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INTRODUCTION: Understanding rural-urban differences, and understanding levels of life satisfaction in rural populations, is important in planning social and healthcare services for rural populations. The objectives of this study were to determine patterns of life satisfaction in Canadian rural populations aged 45-85 years, to determine rural-urban differences in life satisfaction across a rural-urban continuum after accounting for potential confounding factors and to determine if related social and health factors of life satisfaction differ in rural and urban populations. METHODS: A secondary analysis was conducted using data from an ongoing population-based cohort study, the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. A cross-sectional sample from the baseline wave of the tracking cohort was used, which was intended to be as generalizable as possible to the Canadian population. Four geographic areas were compared on a rural-urban continuum: rural, mixed (indicating some rural, but could also include some peri-urban areas), peri-urban, and urban. Life satisfaction was measured using the Satisfaction with Life Scale and dichotomized as satisfied versus dissatisfied. Other factors considered were province of residence, age, sex, education, marital status, living arrangement, household income, and chronic conditions. These factors were self-reported. Bivariate analyses using χ2 tests were conducted for categorical variables. Logistic regression models were constructed with the outcome of life satisfaction, after which a series of models were constructed, adjusting for province of residence, age, and sex, for sociodemographic factors, and for health-related factors. To report on differences in the factors associated with life satisfaction in the different areas, logistic regression models were constructed, including main effects for the variable of interest, for the variable rurality, and for the interaction term between these two variables. RESULTS: Individuals living in rural areas were more satisfied with life than their urban counterparts (odds ratio (OR)=1.23; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-1.35), even after accounting for the effect of confounding sociodemographic and health-related factors (OR=1.32, 95%CI: 1.19-1.45). Those living in mixed (OR=1.30, 95%CI: 1.14-1.49) and peri-urban (OR=1.21, 95%CI: 1.07-1.36) areas also reported being more satisfied than those living in urban areas. In addition, a positive association was found between life satisfaction and age, as well as between life satisfaction and being female. A strong graded association was noted between income and life satisfaction. Most chronic conditions were associated with lower life satisfaction. Finally, no major interaction was noted between rurality and each of the previously mentioned different factors associated with life satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Rural-urban differences in life satisfaction were found, with higher levels of life satisfaction in rural populations compared to urban populations. Preventing and treating common chronic illness, and also reducing inequalities in income, may prove useful to improving life satisfaction in both rural and urban areas. Studies of life satisfaction should consider rurality as a potential confounding factor in analyses of life satisfaction within and across societies.
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Satisfação Pessoal , População Rural , Adulto , Envelhecimento , Canadá , Estudos de Coortes , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Estudos Longitudinais , População UrbanaRESUMO
Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine: 1) whether the relationship between social network types, depressive symptoms and life satisfaction is mediated by different types of perceived social support; and, 2) whether social support plays a mediational role for married versus unmarried older adults. Methods: The study was based on national, baseline data (Tracking Cohort) from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging for participants aged 65 to 85 (N = 8782). Five social network types derived from cluster analysis were used as predictors in the mediation analyses, with the four social support subscales of the Medical Outcomes Survey (MOS) Social Support Survey (tangible, emotional, positive social interactions, and affectionate) included as mediators, and depressive symptoms and life satisfaction as outcome variables. Socio-demographic and physical health variables were included as covariates. Results: Significant indirect effects emerged, with less diverse social network structures generally associated with less social support which, in turn, was related to more depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction. However, different findings emerged for different types of social support, for participants who were married and unmarried, and for depressive symptoms versus life satisfaction. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that restricted social networks that are reflective of social isolation, as well as those that are intermediate in terms of their diversity can create gaps in perceived social support and, consequently, can negatively impact mental health and life satisfaction.
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Depressão/psicologia , Satisfação Pessoal , Rede Social , Apoio Social , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Envelhecimento , Canadá , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino , Casamento/psicologiaRESUMO
This study examined potential discriminators of groups of older adults showing different patterns of stability or change in loneliness over 5 years: those who became lonely, overcame loneliness, were persistently lonely, and were persistently not lonely. Discriminant function analysis results showed that the persistently lonely, compared with the persistently not lonely, were more often living alone, widowed, and experiencing poorer health and perceived control. Moreover, changes in living arrangements and perceived control predicted loneliness change. In conclusion, perceiving that one is able to meet social needs is a predictor of loneliness and loneliness change and appears to be more important than people's friendships. Because the predictors were better able to predict entry into loneliness, results point to the promise of prevention approaches to loneliness interventions.
