AGING & MENTAL HEALTH

Uncertainty about aging: an investigation of the relation of intolerance of uncertainty and dementia experience to dementia worry
Koscinski B, Do C, Allan NP and Suhr J
Although anxiety and depression decrease across the lifespan, age-related anxieties increase in older adults, particularly worries about experiencing cognitive decline or dementia. Dementia Worry (DW) is characterized by ruminative concerns about developing or experiencing symptoms of dementia. DW is related to negative mental health outcomes in older adults and increases as a function of exposure to dementia in others. What is less clear is the way in which other risk factors, such as intolerance of uncertainty (IU), are associated with DW, and whether an individual's personal dementia exposure moderates this association.
Structural equation modeling to explain the relationship between intergenerational relationships and depressive symptoms with the mediation of social isolation in the Iranian older adults
Asif K, Ghaffari M, Rakhshanderou S and Kavousi A
There is ample evidence of the significant role of social isolation and reduced intergenerational relationships in the emergence of various problems and diseases, including depression. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between intergenerational relationships, social isolation, and depression in the older adult population of Maku, Iran, in 2022.
Living between two cultures: stress in Korean American family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
Kim H, Paun O, Bishop-Royse J, Mayahara M and Chong S
Korean-American primary family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) may face unique stress, attributable to the distinctive characteristics of Korean-Americans, including their immigration history, culture, and language. Using narrative inquiry, we explored caregiving experiences, focusing on stress, and identified factors contributing to stress among Korean-American family caregivers providing in-home care to individuals with ADRD.
A perceived community typology in older Korean Americans: implications for mental health
Park NS, Kim J, Ko JE, Chung S, Chiriboga DA and Jang Y
The aims of this study were to identify a community typology in older Korean Americans and to examine how the typology is associated with feelings of loneliness and mental distress. We hypothesized that distinct community groups would be identified and that they would be differentially associated with mental health and background characteristics.
The association of physical resilience and post-discharge adverse events among older adults with dementia
Drazich BF, Gurlu M, Kuzmik A, Galik E, Wells CL, Boltz M and Resnick B
Post-discharge adverse events, such as falls, hospitalizations, and death, are more prevalent among older adults with dementia, compared to their cognitively intact counterparts. This study aimed to test the association between physical resilience and post discharge adverse events in a sample of older adults with dementia.
Impact of caregiving stressors on elder abuse-examining the mediating role of caregiver coping strategies
Fang B, Zhou Y, Yan E and Zhang L
Based on the Caregiving Stress Theory and Cognitive Theory of Stress and Coping, this study examined whether increase in caregiving stressors had an impact on subsequent increase in different forms of elder abuse. Additionally, this study evaluated how these relationships were influenced by caregiver (CG) coping strategies.
Do coping style and future time perspective relate to surrogate decision-making preparedness? A cross-sectional analysis of heart failure caregivers
Levy S, Hirschman K, Matus A, Thomas G, Riegel B and Ashare R
To assess if future time perspective (FTP) moderates the relationship between heart failure (HF) caregiver coping style and preparedness to make a surrogate medical decision.
Participation in diverse social activities predicts fewer depressive symptoms
Jeon S and Charles ST
Engagement in a greater number and more diverse activities is associated with higher levels of well‑being. One reason may be that these activities provide opportunities for a variety of social interactions. To examine the importance of the social nature of daily activity, the current study examines the unique association between social activity variety and later depressive symptoms, after adjusting for non‑social activity variety.
Psychometric properties of the Partner Ambivalence Scale in middle-aged and older adults
Fernandes-Pires JA, Márquez-González M, Garcia-Garcia L, Pedroso-Chaparro MDS, Cabrera I, Pillemer K and Losada-Baltar A
Ambivalent feelings in a partner relationship, characterized by simultaneous positive and negative emotional experiences, can significantly influence individuals' mental health. Traditionally measured indirectly, this study introduces the Partner Ambivalence Scale (PAS), developed for directly capturing the complexity of ambivalent emotions. This study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the PAS, and assess the effects of ambivalent feelings on partner relationship quality and depressive symptomatology.
Community- and individual-level social capital and cognitive function among older adults in China: a multilevel analysis
Yan Y and Lu N
This study aimed to examine (a) the association of cognitive function with community- and with individual-level cognitive and structural social capital, and (b) the cross-level interaction effects of social capital on cognitive function among older adults in China.
