Links between Couples' Cynical Hostility and Mental Health: A Dyadic Investigation of Older Couples

Whereas sharing a life with someone with high cynical hostility can be straining, little is known about how partner's cynical hostility is associated with one's mental health. In this paper, we report the findings from a longitudinal dyadic study using two waves of a large and representative American sample of older adults and their spouses to examine how one's own and their spouse's cynical hostility longitudinally affect anxiety and depressive symptoms. Results from APIM analyses suggest that both husbands' and wives' anxiety and depressive symptoms were negatively associated with their own cynical hostility, both within each time point and longitudinally. Partners' cynical hostility, however, predicted only husbands' mental health cross-sectionally. Furthermore, a moderating effect was identified, although it was not consistently observed across all analyses. Specifically, when a partner's cynical hostility was high, the association between one's own cynical hostility and their mental health was stronger, especially for women. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Anger and anxiety in older adults: a cross-lagged examination

OBJECTIVES

Both anger and anxiety are common in older adulthood, with aversive consequences for individuals' physical and mental health. Theory suggests that anger can be an emotional response to the experience of anxiety. Similarly, anger can induce anxiety symptoms. Despite studies documenting the co-occurrence of anger and anxiety and their strong theoretical links, little is known about their temporal relationship. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal cross-lagged relationship between anger expression, anger suppression, and anxiety.

METHODS

A large and representative sample of older adults (N=6,852) was utilized, with data collected in two waves at an interval of four years. All variables were measured using validated self-report scales.Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling.

RESULTS

Results indicate that both anger suppression and anger expression are significant predictors of anxiety symptoms. Similarly, anxiety is a significant predictor of both anger suppression and anger expression.

CONCLUSIONS

The effects did not differ in magnitude, suggesting a balanced reciprocity between anger and anxiety. An understanding of this reciprocal association can inform interventions and strategies aimed at promoting emotional well-being in older individuals. By addressing both anger and anxiety concurrently, interventions may have a more comprehensive impact on improving mental health outcomes in this population.

A Life Course, Intergenerational Perspective on Loneliness

The present study relied on 15 dyads of adult children and their older parent to better understand intergenerational family relations from a life course perspective. Interviews were analyzed relying on qualitative thematic analysis, identifying similarities and differences within and between interviews and dyads. Our analysis resulted in three major themes. The first concerns the important role of intergenerational family relation as a means to define and conceptualize the experiences of loneliness and ways of coping with loneliness. The second theme concerned intergenerational relations as a cause (and at times a remedy) of loneliness. The third theme concerns the ability of the dyad's members to reflect on the level of loneliness of the other member in the intergenerational dyad. The findings stress the importance of intergenerational family relations throughout the life course and highlight the importance of adopting an intergenerational lens as a possible means to address loneliness.

Let there be light: The moderating role of positive solitude in the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms

Positive solitude (PS), the choice of being alone to engage in meaningful inner or physical, spiritual, mental, or cognitive activity/ experience, was recently suggested as a stand-alone phenomenon differentiated from loneliness and negative solitude. As loneliness was previously found to have adverse implications for mental health, the present study examined whether the ability to engage in PS can moderate the harmful effect of loneliness on depressive symptoms. The sample consisted of 520 community-dwelling older adults in Israel aged 68-87 (Mage = 72.66). Participants answered an online questionnaire through a survey company (Ipanel) assessing their background characteristics, depressive symptoms, loneliness, and PS. Loneliness was positively associated with depressive symptoms, whereas PS was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Furthermore, PS moderated the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms, such that higher levels of PS weakened this association. The findings indicate that PS may serve as a buffering factor for mental health among older adults by augmenting coping with the adverse outcomes of loneliness. The results provide insight for tailoring future treatment interventions focusing on PS to enhance mental health among older adults.

Health Behaviors during the Early COVID-19 Containment Phase and Their Impact on Psychological Health

The COVID-19 lockdowns have brought significant changes to individuals' daily lives, including their health behaviors and psychological health. Longitudinal studies exploring changes in health behaviors during the course of the initial containment phase are relatively scarce. Our aim is to understand how health behaviors have evolved during different phases of the early COVID-19 lockdowns and assess the impact of these changes on psychological well-being. By doing so, we hope to provide valuable insights that can enhance the understanding of the relationship between health behaviors and psychological health, with relevance not only to everyday life but to times of crises. A longitudinal study among 313 adults in Israel (44.5 ± 13.4 years old, 80% women) at three timepoints, beginning with the first COVID-19 lockdown (April 2020) and extending through June 2020. In each wave, participants were asked to report about exercising, eating fruits and vegetables, sharing family meals, and screen time. The BSI (Brief Symptom Inventory) was used to assess psychological health. There was an initial increase in the frequency of exercising (3.06 + 2.3 times a week) and shared meals (breakfast, 3.97 + 2.3; lunch, 5.30 + 1.9; dinner, 5.75 + 1.7 times a day) followed by a subsequent significant decrease in these behaviors (exercising, 2.84 + 2.0; breakfast, 2.63 + 2.1; lunch, 3.48 + 2.3; dinner, 4.75 + 2.0). The health behaviors of more exercising (r = -0.145, p = 0.43) and less screen time (r = 0.183, p = 0.010) had a positive impact on psychological health. External events, such as the first COVID-19 lockdown, may influence health behaviors which may, in turn, influence psychological health. While prior studies have mainly highlighted the negative impact of the pandemic on health behaviors, our analyses suggest that the first containment phase may have had an initial beneficial impact on several health behaviors, including exercising and family meals. However, this change was not sustainable.

Retirement and Sexual Satisfaction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Although interest in sexuality in older age has increased over the last decades, few studies have focused on longitudinal change in sexual satisfaction around retirement age. In the present study, we studied change in sexual satisfaction across retirement in a sample of Swedish older adults with a partner.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Our analyses were based on n = 759 participants (359 male, 400 female) from the longitudinal Health, Aging, and Retirement Transitions in Sweden study. For this study, we used 5 waves spanning over a period of 4 years.