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We investigated the association between pre-COVID-19 memory function and (a) receipt of a COVID-19 test and (b) incidence of COVID-19 using the COVID-19 Questionnaire Study (CQS) of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). The CQS included 28,565 middle-aged and older adults. We regressed receipt of a COVID-19 test on participants' immediate and delayed recall memory scores and re-ran the regression models with COVID-19 incidence as the outcome. All regression models were adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health covariates. In the analytical sample (n = 21,930), higher delayed recall memory (better memory) was significantly associated with lower COVID-19 incidence. However, this association was not significant for immediate recall memory. Immediate and delayed recall memory were not associated with receipt of a COVID-19 test. Health policymakers and practitioners may viewmemory status as a potential risk for COVID-19. Memory status may not be a barrier to COVID-19 testing.
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Based on the World Health Organization Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC) framework, the government of Manitoba, Canada, launched a province-wide age-friendly initiative in 2008. The objective of this study was to explore the sustainability of the AFCC initiative more than a decade later. The study was guided by conceptualizations of sustainability as multidimensional and dynamic, composed of 4 aspects (continued capacity, institutionalization, continued benefits, and development/adaptation), and an ecologic perspective that highlights the importance of contextual influences, and their change over time, on AFCC activities. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study involved a qualitative, multiple case study design. Semistructured interviews were conducted in 2020 with a key informant from each of 52 AFCC. Interview data were analyzed deductively, guided by the sustainability framework and an ecologic perspective. Census data were used to describe the demographic characteristics of AFCC. RESULTS: We identified 6 groups of AFCC initiatives that varied in degree from the most to the least sustainable: active, in hiatus, reorganized, stalled, discontinued, and never got off the ground. Both local community factors (e.g., lack of capacity) and broader contextual factors, such as demographic changes and provincial legislations, influenced initiatives' sustainability. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: AFCC initiatives can range in their degree of sustainability and can wax or wane over time. Ongoing external support for AFCC (e.g., from provincial or state government) to promote the vision of age-friendliness and to address lack of capacity (e.g., to assist with community assessments) could help with the long-term sustainability of initiatives.
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Pesquisa Qualitativa , Canadá , HumanosRESUMO
Introduction: Obesity is an important public health concern, and large studies of rural-urban differences in prevalence of obesity are lacking. Our purpose is to compare body mass index (BMI) and obesity in Canada using an expanded definition of rurality. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of self-reported BMI across diverse communities of Canadians aged 45-85 years was conducted using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), a national sample representative of community-dwelling residents. Rurality was identified in the CLSA based on residential postal codes, which were divided into 4 categories: urban, peri-urban, mixed and rural. Logistic regression models were constructed to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) between obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2 from self-reported weight and height) and rurality, adjusting for age, sex, province, marital status, number of residents in household and household income. Results: Twenty-one thousand one hundred and twenty-six Canadian residents aged 45-85 years, surveyed during 2010-2015, were included. 26.8% were obese. Obesity was less prevalent amongst urban (25.2%) than rural (30.3%, P < 0.0001), mixed (28.7%, P < 0.0001) or peri-urban communities (28.1%, P < 0.0001). When compared to urban areas, the aOR (95% CI) for obesity was 1.09 (1.00-1.20) in rural regions and 1.20 (1.08-1.35) in peri-urban settings. In areas of mixed urban and rural residence, the aOR was 1.12 (0.99-1.27). Conclusion: One in four Canadian adults were obese. Living in a non-urban setting is an independent risk factor for obesity. Rural-urban health disparities could underlie rural-urban differences, but further research is needed.
