Coping Resources, Loneliness, and Depressive Symptoms of Older Women With Chronic Illness

Testing the efficacy of a narrative short film in educating the public about providing emotional support to individuals with fertility problems

BACKGROUND

To educate the public on how best to support people with fertility problems, a narrative short film "Ten Things Not to Say to Someone Struggling with Infertility" was created, depicting the impact that helpful versus unhelpful dialogue has on someone with fertility problems.

METHODS

Before and after watching the video, 419 participants from the public were presented with a hypothetical vignette describing a woman experiencing fertility problems and asked about the likelihood that they would endorse a series of helpful and unhelpful statements when communicating with the protagonist. Pre and post endorsement of helpful versus unhelpful statements were compared, as were self-perceived knowledge about the mental health aspects of fertility problems, confidence in providing emotional support to someone with fertility problems, and empathy for the protagonist.

RESULTS

Participants endorsed fewer unhelpful statements after the video relative to before (M(SD) = 2.2(2.3) vs. 1.3(2.3), p < .001) and fewer participants endorsed at least one unhelpful statement (72% to 47%, p < .001). Self-perceived knowledge of fertility problems, confidence in providing support, and empathy increased at post-test (ps < .001; Cohen's d = .56-.83) indicating medium-large effects.

CONCLUSIONS

A narrative short film appears to be an effective dissemination strategy for sensitizing the public to the emotional struggles of individuals experiencing fertility problems.

Mediating effect of social support and resilience between loneliness and depression in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analytic structural equation modeling

BACKGROUND

Loneliness is a powerful stressor for depression in older adults, and resilience and social support may mediate this relationship, while the evidence is limited. Hence, our study aims to explore the mediating role of social support and resilience between loneliness and depression and to test possible moderators.

METHODS

We searched 12 databases without language and publish time restrictions and obtained the correlation coefficients. This review constructed two-stage meta-analytical structural equality modeling (MASEA) to test the mediating effect of social support and resilience. Additionally, use one-stage MASEA to test the moderator effect of women proportion, published year, and country of study.

RESULTS

This study included 53 studies and 40, 929 older adults. Loneliness directly affected depression (β = 0.28, 95 % CI: 0.20, 0.36). Social support (β = 0.06, 95 % CI: 0.02, 0.09) and resilience (β = 0.15, 95 % CI: 0.12, 0.18) mediated the relationship. The proportion of women in the sample was moderator (χ2(5) = 11.10, p = 0.05). When the proportion exceeded 60 %, the path coefficient of loneliness and social support (β = -0.45, SE = 0.055) was larger than that of the subgroup below 60 % (β = -0.32, SE = 0.041).

LIMITATIONS

It was indefinite whether the evidence would be supported in longitudinal designs. Influenced by the original research data, it is impossible to calculate the model parameters of gender discrepancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Health aging policy-makers adopting social support and resilience intervention will help strengthen the coping skills of older adults confronting loneliness and reduce the risk of depression.

The Risk for Loneliness and Major Depression among Solo Agers

Solo agers may be vulnerable to social isolation and mental health sequelae, particularly if they lack close family or friendship ties. This study examined associations among indicators of solo aging, frequency of loneliness, and Major Depressive Disorder among adults aged 60+. Depressed participants were diagnosed by a geriatric psychiatrist and control participants were not depressed. We hypothesized that older adults with more indicators of solo aging (i.e., living alone, being unmarried, not having family or friends nearby) would be more often lonely and more likely to be depressed. In multivariate analyses controlling for health comorbidities and financial difficulty, each additional solo aging indicator significantly increased the likelihood of frequent loneliness, 95% CI OR [1.50, 2.80], and having a depression diagnosis 95% CI OR [1.04, 2.07]. Solo agers may be vulnerable to loneliness and depression, reinforcing the need for assessment and intervention for social isolation among older adults.

The experience of loneliness among the Chinese bereaved parents-a qualitative study from the life course perspective

BACKGROUND

With the implementation of the 37 years one-child policy, many couples only have one child in China. Chinese parents whose only child died and did not give birth to or adopt another child are known as "Shidu" parents or "Shiduer". Characterised by elements of childlessness, bereavement, and ageing, Shiduer are at a higher risk of experiencing loneliness. However, little is known about their loneliness experience. Adopting a life course perspective, this research aims to investigate how loneliness was experienced and coped by older Chinese Shidu parents and identify the most vulnerable groups for policy intervention.

