Social support, health, and well-being among the elderly: what is the role of negative affectivity?

Perceived Relational Support Is Associated With Everyday Positive, But Not Negative, Affectivity in a U.S. Sample

Research suggests that perceived social support bolsters emotional well-being. We tested whether perceived support from friends, family, and spouses/partners was associated with reduced negative and greater positive affectivity (i.e., everyday affective baseline), and whether perceived strain in these relationships had opposite effects, accounting for age and relevant covariates. Using data from the third waves of the Midlife in the United States survey and National Study of Daily Experience (n = 1,124), we found negative affectivity was not tied to relational support nor strain, but instead was associated positively with neuroticism and negatively with conscientiousness. In contrast, positive affectivity was related positively to support from friends and family, conscientiousness, and extroversion, and negatively to strain among partners and neuroticism. Exploratory analyses within second-wave Midlife in Japan data (n = 657) suggest patterns for future cross-cultural study. Some relationship dynamics may vary, but perceived support might enhance emotional well-being by bolstering positive, rather than mitigating negative, emotionality.

Understanding the Quality of Life Among Patients With Cancer in Saudi Arabia: Insights From a Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION

Cancer patients' quality of life (QoL) significantly influences treatment response and mortality rates. Understanding QoL domains among patients with cancer and what affects it can help create interventions that improve QoL and ease patients' experience. This study measures the OoL among patients with cancer and influencing factors.

METHODS

A prospective cross-sectional questionnaire-based study included cancer patients aged >18 currently receiving treatment. The questionnaire collected social and economic data, followed by the validated Arabic version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30). Means and standard deviations for described numeric variables and frequencies and percentages described categorical variables. Analysis of variance, F-tests, and P-values were reported.

RESULTS

Among 182 cancer patients, 60% were female. Younger patients exhibited higher QoL in physical and role functioning (P = .016 and .03) and experienced more significant financial impact (P = .0144). Females reported more adverse effects from cancer symptoms, including fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and pain (36.7% vs 25.5%, P = .005; 20.6% vs 11.5%, P = .0186; 34.7% vs 25.1%, P = .0281). Single patients had superior QoL in physical functioning compared to others (P = .0127). Patients traveling long distances were more likely to face adverse financial consequences (P = .007). Asthmatic patients exhibited lower QoL in physical, role, and cognitive functioning (72.3 vs 37.8, P = .0147; 76.4 vs 22.2, P = .0024; 84.7 vs 44.4, P = .0038) and reported increased dyspnea and appetite loss (16 vs 55.6 and 26.1 vs 66.7, both P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Factors influencing QoL in Saudi cancer patients include age, marital status, gender, hospital distance, and chronic conditions. Thus emphasizing the necessity for personalized care strategies to enhance outcomes and alleviate the overall burden of cancer care.

Communication Modalities, Personality Traits, and Change in Perceived Control Over Social Life Following Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Older Americans

We examined associations between change in social contact communication modalities and change in perceived control over social life (PCOSL) following onset of the COVID-19 pandemic among older Americans and evaluated the extent to which associations were moderated by personality. Data were from the 2016 and 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Multivariate ordinary least squares regression analyses were computed adjusting for baseline PCOSL, sociodemographic, health, and psychosocial factors. Multiple moderation analyses revealed that extraversion moderated the association between change in social media communication and change in PCOSL before to during COVID-19. As levels of engagement in social media communication increased, those with high extraversion experienced increases in PCOSL, whereas those with low extraversion experienced decreases in PCOSL. Findings suggest that social interventions targeting perceived control and communication modality may be useful for older adults during global health events and that personality characteristics can help to inform intervention choices.

The relationship between physical activity and subjective well-being in Chinese university students: the mediating roles of perceived health, social support and self-esteem

Purpose

The intent of this paper is to understand the effect of Physical Activity on university students' Subjective Well-being and to explore whether Perceived Health, Social Support, and Self-esteem play roles as mediating variables.

Methods

Self-reported data from 404 college students (147 males and 257 females) were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The relationships between the study variables were tested by mediation models and 5,000 bootstrap samples using AMOS version 24.

Results

(1) The six hypotheses were supported in the measurement model in the results (P < 0.05). Physical Activity was related to Social Support, Perceived Health, and to Self-esteem; Social Support, Perceived Health, and Self-esteem were all related to Subjective Well-being. However, the direct positive effect of Physical Activity gradually decreased in the order of Self-esteem, Social Support, and Perceived Health. The direct effect of Perceived Health, Social Support, and Self-esteem on Subjective Well-being also decreased sequentially. (2) In the Structural Equation Model (χ2 = 825.451, p < 0.001, df = 455, CMIN/df = 1.814, CFI = 0.942, RMSEA = 0.045), the three hypotheses of mediation were supported (P < 0.05), showing positive indirect effects between Physical Activity and Subjective Well-being. Of the three mediating effects, Social Support and Self-esteem were not different, and the mediating effect of Perceived Health showed the largest impact. This indicates that Social Support, Perceived Health, and Self-esteem mediate the effects of Physical Activity, and Subjective Well-being regulation has positive indirect effects.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the importance of meeting the needs of Social Support, Perceived Health, and Self-esteem when designing interventions to promote college students' sports participation to enhance Subjective Well-being.