Résumé Introduction: L'obésité est un important problème de santé publique et des études de grande envergure sur les différences de prévalence de l'obésité entre les régions rurales et urbaines font défaut. Notre objectif est de comparer l'indice de masse corporelle (IMC) et l'obésité au Canada en utilisant une définition élargie de la ruralité. Méthodes: Une analyse transversale de l'IMC autodéclaré dans diverses communautés de Canadiens âgés de 45 à 85 ans a été réalisée à l'aide des données de l'Étude longitudinale canadienne sur le vieillissement (ELCV); un échantillon national représentatif des résidents vivant en communauté. Dans l'ELCV, la ruralité a été identifiée à partir des codes postaux résidentiels, qui ont été divisés en 4 catégories: urbain, périurbain, mixte et rural. Des modèles de régression logistique ont été construits pour calculer les rapports de cotes ajustés (RCa) avec des intervalles de confiance à 95% (95% IC) entre l'obésité (IMC ≥30 kg/m2 à partir du poids et de la taille autodéclarés) et la ruralité, en tenant compte de l'âge, du sexe, de la province, de l'état civil, du nombre de résidents dans le ménage et du revenu du ménage. Résultats: 21 126 résidents canadiens âgés de 45 à 85 ans, interrogés au cours de la période 2010-2015, ont été inclus. 26,8% étaient obèses. L'obésité était moins répandue dans les communautés urbaines (25,2%) que rurales (30,3%, P < 0,0001), mixtes (28,7%, P < 0,0001) ou périurbaines (28,1%, P < 0,0001). Par rapport aux zones urbaines, le RCa (95% IC) pour l'obésité était de 1,09 (1,00, 1,20) dans les régions rurales, et de 1,20 (1,08, 1,35) dans les milieux périurbains. Dans les zones de résidence mixte urbaine et rurale, le RCa était de 1,12 (0,99, 1,27). Conclusion: Un adulte canadien sur quatre était obèse. Le fait de vivre dans un milieu non urbain est un facteur de risque indépendant d'obésité. Les disparités en matière de santé entre les régions rurales et urbaines pourraient être à l'origine de ces différences, mais des recherches supplémentaires sont nécessaires. Mots-clés: Rural, Obésité, Indice de masse corporelle, ELCV.
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Obesidade , População Rural , Adulto , Envelhecimento , Índice de Massa Corporal , Canadá/epidemiologia , Estudos Transversais , Humanos , Estudos Longitudinais , Obesidade/epidemiologia , Prevalência , População UrbanaRESUMO
PURPOSE: To document the prevalence of functional impairment in middle-aged and older adults from rural regions and to determine urban-rural differences. METHODS: We have conducted a secondary analysis using data from an ongoing population-based cohort study, the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). We used a cross-sectional sample from the baseline wave of the "tracking cohort." The definition of rurality was the same as the one used in the CLSA sampling frame and based on the 2006 census. This definition includes rural areas, defined as all territory lying outside of population centers, and population centers, which collectively cover all of Canada. We grouped these into "Urban," "Peri-urban," "Mixed" (areas with both rural and urban areas), and "Rural," and compared functional status across these groups. Functional status was measured using the Older Americans Resource Survey (OARS) and categorized as not impaired versus having any functional impairment. Logistic regression models were constructed for the outcome of functional status and adjusted for covariates. FINDINGS: No differences were found in functional status between those living in rural, mixed, peri-urban, and urban areas in unadjusted analyses and in analyses adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors. There were no rural-urban differences in any of the individual items on the OARS scales. CONCLUSIONS: We found no rural-urban differences in functional status.
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Estado Funcional , População Rural , Idoso , Envelhecimento , Canadá/epidemiologia , Estudos de Coortes , Estudos Transversais , Humanos , Estudos Longitudinais , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores Socioeconômicos , População UrbanaRESUMO
Public health and media discourses have often portrayed older adults as a vulnerable group during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, some emerging research is showing that older adults are faring better in terms of their mental health when compared to their younger counterparts. Understanding older adults' mental well-being during the pandemic requires in-depth exploration of the different place-based resources and systems around them. In particular, rural older adults face distinct challenges and opportunities related to accessing valued resources to promote their well-being. Drawing together research on aging and multi-systemic resilience, we explored what strategies, resources, and processes rural older adults valued in the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. A series of 51 semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted from May to August 2020 with 26 rural older adults in Manitoba, Canada. Despite adversities, participants drew on and developed resources at the individual, local, community, institutional, and societal level to support their well-being. Specifically, they identified individual strategies (e.g., positivity, acceptance, and gratitude), resources in their immediate environments (e.g., opportunities to keep busy, connect with friends, family and neighbours, and outdoor visits), and community organizations that contributed to their well-being. They also identified broader systems that shaped their resilience processes, such as access to health services, opportunities to volunteer and support others, media stories, reliable information, and public health policies and practices that value older adult lives. Importantly, some resources were less accessible to some participants, highlighting the need to develop strategies that address inequitable resources at different levels. By describing rural older adults' resilience we seek to advance the growing body of research in relation to social ecological resilience that moves beyond a focus on individual characteristics to include understanding of the role of material, social, and cultural contexts.