METHODS

Qualitative method was adopted for this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 participants from urban and rural Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province in central China, to collect data on participants' life course related resources and loneliness experience after bereavement. An abductive approach was used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

The results demonstrate that the social environment (urban/rural), timing of bereavement (midlife/older age), social network (strong/weak), and coping strategies (escape-avoidance/problem-solving) differentiate the experience of loneliness among the Shiduer. Those who lived in rural communities, those bereaved in older age, those who had a weak social network, and those who adopted the escape-avoidance strategy were found vulnerable and suffered from more chronic and intensive loneliness than their counterparts without these characteristics.

CONCLUSION

This study is among the first attempts to examine loneliness experience and coping among older Chinese bereaved parents from a qualitative, life course perspective. It provides insights into how loneliness has been perceived and experienced differently among the bereaved one-child parents in China. The results of the current study provide important implications for policymakers and practitioners/social workers for the intervention of loneliness.

Measuring social isolation in older adults: A rapid review informing evidence-based research and practice

OBJECTIVES

Older adults account for 18.5% of the Canadian population and are at risk of experiencing social isolation, compared to other age groups. Researchers define social isolation as a lack of social contact and relationships, but many social isolation measures do not reflect this definition. The aim of our study is to review the existing measures of social isolation with older adults to recommend evidence-based measures to researchers and practitioners.

METHODS

We conducted a rapid review on PsycInfo and PsycTests. We included articles that were written in English or French, were peer-reviewed, used an older adult sample, included a self-report social isolation measure, and reported psychometric information.

RESULTS

Following exclusion of ineligible articles, 12 measures were available for analysis. We further categorized the measures into: five most recommended measures, five measures that require further research, and two measures not recommended for use with older adults.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed a range of measures with varying suitability to be used with older adults; some were empirically driven but did not have strong psychometric properties, or vice-versa.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

It is imperative that interventions aimed to address social isolation in older adults use evidence-based measures to assess progress and report treatment effectiveness.

Loneliness is Associated With Lower Coping Self-Efficacy Among Older Adults

To address the gap of lacking research on the association between coping self-efficacy and loneliness, this study examined this relationship to inform future research and intervention on loneliness. Using data from 151 community-dwelling older adults ages 65 and older, we estimated multivariate logistic regression models with age, race/ethnicity, sex, body mass index, chronic disease composite score, social support, coping self-efficacy, and depression symptoms. Loneliness was reported in 32.1% of participants and negatively associated with coping self-efficacy (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.50-0.93) while controlling for age, race, sex, chronic disease composite score, and body mass index. Our findings suggest that coping self-efficacy may be a target for intervention involving loneliness in future research; however, the causal relationship between coping self-efficacy and loneliness should be explored further.

The association between chronic disease and depression in middle-aged and elderly people: The moderating effect of health insurance and health service quality

Background

Depression in chronic disease patients was an important public health problem. However, limited work has been done on how to alleviate the depression of chronic disease patients. This paper attempted to explore the alleviating effect of health insurance and health service quality.

Methods

A total of 11,500 middle-aged and elderly people were drawn from four waves (2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). We analyzed the effect of chronic disease on depression in middle-aged and elderly people in China, and explored the mechanism of action from health insurance and health service quality.

Results

After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, any chronic disease (coefficient 1.471, p < 0.01) and multiple chronic diseases (coefficient 1.733, p < 0.01) could significantly increase the depression score. Any chronic disease increased the depression score (165.3 and 147.4% in non-health insurance group and health insurance group, respectively), the multiple chronic diseases increased the depression score (190.6 and 173.5% in non-health insurance group and health insurance group, respectively). Any chronic disease increased the depression score (161.3 and 139.5% in lower health service quality group and higher health service quality group, respectively), the multiple chronic diseases increased the depression score (228.4 and 162.9% in lower health service quality group and higher health service quality group, respectively). And similar results were obtained after using depression status instead of depression score.

Conclusions

Chronic disease and multiple chronic diseases were important determinants of depression in middle-aged and elderly people. Health insurance and health service quality were the key factors in relieving the depression of chronic disease patients. Several strategies were urgently needed: paying attention to the mental health of chronic disease patients, increasing the participation rate of health insurance, further improving the quality of health service, and alleviating the psychological harm caused by chronic disease.

A Systematic Literature Review of Loneliness in Community Dwelling Older Adults

Research on loneliness is extensive. This paper presents a systematic review of intervention studies, outlining the antecedents to, and consequences of loneliness in community-dwelling older people. Using PRISMA methodology, a systematic literature review was conducted between January and August 2021 resulting in 49 useable articles. Papers were included if they: (a) investigated older people (+50); (b) were living in community dwellings; (c) had been published in English; (d) had titles or abstracts available and, (e) were published between 2016 and 2021. This study found the antecedents and consequences of social, emotional and existential loneliness differ, however, the vast majority of research has not examined the unique types of loneliness and instead kept loneliness as a generic term, despite the acceptance that various types of loneliness exist. In addition, the findings of intervention studies identified through this review have yielded mixed results. Those interventions focused on improving personal and psycho-social resources for older people fared better outcomes than those focused on technological and social connections alone. This paper reports important implications for the future of research conducted on loneliness and interventions accordingly.

