Aging & mental health
-
Aging & mental health · Jan 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialPositive psychology interventions in people aged 50-79 years: long-term effects of placebo-controlled online interventions on well-being and depression.
Various positive psychology interventions have been experimentally tested, but only few studies addressed the effects of such activities in participants aged 50 and above. ⋯ Positive psychology interventions yield similar results for people aged 50 and above as for younger people. The dissemination of such interventions via the Internet offers a valuable opportunity for older age groups as well.
-
Aging & mental health · Jan 2014
Multicenter StudyFamily caregivers' sleep disturbance and its associations with multilevel stressors when caring for patients with dementia.
We tested a stress process model of multilevel stressors on sleep disturbance for family caregivers (FCG) of persons with dementia (PWD). ⋯ This study supports the model that development of caregivers' sleep problems may depend on their depression, fatigue, and the synergistic effects of these two variables. These findings suggest that clinicians should educate FCGs about self-care and offer strategies for dealing with a cluster of symptoms when maintaining sleep hygiene.
-
Aging & mental health · Jan 2014
Caring for relatives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: how does the disease severity impact on family carers?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of disability, morbidity and mortality in old age, representing a significant burden for families. However, information on the impacts of caring for relatives with COPD on carers' psychological health is limited. This study aimed to analyse the subjective burden of family carers of people with early and advanced COPD and its predictor variables. ⋯ The findings suggest that the gradual course of COPD imposes an increasing physical and emotional burden on carers, with negative impacts on their psychological health. The study highlights the relevance of early interventions in the context of COPD to prevent carers' burden.
-
Aging & mental health · Jan 2013
Depressive symptoms as an independent risk factor for mortality in elderly persons: results of a national longitudinal study.
Depressive symptoms have been associated with increased mortality risk in previous cohort studies, but there is a paucity of research on Asian elderly in recent years. The authors investigated the depression-mortality link using data from a representative national cohort. ⋯ Depressive symptoms are an independent risk factor for mortality in the elderly. Elderly depressive men and elderly without chronic diseases seemed to have a greater mortality risk.
-
Aging & mental health · Jan 2013
Caregiving spouses' attachment orientations and the physical and psychological health of individuals with Alzheimer's disease.
Attachment theory is a useful framework for understanding how caregiving dyads regulate emotions and maintain feelings of security in reaction to a loved one's chronic illness. In this study we examined the extent to which the attachment orientations (anxiety and avoidance) of persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their spousal caregivers were associated with each partner's report of the physical and psychological health symptoms of the person with AD. ⋯ This study highlights the importance of considering the attachment security of both caregivers and persons with AD when considering how each partner views the psychological and physical health symptoms of the person with AD. Our results have implications for providing care-recipients and caregivers with improved, tailored care.