RESULTS

On average, sexual satisfaction did not change significantly before retirement, but decreased after retirement. Interestingly, women showed higher sexual satisfaction than men, as well as a more positive development of both pre- and postretirement sexual satisfaction. Individuals with higher relationship satisfaction had a higher sexual satisfaction until retirement, but their sexual satisfaction also decreased faster after retirement, whereas those with lower relationship satisfaction showed a stable but lower sexual satisfaction.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Sexual satisfaction can change in the retirement transition in several important ways and further studies on the impact of retirement and other late-life stage transitions are warranted.

Autonomy and loneliness - longitudinal within- and between-person associations among Swedish older adults

OBJECTIVES

Loneliness is an important risk factor for mental and physical health over the life span. Little is known about psychosocial predictors and consequences of loneliness apart from social network characteristics. One important factor that may both prevent from, but also be affected by loneliness, is perceived autonomy.

METHOD

In the present study, we investigated the longitudinal association of loneliness and autonomy over four years among participants of the Swedish Health, Aging and Retirement Transitions in Sweden (HEARTS) study (n = 5718, age 60-66 at baseline). We used a latent curve model with structured residuals, which distinguishes within- and between-person associations and includes cross-lagged parameters.

RESULTS

Higher levels of autonomy at baseline were associated with lower levels of loneliness, and increases in autonomy were associated with decreases in loneliness. When individuals felt more autonomous than usual, they also reported less loneliness. However, the cross-lagged paths were not significant, which means that autonomy did not predict loneliness over time on the within-person level, and loneliness did not predict autonomy over time.

CONCLUSION

Our findings show that higher autonomy was related to lower loneliness on different analytical levels, but the direction of effects is unclear. More research is needed to understand the development of this association over the life span.

Positive Relationships have Shades of Gray: Age is Associated with More Complex Perceptions of Relationship Quality During the COVID-19 Lockdown

Drawing on socioemotional selectivity theory, we examined the effect of COVID-19 lockdowns on perceptions of romantic relationships quality among older, compared to younger, adults. During the first lockdown in Israel which involved strict restrictions on movement and association with others, 280 adults aged 25-81 reported positive and negative qualities of their romantic relationship. Of these, 105 participants completed the survey again once lockdown restrictions were lifted. Contrary to our hypotheses, no evidence for age differences in the effect of the lockdown on positive or negative perceptions of relationship quality was detected. In addition, the lockdown did not influence participants' positive and negative perceptions of their romantic partners. However, we did find that, whereas people of all ages represent positive and negative qualities of their romantic partners as separate constructs, the negative association between the two is weaker for older adults compared to younger adults during (but not after) the lockdown. This finding suggests that in stressful times, older adults are better able to avoid negative perceptions clouding positive perceptions and see positive aspects of relationships with romantic partners in the face of negative ones. Findings extend evidence for age associations with complex emotional experiences to emotional aspects of interpersonal relationships. Findings enrich the theoretical understanding of age-related advantages in emotional well-being and may inform potential interventions for improving emotional health and well-being during times of crisis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10804-022-09431-6.

Daily fluctuations in subjective age and depressive symptoms: the roles of attitudes to ageing and chronological age

Studies indicate that both subjective age-individuals' perception of their own age as older or younger than their chronological age, and attitudes to ageing are related to physical and mental health. Less is known about the possible dual effect of these two constructs of subjective views of ageing. In the current study, 334 participants (aged 30-90, M = 58.15) reported their daily subjective age and mental health along 14 consecutive days. Attitudes to ageing were measured at baseline. Results indicated that daily variation in subjective age was related to daily variation in depressive symptoms, such that people experienced more depressive symptoms at days they felt older. Furthermore, we found that attitudes to ageing (perceptions of losses, physical change, and psychological growth) moderated this relationship. The covariation between daily subjective age and daily depressive symptoms was stronger when attitudes to ageing were less favorable (e.g., high perceptions of losses and low psychological growth). The moderating effect of losses was especially prominent among older participants. This indicates that attitudes to ageing moderate the toll that feeling old takes on mental health, especially in older age. The results also emphasize the need to understand how different subjective views on ageing, measured in different time frames, operate interactively to shape individual's daily experiences.

Self-perceptions of aging and depressive symptoms: the mediating role of loneliness

Objectives: Depression is a major health concern for both individuals and societies. Hence, understanding the risk factors for depression is of importance. As individuals grow older, the way in which they perceive the aging process may have a significant influence on their physical and mental health. More negative perceptions of aging could put individuals at risk for social withdrawal, causing loneliness and resulting in higher levels of depressive symptoms.Methods: We use the Health and Retirement Survey, a large and longitudinal dataset spanning over a period of 8 years, to examine a model in which loneliness mediates the relationship between self-perceptions of aging and depressive symptoms.Results: Our findings suggest that loneliness indeed mediates the relationship between self-perceptions of aging and depressive symptoms.Conclusions: The results highlight to the importance of the way people view the aging process in shaping their social and mental well-being. Practitioners may want to address self-perceptions of aging when helping older adults cope with loneliness and depressive symptoms.