Evaluation of Dementia-Friendly Initiatives, Small-Scale Homelike Residential Care, and Dementia Village Models: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVES

Numerous initiatives are emerging to improve the care management of persons suffering from Alzheimer's disease or related disorders (ADRD). The aim of this review is to identify research evaluations of initiatives in long-term care facilities and those making society more inclusive.

DESIGN

Scoping review with systematic search of PubMed.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Reviewed articles focused on the impact of (1) dementia-friendly initiatives (DFIs), (2) small-scale homelike (SSHL) facilities, and (3) dementia/Alzheimer villages. The intervention targets people (or their carers) with dementia or cognitive impairment.

METHODS

A scoping review was performed on PubMed, including papers published up to November 2022. Further hand-searching from reference lists and the gray literature was carried out.

RESULTS

A total of 477 articles were identified initially, and finally 12 more specifically related to the impact of DFI (n = 4) and SSHL facilities (n = 8) were selected. They included preliminary effectiveness analyses on DFI-related training and awareness intervention and comparative studies on an SSHL model. Scarce but promising results were found on the physical functioning, social participation, and quality of life for older adults living in SSHL facilities compared to those living in conventional nursing homes. No quantitative evaluation on dementia villages was published.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The article highlights the lack of studies providing data on the efficacy of such innovative facilities on clinical, economic, and social outcomes. Such data are essential to better characterize these models and assess their potential efficiency and reproducibility.

Influence of social support on subjective well-being of patients with chronic diseases in China: chain-mediating effect of self-efficacy and perceived stress

Introduction

The well-being of patients with chronic diseases is an issue of widespread concern in public health. While social support is thought to have a positive effect on it, the mechanisms of its influence have not been fully addressed. Thus, we explored the possible mediating effects of self-efficacy and perceived stress to determine the relationship between social support and well-being in these patients.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 4,657 patients with chronic diseases in China. The PROCESS Macro model 6 of SPSS was employed to explore the intermediary role between variables.

Results

Self-efficacy and perceived stress played a partial intermediary role between social support and subjective well-being, with an effect ratio of 48.25% and 23.61%, respectively. Self-efficacy and perceived stress had a chain intermediary effect (28.14%) between social support and subjective well-being.

Discussion

This study suggested that improving the self-efficacy of patients with chronic diseases to cope with the changes in social support caused by the disease could reduce stress and enhance subjective well-being.

The Relationship between Mobile Phone Dependence and Subjective Well-Being of College Students in China: A Moderated Mediation Model

Many studies have shown that mobile phone dependence decreases subjective well-being, but there have been relatively few studies that investigate the specific mechanisms between mobile phone dependence and subjective well-being. In this study, the mediating effect of self-esteem and the moderating effect of social support were investigated to explore the specific mechanisms between mobile phone dependence and subjective well-being. The objective of the study is to explore the mechanism of mobile dependence on subjective well-being by constructing a moderated mediation model. College students from twenty classes in three universities were randomly selected. A total of 550 college students fully participated in the actual evaluation and completed the general well-being scale, mobile phone addiction index scale, self-esteem scale, and social support scale. SPSS17.0 was used to analyze the data. The results show that: (1) Self-esteem partially mediates the relationship between mobile phone dependence and subjective well-being. Mobile phone dependence not only has a direct influence on subjective well-being, but also influences subjective well-being indirectly by self-esteem; (2) The mediating effect of self-esteem between mobile phone dependence and subjective well-being is moderated by social support. Social support moderates the second path of the mediation, and the higher the social support, the greater the degree of self-esteem on subjective well-being. For the management of mobile phone dependence of college students, more attention needs to be paid to the personality characteristics of different students. In addition, there should be efforts to avoid blindly educating students and instead to increase their social support and create a good atmosphere on campus and in society. Only in this way can they improve their subjective well-being.

The Relation between Intergroup Contact and Subjective Well-Being among College Students at Minzu Universities: The Moderating Role of Social Support

Although Minzu universities provide a platform for communication for college students from all ethnic groups, the multi-ethnic communication pattern could influence students' well-being. To improve the well-being of these minority college students, this study analyzed the impact of intergroup contact on subjective well-being, as well as the moderating role of social support. Through a cross-sectional investigation, 860 valid data were collected from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The results found that the quantity of intergroup contact, the quality of intergroup contact, and the global intergroup contact could positively predict the subjective well-being of students at Minzu universities. Social support had a positive moderating effect. That is, the stronger the social support, the stronger prediction it had on subjective well-being from the quantity of intergroup contact, the quality of intergroup contact, and the global intergroup contact among college students at Minzu universities. Therefore, based on the methods of increasing contact opportunities, improving contact quality, and enhancing social support, Minzu universities can increase the interaction among students from all ethnic groups and so, further improve the subjective well-being of college students.

Perceived Support Protects Against Negative Affective Experiences of Momentary Solitude: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

OBJECTIVES

Momentary solitude (the objective state of being alone) has a strong association with negative affective experiences in older people, but little is known about how the role of social relationship characteristics on relationship between momentary solitude and affect. We examined the momentary association between momentary solitude and negative affect (NA), and whether such association was moderated by the structural and functional aspects of social relationships.

