Sex differences in thermophysiological responses of elderly to low-intensity exercise during uncompensable heat strain.

PURPOSE: The rising frequency of extreme heat events poses an escalating threat of heat-related illnesses and fatalities, placing an additional strain on global healthcare systems. Whether the risk of heat-related issues is sex specific, particularly among the elderly, remains uncertain. METHODS: 16 men and 15 women of similar age (69 ± 5 years) were exposed to an air temperature of 39.1 ± 0.3 °C and a relative humidity (RH) of 25.1 ± 1.9%, during 20 min of seated rest and at least 40 min of low-intensity (10 W) cycling exercise. RH was gradually increased by 2% every 5 min starting at minute 30. We measured sweat rate, heart rate, thermal sensation, and the rise in gastrointestinal temperature (Tgi) and skin temperature (Tsk). RESULTS: Tgi consistently increased from minute 30 to 60, with no significant difference between females and males (0.012 ± 0.004 °C/min vs. 0.011 ± 0.005 °C/min; p = 0.64). Similarly, Tsk increase did not differ between females and males (0.044 ± 0.007 °C/min vs. 0.038 ± 0.011 °C/min; p = 0.07). Females exhibited lower sweat rates than males (0.29 ± 0.06 vs. 0.45 ± 0.14 mg/m2/min; p < 0.001) in particular at relative humidities exceeding 30%. No sex differences in heart rate and thermal sensation were observed. CONCLUSION: Elderly females exhibit significantly lower sweat rates than their male counterparts during low-intensity exercise at ambient temperatures of 39 °C when humidity exceeds 30%. However, both elderly males and females demonstrate a comparable rise in core temperature, skin temperature, and mean body temperature, indicating similar health-related risks associated with heat exposure.

Parents grieving the loss of their child: interdependence in coping.

OBJECTIVES: A longitudinal study was conducted among bereaved parents, to examine the relationship between parents' own and their partners' ways of coping in terms of the constructs loss-orientation and restoration-orientation (coping strategies based on the bereavement-specific Dual Process Model (Stroebe & Schut, 1999)), and psychological adjustment following the death of their child. METHOD: 219 couples participated at 6, 13 and 20 months post-loss. Use of the Actor Partner Interdependence Model within multi-level regression analyses enabled assessment of both actor as well as partner effects, and permitted differentiating these effects according to the gender of the parent. RESULTS: Loss-orientation was predictive of negative psychological adjustment, while restoration-orientation was related to better adjustment. Furthermore, high levels of restoration-oriented coping buffered the negative effect of high levels of loss-orientation on depression. In the interpersonal context, results indicated that for men, having a female partner high in restoration-oriented coping was related to positive adjustment. CONCLUSION: In coping with the loss of their child, intra-personal as well as interpersonal processes are relevant for the adjustment process of parents after the loss of their child.

Patterns of attachment and parents' adjustment to the death of their child.

The impact of adult attachment on psychological adjustment among bereaved parents and the mediating effect of relationship satisfaction were examined among a sample of 219 couples of parents. Data collection took place 6, 13, and 20 months after loss. Use of the actor partner interdependence model in multilevel regression analysis enabled exploration of both individual as well as partner attachment as predictors of grief and depression. Results indicated that the more insecurely attached parents were (on both avoidance and anxiety attachment), the higher the symptoms of grief and depression. Neither the attachment pattern of the partner nor similarity of attachment within the couple had any influence on psychological adjustment of the parent. Marital satisfaction partially mediated the association of anxious attachment with symptomatology. Contrary to previous research findings, avoidant attachment was associated with high grief intensity. These findings challenge the notion that the avoidantly attached are resilient.

Couples at risk following the death of their child: predictors of grief versus depression.

This longitudinal study examined the relative impact of major variables for predicting adjustment (in terms of both grief and depression) among bereaved parents following the death of their child. Couples (N = 219) participated 6, 13, and 20 months postloss. Use of multilevel regression analyses enabled assessment of the impact of several predictors and facilitated analysis of factors that were either shared by parents or individual. Grief was predicted mainly by shared parent factors: child's age, cause and unexpectedness of death, and number of remaining children. By contrast, depression was predicted by individual parent factors: gender, religious affiliation, and professional help seeking. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

The impact of circumstances surrounding the death of a child on parents' grief.

A longitudinal study was conducted among bereaved parents to examine the relationship between the circumstances surrounding the death of their child and psychological adjustment. Two hundred nineteen couples participated at 6, 13, and 20 months post-loss. Examination was made of two categories of factors: those that were determined by the particular death circumstances (e.g., whether the parent was present at the death) versus those over which parents themselves could have influence (e.g., choice of cremation or burial). Results indicated that some but not all factors were related to adjustment over time. Importantly, the feeling of having said goodbye to the child and presenting the body for viewing at home were associated with lower levels of the parents' grief. Implications for supporting bereaved parents are discussed.