Showing papers in "Research on Aging in 1983"
TL;DR: The authors analyzed the role of the contemporary American grandmother, exploring the meanings of the role for 58 grandmothers who are responding to the divorces of their children, finding that the role is primarily regulated by explicit proscriptive norms rather than by prescriptive norms that are vague and diffuse.
Abstract: This article analyzes the role of the contemporary American grandmother, exploring the meanings of the role for 58 grandmothers who are responding to the divorces of their children. Although the literature suggests that the grandparenting role is unpatterned and relatively normless, these respondents retain uniform conceptions of the traditional grandmother although they have been modified in congruence with their own middle-age norms. The role is primarily regulated by explicit proscriptive norms rather than by prescriptive norms that are vague and diffuse.
76 citations
TL;DR: Findings show that a significantly large number of physician visits may be generated in response to the psychological needs of disabled elderly, and there is a strong complementary relationship between physician visits and use of social services.
Abstract: In order to facilitate program planning for the chronically ill, it is essential to understand their propensity to use health and social services. This study has systematically examined the use of ambulatory services among the noninstitutionalized elderly (N = 772) who reported with one or more activity-limiting chronic conditions in a statewide survey of older Virginians in 1979. The determinants of differential use of physician services are investigated. The independent variables included in the analysis are: (1) personal attributes that may predispose individuals to seek care; (2) need for care factors as evidenced by the number of health disorders, physical functioning limitations, and perceived health; and (3) enabling factors such as income, insurance status, regular source of care, perceived service needs, and transportation barriers. Findings show that a significantly large number of physician visits may be generated in response to the psychological needs of disabled elderly. The eighteen predicto...
74 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue for the utility of a peer, intergenerational distinction, highlighting nonfamily age peers as an important but relatively neglected area of study, and present empirical data exploring these concepts.
Abstract: This article points to the current popularity of a family-nonfamily conceptual distinction in current gerontological research. It argues for the utility of a peer, intergenerational distinction, highlighting nonfamily age peers as an important but relatively neglected area of study. It presents empirical data exploring these concepts. It is only after a diversity of types of supports are examined (including availability of social support, interaction in and satisfaction with these relationships, and participation in various recreational activities) that the particular importance of nonfamily age peers becomes apparent. The data indicate the importance of these concepts, differentially, depending on the activity and type of interaction examined.
66 citations
TL;DR: A review of the literature shows that while women's adaptation to retirement has been closely studied, little is known of the female retirement decision as mentioned in this paper, and no gender differences in adaptation have been found.
Abstract: Review of the literature shows that while women's adaptation to retirement has been closely studied, little is known of the female retirement decision. No gender differences in adaptation have been...
56 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a multiple regression analysis was performed predicting life satisfaction with a variety of social interaction variables, and it was found that frequency of contact with church-related friends is the critical factor in accounting for race differences in well-being.
Abstract: Previous research on aging among minority populations seems to indicate that racial minorities suffer double jeopardy in terms of objective conditions such as income or housing, but are at least as well off as older whites in terms of subjective well-being. In order to explore reasons for this apparent anomaly, multiple regression analysis was performed predicting life satisfaction with a variety of social interaction variables. Results indicate that frequency of contact with church-related friends is the critical factor in accounting for race differences in well-being. We suggest three plausible explanations for this finding: (1) the church is the hub of a "moral community" in a Durkheimian sense; (2) the church reflects a "community of faith" in which members sharing a common belief exert a positive impact on each other's sense of well-being; or (3) the black church in the South forms a focal point of the community, serving as a pseudo-extended family, particularly for the aged.
55 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify factors related to subjective well-being in the elderly, and conduct structured interviews with 1073 white married women aged 65-75 living in Maryland.
Abstract: The purpose of this article is to identify factors related to subjective well-being in the elderly. Structured interviews were conducted with 1073 white married women aged 65-75 living in Maryland ...