The Stress of Leprosy as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Coping Resources, Coping Strategies, and Psychological Well-Being in Persons Affected by Leprosy. The Structural Equation Models Through a Correlation Study

Intoduction

Psychological strength plays an important role in reducing stress due to leprosy because leprosy can cause physical, psychological, and social problems. For that reason, this study aims to investigate the relationship between coping sources, coping strategies, and psychological well-being through leprosy stress.

Methods

This research instrument uses a stress perception scale, coping sources, coping strategies, and psychological well-being scale to collect data from 125 participants consisting of women (33.60%) and men 66.40%. The test analysis in this study uses SmartPLS through structural equation modeling to prove the correlation.

Results

The results of the SEM test indicate that there is a negative relationship between coping resources and leprosy stress, with a coefficient value of (−0.380), p-value of (0.000) <0.05, and a positive relationship is obtained with psychological well-being with the coefficient value of (0.427), p-value of (0.000) <0.05. Meanwhile, the SEM test shows a negative relationship between coping strategies and stress of leprosy, with the coefficient of (−0.566), p-value of (0.000) <0.05, and a positive relationship is obtained with psychological well-being (0.355), p-value of (0.000) < 0.05. Furthermore, on psychological well-being, stress shows a negative relationship, with the coefficient of (−0.212), p-value of (0.002).

Discussion

Exploration of important coping sources is done to weaken the power of leprosy as a stressor and the use of effective coping strategies is needed to solve physical, psychological, and social problems for “People Affected by Leprosy”, and simultaneously these two attributes are used to achieve prosperity. psychological. better.

Experiences of implementing a coping mechanism for the elderly who face chronic diseases while living with the family: a phenomenology study

Objective

Physical and psychological stress causes harm to the health status of the elderly with chronic diseases. This study aimed to understand coping mechanisms of the elderly with chronic conditions who live with their family.

Methods

This study was conducted using a descriptive phenomenology method from the experience of 13 older adults with chronic disease. The study processes were interviewed, tape recorded, transcribed, and explored from the transcripts using Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenological method. The steps of the descriptive phenomenology process are bracketing, intuiting, analyzing, and describing.

Results

The coping mechanisms used by the elderly with chronic diseases are (1) the behavioral focus coping ways by doing sports, and physical activities; (2) Focus on spirituality has been implemented by fasting, chanting, dhikr, and prayer; (3) The cognitive focus by working on hobbies or habitual activities and helping each other; (4) The social interaction focus was by interacting with friends, family, and neighbors.

Conclusions

This shows that elderly adults with disease conditions try to adapt various forms of coping mechanisms, which positively affects their psychological state. Families which have elderly with chronic diseases are expected to provide nurturing and psychological support to them so that the elderly can consistently apply coping mechanisms to overcome and tackle chronic diseases. Understanding the coping mechanism implementation of the elderly who have chronic diseases by their family can guide health specialists in designing psychological and spiritual approach interventions.

Loneliness in Myanmar's older population: A mixed-methods investigation

OBJECTIVES

Little is known about loneliness in lower- and middle-income countries. This study investigates loneliness in the older population of Myanmar using a mixed-methods approach.

METHODS

To identify predictors of loneliness, hierarchical regression models were used to analyze data from the Myanmar Aging Survey 2012 (N = 3,618, 57% women). In a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, quantitative data were integrated with qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with older adults in Myanmar in 2019.

RESULTS

The prevalence of loneliness varied by between-person characteristics. Health impairments, lower income, being widowed, not having children, and living with fewer household members were each associated with loneliness. Qualitative findings suggested that the physical presence of family members was especially protective against loneliness. Religion had mixed associations with loneliness, depending on the type of religious practice, demographic characteristics, health status, and community engagement.

DISCUSSION

The findings contribute to a better understanding of individuals' experiences of loneliness and may inform the design of interventions to prevent loneliness in Myanmar and globally.

