The context of perceived and desired social support among Korean older adults

Communication rules regarding support seeking in patients with a physical illness, according to people with a Surinamese or a Dutch cultural background

Objective

People with different cultural backgrounds can evaluate the appropriateness of direct and indirect support seeking differently. In this study we explored how direct and indirect communication rules for verbal support seeking by patients with diabetes were perceived among Dutch and Surinamese female participants, and whether the appropriateness differed for the ingroup, outgroup and intercultural support seeker-support provider interactions.

Methods

The study applied a 2 (direct versus indirect support seeking) X 2 (Surinamese patient versus Dutch patient) X 2 (Surinamese support provider versus Dutch support provider)-design. Dutch and Surinamese participants (N = 686) were randomly assigned to one of the eight conditions in which they were provided with a depiction of the patient, the direct or indirect request for help, and the help provider. The main outcome was the rated appropriateness of the help-seeking request in the specific context.

Results

The results revealed a significant main effect of communication style: both, Surinamese and Dutch participants evaluated the direct help-seeking as more appropriate compared to indirect help-seeking, independent of patient or provider culture. This effect was particularly strong in participants who scored high on the individual difference in independent self, as shown by a significant interaction.

Discussion

Literature usually identifies that Surinamese and Dutch populations have different cultural backgrounds and values that express themselves in different attitudes, in general more collectivistic and more individualistic, respectively. However, with regard to help seeking preferences the study results did not verify this expectation. These findings underscore the importance of the support providers' role in assessing and understanding the individuals' communication style with regard to help-seeking, rather than assuming communication preferences on the basis of cultural background.

Parental Self-Efficacy Among Israeli Older Adults

Parental self-efficacy (PSE) is a central aspect of parenting research. Although parenting continues in older ages, few studies have focused on PSE among older adults. In line with the parenting determinant model, the study examined the associations between psychological distress, social support, loneliness, and PSE in older age.The study used a quantitative cross-sectional survey, including 362 Israeli parents age 65 years and above. Participants were asked to complete questionnaires of psychological distress, social support, loneliness, PSE, and background information.Results revealed that higher PSE was associated with lower psychological distress, higher social support, and a lower sense of loneliness in older adults. The research model explained 36.9 per cent of the variance in PSE among older adults.Mental state and social conditions are important for PSE of older adults; therefore, professionals should ensure the availability of diverse solutions to enable, maintain, and promote well-being through social and familial engagement in this population.

Equipping pharmacists for delivering pharmaceutical care to seniors: a qualitative systematic review of Asian seniors' social support

BACKGROUND

Pharmacists must cater to seniors' needs and communicate better in delivering pharmaceutical care. However, pharmaceutical care for seniors is unique since they commonly depend on support from their social environment. Our study aimed to collect perceptions and experiences of Asian seniors regarding social support.

METHODS

A qualitative systematic review of peer-reviewed articles between January 2012 and January 2022 was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Academic Search Complete via EBSCOhost, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. Selected studies were extracted, and thematic synthesis was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 23 qualitative studies with diverse rigor were included in this review. Themes that emerged around perceptions and experiences of social support were (1) family orientation, (2) having faith in religion, (3) the importance of the elderly providing support, (4) taboos, (5) elderly self-reliance, (6) elderly fear of being a burden, and (7) differences on perceptions and experiences regarding social support. A discussion on how these results may contribute to pharmacy practice is provided.

CONCLUSION

This study reviews the available social support for seniors and highlights its importance for pharmacists.

Gender-differences in predictors for time to metabolic syndrome resolution: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial study

Understanding gender differences in health-related behaviors and their impacts is a crucial aspect of effective primary care. We studied gender-based differences in predictors of metabolic syndrome (MetS) resolution among newly diagnosed MetS patients. This study was a secondary analysis of a prospective clinical trial study comprising of 637 middle-aged and older adults (226 men and 411 women) who underwent a regular health checkup and were newly diagnosed with MetS at 16 different health clinics of 14 metropolitan cities and provinces. We conducted Cox proportional hazard analysis to estimate cumulative probability of MetS resolution within a 12‐month observation period. Among the 637 patients, 47.6% of participants achieved MetS resolution. The resolution rate was similar among men and women (44.7% and 49.1%, respectively, P = 0.320). Low household income (Hazard ratio = 2.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.13–6.08) and current employment (2.29, 1.26–4.13) were associated with a higher cumulative probability of MetS resolution in men than in women. For women, however, longer sleeping hours (1.18, 1.04–1.34) and living with a partner (1.58, 1.06–2.35) were positive predictors of MetS resolution. Being overweight (0.63, 0.44–0.89) was associated with lower cumulative probability of MetS resolution in women than in men. The factors associated with cumulative probability of MetS resolution within the 12-month follow-up were different between men and women. These findings facilitate further exploration on gender-based differences in risk factors for less optimal improvements in MetS.

[An Ethnography on the Healthy Life of the Aged Women Participating the Senior Centers]

PURPOSE

This ethnography was performed to explore patterns and meanings of healthy life among aged women using senior centers.

METHODS

The informants were 21 individuals aged 65 years and older at 2 community-based senior centers. Data were collected from iterative fieldwork through in-depth interviews and participant observations and analyzed using text analysis and taxonomic methods developed by Spradley. Field notes were used with follow-up interviews and dialogue between authors to enhance interpretation.

RESULTS

Patterns of healthy life among aged women using senior centers were categorized by age groups within the context of the four cultural elements of taking care of the body, relationality, temporality, and spatiality: active and passive control, maintenance of interdependence and individuality, expansion and maintenance of the daily routine, unity of peer relations and sustenance of family relations, spending time productively and tediously, and complementary and alternative space of the family relations.

CONCLUSION

The informants in this study demonstrated healthy life by maintaining and strengthening continuous relationships developed in the senior centers without being isolated from the family and society. Patterns of their healthy life differed across age groups within the socio-cultural context. Therefore, interventions should be tailored to address age groups and community needs.