea markets, pool, and gardening decreased from prior levels of satisfaction. Model making and arts and crafts activities were rated poorly. Long-term care facilities may want to expand television-based activities for older men in ways that promote increased socialization and mental activity.     

The Study of the Relationship Between Wellness and Life Satisfaction of Older Adults

This study examines the relationship between the wellness status and life satisfaction of a sample of older adults (N = 180). Data was obtained by administering two instruments, the Self- responsibility for wellness measure (McConatha & McConatha, 1985) and the Life Satisfaction Index (Neugarten, Havighurst & To- bin, 1961). The results indicated that there was a positive significant relationship in the two variables, the implications of these results for the understanding and increasing the life satisfaction of older adults are discussed.     

Predictors of Activity Involvement Among Older Adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of age and other predictors (gender, health status, education, region) on activity participation among older adults. A stratified probability sample of 601 subjects was surveyed with in-depth structured interviews. Data on the frequency of involvement in four types of activity and on potential predictor variables were analyzed. A major finding is that old age per secannot explain lower involvement in any of the four types of activity under study. A canonical correlation analysis confirms previous research findings indicating that health status and education are the primary impediment to leisure participation among older adults.     

Promoting Vitality Among Older Adults With Computers

The impact of computer technology upon older adults is presented in terms of important needs of individuals in the later stages of life. Applications which facilitate communication. access to information, entertainment, learning, health care, and independence are described. Factors limiting the use of computers by the elderly and potential threats to vitality involved in overuse of technology are discussed with an emphasis on the advocacy role of older adults themselves.     

Alcohol Consumption Among Older Adults in Primary Care

Background Alcohol misuse is a growing public health concern for older adults, particularly among primary care patients. Objectives To determine alcohol consumption patterns and the characteristics associated with at-risk drinking in a large sample of elderly primary care patients. Design Cross-sectional analysis of multisite screening data from 6 VA Medical Centers, 2 hospital-based health care networks, and 3 Community Health Centers. Participants Patients, 43,606, aged 65 to 103 years, with scheduled primary care appointments were approached for screening; 27,714 (63.6%) consented to be screened. The final sample of persons with completed screens comprised 24,863 patients. Measurements Quantity and frequency of alcohol use, demographics, social support measures, and measures of depression/anxiety. Results Of the 24,863 older adults screened, 70.0% reported no consumption of alcohol in the past year, 21.5% were moderate drinkers (1–7 drinks/week), 4.1% were at-risk drinkers (8–14 drinks/week), and 4.5% were heavy (>14 drinks/week) or binge drinkers. Heavy drinking showed significant positive association with depressive/anxiety symptoms [Odds ratio (OR) (95% CI): 1.79 (1.30, 2.45)] and less social support [OR (95% CI): 2.01 (1.14, 2.56)]. Heavy drinking combined with binging was similarly positively associated with depressive/anxiety symptoms [OR (95%): 1.70 (1.33, 2.17)] and perceived poor health [OR (95% CI): 1.27 (1.03, 1.57)], while at-risk drinking was not associated with any of these variables. Conclusions The majority of participants were nondrinkers; among alcohol users, at-risk drinkers did not differ significantly from moderate drinkers in their characteristics or for the 3 health parameters evaluated. In contrast, heavy drinking was associated with depression and anxiety and less social support, and heavy drinking combined with binge drinking was associated with depressive/anxiety symptoms and perceived poor health.     

Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults in Mexico City

BACKGROUND  Ageing and depression are associated with disability and have significant consequences for health systems in many other developing countries. Depression prevalence figures among the elderly are scarce in developing countries. OBJECTIVE  To estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their cross-sectional association with selected covariates in a community sample of Mexico City older adults affiliated to the main healthcare provider. DESIGN  Cross-sectional, multistage community survey. PARTICIPANTS  A total of 7,449 persons aged 60 years and older. MEASUREMENTS  Depression was assessed using the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS); cognitive impairment, using the Mini-Mental State Examination; and health-related quality of life with the SF-36 questionnaire. MAIN RESULTS  The prevalence of significant depressive symptoms was estimated to be 21.7%, and 25.3% in those aged 80 and older. After correcting for GDS sensitivity and specificity, major depression prevalence was estimated at 13.2%. Comparisons that follow are adjusted for age, sex, education and stressful life events. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was estimated to be 18.9% in depressed elderly and 13.7% in non-depressed. SF-36 overall scores were 48.0 in depressed participants and 68.2 in non-depressed (adjusted mean difference = −20.2, 95% CI = −21.3, −19.1). Compared to non-depressed elderly, the odds of healthcare utilization were higher among those depressed, both for any health problem (aOR 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.7) and for emotional problems (aOR 2.7, 95% CI = 2.2, 3.2). CONCLUSIONS  According to GDS estimates, one of every eight Mexican older adults had major depressive symptoms. Detection and management of older patients with depression should be a high priority in developing countries.     