METHODS

A sample of 153 late-middle-aged and older adults were recruited and provided a total of 6,742 ecological momentary assessment surveys, of which momentary solitudes were reported for 1,885 (28%) surveys. Hierarchical linear model was used to examine how social networks and social support moderated the association of momentary solitude with NA experiences.

RESULTS

The association of momentary solitude with NA experiences was significant among middle-aged and older adults (b = 0.025, SE = 0.008, p < .01). Family networks had the main effect on NA. Perceived social support buffered against increased NA in momentary solitude: Individuals with a higher level of perceived support reported fewer increases in NA during momentary solitude than those perceiving a lower level of support.

DISCUSSION

Momentary solitude was experienced less negatively for middle-aged and older persons embedded in a context of higher levels of perceived social support. Practitioners need to pay more attention to the promotion of social resources when delivering programs to improve the subjective well-being of late-middle-aged and older adults.

Can Physical, Psychological, and Social Vulnerabilities Predict Ageism?

Ageism can be expressed as the discrimination, social exclusion, and even abuse of older adults. The literature suggests that certain vulnerabilities could be risk factors affecting people's ageism. Based on the Social Identity Theory, the present study aimed to examine the association of physical/psychological and social vulnerabilities with ageism. The sample consisted of 200 Israelis from the general population who completed self-report questionnaires. Hierarchical regression indicated that low well-being, high post-traumatic distress, and limited social support were associated with ageism. Furthermore, the association of post-traumatic distress with ageism increased with age. The findings expand the knowledge of vulnerabilities as risk factors for ageism, perhaps reflecting its unconscious nature, and can assist in designing interventions for people interacting with older adults.

Psychometric properties of the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (PSSQ), a new measure of perceived social support among older adults

OBJECTIVE

Based on literature and available questionnaires, the present study aimed at creating and validating the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (PSSQ): a 4-item scale assessing the perceived social support in older adults. Normative scores were also computed.

METHODS

Three hundred and two participants (mean age 87.68) selected from ongoing population-based studies completed a phone interview. Among these, 247 completed a second interview 4 months later allowing assessing the questionnaire fidelity over time.

RESULTS

The factor analysis evidenced two dimensions: availability of social support and satisfaction with it. Both dimensions had a satisfactory internal consistency but weak intraclass correlation coefficient. Univariate analyses revealed that age, number of calls per week and living environment marginally associated with the availability score. The satisfaction score was associated with perceived health status, sadness, depressive mood, feeling of loneliness, anxiety, and the perception of social support during the pandemic context. The norms computed were stratified on age.

CONCLUSIONS

The PSSQ is a short and easy-to-administer tool allowing assessing perceived social support in older population. Despite a weak fidelity that could actually be explained by changes in perceived social support over time, the questionnaire revealed good psychometric qualities and validity.

Social isolation and well-being in veterans with mental illness

BACKGROUND

Veterans with mental illness are a growing population in the United States (US). For some veterans, their military service has a negative effect on well-being. Social isolation is problematic for veterans' mental health by increasing incidence of depression, suicidal ideation or attempts, and readmittance to psychiatric hospitals. Social support is a protective factor for individuals with mental illness and is key to a successful military-to-civilian transition.

AIM

Thus, we examine the relationship of social isolation on well-being among veterans with any mental illness.

METHODS

This cross-sectional correlational study consisted of a sample of 146 US veterans with any mental illness. A three-step hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine if social isolation is a predictor of well-being after controlling for demographics, functional limitations and depression.

RESULTS

Findings revealed social isolation was positively correlated with functional limitations (r = 0.48, p < 0.001), depression (r = 0.66, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with well-being (r = -.64, p < 0.001). Hierarchical regression analysis revealed social isolation was negatively correlated (β = -.44, p < 0.001) with well-being. Overall, our three-step model accounted a total of 50% of variance in well-being, a large effect size.

CONCLUSION

The findings underscore the importance of assessing the relationship of social isolation on well-being in veterans with mental illness. The findings also highlight promising targets to improve prevention and psychosocial interventions to improve well-being among veterans with mental illness.

Examining the Relationship Between Preference for Solitude and Subjective Well-Being Among Japanese Older Adults

Background and Objectives

Focusing on the fact that older adults with positive emotions tend to spend time alone, this study aimed to examine the relationship between preference for solitude and subjective well-being among older adults. In Study 1, we developed a revised version of the Preference for Solitude Scale with a 3-factor structure, unlike the single-factor structure of the original scale. In Study 2, we examined the relationship between preference for solitude and subjective well-being using the revised scale.

Research Design and Methods

We conducted an Internet survey with 210 older adults in Study 1 to develop a revised Japanese scale. In Study 2, to address the possible research method bias in Study 1, we conducted a mail survey with 276 older adults. We examined the replicability of Study 1, confirming metric invariance through multigroup analysis and hypothesis model through path analysis.

Results

The results of the path analysis indicated that “Productivity during solitude” (Factor 3) was positively related with positive affect and life satisfaction, and “Enjoyment of solitude” (Factor 2) was negatively related with negative affect. However, the results of the mediation analysis suggested that preference for solitude was also related to loneliness, and the indirect effect of preference for solitude on well-being was negative.

