Proficiency in positive vs. negative emotion identification and subjective well-being among long-term married elderly couples

The well-being and burden of caregiving for patients with Parkinson's disease

OBJECTIVES

Well-being and positive psychological functioning may protect caregivers from experiencing burden. Despite this, research has scarcely explored these variables among caregivers of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This research endeavoured (1) to measure differences in distress and well-being between caregivers of PD patients and caregivers assisting individuals suffering from non-neurodegenerative age-related health problems (controls); and (2) to evaluate the predictors of well-being, distress and caregiver burden in the total sample of caregivers.

METHODS

The study has a cross-sectional design. 100 caregivers were recruited from centres for ageing individuals. 50 caregivers assisted patients with PD, while the other 50 were considered as controls. Participants completed self-report questionnaires concerning psychological well-being, life satisfaction, post-traumatic growth, distress and symptomatology. Multiple regression analysis was performed on the dataset of the total sample (N = 100), exploring the possible predictors and correlates of caregiver burden.

RESULTS

Caregivers who assisted patients with PD significantly experienced more depression, more distress and less well-being when compared to controls. The main significant correlates of caregiver burden were older age, less psychological well-being and more depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Parkinson's disease caregivers reported more impairment in psychological well-being and higher rates of distress. In the total sample of caregivers (of patients with PD and of healthy individuals), depression and specific areas of well-being (environmental mastery, personal growth) correlated to the burden of caregiving. Psychosocial interventions focused on these dimensions may help caregivers to better cope with the possible burden of the assistance.

Social Inferences as Mediators of Wellbeing in Depression

BACKGROUND

Depression is an increasingly prevalent chronic mental health condition that involves a range of potentially negative implications, in the long term. Theory of Mind (ToM) serves to form and maintain social relationships, by accurately identifying thoughts and emotions in others. Defective ToM abilities have been noted in people with a history of clinical depression.

PURPOSE

To identify whether impairments of emotion recognition are correlated with a lower subjective feeling of wellbeing in people diagnosed with a chronic depressive illness.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a cross-sectional analysis of a recurrent depressive disorder (RDD, as per WHO ICD-10 nosology) cohort (n=57), the BECK depression scale and the "Reading the mind in the eyes" test were employed for the diagnosis of clinical symptoms, and for the evaluation of individual ToM skills, respectively. Wellbeing was quantified using the FANLCT scale.

RESULTS

The wellbeing of service-users decreased significantly, in correlation with their defective emotion recognition abilities. Additionally, a low capacity for the correct perception of emotions in other people appears to significantly influence the social relationships status, with scores of 14.00 (10.00-18.50) at low capacity vs 23.00 (17.58-24.75) at normal capacity (Mann-Whitney U-test, p < 0.001). Our study findings indicate that a normal ability for a correct recognition of emotions in others is significantly and strongly correlated with adequate social relationships (Spearman r = 0.757, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Wellbeing is significantly correlated with the individual ability for a correct recognition of emotions in others.

MOTIVAÇÕES PARA A MANUTENÇÃO DO CASAMENTO

Os casamentos longevos constituem fonte importante para se investigar a dinâmica conjugal e suas transformações ao longo do tempo. Este estudo objetivou compreender as principais motivações ou explicações para a manutenção do casamento em uniões de longa duração. Com cada um dos 25 casais unidos há mais de 30 anos foram realizadas três entrevistas, sendo duas individuais e uma com a díade, totalizando 75 entrevistas em profundidade, analisadas a partir da literatura científica na área da  conjugalidade. As motivações se estruturam ora acerca de aspectos individuais, ora acerca de elementos compartilhados pelo par, ora acerca de componentes procedentes do próprio casamento, revelando notadamente a afetividade e a ideia herdada de indissolubilidade do laço conjugal como explicações essenciais à manutenção do relacionamento. Assim, as motivações parecem ser direcionadas pelas experiências afetivas, como as vivências próprias, dos antepassados e das redes sociais próximas, incluindo a religião, que reafirmam o casamento em seu caráter tradicional e indissolúvel.

Casamentos de Longa Duração: Recursos Pessoais como Estratégias de Manutenção do Laço Conjugal

Resumo Partindo da abordagem da Psicologia Positiva, este estudo teve por objetivo compreender as principais estratégias e recursos pessoais utilizados por casais engajados em casamentos de longa duração para a manutenção do relacionamento conjugal. Foram realizadas 75 entrevistas com 25 casais heterossexuais unidos, em média, havia 39,48 anos, com média de idade de 64,06 anos. A partir da análise de conteúdo, de frequência e considerando o objetivo do estudo, foram analisadas em profundidade as seguintes categorias: compreensão, comprometimento e doação, espiritualidade e afetividade. Os momentos de crise foram superados, sobretudo, por meio da manutenção dos esforços que cada parceiro envidou, a partir dos seus próprios recursos pessoais e de sua individualidade, contribuindo para o fortalecimento do laço conjugal. Concluiu-se que o casamento é mantido por estratégias que são desenvolvidas tanto a partir de recursos pessoais como de elementos compartilhados pelo par, o que indica que a conjugalidade oferece suporte para sua própria permanência ao longo do tempo.

Emotion and aging: evidence from brain and behavior

Emotions play a central role in every human life from the moment we are born until we die. They prepare the body for action, highlight what should be noticed and remembered, and guide decisions and actions. As emotions are central to daily functioning, it is important to understand how aging affects perception, memory, experience, as well as regulation of emotions. The Frontiers research topic Emotion and Aging: Evidence from Brain and Behavior takes a step into uncovering emotional aging considering both brain and behavioral processes. The contributions featured in this issue adopt innovative theoretical perspectives and use novel methodological approaches to target a variety of topics that can be categorized into three overarching questions: How do cognition and emotion interact in aging in brain and behavior? What are behavioral and brain-related moderators of emotional aging? Does emotion-regulatory success as reflected in brain and behavior change with age? In this perspective paper we discuss theoretical innovation, methodological approach, and scientific advancement of the 13 papers in the context of the broader literature on emotional aging. We conclude by reflecting on topics untouched and future directions to take.