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COVID-19 , Idoso , Humanos , Saúde Mental , Pandemias , População Rural , Meio SocialRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The objective is to determine the use of health-care services (physician visits, emergency department use and hospitalisations) in rural areas and examine differences in four geographic areas on a rural to urban spectrum. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from a population-based prospective cohort study, the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). Participants included community-dwelling adults aged 45-85 years old from the tracking cohort of the CLSA (n = 21,241). Rurality was classified based on definitions from the CLSA sampling frame and similar to the 2006 census. Main outcome measures included self-reported family physician and specialist visits, emergency department visits and hospitalisations within the previous 12 months. Results were compared for four geographic areas on a rural-urban continuum. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed on data from the 'tracking cohort' of the CLSA, Chi-square tests were used for categorical variables. Logistic regression models were created for the main outcome measures. RESULTS: Participants in rural and mixed rural and urban areas were less likely to have seen a family physician or a specialist physician compared to urban areas. Those living in rural and peri-urban areas were more likely to visit an emergency department compared to urban areas. These differences persisted after adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related variables. There were no significant rural-urban differences in hospitalisations. CONCLUSION: Rural-urban differences were found in visits to family physicians, specialists and emergency departments.
Objectif: Déterminer l'utilisation des services de santé (consultations chez un médecin, visites à l'urgence et hospitalisations) dans les régions rurales et examiner les différences dans 4 régions géographiques sur un spectre rural-urbain. Méthodologie: Nous avons réalisé une analyse secondaire des données transversales tirées d'une étude de cohorte prospective de population, l'étude CLSA (Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging). La population était composée d'adultes vivant en communauté de 45 à 85 ans ayant participé à la cohorte de suivi de l'étude CLSA (N = 21 241). La ruralité était classée en fonction des définitions du cadre d'échantillonnage de l'étude CLSA et était semblable au recensement de 2006. Les principaux paramètres d'évaluation étaient les consultations rapportées par les patients chez un médecin de famille et un spécialiste, les visites à l'urgence et les hospitalisations durant les 12 mois précédents. Les résultats ont été comparés sur un continuum rural-urbain dans 4 régions géographiques. Des analyses univariées et bivariées ont été réalisées sur les données de la " cohorte de suivi " de l'étude CLSA, les tests de chi carré ont été utilisés pour les variables catégoriques. Des modèles de régression logistique ont été créés pour les principaux paramètres d'évaluation. Résultats: Les participants des régions rurales et mixtes rurales-urbaines avaient moins tendance à avoir vu un médecin de famille ou un spécialiste comparativement aux participants des régions urbaines. Les sujets des régions rurales et périurbaines avaient plus tendance à s'être rendus à l'urgence comparativement aux sujets des régions urbaines. Ces différences ont persisté après ajustement en fonction des variables sociodémographiques et liées à la santé. On n'a observé aucune différence significative des hospitalisations entre les régions rurales et urbaines. Conclusion: Des différences entre les régions rurales et urbaines ont été observées pour les consultations aux médecins de famille et aux spécialistes, et les visites à l'urgence. Mots-clés: Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, disparités rurales-urbaines, visites chez le médecin, hospitalisations, utilisation des soins de santé.