Subjective Nearness-To-Death and Retirement Anxiety Among Older Workers: A Three-Way Interaction With Work Group Identification

Retirement anxiety represents a major challenge for older workers who hold negative expectations and concerns regarding the consequences of their future retirement. Although prior studies suggest that retirement is an age-related transition that may serve as a reminder that life is nearing its end, little is known about how subjective nearness-to-death is related to retirement anxiety, and the role of work group identification as a boundary condition. The current study draws on terror management and social identity theories to hypothesize and investigate these relationships. A three-way interaction model was tested on a sample of 327 Israeli older workers. We found a positive association between subjective nearness-to-death and retirement anxiety. Further, we demonstrated that the positive relationship between subjective nearness-to-death and retirement anxiety was more prominent for older workers whose work group self-definition and self-investment were both high or were both low. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Adult daughters' emotional response to COVID-19: the role of worry, solidarity, conflict, and ambivalence in the relationship with the mother

Objectives: Older adults' greater susceptibility to mortality from COVID-19 may have meaningful psychological implications not only for them, but also for their children. In this study, we focused on daughters of older women and examined the intergenerational relationships as a correlate of daughters' anxiety, depressive symptoms, and psychosomatic complaints.Method: Data were collected from 456 daughters of older mothers (M(age) = 40.82) during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Israel, when a relatively strict lockdown was enforced, separating mothers and daughters.Results: Findings suggest that while mothers' objective risk factors (age and morbidity) were mostly not associated with their daughters' distress, the daughters' concern about their mothers, and their perceived ambivalence in the relationship with the mother, as well as structural and affectual solidarity, were.Conclusion: We conclude that the mother-daughter relationship is an important correlate of daughters' reactions to this health crisis. Practically, it suggests that some daughters to aging mothers could be at a greater risk for emotional distress following the COVID-19 outbreak.

A dyadic study of depression, capitalization patterns, and leisure activities in retirement

Late-life relationships, and specifically spousal relations, are increasingly recognized as an important factor shaping the wellbeing, health, social and emotional health of older people. Therefore, a better understanding of the health and well-being trajectories of older adults requires considering the characteristics of their spouses and couple dynamics. This study focused on the actual problem of engagement of recently retired older adults in the community and various leisure activities and examined how both older adults' and spouses’ depression level influence their activities. We also consider the quality of relationships in a couple: how a partner generally responds when the participant discloses good news (capitalization). Fifty-three Israeli couples participated in the current study with one member of the couple 60 or older and retired within the last five years. Recently retired spouses rated their engagement in leisure activities, both spouses reported their level of depression, and partners of retired persons completed the Perceived Responses to Capitalization Attempts Scale. Results show that depression level of recently retired spouses had a direct negative effect (b(SE)=-7.8(3.38), CI(-14.65,-1.04), p=0.02) on their engagement in leisure activities, while the level of their partners' depression had no significant direct effect on retired persons' leisure activities. However, partners’ depression associated (p=0.001) with negative capitalization patterns and mediation analysis showed an indirect effect of partners’ depression via the capitalization (b(SE)=-2.77(1.7), CI(-6.41,-0.04), p=0.03). These results indicate that in encouraging newly retired people to participate in leisure activities it is important to consider both spouses' depression level and capitalization patterns in the couple.

Subjective well-being across the retirement transition-Historical differences and the role of perceived control

Given substantial cohort differences in psychosocial functioning, for example in perceived control, and ongoing pension reforms, the context of retirement has changed over the last decades. However, there is limited research on the consequences of such developments on historical differences in subjective well-being (SWB) in the retirement transition. In the present study, we investigated historical differences in change in life satisfaction and positive affect across the retirement transition. We further included perceived control as a predictor of change in well-being. Analyses were based on subsamples of retirees among three nationally representative samples of the German Ageing Survey (1996; 2002; 2008) and their respective follow-ups 6 years later. Results showed historical improvements in preretirement positive affect (i.e., later samples had higher preretirement levels). Contrastingly, earlier samples showed a larger increase in positive affect across the retirement transition compared to later samples. No historical differences were found in life satisfaction. Perceived control showed no historical improvement and did not seem to contribute to historical differences in subjective well-being. Nevertheless, we found that the association of perceived control and positive affect increased over historical time. The results showed that the historical context seems to play a role in the experience of retirement, and that it is helpful to distinguish between cognitive-evaluative and affective components of well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Optimism, pessimism and support in older couples: A longitudinal study

OBJECTIVES

Optimism is linked to varied advantageous outcomes, ranging from improved health to better relationships, while pessimism is linked to reduced well-being. Relatively little is known about how optimism and pessimism may work together to shape the perception of support within marital relationships, and whether perceived support can affect couple-members' optimism and pessimism.

METHOD

We used three waves of a nationally representative sample of older couples (N = 1681 couples), spanning a period of eight years. Partners reported perceived support, optimism, and pessimism in each wave. We used a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) to test within- and between-person effects.

RESULTS

At the within-person level, husbands', but not wife's, future expectations were associated with partners' perceived marital support; increases in husbands' pessimism on a given wave were related to decreases in husbands' perceived marital support at the next wave, and vice versa (i.e., actor effect). Within the same wave, increases in husbands' pessimism were associated with wives' decreased perceived marital support. At the between-person level, both partners' optimism and pessimism were associated with marital support.

DISCUSSION

Findings suggest that changes in husbands' levels of pessimism propel marital support experiences of both partners. At the methodological level, results highlight the importance of examining interpersonal processes at both the within- and between-levels of analyses, as they may yield divergent patterns.

Longitudinal Dyadic Effects of Aging Self-Perceptions on Health

OBJECTIVES

Adults' perceptions of aging are known to affect their mental and physical health. However, not much is known about how perceptions of aging within the couple-unit affect each member of the unit. Therefore, the current study explores the effects of husbands' and wives' self-perceptions of aging (SPA) on each other's physical and mental health, both directly and indirectly, through impacting each other's SPA.

METHOD

The study used data from the Health and Retirement Study, focusing on couples aged 50 and older. Self-rated health and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D) were used as indicators of physical and mental health. SPA was measured using the "Attitudes toward aging" subscale of the "Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale." An actor-partner interdependence mediation model was used to examine the effects of the 2008 SPA of couples on each other's 2012 SPA and 2016 health.

RESULTS

The SPA of both husbands and wives was associated with their own future mental and physical health in 2016, but not with that of their partner. However, their SPA was associated with their partner's health indirectly, by influencing the SPA of the partner. That is, the SPA of both husbands and wives in 2008 impacted their partner's SPA in 2012, which was subsequently related to that partner's mental and physical health in 2016.

DISCUSSION

Older couples can influence each other's health indirectly, by affecting each other's SPA. This indicates that adults' SPA are interconnected, and thus, the entire couple-unit should be targeted to enhance positive SPA.