52 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the relative importance of major role losses experienced in widowhood and retirement, personal characteristics, and prior level of participation as predictors of formal and informal social participation in old age was examined.
Abstract: This article examines the relative importance of major role losses experienced in widowhood and retirement, personal characteristics, and prior level of participation as predictors of formal and informal social participation in old age. Data obtained from the Longitudinal Retirement History Survey (LRHS) of a panel (N = 6603) of males in their sixties are analyzed. Stepwise regression analysis reveals that prior level of participation and personal characteristics explain more variance in participation than major role losses considered alone or in conjunction with related deteriorative changes such as income loss. When the effects of these variables are simultaneously controlled, persons with major role losses have lower levels of participation in formal organizations and in selected areas of informal activity than those without comparable losses. Examination of the cumulative effects of experiencing both major role losses exacerbated these results. Policy implications for preretirement education and progr...
35 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify the correlates of senior center participation through a comparison of a sample of center users and nonusers on a number of predisposing, enabling, need, and informal network factors.
Abstract: This article identifies the correlates of senior center participation through a comparison of a sample of center users and nonusers on a number of predisposing, enabling, need, and informal network...
32 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the usefulness of three types of variables in predicting the housing satisfaction of older homeowners and older renters, and determined whether these types of factors would function in similar ways in explaining the living satisfaction of these two tenure groups.
Abstract: The purposes of this study are: (1) to investigate the usefulness of three types of variables in predicting the housing satisfaction of older homeowners and older renters; and (2) to determine whether these types of variables would function in similar ways in explaining the housing satisfaction of these two tenure groups. Personal-demographic variables, housing characteristics, and a group of subjective factors measuring "attachment to home" are examined. Participants were 464 older persons who completed a survey. Data analyses indicate that the attachment to home factors are more useful in understanding homeowners' housing satisfaction than the other two sets of variables, whereas physical housing characteristics are more relevant to renters' satisfaction. These findings suggest the importance of considering a wide variety of variables, including subjective ones, when assessing older persons' housing.
29 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the utility of the genealogy in helping to understand the meaning of kinship resources to the elderly in two ethnic groups in greater Boston is demonstrated, and the utility is further discussed.
Abstract: The genealogy is widely recognized as a valuable tool in the study of nonindustrial societies. Its value in the study of industrial societies is often overlooked. This article demonstrates the utility of the genealogy in helping to understand the meaning of kinship resources to the elderly in two ethnic groups in greater Boston.
25 citations
TL;DR: From an inventory containing over 2000 programs and being constructed as part of a national study of self-care activities, 25 programs with a major focus onSelf-care training or self-help activities for the elderly were identified.
Abstract: The self-care movement is discussed, with emphasis on programs for senior citizens. Self-care is defined and several conceptual classifications of self-care activities are reviewed. Among the aspects of the contemporary self-care movement reviewed are commercialism, professional dominance, potential of self-care groups as political interest groups, and program impact evaluation issues. From an inventory containing over 2000 programs and being constructed as part of a national study of self-care activities, 25 programs with a major focus on self-care training or self-help activities for the elderly were identified. From preliminary information available on these programs, a description is provided of the range within which self-care programs for the elderly vary with respect to five characteristics: (1) program sponsorship and setting, (2) target groups, (3) methods of program implementation, (4) type and size of staff, and (5) program goals and activities. Future directions for program development and res...
TL;DR: It is suggested that recent older immigrants are, in fact, more isolated than elders in other migration/residence statuses, but immigration seems to exert an overall low level of influence on isolation, whereas ethnicity independently appears to exert a greater influence.
Abstract: Current theories suggest that migration tends to exacerbate isolation of older people, although such isolation should be mitigated by length of residence. Propositions derived from these theories were tested using data collected in San Diego, California, from 1139 older people representing ten different ethnic groups (Black, Hispanic, Pilipino, Guamanian, Samoan, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, American Indian, and nonminority). The findings suggest that recent older immigrants are, in fact, more isolated than elders in other migration/residence statuses. However, immigration seems to exert an overall low level of influence on isolation, whereas ethnicity independently appears to exert a greater influence.