Discussion and Implications

“Enjoyment of solitude” and “Productivity during solitude” were related to maintaining subjective well-being among older adults, although the effects were marginal. The impact of preference for solitude was mixed in enhancing and decreasing subjective well-being.

Facing Loneliness and Anxiety During the COVID-19 Isolation: The Role of Excessive Social Media Use in a Sample of Italian Adults

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prompted people to face a distressing and unexpected situation. Uncertainty and social distancing changed people's behaviors, impacting on their feelings, daily habits, and social relationships, which are core elements in human well-being. In particular, restrictions due to the quarantine increased feelings of loneliness and anxiety. Within this context, the use of digital technologies has been recommended to relieve stress and anxiety and to decrease loneliness, even though the overall effects of social media consumption during pandemics still need to be carefully addressed. In this regard, social media use evidence risk and opportunities. In fact, according to a compensatory model of Internet-related activities, the online environment may be used to alleviate negative feelings caused by distressing life circumstances, despite potentially leading to negative outcomes. The present study examined whether individuals who were experiencing high levels of loneliness during the forced isolation for COVID-19 pandemic were more prone to feel anxious, and whether their sense of loneliness prompted excessive social media use. Moreover, the potentially mediating effect of excessive social media use in the relationship between perceived loneliness and anxiety was tested. A sample of 715 adults (71.5% women) aged between 18 and 72 years old took part in an online survey during the period of lockdown in Italy. The survey included self-report measures to assess perceived sense of loneliness, excessive use of social media, and anxiety. Participants reported that they spent more hours/day on social media during the pandemic than before the pandemic. We found evidence that perceived feelings of loneliness predicted both excessive social media use and anxiety, with excessive social media use also increasing anxiety levels. These findings suggest that isolation probably reinforced the individuals' sense of loneliness, strengthening the need to be part of virtual communities. However, the facilitated and prolonged access to social media during the COVID-19 pandemic risked to further increase anxiety, generating a vicious cycle that in some cases may require clinical attention.

Spirituality and Caring for the Older Person: A Discussion Paper

Holistic healthcare to the older person is important. Spirituality is considered to be the very essence of being and for some is what motivates and guides us to live a meaningful existence. Nurses caring for the older person need support in responding to their spiritual needs in order to ensure that they are appropriately and successfully met. The aim of this paper is to explore these needs and highlight some evidence indicating how this care can be implemented and therefore ultimately influence nursing practice.

Older Men With Living Spouses Versus Men Without Spouses: An Example From the Arab World-Kuwait

This research is concentrated on elderly Kuwait men and the effect that losing wife, a major determinant of social support, has on their general health. A sample of 472 older male adults aged 60 years and older have been included in this study. A questionnaire was the major tool of the study. The questionnaire included sociocultural information and social support scales (Degree of Religiosity, Social Support Scale, Frequency of Contact, and Strength of Relation scales). Health measurements also were used: two, one-item self-reported health scales in the current year and last year and a Somatic Symptoms Inventory (SSI) were used. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and glucose levels were taken. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 21) was used for data entry and analysis. t-test and regression were the major statistical procedures. Data show that there are differences between elderly men with a living wife compared to those without a living wife. Having a living wife was positively associated with better social support and health in Kuwaiti elderly men. Data show that a living wife is an important factor of men's health and well-being in general and that a wife is one of the major social support elements of elderly men.

The Impact of Social Support on the Health of the Rural Elderly in China

With the dramatic trend of global aging, the physical and mental health of the rural elderly has attracted significant attention. Social support plays an important role in improving the health of the elderly. However, assessing the impact of social support on the physical and mental health of the elderly is challenging in rural China. This paper analyzes the impact of social support on the physical and mental health of the Chinese rural elderly based on data collected from households and village cadres. Probit, Oprobit, and ordinary least squares (OLS) are used to estimate these effects. The results show that 24.3% of the rural elderly are in bad physical health, and 32.9% of them are depressed. Physical and mental health is worse among the female elderly and among those who are in western provinces. Having pensions, taking care of grandchildren, and communicating with children by telephone are shown to significantly improve the mental health of the rural elderly. The government could promote the mental health of the rural elderly by improving public health services, increasing pensions, providing free mobile phones to elderly people in poverty, and advocating that the younger generation provide emotional support.

Factors That Influence the Relationship Between Social Support and Health-Related Quality of Life of Older People Living in the Community

As the proportion of older people in Greece grows and the need for promoting healthy aging is apparent, it becomes increasingly important to investigate the relationship between social support and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of older people in the community. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 451 older people living in the community in greater Athens, Greece, with an anonymous questionnaire, including demographics, and the EQ5D including EuroQol-visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Multivariate linear regression analysis was applied to identify independent factors related to perceived social support and HRQoL. The majority of older people were women, married or widowed, living with their family or alone. Perceived social support was medium and higher from significant others and family. A statistically significant positive relationship was found between social support from significant others/friends and HRQoL, as well as between social support from friends/family/significant others and EQ-VAS. In conclusion, HRQoL of older people is influenced by the received social support.