Aging anxiety, loneliness, and depressive symptoms among middle-aged adults: The moderating role of ageism

BACKGROUND

Aging anxiety, or fears and concerns regarding one's future aging, have been shown to take a toll on older adults' health and well-being, including loneliness and depressive symptoms. However, little is known about the possible consequences that aging anxiety holds for middle-aged adults. The current study examines the relationship between aging anxiety and both loneliness and depressive symptoms in a sample of middle-aged adults. It further examines whether ageism, or negative attitudes toward older adults, which have been associated with increased aging anxiety, loneliness, and depressive symptoms, moderates the connections between these variables. It was hypothesized that for those with higher ageist perceptions, the psychological toll of aging anxiety will be greater.

METHODS

A convenience sample of 1038 participants (age range = 50-67, M=58.16, SD=5.22) was collected using online questionnaires assessing aging anxiety, ageism, loneliness, and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

Aging anxiety was positively associated with loneliness and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, ageism moderated these relationships, such that they were stronger for those with a higher level of ageism.

LIMITATIONS

A cross-sectional design; an internet survey consisting of a non-clinical, healthy cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

The results point to the clinical importance of addressing aging anxiety and negative attitudes in middle-aged adults with regard to loneliness and depression. The study provides clinicians with additional information regarding the formation and psychological consequences of aging anxiety with regard to how individuals perceive older adults and the aging process.

When She Worries I Worry too: COVID-19 Worries in the Context of Daughters' and Mothers' Relations

We examined the extent to which a daughter's worries are related to her mother's perceived worries about COVID-19 (i.e., the daughter's perception of her mother's worries). Regard, defined as reciprocity, closeness or compatibility, and responsibility, defined as guilt, burden and protectiveness, were measured as potential moderators of the relationship between the daughter's worries and her mother's perceived worries. A convenience sample of 438 women between the ages of 30 and 60 completed an online survey. We found a significant correlation between daughters' and mothers' perceived COVID-19 worries. This association was moderated by the daughters' regard. For those daughters that characterized their relations as high on regard, higher levels of COVID-19 worries were associated with higher levels of perceived worries among mothers. The importance of considering the relationships between daughters and mothers, during the pandemic is discussed.

Cynical Hostility and Loneliness in Older Adult Married Couples: An Indirect Effect Through Friendships

OBJECTIVES

Cynical hostility is a cognitive schema according to which people cannot be trusted, and it has associations with individuals' loneliness. The present study takes a dyadic approach to examine whether cynical hostility is related to one's own and their spouse's loneliness. We further explore whether friendship factors serve as a mediator between individuals' and spouses' cynical hostility and loneliness.

METHOD

We used 2 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 1,065 couples) and Actor-Partner Interdependence Models (APIMs) with mediation to examine the proposed model. Mediation was tested with the construction of path models and significance levels were reached using bootstrapping.

RESULTS

For both husbands and wives, cynical hostility was significantly associated with loneliness. Husband's loneliness was also significantly associated with his wife's cynical hostility, but wife's loneliness was not associated with her husband's cynical hostility. We further found that the association between wife's own cynical hostility and loneliness was mediated by lower levels of contact with, and support from friends. Friendship factors did not serve as mediators for husbands.

DISCUSSION

Husbands and wives who have higher levels of cynical hostility may be more vulnerable to loneliness. High levels of cynical hostility in women may be related to deficits in their quantity and quality of friendship, and thus be associated with loneliness. Men who are married to women with a higher level of cynical hostility may experience increased loneliness, but this relationship is not explained by men's friendships.

Perceptions of Aging and Inflammation in the Context of Older Adult Married Couples

The current study takes a dyadic perspective to understand how self-perceptions of aging are associated with C-reactive protein, an inflammation marker, among older adult married couples. The potential moderating role of marital support and strain are also examined. Respondents include 668 married couples who participated in the 2014 wave of the Health and Retirement Study. Actor-Partner Interdependence Models were conducted in Mplus. Age, functional limitations, income, and race served as covariates. Husbands’ greater positive perceptions of aging were significantly associated with their own lower levels of inflammation. Husbands’ greater positive perceptions of aging were significantly associated with lower levels of inflammation for women who reported lower levels of marital strain; this was not the case for women who reported higher levels of marital negativity. This study exemplifies how relationship factors are necessary to consider when examining age perceptions and health among marrieds.

Loneliness trajectories and correlates of social connections among older adult married couples

How loneliness manifests in older adult married couples is necessary to consider. Marriage partners may become more or less lonely based on shared circumstances with one another (i.e., the shared environment hypothesis). Moreover, individuals may pair off with a marriage partner who shares similar levels of loneliness (i.e., the homophily hypothesis; Cacioppo, Fowler, & Christakis, 2009), which can potentially lead to higher or lower levels of loneliness. Therefore, examining couples dyadically is beneficial in order to understand how loneliness operates over time. Three waves of the Health and Retirement Study were used and participants included 1,389 older adult couples. The current study uses growth-mixture modeling to examine older adult couples' joint loneliness trajectories. Multinomial logistic regressions were also used to examine social and demographic correlates of these trajectories. Three classes emerged, including classes characterized by high loneliness (N = 69), low loneliness (N = 998), and moderate loneliness (N = 322). Classes were distinguished at the first wave by husbands' and wives' marital support, husbands' marital strain, husbands' age, husbands' friendship strain, and wives' frequency of seeing friends. Overall, husbands' and wives' had relatively similar levels of loneliness over time and those who were in the low loneliness class tended to have more positive factors related to social connections. The present study provides insight into how loneliness functions over time among older adult couples, and has implications for practitioners who work with older adult couples. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

The Definition and Categories of Positive Solitude: Older and Younger Adults’ Perspectives on Spending Time by Themselves

This paper attempts to develop a better understanding of the positive solitude (PS) phenomenon and its meaning among age groups, as well as formulate a unanimous definition for PS. A qualitative study ( N = 124) was conducted. Participants were gerontology professionals and laypeople. Interviews were conducted and content was analyzed in order to understand the essence of PS, themes, and subthemes. Two major categories were found: the essence and the components of the PS experience. Seven PS content categories and three meta-themes were raised: (1) PS is a matter of choice; (2) PS is satisfying and enjoyable; and (3) PS is meaningful. Differences in PS categories between younger and older adults were found. The meta-themes served as the foundation of a new definition. PS has different attributes in old age. A unified definition of PS may help distinguishing between PS and other forms of being alone. Recognizing and facilitating the PS experience among older adults might be beneficial and contribute to their quality of life.

