Exploring the Association Between Affect and Leisure Activity Engagement in Black Adults.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined engagement levels across various domains of leisure activities in community-dwelling Black adults (age range = 50-80 years) and variability in daily leisure activity engagement and positive affect (PA; positive emotions or mood) and negative affect (NA; negative emotions or mood). Additionally, we explored whether PA and NA were associated with leisure activity engagement and whether these associations varied by sociodemographics. METHODS: Fifty adults (78% women; mean education = 11.62 years, standard deviation = 2.4) reported affect and leisure activity engagement over 8 occasions (2-3 weeks). RESULTS: Participants averaged 3 leisure activities/day with more engagement in watching television (news), walking, reading, and visiting others. Multilevel models identified significant within-person variation across domains of leisure activity engagement. A significant main effect was observed between daily NA and reduced social activity engagement. A significant interaction between NA and education was further illustrated on those occasions when NA was higher than usual, social and total leisure activity engagement tended to be lower, particularly for adults with ≤10 years of education. A significant interaction between NA and education was observed for entertainment activities. However, results indicated adults with ≥14 years of education, and a mean NA above the sample average, tended to engage in more entertainment activities. Finally, a significant interaction between PA and age was observed indicating adults aged ≥73 had a greater social engagement, particularly when daily PA was heightened. DISCUSSION: Results demonstrate within-person changes in the types of leisure engagement among Black adults. Potential factors related to these changes may result from interconnections between affect and demographic factors (age and education).

Correlates of Life Satisfaction Among Middle-Aged and Older Black Adults.

BACKGROUND: This study examines satisfaction across life domains (condition of the home, city of residence, daily life/leisure, family life, current financial situation, total household income, health, and life as a whole) among Black adults. The study also explores the association between satisfaction in each life domain and sociodemographic, personality, and mental/physical health measures. METHODS: A community-dwelling sample of Black adults (n = 93, age range = 55-80) residing in the Tampa, FL area, completed a life satisfaction scale and measures of sociodemographic factors, personality, and mental/physical health between October 2014 and June 2016. RESULTS: Better life satisfaction was observed in the oldest-old (80+) compared with the middle-aged (55-64; p < .05). Less education, less financial strain, lower depressive symptoms, and better self-rated physical health were associated with higher satisfaction although the pattern of results varied by domain. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the evaluation of life satisfaction domains may be a useful approach for identifying specific individual needs, which may inform age-friendly community initiatives.

Cross-Sectional Examination of Musculoskeletal Pain and Physical Function in a Racially and Socioeconomically Diverse Sample of Adults.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal pain alters physiological function, which may be evidenced as early as middle age. Previous research has concluded that middle-aged adults are a high-risk group for musculoskeletal pain and report functional limitations similar to older adults. However, few studies have examined the relationships between musculoskeletal pain and physical function, using objective performance measures in a sample of racially and socioeconomically diverse adults. Thus, this study examined musculoskeletal pain in relation to physical function in middle-aged (30-64 years) White and Black adults and investigated whether the relationship varied by sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: This cross-sectional examination incorporated data from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life-Span Study. Participants (n = 875) completed measures of musculoskeletal pain and objective measures of physical performance (ie, lower and upper body strength, balance, and gait abnormalities). Physical performance measures were standardized to derive a global measure of physical function as the dependent variable. RESULTS: Approximately, 59% of participants identified at least 1 pain sites (n = 518). Multivariable regression analyses identified significant relationships between greater musculoskeletal pain and poorer physical function (ß = -0.07, p = .031), in mid midlife (ß = -0.04, p = .041; age 40-54) and late midlife (ß = -0.05, p = .027; age 55-64). CONCLUSIONS: This study observed that musculoskeletal pain was associated with poorer physical function within a diverse group of middle-aged adults. Future research should longitudinally explore whether chronic musculoskeletal pain identified at younger ages is associated with greater risk for functional limitation and dependence in later life.