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Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde , População Rural , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Envelhecimento , Canadá , Estudos Transversais , Humanos , Estudos Longitudinais , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Prospectivos , População UrbanaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Previous studies on depression in rural areas have yielded conflicting results. Features of rural areas may be conducive or detrimental to mental health. Our objective for this study was to determine if there are rural-urban disparities in depressive symptoms between those living in rural and urban areas of Canada. DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort study, which is as representative as possible of the Canadian population-the Tracking Cohort of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. For this cohort, data were collected from 2010 to 2014. Data were analysed and results were obtained in 2020. PARTICIPANTS: 21 241 adults aged 45-85. MEASURES: Rurality was grouped as urban (n=11 772); peri-urban (n=2637); mixed (n=2125; postal codes with both rural and urban areas); and rural (n=4707). Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression. We considered age, sex, education, marital status and disease states as potential confounding factors. RESULTS: The adjusted beta coefficient was -0.24 (95% CI -0.42 to -0.07; p=0.01) for rural participants, -0.17 (95% CI -0.40 to 0.05; p=0.14) for peri-urban participants and -0.30 (95% CI -0.54 to -0.05; p=0.02) for participants in mixed regions, relative to urban regions. Risk factors associated with depressive symptoms were similar in rural and urban regions. CONCLUSIONS: The small differences in depressive symptoms among those living in rural and urban regions are unlikely to be relevant at a clinical or population level. The findings do suggest some possible approaches to reducing depressive symptoms in both rural and urban populations. Future research is needed in other settings and on change in depressive symptoms over time.
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Depressão , População Rural , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Envelhecimento , Canadá/epidemiologia , Estudos Transversais , Depressão/epidemiologia , Depressão/etiologia , Humanos , Estudos Longitudinais , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Prospectivos , População UrbanaRESUMO
Older adults have been described as a vulnerable group in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Canada, where this study took place, older adults have been encouraged to self-isolate while the rest of the population has been cautioned against in-person contact with them. Prior to COVID-19, social isolation and loneliness among older adults was considered a serious public health concern. Using a series of semi-structured interviews with 26 community-dwelling older adults (65+) living in rural Manitoba, we explore older adults' experiences of isolation and loneliness in the initial stages of the pandemic between the months of May and July 2020. Participants identified a loss of autonomy, loss of activities and social spaces (e.g., having coffee or eating out, volunteering, and going to church), and lack of meaningful connection at home as factors influencing their sense of isolation and loneliness. Although these loses initially influenced participants' self-reported isolation and loneliness, the majority developed strategies to mitigate isolation and loneliness, such as drawing on past experiences of isolation, engaging in physically distanced visits, connecting remotely, and "keeping busy." Our findings call attention to the role of different environments and resources in supporting older adults social and emotional wellbeing, particularly as they adapt to changes in social contact over time.
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COVID-19 , Solidão , Idoso , Canadá , Humanos , Manitoba/epidemiologia , Pandemias , SARS-CoV-2 , Isolamento SocialRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Although a large body of research has focused on social isolation and loneliness, few studies have examined social isolation and loneliness together. The objectives of this study were to examine: 1) the relationship between four groups derived from combining social isolation and loneliness (socially isolated and lonely; only socially isolated; only lonely; neither socially isolated nor lonely) and the desire for more social participation, and social support; and 2) the relationship between the four groups and psychological distress. METHODS: The study was based on the Comprehensive Cohort of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Using CLSA baseline data (unweighted N = 30,079), ordinary and logistic regression analysis was used to examine the cross-sectional relationship between the four social isolation/loneliness groups and desire for more social participation and four types of social support (tangible, positive interaction, affection, and emotional support). Prospective logistic regression analysis was possible for psychological distress, which was derived from the Maintaining Contact Questionnaire administered about 18 months after the baseline questionnaire (unweighted N = 28,789). RESULTS: Findings indicate that being socially isolated and lonely was associated with the most social support gaps; this group also had an increased likelihood of psychological distress, relative to those who were neither socially isolated nor lonely. Participants who were only socially isolated, and those only lonely also perceived some social support gaps. In addition, the only lonely group was more likely to be psychologically distressed than the only socially isolated group and the neither isolated nor lonely group. CONCLUSION: Examining the four social isolation/loneliness was useful, as it provided more nuanced risk profiles than would have been possible had we examined social isolation and loneliness separately. Findings may suggest avenues for interventions tailored to the unique needs of at-risk individuals.