Workplace happiness, well-being and their relationship with psychological capital: A study of Hungarian Teachers

Happiness and well-being at work has been an increasingly popular topic in the past two decades in academic and business contexts alike, along with positive psychology, through which organizations aim to find out, what makes working environments engaging and motivating. Few studies have focused on education, however, especially from a solution-focused perspective, even though it is a sector where employees are highly exposed to stress and burnout. Accordingly, the purpose of his study was to investigate the relationship between teachers’ psychological resources through the concept of psychological capital, workplace well-being and perceived workplace happiness. We used both qualitative (open-ended question) and quantitative (test battery) methods to examine the relation between the various factors. Content analysis of responses in our qualitative research suggests that the main pillars of teachers’ workplace happiness were realization of goals, feedback, finding meaning in work and social relationships. The results of our quantitative study indicated that workplace well-being and happiness correlated with inner psychological resources, hope and optimism in particular. We conclude that the future focus on employee well-being must take into account positive contributing factors and adopt a positively-oriented approach to promoting well-being. Suggestions for practical implications are also discussed.

Does Becoming A Volunteer Attenuate Loneliness Among Recently Widowed Older Adults?

Objectives

Loneliness is a significant public health concern, particularly for those who have lost a spouse through widowhood. This study examines whether becoming a volunteer at the time of widowhood is associated with reduction of these risks.

Method

A pooled sample of 5,882 married adults age 51+, drawn from the 2006-2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, was used to estimate regression models of the relationship between becoming widowed (relative to staying continuously married) and loneliness, and whether the associated loneliness of having lost a spouse is moderated by starting to volunteer (<2 hr, 2+ hr/week).

Results

Our results show that for those who become widowed, loneliness is significantly higher than those who stay continuously married. However, starting to volunteer 2+ hr per week is related to attenuated loneliness among the widowed such that widows who volunteer at that intensity have levels of loneliness similar to those of continuously married individuals volunteering at the same intensity.

Discussion

This study suggests higher intensity volunteering may be a particularly important pathway for alleviating loneliness among older adults who have recently become widowed. Results are discussed in light of theory, future research, and potential interventions.

Perceived stress mediates the relationship between mindfulness and negative affect variability: A randomized controlled trial among middle-aged to older adults

Despite the interest in mindfulness over the past 20 years, studies have only recently begun to examine mindfulness in older adults. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate pretreatment to post-treatment change in negative affect variability (NAV) following a mindfulness training among 134 mildly stressed, middle-aged to older adults. The secondary aim was to assess if the effects of mindfulness training on NAV would be partially explained by pretreatment to post-treatment reductions in perceived stress, a trend that would be congruent with several stress models. In this randomized control trial, participants were assigned to either a 6-week mindfulness meditation training programme or to a wait list control. Ecological momentary assessment, a data capturing technique that queries about present moment experiences in real time, captured NAV. Mixed-model ANOVAs and a path analysis were conducted. Participants in the mindfulness meditation training significantly reduced NAV when compared with wait list control participants. Further, there was a significant indirect group effect on reductions in NAV through change in perceived stress. Few studies have tested mechanisms of action, which connect changes that occur during mindfulness training with psychological outcomes in older adults. Understanding the mechanisms by which mindfulness enhances well-being may optimize interventions.

Perceived Discrimination and Life Satisfaction of Elderly Chinese People: The Chain Mediating Effects of National Identity and Sense of Community

In China, aging is becoming an increasingly serious issue, and the Chinese government are paying more attention to the life satisfaction of the elderly. Nevertheless, in their daily lives, the elderly are often discriminated against, which may have a negative impact on their life satisfaction. To enable a better understanding of these relationships, we discuss the factors affecting the macro-system (national identity) and micro-system (sense of community) of the elderly. Three hundred and ninety-one elderly people (60–101 years old; 121 males, 270 females) from three communities in the Anhui and Shandong provinces of China participated in our study. Each participant completed the appropriate questionnaires, including: perceived discrimination measure, national identity questionnaire, sense of community questionnaire, and life satisfaction questionnaire. The results of structural equation modeling revealed that perceived discrimination negatively influenced life satisfaction through national identity and community. Perceived discrimination was found to negatively predict national identity, suggesting that perceived discrimination brings a negative influence to national identity within Chinese culture. The relationship between perceived discrimination and life satisfaction was partially mediated by the chain of national identity and sense of community. The size of the total mediation effect was 32.17%. The relationship between perceived discrimination and life satisfaction, when mediated by national identity or sense of community, was not significant. This suggests that the application of the rejection-identification model to the elderly in China may produce different results. The limitations and the implications of our study were considered in discussion.

