We investigate whether volunteering is associated with a reduced risk of first heart attack in later life and whether purpose in life moderates this relationship. Cox proportional hazards were used to examine seven waves of data (2006-2018) from the Health and Retirement Study-a nationally representative survey of adults 50 years and older ( = 5,079). Volunteering a moderate number of hours was associated with a 46% lower risk of heart attack compared to non-volunteers. The association between high time-commitment volunteering and heart attack risk was contingent on level of purpose in life: compared to non-volunteers, people with high purpose in life who volunteered 100 + hours had the lowest risk of heart attack. Meaningful volunteer activities may be one way for older adults to reduce their risk of heart attack.

This study examined differences in middle-aged adults' preferred features of their current versus future residential environments and how these differences varied by health and social characteristics. A sample of 1,651 Korean middle-aged adults (aged 49-64) rated their preferences for each of 12 features (e.g., proximity to family/relatives, house price) regarding current and future residential environments, separately. Respondents considered "accessibility to health services" and "opportunity for leisure activities" more important for future residential environments than for current ones. Respondents with poorer health considered features that help them compensate for health decline more important, while those who contacted friends/neighbors more frequently and participated in more cultural activities considered features that help them maintain their social interactions more important for future residential environments than the past. Our findings identified middle-aged adults' various demands for residential features after retirement, which reflect their strategic reactions to future needs for successful adaptation in later years.

Recent decades have seen state successes in rebalancing Medicaid long-term care from institutional care (e.g., nursing homes) into home and community settings. However, significant barriers can prevent access to home and community-based services (HCBS) among older adults and persons with dementia. Qualitative research on potential innovations and solutions in the contemporary context with attention to a wider range of state-level policy contexts is limited. Drawing on interviews with 49 key informants including state Medicaid officials, HCBS providers, and advocates for persons with dementia across 11 states, we examined perceived solutions to barriers. Key informants articulated a range of potential solutions and innovations, ranging from tangible or realized policy changes to 'magic wand' solutions. Policy research has typically focused on the former; excluding the latter may miss opportunities to envision and design a more effective long-term care system for persons living with dementia and older adults.

We examined whether religious involvement was associated with cognitive function among older adults in the 2006-2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Using growth curve analysis, we found the association between religious involvement and cognition varied by facet of religious involvement and race and Hispanic ethnicity. Attending religious services with friends was associated with higher initial levels of cognitive function (b = 0.22, < .05). For Hispanic older adults, frequent attendance at religious services was associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline (b = 0.16, < .01). Stratified models by race and Hispanic ethnicity demonstrated that religious salience was associated with lower initial levels of cognitive function among non-Hispanic White adults (b = -0.19, < .01). We found no association between religious involvement and cognitive function among non-Hispanic Black respondents. In sum, elements of religious involvement are positively or negatively related to cognitive function in later life and vary by race and ethnicity.

Shared appraisals and collaboration within couples play important roles in optimizing health. Less is known about concordance regarding collaboration, factors associated with concordance, and implications for health. Data from 2,761 couples from the (2014/2016 and 2016/2018 waves) were examined to determine within-couple concordance in completion of two tasks (family decisions and medical forms). The majority of couples were concordant regarding who makes family decisions (69.7%) and who completes medical forms (64.4%); 62% agreed they make family decisions collaboratively versus 25.5% completing medical forms collaboratively. Concordance was significantly associated with greater marital support and longer marital duration. Concordance was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms 2 years later, but the link between concordance in making major family decisions and self-rated health differed by age and gender. Future research at the intersection of concordance and collaboration may shed important light on how older couples navigate tasks and decisions.

This study examines religiosity patterns across childhood and later adulthood and their associations with later-life health using an experimental module from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study ( = 1649; Mean Age = 64.0). Latent class analysis is used to categorize individuals by commonalities in religious attendance, religious identity, and spiritual identity. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations are then explored using probable depression, disability, and mortality as health indicators. Results reveal complex patterns, often characterized by declining attendance and fluctuating identity. Relationships with health appear stronger in cross-sectional analyses, suggesting that some associations may be non-causal. Individuals with consistently strong religiosity show significantly better psychological health compared to their relatively non-religious counterparts. Moreover, the absence of religiosity in later adulthood is associated with an increased risk of mortality. Overall, the findings support the promotion of religiosity whilst acknowledging individual variations and highlighting the need for more individualistic approaches to the study of religion and health.

Unidimensional measures of sexual and gender identity are most often used in research. Yet, sexuality and gender are defined by complex characteristics. Guided by the Health Equity Promotion Model, we assess multidimensional properties of sexual and gender identity. This study utilizes 2016 survey data from Aging with Pride: National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study (NHAS) to investigate properties of identity (affirmation, visibility, centrality, integration, congruence, continua, transformation) and their association with multimorbidity, disability, general health, depression, quality of life among SGM adults ( = 2233), 50 and older. Higher affirmation, centrality, congruence, and transformation were associated with better health, while identity integration and continua were associated with some adverse health outcomes. Bisexual men, sexually diverse and transgender individuals had the lowest identity centrality and visibility. The findings necessitate a multidimensional approach to identity and the use of measures that are comprehensive and responsive to sexual and gender diversity.