Optimism, pessimism, and health biomarkers in older couples

OBJECTIVE

Studies have demonstrated the importance of optimism in predicting perceived general health. However, the handful of studies focusing on cardiovascular biomarkers show inconsistent effects. Additionally, no study examined whether spousal levels of optimism and pessimism affect an individual's biological markers of cardiovascular health. Thus, our objectives were to examine whether partners' optimism and pessimism affect individual biological markers, differentiating between between-dyad associations and within-dyad predictive processes.

METHODS

Three waves of the Health and Retirement Study collected in 2006, 2010, and 2014 were used to test actor and partner effects of optimism and pessimism on C-reactive protein (CRP) and high-density lipoprotein. Multilevel longitudinal actor-partner models were used to examine the contribution of a partner's optimism and pessimism to each biomarker, adjusting for respondent's age, sex, depression, body mass index, daily activity levels, and a summary score of respondent's doctor-diagnosed chronic conditions.

RESULTS

Partners' pessimism and optimism levels were moderately associated. Results for within-person effects were all non-significant, both within and across waves. Associations at the between-person level were also non-significant, with the exception of a positive association between husbands' pessimism and their own CRP, and husbands' optimism and their wives' CRP.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that optimism and pessimism may not play a pertinent role in within variability of biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases and have a minor role in predicting to between-person variability of biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases.

Depression-related stigma: comparing laypersons' stigmatic attributions towards younger and older persons

Objectives: A great amount of interest has been invested in the understanding of public stigma toward persons with depression. However, published studies were mostly restricted to the study of stigma toward a young person with depression. This study was aimed to compare public stigma towards a younger and an older person with depression among a sample of the Jewish adult population in Israel.Method: Computerized phone interviews were conducted with 393 participants (aged 18+) who were randomly presented with one of two vignettes describing a younger or an older person with depression.Results: Overall, the participants reported low levels of stigma towards a person with depression. With the exception of pity, the younger person elicited higher levels of stigmatic attributions in all dimensions (cognitive, emotional, and behavioral) in comparison to the older person. Regardless of the age of the person with depression, only emotional reactions - but not cognitive attributions-were associated with discriminatory attributions.Conclusion: Our findings stress the importance of paying attention to the age of the person with depression in anti-stigma campaigns and studies to better understand the meaning and consequences of depression-stigma.

Subjective Age and Emotion Covariation: Findings From Two Daily Experience Studies

OBJECTIVES

This article focuses on an aspect of emotional complexity as seen in the covariation between positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). Lifespan theories predict distinctive patterns of change in emotion covariation with chronological age. Nevertheless, research shows mixed evidence with most studies failing to find a significant connection between chronological age and emotion covariation. We propose to look beyond chronological age and assess the relationship between subjective age and emotion covariation. Subjective age refers to how old one perceives oneself to be, and therefore may be more pertinent to one's emotional experience than chronological age. We further explored whether the relationship between subjective age and emotion covariation is modified by chronological age.

METHOD

We used data from 2 daily diary study samples (N = 188, mean age = 57.84, range = 29-100, and N = 334, mean age = 58.15, range = 30-90).

RESULTS

Multilevel models showed that individuals who perceived themselves as older showed stronger inverse PA-NA relationship, reflecting lower emotional complexity. Chronological age (net of subjective age) and emotion covariation were unrelated in both samples. Moreover, in Study 2 there was a 3-way interaction between PA, subjective age and chronological age, suggesting that subjective age is more strongly related to emotion covariation among older adults than among younger adults.

DISCUSSION

The relationship between subjective age and emotion covariation is discussed in light of lifespan theories.

Subjective nearness-to-Death, filial obligations, and depressive symptoms: the case of Jews and Arabs in Israel

Objectives: Research has examined the link between subjective perceptions of life and death and psychological well-being. However, while cultural values were shown to provide a defense against death-related thoughts, little is known about specific cultural expectations with regard to this issue. Accordingly, the current study focused on two sub-cultures within the Israeli society, and examined whether filial obligations moderate the connection between subjective nearness-to-death and depressive symptoms. Moreover, the study also examined whether this moderating effect is culture-dependent, by examining differences between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel.Method: Data were collected from 337 participants, two-thirds of which were Jewish. Age ranged from 45 to 65 (M = 52.32, SD =4.49). All participants filled out scales examining subjective nearness-to-death, filial piety, and depressive symptoms.Results: Filial piety did not moderate the connection between subjective nearness-to-death and depressive symptoms for the entire cohort. However, a significant three-way interaction of cultural group × filial piety × subjective nearness-to-death was found, and further analyses demonstrated that filial piety served as a significant moderator among Jews, but not among Arabs.Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of examining subjective perceptions of mortality in a cultural context, as culture was shown to affect how such perceptions are connected with depressive symptoms. These effects are discussed from the framework of terror management theory within the context of the Israeli society, and future directions are suggested.

Do Satisfied Older Employees Perceive More Social Support Over Time? A Cross-Lagged Examination

Perceived social support has traditionally been examined as an antecedent of well-being, including job satisfaction. The current study offers a new perspective in which job satisfaction can be both an antecedent and outcome of support in older employees. Two wave data from 910 older employees who participated in the Health and Retirement Study were used to test the hypotheses using a cross-lagged panel model. The results indicate that job satisfaction predicts subsequent perceived support from both supervisors and coworkers. However, perceived support from either supervisors or coworkers does not predict subsequent job satisfaction. The discussion suggests that unsatisfied employees, who likely are in greater need of support from their supervisors and peers, perceive having less support available to them. Practically, interventions aimed at increasing satisfaction might also benefit employees' perceived support, and organizations could leverage our findings to create more favorable work environments.