Types of Learning Activities and Life Satisfaction among Older Adults in Urban Community-Based Lifelong Learning Programs

Education, lifelong learning activities, and well-being are positively associated. However, significantly less is known about types of learning activities such as participation in organized adult education programs and self-learning among older adults in the same context. Data from 420 older adults from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) were analyzed. Results showed that additional participation in organized education programs was positively associated with life satisfaction among OLLI members. Given the beneficial effects of additional participation in organized adult education programs on life satisfaction, older learners are encouraged to be engaged in more learning activities.     

Walking Cadence and Mortality Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

BACKGROUND

Older adults are encouraged to walk ≥100 steps?minute^?1 for moderate-intensity physical activity (i.e., brisk walking). It is unknown if the ability to walk ≥100 steps?minute^?1 predicts mortality.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the ability to walk ≥100 steps?minute^?1 predicts mortality among older adults.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS

A population-based cohort study among 5,000 older adults from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES III; 1988–1994). Vital status and cause of death were collected through December 31, 2006. Median follow-up was 13.4 years. Average participant age was 70.6 years.

MEASUREMENTS

Walking cadence (steps?minute^?1) was calculated using a timed 2.4-m walk. Walking cadence was dichotomized at 100 steps?minute^?1 (≥100 steps?minute^?1 versus <100 steps?minute^?1) to demarcate the lower threshold of absolutely defined moderate-intensity physical activity. Walking cadence was also analyzed as a continuous variable. Predicted survival was compared between walking cadence and gait speed. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included cardiovascular-specific and cancer-specific mortality and mortality from other causes.

RESULTS

Among 5,000 participants, 3,039 (61 %) walked ≥100 steps?minute^?1. During follow-up, 3,171 subjects died. In multivariable-adjusted analysis, ability to walk ≥100 steps?minute^?1 predicted a 21 % reduction in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.79; 95 % confidence interval [95 % CI], 0.71–0.89, p?p??1 predicted reductions in cardiovascular-specific mortality (HR, 0.79 [0.67–0.92], p?=?0.002), cancer-specific mortality (HR, 0.76 [0.58–0.99], p?=?0.050), and mortality from other causes (HR, 0.82 [0.68–0.97], p?=?0.025). Predicted survival, adjusted for age and sex, was not different using walking cadence versus gait speed.

LIMITATIONS

Walking cadence was a cross-sectional measurement.

CONCLUSIONS

The ability to walk ≥100 steps?minute^?1 predicts a reduction in mortality among a sample of community-dwelling older adults.     

Psychological Resilience to Suicide Ideation Among Older Adults

Memory improvement is a significant concern of the elderly. This paper addresses the costs and benefits of comprehensive non-medical cognitive retraining programs. An administrative cost analysis of one representative cognitive intervention program is presented and benefits in terms of foregone costs of nursing care are quantified.     

Generalized Effects of Skills Training Among Older Adults

No abstract available for this article.     

Naturalistic Assessment of Everyday Memory Performance Among Older Adults

Background/Study Context: Indirect evidence suggests that concerns over the impressions made on others (self-presentational concerns) may be associated with balance-related outcomes in older adults, but no empirical evidence exists to support this speculation. The present study examined the relationship between self-presentational concerns (social anxiety, social physique anxiety, and self-presentational efficacy) and functional mobility, accounting for age, balance confidence, falls, and muscle strength.

Methods: Healthy women (60 years or older; N = 187) completed measures of self-presentational concerns, balance confidence, and fall history, and performed the timed up and go (TUG) test and a test of leg strength. Bivariate correlations were conducted. A hierarchical regression predicted TUG duration from the three self-presentational concerns, controlling for age, balance confidence, falls, and muscle strength to examine the unique variance in TUG duration explained by self-presentational concerns.

Results: Self-presentational efficacy was a significant predictor of TUG duration over and above that of age, balance confidence, falls, and muscle strength. The results also showed significant correlations between social anxiety and self-presentational efficacy and TUG duration, between all three self-presentational concerns and balance confidence, and between social physique anxiety and self-presentational efficacy and falls.

Conclusions: Research is needed to examine the causal relationship between these outcomes. Investigating self-presentational concerns in older women may provide novel ways to impact balance-related outcomes in this population. Practical implications for clinicians are discussed, as the social and physical environment may influence self-presentational concerns in this population and subsequently impact assessment and treatment outcomes.     

Medication and Behavioral Adherence Among HIV+ Older Adults

The purpose of this investigation was to explore HIV medication adherence among older adults. In Study 1, 44 HIV+ adults were recruited from the University of Pennsylvania Center for AIDS Research and interviewed about their health behaviors, including medication adherence. In Study 2, 40 HIV+ adults were surveyed about their communication with their physician and HIV medication and behavioral recommendations. Both studies found that a considerable percentage of participants were not completely adherent to their HIV medications. Furthermore, the majority of participants reported good communication with their physician. The findings of these studies have implications for intervention efforts aimed at increasing adherence to both medications and recommended behaviors among HIV+ older adults.