This study examines whether age-related cognitive decline varies by race/ethnicity and how edentulism moderates these effects. Data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2020), including 23,669 respondents aged 51 and above across 189,352 person-wave observations were analyzed. Of all respondents, 13.4% were edentulous at baseline, with 65.4% identified as non-Hispanic White, 20.5% non-Hispanic Black, and 14.18% Hispanic. Results from linear mixed-effect models indicated that compared to non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black participants exhibited lower baseline cognition scores but slower cognitive decline with age. For edentulous Hispanic participants, this slower rate of decline was attenuated by 0.03 units per year (95% CI: -0.06, -0.01, = .049). The findings highlighted the need for targeted interventions and policies to improve oral health, particularly for Hispanic populations. Addressing oral health disparities could help mitigate cognitive decline in this group and reduce cognitive health disparities across racial/ethnic groups.

This study tests associations between purpose in life and coping, and whether coping mediates the association between purpose and cognitive function. Longitudinal data from the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) study were used to investigate associations between purpose at MIDUS I and coping at MIDUS II ( = 2386). Emotion-focused and problem-focused coping were tested as mediators between purpose and cognitive function (memory, executive function, global cognition) at MIDUS III. Higher purpose was associated with more problem-focused and less emotion-focused coping. Coping partially mediated the association between purpose and cognitive function. Emotion-focused coping partially mediated (14.3%) the effect of purpose on cognitive function. Problem-focused coping partially mediated (16.7%) the association of purpose on episodic memory, but not executive function or global cognition. These findings provide new evidence for links between purpose and coping and suggest coping is one mechanism linking purpose with better cognitive function.

The current study examines cohort (i.e., Generation X, Baby Boomers, and Silent Generation) and gender differences in the stability of Mexican-origin family caregivers over time. The data comes from Mexican-origin caregivers to community-dwelling older adults living in the west and southwestern United States from the Caregiving Supplement to the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (2010/11-2016). Multinomial logistic regressions with interaction and predicted probabilities demonstrate that female caregivers are more consistent in their caregiving role over male caregivers in every cohort over the two time points (RRR = 0.67; 95% CI = [0.01-0.38]). Among men, predicted probabilities indicate more caregivers from Baby Boomer (.17) and Generation X (0.12) cohorts remain in the caregiver role compared to Silent Generation (.07). The findings suggest that gendered expectations may be changing as male caregivers increase in their provision of family care. Future research should consider generational diversity in Hispanic caregiving experience.

This study employs a holistic, cluster-based approach to comprehensively examine how daily activity patterns in mid- and later life vary by urban or rural residence and between men and women in China. Employing national time use data, activity patterns and variations by residence and gender were analyzed through sequence analysis, hierarchical clustering, and multinomial logistic regression models. It reveals six activity patterns among urban Chinese individuals, while their rural counterparts exhibit a similar yet distinct set of patterns, highlighting the structural characteristics of time and emphasizing the contrasting differences between rural and urban contexts. Moreover, this study uncovers notable gender disparities, with men more likely to be in paid labor and leisure-oriented clusters, while women tend towards clusters characterized by childcare and household responsibilities. This research provides a time-based perspective that contributes to understanding social stratification in China by examining the structural and heterogeneous nature of daily activities.

Using data from Wave 5 (2018) of the Mexican Health and Aging Study, this research examines the implications of six social leisure activities for cognition among married and unmarried men and women in Mexico, while considering their physical health and depressive symptoms. The findings reveal some marital status and gender differences and similarities. This study indicates that church attendance and volunteering might be related to poorer cognition, whereas a training course, club participation, board games, and remote communication can provide cognitive benefits. Despite poor vision, poor hearing, and functional limitations, a training course, board games, and remote communication might be associated with better cognition. Yet, in case of poor hearing and depressive symptoms, volunteering, club participation, and board games might be linked to poorer cognition. The insights from this study can help develop intervention programs for improving later-life cognitive functioning through social leisure participation, particularly among individuals with deteriorating health.

Population aging is escalating globally, intensifying the demand for long-term care (LTC), primarily met by informal caregivers, notably spouses. Evidence from developed countries suggests potential adverse effects on caregivers' well-being. Yet, research on this topic is scarce in developing nations. We investigate the effect of informal caregiving on older spousal caregivers' health and well-being in Vietnam, a rapidly aging country with an early stage of LTC system development. Utilizing the national survey on aging in Vietnam with propensity score matching estimations to mitigate potential endogenous problems of the decision to provide care between caregivers and non-caregivers. Findings showed caregiving increased poor psychological well-being, life dissatisfaction, and functional limitations by 7.3%, 9.7%, and 8.6%, respectively. The caregiving effects are heterogenous by demographic characteristics. We are the first to examine spousal caregiving in Vietnam, highlighting the urgency of addressing its negative impacts and suggesting several potential policy interventions.