Retirement anxiety and depressive symptoms among middle-aged adults: An indirect effect through death anxiety

Basing our argument on Terror Management Theory, we posit that retirement is an age-related transition, which could result in greater death saliency and anxiety, leading to increased depressive symptoms. An indirect-effect model was tested on a convenience sample of 574 Israeli Jewish older workers (mean age = 57), finding that the link between retirement anxiety and depressive symptoms is mediated through death anxiety. Anxious anticipation of retirement could imply that the individual perceives it as an "end," resulting in greater death saliency and death anxiety, which are related to poorer mental health. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Dieting for weight-control among older adults: The role of perceived health and perceived overweight status

BACKGROUND

Despite the ever-growing literature on weight-control diets, data about dieting among older adults are scarce.

PURPOSE

To describe the prevalence of weight-control dieting across age groups and weight statuses (from healthy-weight to overweight and obese). To identify cross-sectional associations of perceived health and perceived overweight status with dieting among older adults.

METHODS

Secondary analyses of the second and third waves of the Midlife in the US study (MIDUS). Sample included 2588 participants (40-93 years old, 54.5% females, age = 64.4 ± 11.1 years, BMI = 28.3 ± 5.9 kg/m²). Logistic regressions were used to predict dieting across age groups (independent variables: BMI, perceived health, perceived overweight status; covariates: BMI change, education, age, race).

RESULTS

As many as 15% of participants had reported dieting during the previous year. Older age was associated with less dieting among healthy weight (p = .02) and overweight (p < .001) participants, but not among participants with obesity (p = .36). Among participants younger than 75, overweight perception (vs. healthy-weight perception) was linked with higher likelihood for dieting (40-55 years: OR = 3.94[1.70-9.1]; 55-65 years: OR = 4.11[1.91-8.82]; 65-75 years: OR = 4.50[1.90-10.65]). Nevertheless, among participants older than 75, excellent (vs. good/fair/poor) perceived health was linked with higher likelihood of dieting (good vs. excellent: OR = 0.29[0.09-0.87]; fair/poor vs. excellent: OR = 0.12[0.03-0.54]).

CONCLUSIONS

Older age is associated with less weight-control dieting among people without obesity. Although overweight perception may have a stronger impact on dieting during younger age, health perception may have a stronger impact on dieting during older age, suggesting that the motivation behind weight-control diets may potentially change throughout the adult lifespan.

Loneliness and hostility in older adults: A cross-lagged model

Loneliness takes a meaningful toll on individuals' physical and mental well-being. One of its possible consequences is the perception that others are not to be trusted and are a source of wrongdoing, defined as cynical hostility. At the same time, cynical hostility could also deter individuals from seeking the comfort of close social relationships. We use the Health and Retirement Study to test a cross-lagged model of hostility and loneliness in a sample of 7500 older adults. The results suggest that there are bidirectional associations between hostility and loneliness. The findings are discussed in light of existing theories on human development, and practical implications are suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

AN ECOLOGICAL MOMENTARY OUTLOOK ON SUBJECTIVE AGING

Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies showed that subjective age – individuals’ perceptions of their own age as older or younger in relation to their actual age, is an important predictor of physical, cognitive, and mental health. Despite some initial findings suggesting that subjective aging responses to variations in the daily experiences, less is known about how daily and momentary experiences shape how old people feel, and how their perceived age affects their daily experiences. In this symposium, five studies using daily diaries and experience sampling methods will be presented and discussed to explore how subjective aging affects, and is affected by, daily changes. In the first presentation, Neupert will discuss her findings regarding the covariation of anticipatory next-day health-related stressors and coping with felt-age, suggesting that forecasting and coping with future stressors play a role in subjective aging. Presenting findings from his experience-moment-sampling study, Hughes will discuss the momentary association between subjective age and mind wandering. Zhang and Segel-Karpas will present findings from studies focusing on attitudes towards aging. Zhang will focus on state vs. trait subjective aging, exploring their association with daily variability in control and competence, while Segel-Karpas will focus on the moderating role of attitudes in the daily associations between subjective age and mental health. Finally, Shrira will present a study of rehabilitation patients, finding that subjective aging is related to physical and mental health, especially for patients with high age-awareness. Professor Lachman will lead a discussion.

DAILY FLUCTUATIONS IN SUBJECTIVE AGE AND MENTAL HEALTH: THE ROLES OF CHRONOLOGICAL AGE AND ATTITUDES TO AGING

Studies indicate that subjective age – individuals’ perception of their own age as older or younger than their chronological age, is related to their depressive symptoms. Less is known about the role that attitudes towards aging might play in this regard. 334 participants (age 30-90, M=58.15) reported their subjective age and depressive symptoms every day for a period of 14 days. Attitudes to aging were measured at baseline. Results indicated that daily subjective age was related to daily variation in depressive symptoms. Furthermore, we found that attitudes to aging (psychosocial losses, gains and physical changes) moderated the subjective age-depression relationship, such that it was stronger when psychosocial losses were high, and when physical changes and gains were low. The moderating effect of losses was especially prominent for older participants. This indicates that the general perception of aging moderates the toll that feeling old takes on mental health.