TL;DR: Overall, physical and mental frailty and respondent fatique led to few interviewing difficulties, and the main advantages were those associated with high levels of cooperation and interest and few limitations on the time available to respondents to complete the interview.
Abstract: This article examines the particular advantages and disadvantages associated with interviewing older people. Expected problems included those relating to the physical and mental health status of the elderly, repondent fatigue, the acceptability of particular questions, and the suitability of certain formats. Overall, physical and mental frailty and respondent fatique led to few interviewing difficulties. Elderly respondents were found to be somewhat reticent on traditionally "difficult" questions such as income, but no particular problems were encountered with potentially emotional or threatening topics. The main advantages were those associated with high levels of cooperation and interest and few limitations on the time available to respondents to complete the interview.
TL;DR: This article found only a modest relationship between life change and illness, and researchers have begun to study "coping resources" that facilitate adjustment to life events, but only two studies have been conducted.
Abstract: Since studies have found only a modest relationship between life change and illness, researchers have begun to study "coping resources" that facilitate adjustment to life events. Only two studies h...
TL;DR: The few existing studies support the following theories: (1) status of the aged tends to decline with modernization; (2) social activity tends to decrease with aging; and (3) there is little or no association between life satisfaction and aging as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Cross-cultural research is essential to separate universal processes of aging from culture-specific processes and to understand how culture influences aging. However, there has been little cross-cultural research in social gerontology. The few existing studies support the following theories: (1) Status of the aged tends to decline with modernization. (2) Social activity tends to decline with aging. (3) There is little or no association between life satisfaction and aging. (4) Maintaining social activity tends to maintain life satisfaction. Cross-cultural research could be improved by more comparable measures, more representative samples, more theoretical relevance, and more multivariate analysis. Secondary analysis of existing data and the addition of a few questions to planned surveys are two low-cost ways of increasing cross-cultural research.
TL;DR: In this article, the issue of age differences in well-being, focusing on ethnic variations in this relationship, was re-examine and the relevance of the double-jeopardy hypothesis was discussed.
Abstract: In this article we reexamine the issue of age differences in well-being, focusing on ethnic variations in this relationship. Data are from 1269 Los Angeles residents (407 Anglos, 413 blacks, and 449 Mexican Americans) between the ages of 45 and 74. Two measures of well-being were analyzed: Lawton's Philadelphia Geriatric Morale Scale and a single-item indicator of happiness. Results suggest that: (1) The overall relationship between age and well-being is strongly positive for Anglos, once controls are introduced for sex, marital status, income, health, and schooling; and (2) the slope of the relationship between age and well-being is similar for blacks and Anglos, but much smaller for Mexican Americans. Results suggest clear ethnic differences in the net advantage that advancing age offers to well-being. The relevance of the findings for the double-jeopardy hypothesis is discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, a status theory of the evaluation of behavior was delineated, proposing that evaluation of age-related behavior of adults, children, and elderly persons would be affected by the relative rankings of these role positions.
Abstract: Age stratification theory's assertion that expectations and prestige vary according to age raises the question of how people respond when age-related expectations are violated. A status theory of the evaluation of behavior was delineated, proposing that evaluation of age-related behavior of adults, children, and elderly persons would be affected by the relative rankings of these role positions. Greater prestige was found to be assigned to adults and least to children, with elderly persons assigned an intermediate level. Ninety-six undergraduates provided approval ratings of either appropriate... or cross-age-role behaviors. It was found that deviation from age-role expectations resulted in a greater loss of approval for higher-status actors. Thus, adults who exhibited elderly behavior lost more approval than did elderly persons who engaged in adult behavior. There was also evidence that the impact of status on approval may have been due to the tendency for higher-status roles to be perceived as having gre...