Change in visual acuity over a 12-year period predicts cognitive decline in older adults: identifying social engagement as a potential mediator
Wilson NA, Cherbuin N, Kiely K and Anstey KJ
Deterioration in vision is an important dementia risk factor yet few studies have examined objectively measured changes in visual acuity over time. Visual decline may also reduce social engagement, highlighting the need to examine visual changes in concert with broader social function.
'It opens up a whole new world for everybody': how carers of people with dementia view the online empowered conversations communication course
Eastham C, Prior Y, Keady J, Mansell W, Riley C, Walters M and Morris L
This paper explores (1) experiences of participating in Empowered Conversations, an online communication course for carers of people with dementia and (2) how participants felt the course had changed their experience of caring.
Effectiveness of a 14-week protocol for cognitive stimulation therapy for mild dementia: results from a pragmatic study using routinely collected clinical data
Abdelkhalek H, Elliott K, Whitfield T, Pazvantova K, Zabihi S, Wenborn J and Walker Z
To explore the effectiveness of an adapted 14-week cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) protocol on psychoaffective symptoms and quality of life (QOL) for people living with mild dementia.
Cognitive processing, resilience, and family functioning as contributors to posttraumatic growth in family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease
Jackson DA, Maurin E and Fedio AA
The present study examined the existence of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and its association with cognitive processing, resilience, and family functioning in family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Dementia diagnosis rates and the impact of ethnicity, rurality and deprivation
Hazan J, Liu KY, Isaacs JD and Mukadam N
NHS England publishes monthly national and regional estimated dementia diagnosis rates (DDR) to assess the healthcare system's effectiveness in identifying dementia cases. Previous research indicates that sociodemographic factors, such as ethnic minority status, socioeconomic deprivation, and rurality, influence both healthcare quality and dementia risk. This study aimed to examine the association between these sociodemographic factors and DDR, and to estimate an ethnicity-adjusted DDR using available ethnic group data.
Loneliness and pet ownership among dependent older adults in a Southern European urban context
Marí-Klose M, Marí-Klose P, Gallo P, Escapa S and Julià A
Identify the role that pet ownership may play in mitigating feelings of loneliness among dependent older adults, with a particular focus on gender and mobility problems.
Videoconferencing support groups for people affected by dementia: a systematic narrative review
Linder B, Atherton H, I MacArtney J and Dale J
This systematic review aimed to examine the impact of videoconferencing peer support groups on individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.
'I worry about you more': insights from older care recipients' experiences during the Israel-Hamas war
Ulitsa N and Ayalon L
This study explored the experiences and challenges of older adults with functional disabilities in Israel during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, particularly those receiving care from migrant live-in carers. The main objectives were to identify their main concerns and coping strategies during this period.
Profiles of resilience resources among spousal caregivers
Choi H and Litzelman K
Resilience resources play a significant role in a caregiver's adaptation process. Previous studies have primarily focused on the effects of individual resilience resources. This study aimed to examine diverse patterns of how those multiple resources simultaneously operate in a caregiving situation with the person-centered approach.
Falls as a mental health risk among Korean-American residents in subsidized senior housing: mediating effect of fall-related self-efficacy
Jang Y, Rhee MK, Park J, Ko JE, Park NS, Henwood BF, Schepens Niemiec SL and Chung S
The study examined the mediating role of fall-related self-efficacy in the association between falls and mental health among older Korean Americans living in subsidized senior housing in the greater Los Angeles area. We focused on serious fall incidents (i.e. multiple falls or any fall with a fracture) and used symptoms of depression and anxiety as indicators of mental health.
Specific cultural traits of the precarity of older Latinos living alone with cognitive impairment in the San Francisco Bay Area
Velez Ortiz D, Ransom N, Rivera E, Johnson JK, Keiser S, Tran T, Torres J and Portacolone E
Latinos are about twice as likely to develop cognitive impairment. Culturally, filial support and familismo are expected within Latino families. Yet approximately twenty percent of Latinos live alone in the United States. The purpose of this study is to explore the concerns and priorities of older Latinos living alone with cognitive impairment, using a precarity framework.