Examining Relationships between Social Capital, Emotion Experience and Life Satisfaction for Sustainable Community

As an important component of urban construction, the community sustainable construction is of great significance to the social development. Despite the importance of the social dimension of community sustainability, it has received relatively little attention when compared to the sustainability of environmental and economic dimensions. Based on the literature review, it is found that the social dimension of the sustainable community, such as residents’ psychological feelings, social capital, has a strong effect on the sustainability of communities. This paper, therefore, conducts an empirical study on the mediating role of emotion experience on the associations between social capital and life satisfaction. Research on the relationship between them can help to generate synergies and strengthen the effect of promoting community sustainable development. A total of 229 complete responses from residents in China is used for data analysis. Results from the multiple linear regression analysis indicate that social capital has the significant positive effect on life satisfaction; the influence of social capital on life satisfaction is partly mediated by positive and negative affect, the social capital improves the life satisfaction through promoting positive affect, while it enhances the life satisfaction through restraining the negative affect. Based on the relationship between them, the relevant recommendations for the measures on the sustainable community can be proposed.

Evidence for Transdiagnostic Repetitive Negative Thinking and Its Association with Rumination, Worry, and Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: A Commonality Analysis

Recent theoretical advances have emphasized the commonality between rumination and worry, often referred to as repetitive negative thinking. Although not studied extensively, repetitive negative thinking may not only account for a substantial overlap between depression and anxiety symptoms but also encapsulate other constructs including one's tendency to experience unwanted intrusive thoughts or have low levels of mindfulness. In this study, 643 college students completed self-report questionnaire measures of repetitive negative thinking (the Habit Index of Negative Thinking) and other relevant constructs including rumination, worry, depression and anxiety symptoms, intrusive thoughts, and mindfulness. To analyze the data, we conducted systematic commonality analyses, which algebraically decomposed shared variances among these measures into various unique components. Results in Study 1 indicated that individual differences in repetitive negative thinking were explained largely by the overlap between rumination and worry, but also by some rumination-specific and worry-specific variance. Moreover, the shared variation in rumination and worry explained the frequencies of depression and anxiety symptoms and their overlap. We also found in Study 2 that repetitive negative thinking was positively related to intrusive thoughts and negatively related to mindfulness. These associations were mostly explained by shared variance with rumination and worry, but there was also some mindfulness-specific variance. These results suggest that repetitive negative thinking may indeed lie at the core of the comorbidity between depression and anxiety symptoms, but that it is also a broader construct that encompasses intrusive thoughts and low levels of mindfulness.

The Impact of Quality of Life on the Health of Older People from a Multidimensional Perspective

Background

This research analyzes the impact of quality of life as a metavariable that conditions the health and social welfare of the elderly. The sample of this study is composed of 500 people, randomly selected from the major day centers for the elderly in the province of Granada (Spain).

Method

For the inferential analysis, we used the CUBRECAVI questionnaire, which is a multidimensional scale of health and quality of life, along with the Katz and García measure questionnaires, which are also applied to quality of life. Through the technique of the interview, we have distributed the participants into two groups: experimental and control.

Results and Conclusions

Once the tests have been completed, we have concluded from the meta-analysis and validation tests that the participants have a good perception of their quality of life, considering health, leisure, environmental quality, functional capacity, level of satisfaction, social support, social networks, and positive social interactions as the determinants of their well-being, although social contact reduces as the age advances. We conclude that multidimensional evaluation is an effective tool to evaluate the quality of life and the objective and subjective health of the elderly. These variables can be related to the improvement of health and well-being.

Association of Social Support and Medication Adherence in Chinese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The prevalence of diabetes is steadily increasing in China. When diabetes is uncontrolled, it generates dire consequences for health and well-being. Numerous studies have shown that health outcomes were associated with social support and medication adherence. Previous study confirmed that social support was associated with medication adherence in patients with heart failure, HIV diseases, and first-episode psychosis. However, the relationship between social support and medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is remains unclear. This study aims to examine whether social support is associated with medication adherence in patients with T2DM. This study was conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of the General Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). In Beijing, a systematic random sample of 412 patients with T2DM over 18 years was recruited at baseline, and demographic characteristics, clinical data and their assessment of social support were collected from medical records and self-reported questionnaires. 330 of these patients completed a self-report measure of medication adherence at the sixth month after baseline data collection. Regression analysis showed that social support presented a positive effect on medication adherence, additionally, support utilization and the subscale of social support exhibited a significantly strong influence on medication adherence in patients with T2DM. Although medication adherence was influenced by multiple factors, this finding confirmed that social support must be recognized as a core element in interventions aimed at improving in the management of patients with T2DM.

Perceived social support and life satisfaction in drug addicts: Self-esteem and loneliness as mediators

This study was designed to investigate the mediation effects of both self-esteem and loneliness on the relationship between social support and subjective well-being in drug addicts. In all, 110 participants, all drug addicts from Guangdong Fangcun Brain Hospital, completed the questionnaire. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that perceived social support was positively related to self-esteem and life satisfaction and was negatively correlated with loneliness in drug addicts. Structural equation modeling estimated by the Bootstrap method indicated that loneliness and self-esteem partially mediated the association between perceived social support and life satisfaction. These findings provided insights into the association between perceived social support and life satisfaction in drug addicts.

