Mental well-being among the oldest old: revisiting the model of healthy ageing in a Finnish context

Exploring the mediating influence of acceptance of change: A study on gerontechnology acceptance, mental well-being, and urban-rural disparities among older adults

BACKGROUND

The global aging population necessitates leveraging technology for older adults' independence and mental well-being. Gerontechnology, tailored for older users, thrives when accessible and accepted, with the pivotal role of acceptance of change shaping its adoption.

AIMS

This study investigates the mediating role of acceptance of change in the relationship between gerontechnology acceptance and mental well-being among older adults and explores disparities in urban and rural settings DESIGN & METHODS: A cross-sectional, correlational design adhering to STROBE guidelines collected data through an interview survey from 802 older adults. Instruments included the Older Adult Structured Survey, Short Version of Senior Technology Acceptance, Acceptance of Change Scale, and the World Health Organization Well-Being Index.

RESULTS

The results underscore a significant correlation between technology adoption, adaptability, and mental well-being among 60-year-olds and older. Notably, an individual's openness to change significantly influences the technology-mental well-being relationship, emphasizing its impact on overall health. Urban areas exhibit a stronger positive correlation between technology acceptance and mental well-being, whereas rural regions demonstrate a more pronounced negative correlation.

CONCLUSION

This research contributes valuable knowledge for addressing the unique challenges older adults face in diverse geographic settings, paving the way for targeted and effective initiatives.

IMPLICATIONS

Nurses should prioritize understanding the nexus between gerontechnology acceptance, change adaptability, and mental wellness, integrating technology education and culturally sensitive interventions to enhance care strategies for older adults in diverse geographic settings. This study lays the groundwork for developing person-centered geriatric nursing care plans, underscoring the importance of harnessing technology for improved mental well-being.

Understanding Health, Subjective Aging, and Participation in Social Activities in Later Life: A Regional Finnish Survey

To understand health and well-being in later life, it is vital to consider the meaning of subjective aging. This study aimed to explore how perceived health, self-perceptions of aging, and participation in social activities relate to each other among older persons in the Bothnia region and Åland islands in Finland. Data were analyzed using Spearman's and polychoric correlation and multinomial logistic regression analyses. The perceived good health and the younger physical, psychological, and social dimensions of subjective age were found to be associated with each other and with participation in social activities outside one's home.

Intrinsic and environmental basis of aging: A narrative review

Longevity has been a topic of interest since the beginnings of humanity, yet its aetiology and precise mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Aging is currently viewed as a physiological phenomenon characterized by the gradual degeneration of organic physiology and morphology due to the passage of time where both external and internal stimuli intervene. The influence of intrinsic factors, such as progressive telomere shortening, genome instability due to mutation buildup, the direct or indirect actions of age-related genes, and marked changes in epigenetic, metabolic, and mitochondrial patterns constitute a big part of its underlying endogenous mechanisms. On the other hand, several psychosocial and demographic factors, such as diet, physical activity, smoking, and drinking habits, may have an even more significant impact on shaping the aging process. Consequentially, implementing dietary and exercise patterns has been proposed as the most viable alternative strategy for attenuating the most typical degenerative aging changes, thus increasing the likelihood of prolonging lifespan and achieving successful aging.

Process of inner change in advanced age: a qualitative study of older adults in their early 90 s

BACKGROUND

The number of nonagenarians is growing globally. The promotion of mental wellbeing is increasingly important. The aim of this study was to explore mental wellbeing and psychological experiences of older adults in their early 90 s who were living at home.

METHODS

We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 20 older adults in their early 90 s. A thematic analysis, according to Braun and Clarke, was used to analyze data.

RESULTS

An inner process of older adults in their early 90 s was revealed; its three themes were the "reality of aging," "seeking emptiness of the mind," and "still moving on." Older adults in this study experienced functional decline, regret, and loneliness. They were tired of life and nearly gave up. Emptying their minds helped them reset their attitudes and find a way to move on. After realizing that negative thinking did not help anything, they focused on what they could do and their daily routines. Perceived social usefulness validated participants' self-worth. However, a few were consistently active without negative perceptions of aging.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the psychological process and mental wellbeing in later life aids in the development of practical healthcare policies to assist the growing oldest-old population in cope with age-related challenges and improve their mental wellbeing.

Exploring the Association between Welfare State and Mental Wellbeing in Europe: Does Age Matter?

Previous research reports show mixed results regarding the age gradient in population mental wellbeing, which may be linked to the role that welfare states play. In this study, we investigate whether an age gradient exists in relation to the association between welfare state and mental wellbeing within the adult population in Europe. We combine individual level data from Round 6 of the European Social Survey and country level data on welfare state and use multilevel regression analyses to explore population mental wellbeing. Subjective and psychological wellbeing dimensions were analyzed, and different approaches to measuring welfare state were explored, including a regime typology and composite welfare state measures constructed on the basis of a set of eight individual indicators. We found the age gradient for mental wellbeing to differ between welfare states, with the positive impact of the welfare state increasing with age. A universal and generous welfare state seems to be particularly important for older adults, who are also more likely to be in higher need of transfers and services provided by the welfare state.