Partners' adjustment to older workers' retirement: testing the role of preretirement expectations in a 10-year panel study

Objectives: Retirement is not only an important later-life transition for the retiring individual, but also for his or her life partner. This study aims to improve our understanding of the partner's adjustment to the retirement of the older worker, by paying attention to the multidimensional nature of adjustment, and by examining to what extent preretirement expectations are predictive of postretirement experiences. Well-established adjustment predictors - i.e. preretirement resources and characteristics of the work and retirement context - are also taken into account. Method: Analyses are based on Dutch three-wave multi-actor panel data, collected between 2001 and 2011 among 724 partners of older workers who transitioned into retirement during the course of the study. Results: Only a minority of the partners reported adjustment difficulties to the retirement of the employee. About 20 percent reported at least some financial problems, 8 percent reported relationship problems, and 10 percent reported problems with shared leisure time. Expected problems in all three domains were predictive of experienced problems in the same domain. For expected financial problems, a cross-over effect was observed: expected financial problems were also predictive of experienced adjustment difficulties with regards to shared leisure activities. Conclusion: Not only the older worker, but also the partner develops expectations on different dimensions about the shared postretirement future, and these expectations are related to postretirement experiences. Retirement counseling may therefore not only be relevant for older workers, but also for their partners, and needs to take the multidimensional character of retirement processes into account.

Change in Retirement Plans Among Midlife Couples During an Economic Recession

Objective

Although research has investigated financial planning for retirement, less is known about how adults plan their retirement activities. Even less is known about couples’ congruence and incongruence in retirement activities planning. The authors examined husband and wife reports of retirement plans across a 5-year period that involved a U.S. economic recession.

Method

Using data from 335 midlife couples who participated in the Flourishing Families project, retirement plans were grouped into five categories—family, leisure, volunteer, work, and uncertain. We estimated probit dyadic structural equation models to explore longitudinal predictors of retirement plans.

Results

Results indicated mean differences in retirement plans between husbands and wives, and also across time that might have been influenced by surrounding economics. Wife poor health, number of children, both spouses working, and financial assets were linked with the likelihood of reporting certainty in retirement plans. Greater retirement uncertainty was predicted by lower marital quality, higher financial adjustments, lower education, and ethnic diversity.

Conclusion

Husband and wife reports of retirement plans are not always congruent, and plans in retirement can be affected by large scale changes in the U.S. economy.

'It is nothing more than a senior moment': the moderating role of subjective age in the effect of change in memory on self-rated memory

OBJECTIVE

The association between memory performance and self-rated memory is yet to be understood. More specifically, little is known about the factors that lie at the base of self-evaluations of memory in relation to actual changes in memory. In this study, we suggest that subjective age modifies the effect of objective change in memory on self-rated memory.

METHOD

We used two waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 4624) to examine whether subjective age moderates the effect of experienced changes in memory between T1 and T2 on self-rated memory at T2.

RESULTS

Our results suggest that subjective age is a significant moderator of the effect of change in memory on self-rated memory. The effect is weaker among those with younger subjective age, and stronger for those with older subjective age.

CONCLUSION

While preserving a young subjective age is usually considered an adaptive strategy, it also has potential negative effects, masking changes in memory performance.

On the edge: The association between extreme values of proportional felt-age and functioning

The present study examined whether endorsing a felt-age that is extremely divergent from one's actual age (whether older or younger) is related to worse functioning four years later. Data were drawn from 4938 participants, who completed the 2008 and 2012 questionnaires of the Health-and-Retirement-Study (HRS). Participants were divided into four groups according to their reported proportional-felt-age: the normative-young (N = 2229), reported a normative felt-age at the median or younger; normative-old (N = 2226), reported normative felt-age at the median and older; and the extremely young and extremely old proportional-felt-age (upper and lower 5% of felt-age; N's = 242 and 241, respectively). These groups were compared on chronic medical conditions, depressive symptoms, activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), functional limitations, and loneliness. While extremely younger proportional-felt-age participants did not reveal worse (or better) outcomes compared with the normative-young group, extremely old proportional-felt-age participants reported worse physical health, mental health, and functioning in cross-sectional, as well as longitudinal comparisons. Extreme values of older proportional-felt-age are usually not reported randomly and reflect less adaptive adjustment. The findings underscore the importance of studying participants at the extreme values of felt-age, especially extreme old proportional-felt-age, and the need for further inspection of the mechanisms underlying these evaluations.

Retirement and depressive symptoms: A 10-year cross-lagged analysis

The effect of retirement on depressive symptoms remains a subject of scientific inquiry, given the fact that previous studies have found mixed results. Moreover, the possible effect of depressive symptoms on the propensity to retire remains relatively understudied. Given the sheer number of retirees, and the significance of depressive symptoms for individuals' well-being and ability to work, as well as for societies at large, we used a large longitudinal dataset to examine the reciprocal effects of retirement on depressive symptoms, and of depressive symptoms on the propensity to retire. Using six waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data collected over a period of 10 years (N = 6584), we tested cross-lagged models of the reciprocal relationships between retirement and depressive symptoms. The analysis revealed that retirement results in increased depressive symptoms, and that depressive symptoms increase the likelihood of retirement. No sex differences in the lagged associations were found. We conclude that depressive symptoms are a risk factor for retirement, and practitioners should try and identify older workers suffering from depression prior to the retirement transition. Similarly, as retirement increases depressive symptoms, the transition should be treated as an important and sometimes risky milestone, where adequate preparation is required.

Social Contact and Cognitive Functioning: The Role of Personality

Objectives

Social contact has been shown to be positively associated with cognitive functioning. It is unclear, however, whether all individuals can equally benefit from social contact with regard to their cognitive functioning. The goal of this study was to examine whether the beneficial effects of social contact are affected by individual differences in personality.

Method

We examined the Big Five personality traits as moderators of the associations between social contact and episodic memory and executive functioning using the second wave of the Midlife in the U.S. study (N = 3,524, M(age) = 55.8).

Results

High levels of Extraversion and low levels of Openness to Experience strengthened the association between social contact and memory and executive functioning. High levels of Neuroticism and Agreeableness weakened the association of social contact with memory but not with executive functioning. The results are consistent across adulthood.

Discussion

Personality modifies the social contact-cognition association. Whereas extraverts may need social contact for cognitive stimulation, those who are high on Openness gain their stimulations elsewhere. The highly neurotic might experience contact as stressful and hence as less beneficial. Emotional rather than cognitive motivation might be the reason that the highly agreeable benefit less from social contact with regard to their cognitive functioning.