TL;DR: An overview of the literature of aging and cognitive processes is presented, with emphasis on the areas of psychometric measurement of intelligence, qualitative interpretations of adult thinking, and the speed and timing of behavior as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: An overview of the literature of aging and cognitive processes is presented, with emphasis on the areas of psychometric measurement of intelligence, qualitative interpretations of adult thinking, and the speed and timing of behavior. It is argued that the study of psychometric intelligence has gone through four distinct phases, reflecting an expanding data base and an evolving theoretical orientation and methodology. Contemporary research on aging and intelligence continues to be undertaken from at least three of the four perspectives. Qualitative and quantitative approaches to cognition have both provided evidence for increased integration in the thinking of older people, although the two approaches have different conceptualizations of integration. There is extensive evidence to support the contention that the speed of behavior slows with age, and the slowing affects efficiency of behavior rather than simply causing the response to occur more slowly. Cognition in aging includes great diversity, ranging f...
TL;DR: In this paper, over 60 chronologically old informants were asked to relate their biographies to an interviewer using friendship as the constant referent, and three frameworks for analysis were specfied.
Abstract: In order to gain understanding of friendship in the context of individuals' lives, over 60 chronologically old informants were asked to relate their biographies to an interviewer using friendship as the constant referent. The strengths and weaknesses for the data obtained in this way are discussed and three frameworks for analysis are specfied. These data have the potential to provide insight into cultural aspects of friendship in American society, the process of friendship through the life course, and social actors' organization of their friendships. The "topical oral biographies method" is suggested as a way to pursue research questions about the relationship between individuals and societies.
TL;DR: In this paper, the salient features of differential land ownership and the consequences of these differences are discussed, focusing on unequal access to land ownership, and unmasks the great variation within a rural community, while blacks and whites do not share land equitably, they do share the same ideology about the value of the land.
Abstract: This article describes the salient features of differential land ownership and explores the consequences of these differences. By focusing on unequal access to land ownership, the article unmasks the great variation within a rural community. While blacks and whites do not share land equitably, they do share the same ideology about the value of the land.
TL;DR: The authors assess the current controversy of support for our rapidly aging population over the next 60 years and the assumptions and measurements used in the discussions of "dependency ratios" that are central to the debate.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the current controversy of support for our rapidly aging population over the next 60 years and the assumptions and measurements used in the discussions of "dependency ratios" that are central to the debate. The President's Commission on Pension Policy is critiqued, as is the possible social security change in receiving full benefits from 65 to 68 years of age. Labor force dependency ratios and society dependency ratios are projected to the year 2050 in order to demonstrate that demographic shifts do not represent any significant increase in the total proportion of groups outside of the "productive" components of the population. Implications of the findings are discussed.
TL;DR: A content analysis was conducted on ninety-eight sets of state regulations governing long-term residential facilities for adults without nursing, finding that most regulations contained a substantial number of physical requirements but lacked a number of other types of requirements affecting residents' health, safety, and well-being.
Abstract: A content analysis was conducted on ninety-eight sets of state regulations governing long-term residential facilities for adults without nursing. While most regulations contained a substantial numb...
TL;DR: In this article, the best predictors of high willingness were welfare orientation and an evaluation of social security as superior to private pensions, and together the factors examined accounted for 32.8% of the variability in willingness to rely on social security.
Abstract: Using a probability sample of 1030 adult Alabamans, this study attempted to identify factors related to willingness to have social security play a dominant role in the pension mix of future retirees. Together the factors examined accounted for 32.8% of the variability in willingness to rely on social security. The best predictors of high willingness were welfare orientation and an evaluation of social security as superior to private pensions.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on the application of the community case study approach in gerontological research and present the systematic, developmental process of this approach, as developed by the author during the conduct of an eight-year longitudinal case study of older hotel dwellers.
