Choosing a health behaviour theory or model for related research projects: a narrative review

The mediating role of health-related behavior in the relationship between wisdom and depressive symptoms in older Polish adults

OBJECTIVES

Although studies have shown that wisdom is positively related to mental health in older adults, little is known about its possible mechanisms. The current study examines whether health-related behavior can play a mediating role in the relationships between wisdom and geriatric depressive symptoms.

METHODS

The study included 334 Polish older adults aged 60-99 years (M = 71.91; SD = 7.01). The respondents completed the Geriatric Depression Scale, Three-Dimensional Wisdom Scale, Health-Related Questionnaire for Seniors, and a sociodemographic survey.

RESULTS

Three-dimensional wisdom and its three dimensions correlated negatively with geriatric depressive symptoms but positively with general health-related behavior and its factors. Health-related behavior acted partially as a mediator between wisdom and geriatric depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Wiser seniors tend to take part in more health-promoting behavior, which may prevent depressive symptoms. The findings support the important role played by wisdom in mental health-promoting interventions for older adults.

Social Representations of "Tinnitus" and "Health" among Individuals with Tinnitus Seeking Online Psychological Interventions

(1) Objective: Social representations theory (SRT) is a body of theory within social psychology concerned with how individuals, groups, and communities collectively make sense of socially relevant or problematic issues, ideas, and practices. SRT has been increasingly sued in the area of health and disability. The current study examined the social representations of "tinnitus" and "health" among individuals with tinnitus who are seeking online psychological interventions. (2) Materials/Method: The data were gathered using a free association task about their "tinnitus" and "health" from 399 individuals with tinnitus. The data were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative analyses methods. (3) Results: The responses resulted in 39 and 30 categories respectively, for "tinnitus" and "health". The most commonly occurring categories for tinnitus included: descriptions of tinnitus (18%), annoying (13.5%), persistent (8%), and distracting (5%). The most commonly occurring categories for health included: content (12%), conditions (8%), active (7%), take control (6%), and overweight (5%). The responses to tinnitus had predominantly negative connotations (i.e., 76.9%) whereas a larger proportion of responses toward their health was related to positive connotations (i.e., 46.4%). These frequently occurring items were also dominant in similarities analysis. Prototypical analysis of tinnitus responses identified categories horrible and bothersome to be key items in the central zone. The categories in central zone of health responses included: content, active, healthy, grateful, and overweight. (4) Conclusions: Individuals with tinnitus have very negative view of their tinnitus impacting their psychological status. Tinnitus management should focus on reducing the negative associations toward their tinnitus and strengthen the positive aspects related to their general health.