Loneliness and depressive symptoms: the moderating role of the transition into retirement

OBJECTIVES

The transition to retirement implies significant changes in daily routine and in the social environment. More specifically, it requires more self-directed efforts in order to stay socially engaged. Hence, for those who suffer from loneliness, the transition to retirement could result in increased depressive symptoms due to the lack of structured daily routine.

METHODS

We used two waves of the Health and Retirement Study, and tested whether the transition to retirement between the two waves moderates the effects of loneliness on depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

The transition to retirement moderated the effect of loneliness in wave 1 on depressive symptoms in wave 2, such that for those who retired, the effect was stronger in comparison to those who stayed employed.

CONCLUSIONS

Although many manage to easily transition into retirement, lonely older workers are at increased risk for maladjustment and the experience of depressive symptoms following retirement. This group could perhaps benefit from interventions aimed at increasing daily social interactions and establishing a socially satisfying routine.

The reciprocal relationship between depression and physical morbidity: The role of subjective age

OBJECTIVES

The study aims to examine whether the reciprocal effects of physical morbidity and depression are moderated by subjective age-that is, individuals' perception of themselves as young or old.

METHOD

Data from the first two waves of the Midlife in the United States study (1995-6, T1; 2004-6, T2; http://midus.wisc.edu/) were analyzed using a cross-lagged design. We assessed 3,591 individuals who participated in both waves and provided full data on all the relevant variables (mean age at T1 = 47.4). Depression and the number of chronic illnesses (the indicator of physical morbidity) were measured at both waves and were tested as predictors and outcomes in a cross-lagged model. The moderating role of subjective age was assessed by examining whether T1 variables interacted with subjective age in predicting T2 outcomes.

RESULTS

Subjective age moderated the T1 depression-T2 morbidity relationship, so that the relationship was stronger for those with older subjective age. Subjective age did not moderate the T1 morbidity-T2 depression relationship.

CONCLUSION

Older subjective age could be a risk factor for experiencing greater physical morbidity following depression. (PsycINFO Database Record

The Prevalence and Distribution of Aging-Friendly Human Resource Practices

The aging of the workforce in the developed world has prompted organizations to implement human resource (HR) policies and practices encouraging older workers to defer retirement. However, little is known about the prevalence of such practices, and the organizational factors associated with their adoption. In this study, we used data collected from 2008 to 2009 from a national probability sample of retirement eligible workers in the United States (N = 407) to assess the prevalence of aging-friendly human resource practices (AFHRP), and their organizational predictors. Results indicate that employee wellness programs, unpaid leave, and reassignment based on physical needs are among the most prevalent AFHRP. However, in the vast majority of enterprises, AFHRP are limited. Results also indicate that projected organizational growth and a focus on internal labor market practices are positively associated with the adoption of AFHRP. Organizational size and the degree of unionization, while positively associated with aging-friendly benefits, were inversely associated with flexibility practices.

Perceived Financial Retirement Preparedness and Its Correlates

Studies suggest that a large proportion of adults do not manage to save enough for retirement. Correlates of retirement saving behaviors have yet to be fully understood. The goal of this study was to examine perceived financial preparedness for retirement and its correlates. We studied the effect of perceived financial knowledge and involvement, social and institutional support, and attitudes toward retirement in a national sample of 227 non-retired Israeli adults (mean age = 44; 53% female; 81% Jewish). Results indicated that only about 20% perceived themselves as financially prepared for retirement. The main correlates of financial preparedness were financial knowledge and involvement in financial activities. The results show that a large proportion of the Israeli population feel underprepared for retirement. Those who perceive themselves as having high levels of financial knowledge are less predisposed to feel underprepared. Future research should examine the relationship between perceived financial preparedness and actual savings.

Factors Associated With Preferences for Institutionalized Care in Elderly Persons: Comparing Hypothetical Conditions of Permanent Disability and Alzheimer's Disease

OBJECTIVE

To study the willingness to use institutional care versus home care in hypothetical situations of permanent disability and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHOD

A convenience sample of 484 adults aged 45 and older was obtained. Respondents were asked about their care preferences in case they were diagnosed with AD or became permanently disabled. Based on Andersen's extended behavioral model, a large group of correlates was examined.

RESULTS

Institutional care was preferred in the situation of becoming sick with AD, whereas being cared for at home by the family was preferred in a situation of permanent disability. Fear of losing one's independence and concern over burdening the family were associated with care preferences in both situations.

DISCUSSION

Although some similarities exist between the correlates for care preferences in the two distinct situations, there are noticeable differences. These are discussed and implications for practice are suggested.

Help-seeking preferences in the area of mild cognitive impairment: comparing family physicians and the lay public

Background

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild neurocognitive disorder is a well-established clinical entity included in current diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer’s disease and in major psychiatric classifications. In all, a loosely defined concern obtained from conceptually different sources (the individual, a knowledgeable informant, or a clinician) regarding a decline in cognition and change in functioning constitutes a sine qua non for initiating diagnostics and providing therapy and support. This concern in practice may translate into complex proactive help-seeking behavior. A better understanding of help-seeking preferences is required in order to promote early detection and management.

Objectives

To compare help-seeking preferences of family physicians and the lay public in the area of MCI.

Methods

A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 197 family physicians (self-administered) and 517 persons aged 45 and over from the lay public (face to face). Information regarding familiarity with MCI and help-seeking preferences was assessed.

Results

The vast majority in both samples reported that family physician, spouse, and children are the most highly recommended sources of help-seeking. In regard to professional sources of help-seeking, a higher percentage of the physicians than the lay public sample consistently recommended seeking help from nurses and social workers and psychiatrists, but a higher percentage of the lay public recommended turning to a neurologist for help.

Discussion

There were both similarities and differences between family physicians and the lay public in their preferences regarding help-seeking for a person with MCI. Most prominent is the physicians’ greater tendency to recommend professional sources of help-seeking.

Conclusion

Understanding of help-seeking preferences of both physicians and lay persons might help overcome barriers for establishing diagnosis, receiving care, and improving communication between doctors and patients.