Abstract: This article focuses on the application of the community case study approach in gerontological research. It presents the systematic, developmental process of this approach, as developed by the author during the conduct of an eight-year longitudinal case study of older hotel dwellers.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated whether certain indicators of position in the economic structure affect the probability of leaving the labor force when planned, while some workers retire at the time and in the way they have planned.
Abstract: While some workers retire at the time and in the way they have planned, others leave the labor force unexpectedly, unprepared for retirement. The purpose of this research was to investigate whether certain indicators of position in the economic structure affect the probability of leaving the labor force when planned. Data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Mature Men were used for the analysis. The results of the logistic regression analysis revealed that all three indicators of economic position-occupational status, industrial sector, and self-employment-had significant net effects on the dichotomous dependent variable, expected/unexpected retirement. These effects were mediated, to varying degrees, by pension coverage and health status, the former increasing the chances of retiring when planned, the latter decreasing the probability of retiring when planned. Other research shows that those who retire unexpectedly are less financially prepared for retirement and have lower evaluations of retirement.
TL;DR: A general trend toward ruralward migration was found, with elderly migrants having a higher educational level, higher total family income, higher working status for those still in the job market, and fewer hours currently worked per week when compared to urbanward migrants.
Abstract: An elderly migration shift away from urban areas and toward rural areas and small towns has been noted recently. In addition to documenting general migration trends, this article focuses on the cha...
TL;DR: This article found that social trends are as important as values changes for ascending and descending generations, although the latter gain salience for descending generations in relation to social change in lineal generations.
Abstract: Due to the interest in relations among lineal generations, phenomenal aspects of social generations have been neglected. These experiences of social change, in relation to both ascending and descending generations, were the focus of an emic content analysis. For this well-educated sample of fathers over 45 years of age, social trends are as important as values changes, although the latter gain salience for descending generations.
TL;DR: The authors discusses the dilemma of continuity versus discontinuity in the life of the aged and suggests that the need for continuity is neither a universal nor a necessary characteristic of identity formation in the elderly.
Abstract: This article discusses the dilemma of continuity versus discontinuity in the life of the aged. The contradiction that seems to exist between structural discontinuity and personal continuity may be resolved by suggesting that the need for continuity is neither a universal nor a necessary characteristic of identity formation in the elderly. An ethnographic study of the social reality of an English day center for Jewish residents of an impoverished neighborhood provides a case study wherein discontinuity of ties and past involvements serves as a viable resource in the construction of new identities.
TL;DR: This paper examined what happened to labor force participation rates of men in this age group following legislation that eliminated the test in Canada, liberalized it in Austria and the United Kingdom, and made it more restrictive in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Abstract: It is widely held that removing the earnings test for old-age pensions under social security will increase labor force activity among persons aged 65-69. This study examines what happened to labor force participation rates of men in this age group following legislation that eliminated the test in Canada, liberalized it in Austria and the United Kingdom, and made it more restrictive in the Federal Republic of Germany. The consequences of a condition of total withdrawal for payment of pensions in Finland and modest increases in the ceiling level in the United States are also examined. The basic finding is that labor force participation rates of men aged 65-69 have not increased when earnings tests have been removed or liberalized. The experiences of all six countries indicate that the age of first eligibility and the level of benefits are more important than the earnings test in influencing the work activity of older men. The results of the study suggest that the trend toward early retirement is less likely...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors have advanced a moderation concept as relevant to understanding the aging process and some classes of potentially harmful behavior, such as alcohol abuse and smoking, and the research directions required are noted, along with the importance of the concept for possible policy formulation.
Abstract: The authors have advanced a moderation concept as relevant to understanding the aging process and some classes of potentially harmful behavior, such as alcohol abuse and smoking. Because studies have not been devised specifically to examine the process, statistical information cannot be directly interpreted as reflecting moderation. Competing hypotheses of cohort effects, attrition, and other effects cannot be discounted or partitioned with any confidence. Limited interpretations are advanced, and the research directions required are noted, along with the importance of the concept for possible policy formulation.