Aging & mental health
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Aging & mental health · Jan 2015
Resilience, stressful life events, and depressive symptomatology among older Chinese adults.
The association between exposure to stressful life events (SLEs) and late-life depression is well-documented. However, the role of resilience as a buffer against the adverse mental health effects of SLEs in late life has not been convincingly demonstrated. In this paper, the moderating effect of resilience in the relationship between SLEs and depressive symptomatology in older Chinese adults is investigated. ⋯ The finding of significant interaction supported the role of resilience in moderating the adverse effect of SLEs in terms of depressive symptoms among older Chinese adults.
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Aging & mental health · Jan 2015
Risk and protective factors for depressive symptoms among American Indian older adults: adverse childhood experiences and social support.
Despite efforts to promote health equity, many American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations, including older adults, experience elevated levels of depression. Although adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and social support are well-documented risk and protective factors for depression in the general population, little is known about AI/AN populations, especially older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine factors related to depression among a sample of AI older adults in the midwest. ⋯ ACE may play a significant role in depression among AI/AN across the life course and into old age. Social support offers a promising mechanism to bolster resilience among AI/AN older adults.
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Aging & mental health · Jan 2015
Religiosity and quality of life: a dyadic perspective of individuals with dementia and their caregivers.
Dyadic coping theory purports the benefit of joint coping strategies within a couple, or dyad, when one dyad member is faced with illness or stress. We examine the effect of religiosity on well-being for individuals with dementia (IWDs). In particular, we look at the effect of both dyad members' religiosity on perceptions of IWDs' quality of life (QoL). Neither of these issues has been extensively explored. ⋯ These findings suggest that religiosity of both the caregiver and the IWD affect perception of the IWD's QoL. It is important that caregivers understand IWDs' values concerning religion as it may serve as a coping mechanism for dealing with dementia.
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Aging & mental health · Jan 2015
Incongruence between stroke survivor and spouse perceptions of survivor functioning and effects on spouse mental health: a mixed-methods pilot study.
This pilot study investigated stroke survivors' and caregiving spouses' individual perspectives on survivor cognitive and physical functioning and the extent to which incongruence between partners' perceptions affects spouse depressive symptoms and overall mental health. ⋯ Partner incongruence has an impact on spouse depressive symptoms and overall mental health. Interventions targeted at survivor-spouse dyads and focused on improving communication between partners about survivor abilities may be effective for improving the mental health of spousal caregivers.
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Aging & mental health · Jan 2015
The stability of coping strategies in older adults with osteoarthritis and the ability of these strategies to predict changes in depression, disability, and pain.
Given the chronically painful, incurable nature of osteoarthritis, effective cognitive and behavioral coping strategies may be critical for older adults with the disease. Little is known about how and why coping changes over time, nor about stability of coping strategies in persons with osteoarthritis. The aims of this work were to examine the structure of coping in older adults with osteoarthritis, the association of coping strategies with well-being, the stability of coping over time, and its association with changes in well-being over the same period. ⋯ Changes in coping style predicts future well-being; however, coping remains malleable with age and maladaptive strategies can be effectively targeted. Greater knowledge of the utility or maladaptive nature of a given strategy may help guide decisions about interventions for patients with osteoarthritis and encourage more adaptive coping styles.