Validity and reliability study of the Turkish version of the Aging Anxiety Scale for Middle-Aged Women

PURPOSE

This study aimed to perform a validity and reliability study of the Turkish version of the Aging Anxiety Scale for Middle-Aged Women.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This methodological study was conducted with 262 women aged between 40 and 59 years.

FINDINGS

While language, content and construct validity analyses were performed at the validity phase of the scale, internal consistency and stability over time analyses were performed at the reliability stage. Factor analyses were performed for the construct validity, and it was determined that the items of the scale were classified under four factors; this was consistent with the original form. The Cronbach's α reliability was 0.962 for the overall scale and ranged between 0.836 and 0.949 for the four subdimensions.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The study determined that the Turkish adaptation of the scale is a valid and reliable measuring instrument.

Finding the Silver Lining: Aging Well Amongst Older Brazilian Women in the Post-Migration Context

STUDY BACKGROUND

The aging population in Canada has been increasing steadily over the past 40 years, however, there is limited information about the meaning of aging well amongst older Brazilian women in Canada.

METHODS

A Heideggerian interpretive phenomenology study was conducted to understand the meaning of aging well amongst older Brazilian women in the post-migration context living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in Ontario, Canada.

RESULTS

Eight older Brazilian women residing in the GTA were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling and participated in individual face-to-face interviews. Through data analysis and the incorporation of Heidegger's four existentials of human existence, the themes that emerged were (a) Embracing being part of a mosaic, (b) Aging with grace, (c) Chasing your dreams and (d) Being a bridge and not a fence. The overarching theme was: Finding the silver lining: Aging well.

CONCLUSION

This study informs nursing practice, research and policy development to advance the health of older immigrant adults in Canada.

Is body image a predictor of women's depression and anxiety in postmenopausal women?

BACKGROUND

Women in perimenopausal and postmenopausal period are at increased risk of depression and anxiety. Physiologic changes in menopause can change body's appearance and function that may disturb body and then lead to anxiety and depression. This study aims to assess the relationship between body image with anxiety and depression among postmenopausal women.

METHODS

This descriptive study was performed on 307 women attending to the health centers in Tehran- Iran. Sampling was performed by a multi-staged randomized method. Data were collected by using Beck Depression questionnaire, Spielberger Anxiety Questionnaire, Fisher Body Image Questionnaire and Socio-demographic questionnaires. Data were analyzed by SPSS 21 and using t-test, Pearson and Spearman correlation tests and multiple linear regression methods.

RESULTS

The average age of the participants was 55.19 ± 4.034 years. Mean scores for body image, anxiety and depression were 163.26 ± 20.38, 12.00 ± 7.71 and 42.70 ± 8.40 respectively. Fifty five percent of women had mild to severe depression and 83.7% of them had mild to severe anxiety. Total score and all domains of body image had a negative correlation with depression and anxiety scores (P < 0.001). Multiple linear correlation showed that body image is a predictor for depression and anxiety (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Body image of women can be effective on occurrence of depression and anxiety in menopause. Therefore, women's health policies should consider body image to control cognitive problems including depression and anxiety in menopause.

The female aging body: A systematic review of female perspectives on aging, health, and body image

While most body image research has focused on young female populations, evidence has shown that as few as 12% of older women are satisfied with their body size. Recent studies have also highlighted how anti-aging discourses are promoting unrealistic body norms, which have shown to contribute to poor body image and altered health behaviors. A systematic review of empirical studies focused on older women's perspectives of health, body image, and the aging body is presented. Findings support that body image is a persistent, lifelong issue for women and should be considered when implementing healthy aging policies and practices.

'It's bit of an eye opener' - A qualitative study of women's attitudes towards tanning, sun protection and a facial morphing intervention

OBJECTIVE

Skin cancer is to a large degree behaviourally preventable, meaning that evidence-based interventions have scope to make a difference. Previous research indicates that appearance-based interventions such as facial morphing may be more effective than health-based interventions, and that it can personalise the issue of skin cancer.

METHOD

This study examined attitudes to UV exposure, as well as reactions to a facial morphing intervention, through interviews with 25 women aged 35 years and older.

RESULTS

Thematic analysis revealed four themes; two regarding attitudes to UV exposure (confusion and contradiction, and change and continuity), and two relating to the facial morphing intervention (negative reactions to UV-exposed photo and positive outcomes of the intervention). Women experienced a number of barriers to adopting safer behaviour in the sun; their current attitudes to UV exposure had been shaped by available information sources throughout their ageing. They expressed negative evaluations of the UV photo, which fed directly into motivation to reduce UV exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

These results can be interpreted along the lines of goal-directed behaviour. This type of intervention has the potential to reduce UV exposure among this participant group, something that needs to be further investigated with randomised control trials.