The Role of Subjective Perception of Health in the Dynamics of Context and Psychological Well-Being

The purpose of this study was to establish the role played by subjective perceptions of physical health in the relationship between psychological well-being and two social contexts that are stratified by socio-economic differentials pertaining to race, socio-economic indices and infrastructural resources. An availability sample of 514 participants from Potchefstroom ( n = 384) and Mafikeng ( n = 130), North West Province, completed questionnaires on the perceptions of health and psychological well-being. Regression equations were computed to explore the viability of relationships between context and subjective perceptions of physical health, context and psychological well-being, and psychological well-being and subjective perceptions of physical health. Structural equation models showed that subjective perceptions of physical health mediate the relationship between context and psychological well-being. The implications of the findings are indicated.

Personal support networks, social capital, and risk of relapse among individuals treated for substance use issues

BACKGROUND

The success of treatment for substance use issues varies with personal and social factors, including the composition and structure of the individual's personal support network. This paper describes the personal support networks and social capital of a sample of Italian adults after long-term residential therapeutic treatment for substance use issues, and analyses network correlates of post-treatment substance use (relapse).

METHODS

Using a social network analysis approach, data were obtained from structured interviews (90-120 min long) with 80 former clients of a large non-governmental therapeutic treatment agency in Italy providing voluntary residential treatments and rehabilitation services for substance use issues. Participants had concluded the program at least six months prior. Data were collected on socio-demographic variables, addiction history, current drug use status (drug-free or relapsed), and the composition and structure of personal support networks. Factors related to risk of relapse were assessed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS

A main goal of this study was to identify differences between the support network profiles of drug free and relapsed participants. Drug free participants had larger, less dense, more heterogeneous and reciprocal support networks, and more brokerage social capital than relapsed participants. Additionally, a lower risk of relapse was associated with higher socio-economic status, being married/cohabiting, and having network members with higher socio-economic status, who have greater occupational heterogeneity, and reciprocate support.

CONCLUSIONS

Post-treatment relapse was found to be negatively associated with the socioeconomic status and occupational heterogeneity of ego's support network, reciprocity in the ties between ego and network members, and a support network in which the members are relatively loosely connected with one another (i.e., ego possesses "brokerage social capital"). These findings suggest the incorporation into therapeutic programming of interventions that address those aspects of clients' personal support networks.

The association between depression and emotional and social loneliness in older persons and the influence of social support, cognitive functioning and personality: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

We investigated the association between old age depression and emotional and social loneliness.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed using data from the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older Persons (NESDO). A total of 341 participants diagnosed with a depressive disorder, and 125 non-depressed participants were included. Depression diagnosis was confirmed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Emotional and social loneliness were assessed using the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Socio-demographic variables, social support variables, depression characteristics (Inventory of Depressive Symptoms), cognitive functioning (Mini Mental State Examination) and personality factors (the NEO- Five Factor Inventory and the Pearlin Mastery Scale) were considered as possible explanatory factors or confounders. (Multiple) logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Depression was strongly associated with emotional loneliness, but not with social loneliness. A higher sense of neuroticism and lower sense of mastery were the most important explanatory factors. Also, we found several other explanatory and confounding factors in the association of depression and emotional loneliness; a lower sense of extraversion and higher severity of depression.

LIMITATIONS

We performed a cross-sectional observational study. Therefore we cannot add evidence in regard to causation; whether depression leads to loneliness or vice versa.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression in older persons is strongly associated with emotional loneliness but not with social loneliness. Several personality traits and the severity of depression are important in regard to the association of depression and emotional loneliness. It is important to develop interventions in which both can be treated.

Effects of social networks on physical health among people with serious mental illness

This study examined the effects of social network characteristics on physical health among people with serious mental illness using social transactions that are reciprocal, and the combination of objective and subjective health measures. The sample consisted of a probability sample of 231 adults with serious mental illness who resided in permanent supportive housing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Path analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between social network characteristics and two aspects of medical comorbidity, objective health and subjective health. Bivariate statistics showed that individuals with medical comorbidity were more likely to have contact with their network members and had a higher level of reciprocal positive tangible support when compared to those who did not have medical comorbidity. The results of the path analyses revealed that none of the social network characteristics were associated with better physical health. The lack of a significant relationship between social networks and better physical health is contrary to prior research findings. However, this is the first study to include both types of social transactions simultaneously as predictors of better physical health for individuals with serious mental illness. A longitudinal study would provide more insight into the temporal relationship of social networks and physical health conditions of people with serious mental illness. Furthermore, the transactional nature of social relationships, particularly for those with mental health issues, requires greater exploration.

Coping style and quality of life in elderly patients with vision disturbances

Purpose. This study aims at evaluating coping style and quality of life in patients with glaucoma and cataract. Methods. The participants were patients (N = 237, 130F; mean age: M = 67,8; SD = 9,5) with low vision caused by cataract (N = 188) and glaucoma (N = 49) who answered the Quality of Life Questionnaire (QOLQ) by Schalock and Keith. The participants were divided by means of cluster analysis (k-means) according to coping styles measured by CISS (Endler and Parker) into three groups: (1) high mobilization for coping, (2) task-oriented coping, and (3) low mobilization for coping. Results. In all the group, a general quality of life was moderately lowered; however, in task-oriented group it was relatively high. Moreover, task-oriented group had significantly lower level of anxiety (STAI), hopelessness (HS), and loneliness (UCLA LS-R) and higher level of self-esteem (SES) in comparison to the patients from high mobilization and low mobilization for coping. Conclusions. In an old age, adaptive coping with vision disturbances does not necessarily mean flexibility in combining all coping styles, but rather task-oriented coping and an ability to use social support. Extreme mobilization for coping seems not adaptive similarly like low mobilization for coping because it violates balance between environmental requirements and personal resources.