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Envelhecimento/psicologia , Solidão/psicologia , Angústia Psicológica , Isolamento Social/psicologia , Apoio Social , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Canadá , Feminino , Humanos , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
BACKGROUND: A large body of research shows that social isolation and loneliness have detrimental health consequences. Identifying individuals at risk of social isolation or loneliness is, therefore, important. The objective of this study was to examine personal (e.g., sex, income) and geographic (rural/urban and sociodemographic) factors and their association with social isolation and loneliness in a national sample of Canadians aged 45 to 85 years. METHODS: The study involved cross-sectional analyses of baseline data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging that were linked to 2016 census data at the Forward Sortation Area (FSA) level. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between personal factors and geographic factors and social isolation and loneliness for the total sample, and women and men, respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence of social isolation and loneliness was 5.1% and 10.2%, respectively, but varied substantially across personal characteristics. Personal characteristics (age, sex, education, income, functional impairment, chronic diseases) were significantly related to both social isolation and loneliness, although some differences emerged in the direction of the relationships for the two measures. Associations also differed somewhat for women versus men. Associations between some geographic factors emerged for social isolation, but not loneliness. Living in an urban core was related to increased odds of social isolation, an effect that was no longer significant when FSA-level factors were controlled for. FSAs with a higher percentage of 65+ year old residents with low income were consistently associated with higher odds of social isolation. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that socially isolated individuals are, to some extent, clustered into areas with a high proportion of low-income older adults, suggesting that support and resources could be targeted at these areas. For loneliness, the focus may be less on where people live, but rather on personal characteristics that place individuals at risk.
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Envelhecimento/psicologia , Solidão/psicologia , Isolamento Social/psicologia , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Canadá , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Geografia , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores de Risco , População Rural , Fatores Socioeconômicos , População UrbanaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The present study of a representative sample of older adults quantified everyday physical activity (EPA) by having participants wear actigraphs. Our objectives were to examine whether poor health may partly explain why older adults become less physically active with advancing age and whether gender might moderate the extent to which health status predicts EPA. METHODS: We performed multiple regression analyses on a sample of older, community-dwelling adults (aged 80-98 years, N = 198; women = 63.1%). RESULTS: The results imply that age-related declines in EPA may be partially accounted for by health (in men) and by living arrangements (in women). DISCUSSION: We consider reasons why poorer health might erode EPA for men (but not women) and why living alone might erode EPA for women (but not men).
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Atividades Cotidianas , Envelhecimento/psicologia , Identidade de Gênero , Atividade Motora , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Atitude Frente a Saúde , Doença Crônica/psicologia , Feminino , Avaliação Geriátrica , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Humanos , Masculino , Manitoba , Fatores de Risco , Meio SocialRESUMO
Objective. This study examines the extent to which optimism, control beliefs and motivation, and downward social comparison contribute independently to the maintenance of older adults positive self-evaluations in a functional domain. Method. Adaptive resources/strategies and life satisfaction were measured in personal interviews with 164 community-dwelling older adults. Participants judged their physical activity compared with the average person of their age and wore an accelerometer for 24 hours. Commonality analysis was used to estimate unique versus shared effects of the resource/strategy variables on a residual measure of self-enhancement, obtained by adjusting the comparative judgments for participants' age and objectively measured physical activity. Results. Self-enhancement was positively related to life satisfaction. Perceived control and optimism had shared positive effects on self-enhancement, whereas downward social comparison had a unique positive effect. Discussion. Self-enhancement of physical activity plays a part in at least two adaptive profiles with implications for older adults' well-being and health.
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Adaptação Psicológica , Atitude , Monitorização Fisiológica/psicologia , Atividade Motora , Satisfação Pessoal , Aptidão Física , Qualidade de Vida/psicologia , Autoimagem , Aceleração , Atividades Cotidianas , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Exercício Físico , Comportamentos Relacionados com a Saúde , Humanos , Julgamento , Meio Social , SociologiaRESUMO
It is well-documented that social isolation is detrimental to health and well-being. What is less clear is what types of social networks allow older adults to get the social support they need to promote health and well-being. In this study, we identified social network types in a national sample of older Canadians and explored whether they are associated with perceived availability of different types of social support (affectionate, emotional, or tangible, and positive social interactions). Data were drawn from the baseline questionnaire of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging for participants aged 65-85 (unweighted n = 8,782). Cluster analyses revealed six social network groups. Social support generally declined as social networks became more restricted; however, different patterns of social support availability emerged for different social network groups. These findings suggest that certain types of social networks place older adults at risk of not having met specific social support needs.