Older Black Adults' Satisfaction and Anxiety Levels After Completing Alternative Versus Traditional Cognitive Batteries.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine satisfaction, test anxiety, and performance using computer-based cognitive batteries versus a paper-and-pencil neuropsychological battery among older Blacks. METHOD: Self-identified Black adults (n = 87, age range: 55-86; mean education = 14) completed two computer-based tests (CogState and Joggle) and a paper-and-pencil neuropsychological battery. After each battery, participants reported their testing anxiety and satisfaction using the batteries. Descriptive, correlational, and regression analyses compared satisfaction, anxiety, and performance across the batteries. RESULTS: Majority of the participants reported more satisfaction with the computer-based (Joggle: 66%; CogState: 77%) than the neuropsychological (52%) battery. Participants also reported less testing anxiety after completing the computer-based batteries than the neuropsychological battery, F(2, 172) = 22.96, p < .001. Older adults' familiarity and comfort level with the computer were not associated with their performance on the computer-based tests (p > .05). Although testing anxiety was not associated with performance across the batteries, age and education quality were uniquely associated with performance on the CogState and neuropsychological batteries. CONCLUSIONS: Computer-based cognitive batteries appear to be less intimidating than the commonly used paper-and-pencil neuropsychological tests for Black adults. Thus, these cognitive batteries may be useful tools for monitoring older Blacks' cognitive status.

Facets of personality related to sleep habits in Black adults.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between personality traits and sleep in community-dwelling older Blacks, and to examine whether conscientiousness moderates relationships between neuroticism and sleep (quality and duration) within this cohort. METHOD: Black adults (age range: 55-86 years) residing in the Tampa Bay Area, Florida, completed the Big Five Inventory to examine broad personality traits (e.g., neuroticism) and specific facets (e.g., anxiety or depression) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to evaluate sleep habits and quality. RESULTS: Ninety-three participants (Mean age: 66.6, standard deviation: 7.4) were included in the final sample. High neuroticism, low extraversion, low conscientiousness, and low openness were each significantly associated with worse overall sleep habits. Individuals high on the facets for neuroticism (e.g., anxiety, depression) and/or low for extraversion (e.g., assertiveness), conscientiousness (e.g., self-discipline and order), and openness (e.g., aesthetics and ideas) were more likely to report poorer sleep. However, only neuroticism and extraversion each remained significantly associated with worse sleep in our regression models adjusting for demographic and health covariates. Adults with both higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness indicated a greater likelihood for experiencing daytime dysfunction within this population. CONCLUSIONS: Recognizing specific personality traits associated with disrupted sleep, particularly in those who self-identify as Black, may enhance the ability of sleep clinicians to diagnose and deliver more personalized treatments and interventions (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy). The present study's findings further support existing literature, suggesting that clinicians should incorporate personality assessments to identify individuals most susceptible to severe sleep disturbances.

The association between educational parameters and a cognitive screening measure in older blacks.

ABSTRACTBackground:To expand on prior literature by examining how various education parameters (performance-based reading literacy, years of education, and self-rated quality of education) relate to a cognitive screening measure's total and subscale scores of specific cognitive abilities. METHODS: Black adults (age range: 55-86) were administered self-rated items years of education and quality of education, and a measure of performance-based reading literacy. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to screen for overall cognitive functioning as well as performance on specific cognitive abilities. RESULTS: Sixty-nine percent of the sample had reading grade levels that were less than their reported years of education. Lower years of education and worse reading literacy are associated with poorer MMSE performance, particularly on the attention and calculation subscales. CONCLUSIONS: Years of education, a commonly used measure for education, may not be reflective of Black adults' educational experiences/qualities. Thus, it is important to account for the unique educational experiences of adults that could influence their MMSE performance. Incorporating quality and quantity of education will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the individual's performance on cognitive measures, specifically as it relates to sociocultural differences.