Self-efficacy difference among patients with cancer with different socioeconomic status: application of latent class analysis and standardization and decomposition analysis

INTRODUCTION

Although the relationship between partial socioeconomic status (SES) and self-efficacy has been studied in previous studies, few research have examined self-efficacy difference among patients with cancer with different SES.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey involving 764 patients with cancer was completed. Latent class analysis (LCA) was applied to identify distinct groups of patients with cancer using four SES indicators (education, income, employment status and health insurance status). Standardization and decomposition analysis (SDA) was then used to examine differences in patients' self-efficacy among SES groups and the components of the differences attributed to confounding factors, such as gender, age, anxiety, depression and social support.

RESULTS

Participants were classified into four distinctive SES groups via using LCA method, and the observed self-efficacy level significantly varied by SES groups; as theorized, higher self-efficacy was associated with higher SES. The self-efficacy differences by SES groups were decomposed into "real" group differences and factor component effects that are attributed to group differences in confounding factor compositions.

CONCLUSION

Self-efficacy significantly varies by SES. Social support significantly confounded the observed differences in self-efficacy between different SES groups among Chinese patients with cancer.

Secular changes in the relation between social factors and depression: a study of two birth cohorts of Swedish septuagenarians followed for 5 years

BACKGROUND

Rapid societal changes occurred in the Western world during the 20(th) century. It is not clear whether this has changed the relation between social factors and depression in older people.

METHODS

Representative samples of 70-year-olds from Gothenburg, Sweden, were examined with identical psychiatric examinations in 1971-72 (N=392; 226 women and 166 men) and 2000-01 (N=499; 270 women and 229 men). Follow-up studies were conducted after five years. Social factors were obtained by self-report and depression was diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR.

RESULTS

Feelings of loneliness were related to both concurrent depression at baseline and new depression at follow-up in both birth cohorts. Visits with others than children and neighbours once per month or less, compared to having more visits, and the perception of having too little contact with others, were related to both concurrent and new depression in 70-year-olds examined 1971-72, but not in those examined 30 years later.

LIMITATIONS

The response rate declined from 85.2% in 1971-72 to 65.8% in 2000-01. Participation bias may have resulted in an underestimation of depression in the later-born cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Social contacts with others were related to depression in 70-year-olds examined in the 1970s, but not in those examined in the 2000s. This may reflect period changes in the ways of socialising, communicating and entertaining, e.g. due to technological development and expansion of mass media. Findings may be useful when developing modern and effective programs for the prevention of mental ill-health in older people.

Self-perceived health among older women living in their own residence

Aim.  The aim was to characterize women who perceived themselves as healthy and to compare them with women who perceived themselves as less healthy with regard to demographical, social, medical and functional factors. Another aim was to describe changes within the healthy group after one year. Background.  Self-perceived health is influenced by several factors, of which diseases and illness are only a part. Method and participants.  Two hundred and seventy-eight women, 75 and 80 years old, of which 50% (n = 139) perceived themselves as healthy and less healthy, respectively. Data were collected by using the Nottingham Health Profile, Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini Nutritional Assessment, Mini Mental State Examination and Philadelphia Geriatric Center Multilevel Assessment Instrument, in two examinations at intervals of one year. Results.  The women in the healthy group were characterized as having no or low depression symptoms (P = 0.016), better physical mobility (P = 0.029) and better physical health (P < 0.001). Furthermore no or less pain, fewer doctor visits, more energy and fewer negative emotional reactions were predictors for self-perceived health in the healthy group at the one-year follow-up. Conclusion.  The most important predictors associated with perceiving oneself as healthy were no or few depression symptoms, physical mobility and good physical health. Relevance to clinical practice.  Attention has to be paid to women's mood, physical health, mobility, pain and energy to help them stay healthy.

Validating the Polish Adaptation of the 11-Item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale

The aim of this study was to translate into Polish and establish the psychometric properties of the 11-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS). The translation process followed the recent guidelines for the crosscultural adaptation of questionnaires and was tested through analysis of differential item functioning (DIF) by the use of the Poly-SIBTEST method and bilingual groups. The essential unidimensionality was checked by bifactor analysis. Reliability was assessed by internal consistency and homogeneity analysis, and external construct validity by correlation with several external scales. The research indicated no differences in item performance between the final Polish and English versions, and confirmed the earlier findings indicating that the DJGLS measures two dimensions of loneliness (social and emotional) which generalize into a higher-order factor of a general sense of loneliness (bifactor structure). Reliability (α = .89) and homogeneity (H = .47) proved to be high. Research showed that the instrument has a satisfactory validity criterion: Correlation with the UCLA Loneliness Scale r = .82; with Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale r = –.56; and with the Beck Depression Inventory r = .46 (all p < .01). The Polish adaptation of the DJGLS thus presents a bifactor structure, with good levels of internal consistency, homogeneity, and construct validity.