This study aimed to examine the consequences of COVID-19 socialization restrictions on familial and social support systems of older Middle Eastern/Arab immigrants in Michigan, home to the largest, most visible concentration of Middle Eastern/Arab Americans in the United States. Six focus group ( = 45) interviews were conducted with Middle Eastern/Arab American immigrants aged 60 and older to assess difficulties faced during the pandemic as it related to familial, social, and medical care. Inductive analysis identified two major themes to advance meanings of intergenerational relations among older immigrants (a) the breakdown of family relations, which describes a shift in both the experience and expectations of intergenerational relations in Middle Eastern/Arab families; and (b) cultural sources of increased stress, illustrating how the pandemic interfered with valued family interactions to affect well-being. These findings indicated social and cultural sources of heightened stress linked to shifts in intergenerational relations among Middle Eastern/Arab American older immigrants.

The present study examines the extent to which a two-factor model of affect explains how caregiving appraisals experienced by caregivers influence their own well-being. We used data from three waves of Nation Study of Caregiving (NSOC) to conduct latent growth curve models with the time-varying predictors to investigate the effect of between-person (BP) and within-person (WP) caregiving appraisals on positive and negative affect. Furthermore, we simultaneously modeled WP differences in activity participation and affective experience with multilevel modeling. Then, we tested the moderating effect of activity participation in the association between WP caregiving appraisals and emotional valence. We found that BP and WP caregiving negative appraisal also contribute to caregiver positive affect similar to that of negative affect. Time-varying effects of negative appraisals and emotional valence are consistent with the two-factor model. Future longitudinal investigations could target WP and BP activity participation to alleviate caregiving cognitive appraisal among caregivers.

With Asia's rapid population aging, intergenerational exchanges between older adults and children are becoming increasingly important for old-age support. However, the relationship between older adults' marital quality and intergenerational support remains underexplored, particularly in multi-ethnic and developing settings. To address this, we examine a subsample of currently married older adults (60+) with at least one child (n = 1575) from Wave 1 (2018) of the Malaysian Aging and Retirement Survey. Using latent class analysis, we identify intergenerational support patterns among older Malaysians. Multinomial logistic regression is employed to investigate how older adults' marital experiences relate to these support patterns. Findings show positive marital experiences are associated with support patterns involving mutual exchange or high receipt of support, while negative marital experiences are linked to patterns characterized by a downward transfer of support to children. Policymakers in developing settings should thus pay more attention to family dynamics when aiming to strengthen intergenerational support.

Migrating to urban areas profoundly shapes later-life cognitive function. However, it is unclear whether the acquisition of urban citizenship matters in old age and how the rural-urban differences in cognition change over time. In particular, the existing literature has overlooked the need to differentiate between the effects of health selection and urban attainment. To address these gaps, we use data from five waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The results indicate that those who have obtained urban through policies have better cognitive outcomes later in life compared to non-converters, and these related differences grow with age. However, their cognitive abilities are lower when compared to merit-based converters, who exhibit similar trajectories to lifelong urban citizens. These findings encourage not only a further breakdown of the urban-rural segregation structure in China, but more importantly, an improvement in the cognitive reserve of individuals.

Romantic relationships significantly impact physical and mental wellbeing. While both partnership history and current relationship quality influence wellbeing in later life, they are seldom investigated together. This study examines the long-term effects of partnership history on wellbeing, exploring whether current relationship quality can mitigate the impact of past experiences. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) Finland, we categorize partnership histories and examine if relationship quality mediates their effect on life satisfaction. The analysis identifies five partnership history clusters, revealing that continuous relationships lead to the highest life satisfaction, while unstable histories are linked to lower wellbeing. High relationship satisfaction and fewer conflicts are associated with greater wellbeing for both sexes. Relationship quality mediates the negative associations between unstable partnership histories and subjective wellbeing for both men and women but does not alter the wellbeing associations for those with a continuous partnership history.

The death of a family member is one of the life's most emotionally distressing experiences, yet its impact on self-perceptions of aging remains understudied. This study examines the relationship between the death of a family member and self-perceptions of aging among middle-aged and older adults using data from the 2014-2016 ( = 11,416). Four types of family death (father death, mother death, spousal death, and child death) were analyzed. Linear regression models with Generalized Estimating Equations were estimated to examine the association between the death of a family member and self-perceptions of aging, as well as the moderation effect of gender. Results indicated that the death of a mother or a spouse is associated with less positive self-perceptions of aging compared to those not bereaved. No significant gender differences were observed in the association between the death of a family member and self-perceptions of aging. Interventions and support are necessary to help the bereaved navigate the bereavement process and maintain a positive outlook on aging in the face of loss.

This study compared equal age groups from two cohorts from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study surveyed at different times to characterize societal changes in measures of subjective age and age threshold. Two successive MIDUS cohorts were utilized (1995-1996 and 2011-2014; age range 25-74). Outcomes included subjective age (felt age and desired age) and age threshold. Following multiple imputations of missing data and balancing methods, weighted linear regression measured associations between subjective age outcomes and cohort, sex, and chronological age. Individuals of the later MIDUS cohort reported older felt age and younger desired age in middle age groups (35-64 years old). An increase in age threshold was observed only in older age groups (65+). Possible underlying historical changes in health and societal age stereotypes are explored to explain the observed trend toward older felt age and age threshold, but a younger desired age.