Own health, spousal health and transitions in loneliness among middle-aged and older adults in China

This study examines the effects of own and spousal health on transitions in loneliness over time among married middle-aged and older adults in China, and explores the possible gender differences in these effects using data from the three waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011–2015). The sample includes 6,422 men and 6,391 women who were married and aged 45 and older at the baseline survey. Middle-aged and older adults with poorer physical and emotional health statuses are more likely to transition into and less likely to transition out of loneliness in a two-year period. Spouse's emotional health also affects both types of transition in loneliness and spouse's functional limitation affects transition into loneliness through spouse's emotional health. In addition, for married men, their own functional limitation is significantly associated with their transitions into and out of loneliness. For married women, their spouse's functional limitation is significantly associated with their transition into loneliness and this is mainly through its association with spouse's emotional health. Also, for married women, their spouse's emotional health is significantly associated with their transition out of loneliness. Social interventions to reduce feelings of loneliness need to take a couple approach and consider both spouses’ health problems and how they may affect their daily activities and their interactions with each other and with others.

Multidimensional scale of perceived social support: evidence of validity and reliability in a Chilean adaptation for older adults

BACKGROUND

Given the relevance of social support on the mental health of older adults, having an instrument to evaluate this variable is essential for research in the area. However, mainly, having instruments with suitable evidence of their psychometric properties is critical. For this reason, this study sought to evaluate the factorial and reliability structure of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support within autonomous older adults from the Province of Concepción, Chile.

METHODS

We surveyed 399 older adults using quote sampling. They answered a Spanish version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, plus a sociodemographic questionnaire. We performed confirmatory factor analysis using Weighted Least Squares Means and Variances adjusted estimation (WLSMV) to compare the factor models proposes by previous studies. To evaluate reliability, we calculated Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega.

RESULTS

The Confirmatory factor analysis found that the 3-factors models showed the best fist index between the models with CFI = 0.991, TLI = 0.989, and SRMR = 0.035, even though RMSEA were over the cutoff point. The factors presented reliabilities from α = 0.858 to α = 0.941, and from ω = 0.937 to ω = 0.972.

CONCLUSIONS

The results support the existence of three factors for the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), differentiating the support perceived from Family, Friends, and significant others. All factors present good or excellent reliability. This solution is theoretically consistent and coherent with the literature, and it presents evidence in favor of the use of MSPSS as a measurement to distinguish the support perceived source.

Meaning in Life, Religious Coping, and Loneliness During the Coronavirus Health Crisis in Turkey

Since December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious mental health challenges and consequently the Turkish population has been adversely affected by the virus. The present study examined how meaning in life related to loneliness and the degree to which religious coping strategies mediated these relations. Participants were a sample of 872 adults (242 males and 360 females) drawn from general public in Turkey. Data were collected using Meaning in Life Questionnaire, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Religious Coping Measure. Meaning in life was associated with more positive religious coping and less negative religious coping and loneliness. Positive religious coping was associated with less loneliness, while negative religious coping was associated with more loneliness. Religious coping strategies mediated the impact of meaning in life on loneliness. These findings suggest that greater meaning in life may link with lesser loneliness due to, in part, an increased level of positive religious coping strategies and a decreased level of negative coping strategies.

Loneliness Trajectories: Evidence for Staged Intervention Among Chinese Bereaved Parents

Losing an only child affects the mental health of many older adults in China, placing them at a higher risk of loneliness. However, few studies explore the long-term effects of losing an only child on loneliness trajectories among older Chinese bereaved parents. Adopting a qualitative, grounded theory approach, this study investigates how experiences of loneliness among bereaved parents evolve and the implications for staged intervention. Twenty-seven in-depth interviews were conducted with people who lost their only child in Shanghai and Wuhan. A multistep data analysis technique was used to analyze the data. The findings indicate that trajectories of perceived loneliness have three distinct stages and follow a U-shape in their frequency and intensity. Interventions of psychological consultation, social network restoration, and improved old-age support should be emphasized at each stage.

Urban and Rural Differences in Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms in Later Life in the United States

OBJECTIVE

This research has two primary goals: to examine the relationship between urban residence and trajectories of depressive symptoms and to investigate whether this relationship differs by social isolation and loneliness.

METHOD

Data are from 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults aged 51+ (n = 3,346 females and 2,441 males). We conduct latent growth curve analysis to predict both baseline and trajectories of depression based on urban or rural residency.

RESULTS

Residing in urban or rural areas is neither significantly associated with baseline nor the development of late-life depressive symptoms. For females, the relationship between urban residence and baseline depressive symptoms is explained by socioeconomic factors.

DISCUSSION

Findings of this study serve to better understand how social and geographic contexts shape long-term well-being of older adults.