Life Conditions as Mediators of Welfare State Effect on Mental Wellbeing among Oldest Old in Europe

BACKGROUND

Mental wellbeing is formed by our daily environments, which are, in turn, influenced by public policies, such as the welfare state. This paper looks at how different aspects of life conditions may mediate the welfare state effect on mental wellbeing in oldest old age.

METHODS

Data were extracted from Round 6 of the European Social Survey (2012). The dataset comprised of 2058 people aged 80 years and older from 24 countries. Mediation analyses determined possible links between the welfare state, including eleven intervening variables representing life conditions and five mental wellbeing dimensions.

RESULTS

Our study confirms that the higher the level of welfare state, the better mental wellbeing, irrespective of dimension. Although several life conditions were found to mediate the welfare state effect on mental wellbeing, subjective general health, coping with income and place in society were the most important intervening variables.

CONCLUSIONS

All three variables centre around supporting autonomy in the oldest old age. By teasing out how the welfare state influences mental wellbeing in the oldest old, we can better understand the many drivers of wellbeing and enable evidence informed age-friendly policy making.

Health Promotion Practice Among Older Persons: A Nordic Multi-Professional Focus Group Study Exploring what It Is and How It Could be Achieved

The growing ageing population in the Nordic region calls for increased focus on health promotion work. To enhance multi-professional understanding and further develop strategies for promoting healthy ageing, it is vital to consider the perspectives of those working with health promotion. The aim of this study was to explore a wide spectrum of practitioners’ experiences of community-level health promotion targeting older adults in Finland and Sweden. Nine focus group interviews (34 informants) were conducted in 2019–2020. “Seeing the person” emerged as the ideal for health promotion targeting older adults, but this ideal was not always realized in current practice. Barriers related to organizational structures and the practitioner role were identified. However, work methods connected to user involvement and technology-based tools were considered key facilitators, enabling tailored health promotion initiatives.

Exploring the Nuanced Links Between Internet Use and Subjective Well-Being Among Older Adults: A Nordic Population-Based Study

Aim

The aim was to explore the various associations between subjective well-being and internet use among older adults in two regions in Finland and Sweden.

Methods

The data was collected through a population-based survey (N = 9,386) as part of the GERDA project conducted in 2016. The connection between subjective well-being (measured by perceived meaningfulness, happiness and life satisfaction) and internet use (distinguishing between internet users, non-users and users with support, and diverse internet activities) was studied by conducting binary regression analyses, calculating odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. The analyses also controlled for key subjective well-being covariates.

Results

Statistically significant associations were found between perceived life meaningfulness and internet use. When looking into the specific internet-based activities under study, activities related to leisure and entertainment showed statistically significant associations to perceived meaningfulness as well as perceived happiness, also after controlling for potential covariates. However, internet use and the different internet activities failed to show statistical significant associations to life satisfaction in the adjusted regression model.

Conclusion

The things we do on the internet (the activities) as well as how we conceptualize and measure subjective well-being in this type of research studies seem to matter when it comes to the relationship between subjective well-being and internet use in later life. Internet use and internet activities displayed various connections to the subjective well-being proxies used in this study. Therefore, the complexity and multidimensionality of both subjective well-being and internet use and related links need to be carefully explored in order to deepen our understanding of experienced well-being among older adults in a digitized world.

Pension and Active Ageing: Lessons Learned from Civil Servants in Indonesia

Many developing countries are currently facing an ageing population without sufficient preparation for old-age financial adequacy, an important component in active ageing. One question is whether a pension system can create old-age financial adequacy. At the same time, many countries are shifting their pension systems from a defined benefit to a defined contribution pension system to improve the welfare of older people while maintaining state budget sustainability. Indonesia is not an exception. This paper learns from civil servants in Indonesia, where the retirement payout from the existing pay-as-you-go, defined benefit system is meagre. The system is to be transformed into a defined contribution one. Using a simulation method, this paper examines whether the proposed system will provide a better retirement payout, which is higher than the minimum wage and will allow retirees to maintain their pre-retirement income. This paper concludes that the proposed system alone is not sufficient to create old-age financial adequacy and, therefore, is less able to contribute to active ageing. To improve the retirement payout, among other things, the retirement age should be raised and made optional, and the accumulated savings should be re-invested during the retirement period.

"They're not leaving their home; this is where they were born, this is where they will die.": Key Informant Perspectives From the U.S. Counties With the Greatest Concentration of the Oldest Old

The "oldest old," age 85 and older, constitute one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. population. Yet, surprisingly little is known about the characteristics of U.S. counties with the highest percentage of the oldest old, nearly all of which are rural. We used qualitative analysis of key informant interviews (n = 50) with county commissioners and other county-level representatives from rural counties with the highest prevalence of the oldest old, targeting the 54 rural counties with ≥5% of the population age 85+. We found that the rural counties with the highest proportion of residents age 85+ face unique challenges to supporting successful aging among the oldest old, including resource constraints, limited services, isolated locations, and widespread service areas. Still, interviewees identified particular reasons why the oldest old remain in their counties, with many highlighting positive aspects of rural environments and community.