Urbanism and life satisfaction among the aged

The strength of strong ties for older rural adults: regional distinctions in the relationship between social interaction and subjective well-being

Classic and contemporary sociological theories suggest that social interaction differs in rural and urban areas. Intimate, informal interactions (strong ties) are theorized to characterize rural areas while urban areas may possess more formal and rationalized interactions (weak ties). Aging and social support literature stresses social interaction as a predictor of health among the aged. Using data from Wave III of the Americans' Changing Lives (ACL) study, this study examines the hypothesized differences between informal strong ties and formal weak ties on the subjective well-being of older adults in rural, urban, and suburban areas. Visiting with friends, neighbors, or relatives has a stronger positive effect on subjective well-being for rural older adults than urban. These findings highlight that: a) informal strong ties increase subjective well-being; and b) the effect of informal strong ties differs by region. We discuss the potential of our findings for policy and urge continued attention to regional variation in aging studies.

Socio-cognitive skills as a determinant of life satisfaction in aged persons

The purpose of this study was to explore the viability of a revised model of elderly life satisfaction, specifically evaluating the contribution of socio-cognitive skills. The role of such skills in relation to life satisfaction among aged persons has not been explored in research to date. Pilot data gathered from 60 community-living aged individuals indicated that numerous variables (e.g., subjective/objective health, education, financial satisfaction, role participation, subjective integration) significantly correlated with life satisfaction. However, the combined effects of two variables, persons' feelings of loneliness and isolation from their families and a measure of socio-cognitive skill, accounted for 49 percent of the variability in elderly life satisfaction. The effects of each on life satisfaction were unique however. Implications of these data and possible interventions for increasing elderly persons' life satisfaction are discussed.

Use of a state-level pharmaceutical assistance program among urban and rural elders

A number of state-level pharmaceutical assistance programs have been established as a result of the growing recognition of the role of pharmaceuticals in the long-term care of the elderly. However, existing research does not provide a coherent expectation for patterns of use by rural and urban elderly. The data for this analysis are drawn from a larger study of the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE). PACE provides prescription medicines for elderly who meet income requirements. The research project was designed to assess the characteristics of PACE program participants and non-participants on a wide range of issues. Chi-square analysis and regression models were used to assess the association between rural and urban residence and access to the PACE Program. The results indicate that rural/urban status of the elderly is not a significant predictor of the use of PACE. Other traditional variables (e.g., health self-rating and physician visits) did predict difference in the pattern of use.

Social dimensions of mental illness among rural elderly populations

Despite growing concern with rural elderly populations, little attention has focused on their mental health, ways it may correlate with physical health, or how rural mental health patterns compare to urban. Popular wisdom contends that elderly people in general, and rural elderly persons in particular, are at increased risk for mental illness. This article examines these questions. A review of available literature suggests that elderly people may be at only slightly greater risk of mental illness than the population at large, though there are some indications that rates of depression may be somewhat higher among the elderly population. Much of this same literature implies that objective environmental conditions play a significant role in the incidence of depression. Analysis of data gathered in a statewide random poll (N = 743) indicates that while physical health tends to be poorer among rural populations, when health is held constant there is actually an inverse relationship between age and depression. Therefore, rural elderly persons are no more likely to be depressed than their urban counterparts despite harsher living conditions. Both conceptual and policy implications are discussed.

[Growth of the elderly population in Brazil: transformations and consequences in society]

São discutidas as transformações sociais e econômicas que incidem sobre a vida dos idosos decorrentes do aumento da população de 60 anos ou mais, no Brasil. O processo migratório e a intensa urbanização (em 1940 a população rural era de 68,8% e em 1980 de 32,4%) afetaram particularmente a população idosa dos grandes centros, ou daqueles que envelheceram nestas cidades. Esta nova organização social acentuou os problemas de solidão e pobreza dos idosos. Além desta perda de status social que exclui sua participação na sociedade moderna, o idoso teve também reduzido o suporte emocional no interior de sua família. Entre os fatores que concorrem para tal, destacam-se a mudança do padrão do modelo familiar, de extensa para nuclear, a maior mobilidade e o aumento do número de separações e divórcios. O maior período de vida da mulher e suas conseqüências (redução de renda, aumento do número de viúvas e maior freqüência de longos períodos de doenças crônicas), como também a mudança do papel social da mulher no mundo contemporâneo, fazem parte de uma discussão específica relativa à mulher e à velhice. A questão do trabalho, da aposentadoria e do custo social (coeficiente de dependência) é outro aspecto abordado.

The influence of self-ascribed handicapped status on the positive and negative affect of the elderly

Recently, Stock and Okun found that self-ascribed handicapped elders, relative to self-ascribed nonhandicapped elders, had significantly lower mean scores on six measures of subjective well-being. Using the same data base, in the present study, we examined whether self-ascribed handicapped status accounted for variance in positive and negative affect, net of intra- and interpersonal resources, and social status. On the bivariate level, self-ascribed handicapped status was related significantly to positive and negative affect. However, it did not account for more than 2 percent of the variance in either. As anticipated, self-ascribed handicapped status was not a significant predictor of positive and negative affect when social status and intra- and interpersonal resources were statistically controlled. Contrary to expectations, social status was a unique predictor of positive and negative affect.

Impact of a husband's chronic illness (COPD) on the spouse's life

This study was conducted to determine the impact of a husband's chronic illness on the spouse's life. The sample was 76 married women, 46 whose husbands had a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 30 whose husbands did not have a chronic illness. On a mailed questionnaire wives of COPD patients reported higher subjective stress (p = .032) and lower life satisfaction (p = .006) than the wives whose husbands did not have a chronic illness. The COPD wives assumed more new roles and responsibilities, relinquished more social activities, rated their health lower, and reported less frequent marital relations. Implications for future research are addressed.

The influence of qualitative assessments of the social and physical environment on the morale of the rural elderly

This study examined the impact of qualitative assessments of the social and physical environment on the morale of a community sample of 231 rural elderly. It was hypothesized that qualitative assessments would make a significant contribution to morale after the application of controls for background influences and activity participation. Providing support for the hypothesis, the set of six qualitative assessment variables explained 14% of the total variance in life satisfaction, the criterion of morale, when entered at the final stage of the analysis. Additionally, multiple regression analysis revealed that significant individual contributions to life satisfaction were made by availability of a confidant, transportation need, shopping enjoyment, neighbor satisfaction, and community satisfaction, from the qualitative assessment set.

Health and subjective well-being: a replicated secondary data analysis

The purposes of this article are to use replicated secondary data analysis to summarize information about the relationship between health and subjective well-being and to assess the strengths and weaknesses of replicated secondary data analysis as a mode of research synthesis. The findings from thirty-seven replications in seven surveys suggest a moderate and robust relationship between self-rated health and subjective well-being. Physician-assessed health, in contrast, exhibits weaker and less robust associations with subjective well-being. Further, the relationship between health and subjective well-being is conditioned by age and is stronger for measures of negative than positive affect. The principal advantages of replicated secondary data analysis, vis-a-vis other modes of research synthesis, are cost-effectiveness, increased ability to apply multivariate statistical techniques, and greater control and flexibility for the investigator. We suggest, nonetheless, that different modes of research synthesis can best be used for different purposes.