The Lonely, Isolating, and Alienating Implications of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

This article provides a narrative review on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) through a psychosocial lens and examines how this impairment affects its sufferers during adolescence and adulthood, as well as how it impacts family caregivers and healthcare professionals' mental health. Since there has been a lack of investigation in the literature, the primary psychosocial stressor that this review focuses on is loneliness. As such, and in an attempt to help establish a theoretical framework regarding how loneliness may impact ME/CFS, loneliness is comprehensively reviewed, and its relation to chronic illness is described. We conclude by discussing a variety of coping strategies that may be employed by ME/CFS individuals to address their loneliness. Future directions and ways with which the literature may investigate loneliness and ME/CFS are discussed.

Living with Parkinson's disease: The benefits of community programming

BACKGROUND

and purpose. Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that has significant physical, mental and financial costs for individuals and families. It is necessary to examine ways to improve the lives of individuals living with PD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Through the use of a thematic analysis, this study examined the benefits that participants in a community PD program experienced, and the barriers that prohibited individuals from participating.

RESULTS

Participants of the community PD program reported that participating in the program gave them a sense of community/belonging, increased knowledge about PD, a sense of hope/improved outlook on life, and physical improvements. Two main barriers preventing individuals from participating in the program was a lack of transportation and a fear of seeing PD symptom progression in others.

CONCLUSION

Results highlight that community PD programs can aid in improvements in quality of life related to exercise, an improved outlook, and support.

Reducing Isolation and Loneliness Through Membership in a Fitness Program for Older Adults: Implications for Health

Objectives: To explore the effects of membership in a fitness program for older adults on social isolation, loneliness, and health. Method: Using survey responses from SilverSneakers members and matched nonmembers, regression path analysis was used to examine the influence of SilverSneakers membership on physical activity, social isolation, loneliness, and health, and the interrelationships among these concepts. Results: SilverSneakers membership directly increased physical activity and self-rated health, directly decreased social isolation, and indirectly decreased loneliness. Decreased social isolation and loneliness were associated with better self-rated health: social isolation and loneliness had independent direct effects on health, while social isolation also had an indirect effect on health mediated through loneliness. Discussion: Members of SilverSneakers experienced better health through increased physical activity, reduced social isolation, and reduced loneliness. Future research should explore independent effects of social isolation and loneliness on health and the mechanisms by which membership reduces social isolation and loneliness.

Do religious activities among young-old immigrants act as a buffer against the effect of a lack of resources on well-being?

OBJECTIVES

Despite a large body of sociological and psychological literature suggesting that religious activities may mitigate the effects of stress, few studies have investigated the beneficial effects of religious activities among immigrants. Immigrants in particular may stand to benefit from these activities because they often report a religious affiliation and often occupy disadvantaged positions. This study investigates whether private and public religious activities reduce the negative effects of a lack of physical, social, and socio-economic resources on wellbeing among Turkish and Moroccan young-old immigrants in the Netherlands.

METHOD

Using data from the Longitudinal Study Amsterdam, cluster analysis revealed three patterns of absence of resources: physically disadvantaged, multiple disadvantages, and relatively advantaged. Linear regression analysis assessed associations between patterns of resources, religious activities and wellbeing.

RESULTS

Persons who are physically disadvantaged or have multiple disadvantages have a lower level of wellbeing compared to persons who are relatively advantaged.  More engagement in private religious activities was associated with higher wellbeing. Among those with multiple disadvantages, however, more engagement in private religious activities was associated with lower wellbeing. Public religious activities were not associated with wellbeing in the disadvantaged group.

CONCLUSION

Private religious activities are positively related to wellbeing among Turkish and Moroccan immigrants. In situations where resources are lacking, however, the relation between private religious activities and wellbeing is negative. The study's results highlight the importance of context, disadvantage and type of religious activity for wellbeing.

Evidence on selection, optimization, and compensation strategies to optimize aging with multiple chronic conditions: A literature review

The self-regulation strategies of selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC) can be effective in optimizing aging with multiple chronic conditions (MCC). Nineteen articles on the use and effects of SOC among older adults with chronic conditions were reviewed. The studies' quality, evaluated by the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, ranged from medium to high (Mean = 0.90, SD = 0.10). SOC were found to improve the symptom experience for older adults, resulting in better health outcomes such as increased daily living activities, subjective well-being, life success, fewer falls/sick days, and use of medication for pain control. For those with MCC, higher degree of disabilities, serious health events, and negative self-perceived aging undermined the relationships between SOC and long-term physical functioning, self-rated health, and life satisfaction. Aging can be optimized by identifying and improving older individuals' coping using SOC. Future studies should utilize better MCC measures for comorbidity and chronic disabling symptoms to investigate the influence of SOC on MCC-associated health outcomes.