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Isolamento Social/psicologia , Rede Social , Apoio Social , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Análise de Variância , Canadá , Análise por Conglomerados , Características da Família , Feminino , Amigos , Nível de Saúde , Humanos , Relações Interpessoais , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino , Medição de Risco , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
Falling is common among older adults, often resulting in decreased functional ability and quality of life. To understand processes underlying the fall/health and well-being relationship, it is important to identify psychosocial mediators. The current study examined the impact of falling on subsequent physical health, negative emotions and physical activity among 231 young-old (<85) and old-old (85+) community-dwelling adults, and the mediating effects of global perceived control (PC) and optimism. Regression results indicated that falling predicted poorer physical health, greater negative emotions and less physical activity among old-old but not young-old adults. Falling negatively predicted PC and optimism, which mediated the effects of falling on health and well-being among the old-old group. Findings have implications for enhancing recovery from falling via bolstering PC and optimism.
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Acidentes por Quedas , Adaptação Psicológica , Negativismo , Qualidade de Vida/psicologia , Autoeficácia , Perfil de Impacto da Doença , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Humanos , Controle Interno-Externo , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino , Manitoba , Atividade Motora , Estados UnidosRESUMO
As older adults become more susceptible to certain health crises, their preoccupation with their risk of suffering such events increases. Understanding the implications of risk perceptions is critical because they may have consequences for psychological and physical well-being in later life. In the present study of older adults living in the community, the authors examined participants' comparative risk estimates (CREs)--their perceptions of their own risk relative to a similar other's risk--of suffering a hip fracture. Using multiple regression analyses, the authors examined the role of CREs on psychological well-being (negative emotions, life satisfaction) and self-rated physical well-being (general physical health, recent physical health). The authors expected perceived control (PC) to moderate the relationship between CREs and well-being. The predicted interaction did occur: Among individuals with high PC, comparative optimism (perceiving a comparatively low risk) was associated with better psychological well-being (fewer negative emotions and greater life satisfaction) and better physical well-being (general and recent physical health) relative to comparative pessimism (perceiving a comparatively high risk). Among individuals with low PC, there were no differences in well-being between comparative optimists and comparative pessimists. These findings suggest that the protective effect of comparative optimism on well-being is limited to older adults who have a strong sense of control.
Assuntos
Atitude Frente a Saúde , Nível de Saúde , Autoeficácia , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Acontecimentos que Mudam a Vida , Masculino , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
The notion of age-friendliness is gaining increasing attention from policy makers and researchers. In this study, we examine the congruence between two types of age-friendly surveys: subjective assessments by community residents versus objective assessments by municipal officials. The study was based on data from 39 mostly rural communities in Manitoba, Canada, in which a municipal official and residents (M= 25 residents per community) completed a survey to assess age-friendly features in a range of domains, such as transportation and housing. Congruence between the two surveys was generally good, although the municipal official survey consistently overestimated communities' age-friendliness, relative to residents' ratings. The findings suggest that a survey completed by municipal officials can provide a reasonable assessment of age-friendliness that may be useful for certain purposes, such as cross-community comparisons. However, some caution is warranted when using only these surveys for community development, as they may not adequately reflect residents' views.
Assuntos
Planejamento Ambiental/tendências , Habitação , Vida Independente , Características de Residência , População Rural , Meios de Transporte , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Canadá , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Análise de Regressão , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This study examined how important walking to amenities (e.g., food store, park) is to middle-aged and older adults and whether this relates to walking. The relationship between walking to amenities and overall activity level was also explored. METHOD: The study was based on interviews conducted with 778 individuals aged 45 to 94 years. Overall activity level was measured objectively using pedometers. RESULTS: A large proportion of participants did not think it was very important to have amenities within walking distance, and the majority of participants drove to get there, even among individuals who reported it was very important to have the amenities within walking distance. Self-reported walking to certain amenities (e.g., park) was associated with overall activity. DISCUSSION: The study underscores the impact of a car culture where the tendency to drive is paramount. It suggests the need to promote the importance of walking as part of an active, healthy lifestyle.