Showing papers in "Research on Aging in 2000"
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper explored the relationship between intergenerational social support and the psychological well-being of older Chinese parents and found that providing instrumental support to children and satisfaction with children directly improve parents' well being.
Abstract: This study explores the relationship between intergenerational social support and the psychological well-being of older Chinese parents. Effects of structural, functional, emotional, and appraisal social support on older Chinese parents’ well-being were tested by analyzing data collected from a random sample of 3,039 persons aged 55 and over who participated in the 1992 baseline survey of the Beijing Multidimensional Longitudinal Study on Aging (BMLSOA). Multiple regression is used to determine whether intergenerational exchanges of social support influence older parents’ morale. Findings reveal that providing instrumental support to children and satisfaction with children directly improve parents’well-being. The benefits of receiving support from children are fully mediated by parents’satisfaction with their children. The positive effects of providing functional support are magnified among parents who adhere to more traditional norms regarding family support. The results suggest that the psychological be...
350 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of spouse and marital relationship characteristics on labor force withdrawal was analyzed based on two waves of the National Survey of Families and Households (NSSH).
Abstract: This study assesses the effect of spouse and marital relationship characteristics on labor force withdrawal. The authors further explore differences between husbands’ and wives’ retirement. The analyses are based on two waves of the National Survey of Families and Households. Marital characteristics influence retirement decisions in several ways and contribute significantly to model fit. Husbands adjust their retirement in terms of wives’ benefit eligibility, whereas wives’ retirement is contingent on the couple’s income. Husbands also tend to leave the labor force when their wives are ill. In addition, retirement decisions seem to reflect considerations about postretirement marital quality and husband’s status in the marriage. Gender differences prevail with regard to the impact of work and marital history on retirement decisions.
169 citations
TL;DR: The authors examined the relationship between wisdom (defined as a combination of cognitive, reflective, and a... ) and self-awareness using longitudinal data on 82 White, California women from the Berkeley Guidance Study.
Abstract: Using longitudinal data on 82 White, California women from the Berkeley Guidance Study, this study examines the relationship between wisdom (defined as a combination of cognitive, reflective, and a...
147 citations
TL;DR: For example, the authors found that older adults with a high likelihood of being within 15 years of retirement reported more frequent thinking and talking about their plans to retire, and the consideration given to retirement was more frequent in circumstances that might orient workers toward the future.
Abstract: The scope of explanation for retirement behavior could be greatly enlarged by acknowledging workers’ extended engagement with the question before the event—its “givenness” in their future, and their course of action toward it. This study provides evidence for such extended involvement among workers aged 51 to 61 in the 1992 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) who saw themselves being within 15 years of retiring. To the extent that workers foresaw less time left at work, they reported more frequent thinking and talking about retirement. This pattern was quite general. The consideration given to retirement was, as expected, more frequent in circumstances that might orient workers toward the future. However, even absent these circumstances, subjective proximity still predicted the topicality of retirement. Widely held, albeit individual, timetables for retirement demonstrate its embeddedness in the subjective life course of older workers.
133 citations
TL;DR: For example, this paper applied a life-course approach and retirement migration theory to develop a model of future housing expectations and actual moves for a random sample of men and women in late midlife.
Abstract: This study applies a life-course approach and retirement migration theory to develop a model of future housing expectations and actual moves for a random sample of men and women in late midlife. Results suggest that late-midlife workers and retirees expect to age in place; expectations to live in highly supportive environments are uniformly low. Older, nonmetropolitan respondents with less education and more years in their homes express the strongest expectations that they will age in place. Those people who rent their homes, have weaker ties to their communities, and have more symptoms of depression tend to foresee a move in the future. However, physical health of respondents and their spouses do not predict future housing expectations. Prior expectations about aging in place, residential history, and life-course changes in marriage and retirement predict actual moves within the next two years, with differing patterns for men and women.
123 citations
TL;DR: This paper examined the factorial validity of an aging anxiety scale across age, sex, and race aggregates and found that aging anxiety can be measured as a single construct, although the scale taps a somewhat different dimension for younger persons.
Abstract: Anxiety about aging has been virtually neglected in extant research, but such anxiety should become increasingly important to understand as the population ages. This research addresses three questions pertaining to aging anxiety. First, is aging anxiety a meaningful unidimensional construct? Second, what is the age pattern of aging anxiety? Third, what factors influence aging anxiety? Confirmatory factor analyses are conducted to examine the factorial validity of an aging anxiety scale across age, sex, and race aggregates. Structural equation models are used to determine the influence of several covariates. There were several important findings, including that (1) aging anxiety can be measured as a single construct, although the scale taps a somewhat different dimension for younger persons; (2) fear of social losses does not appear to be a concern about aging; (3) the age pattern of anxiety is declining, except across midlife; and (4) race, gender, socioeconomic status, current health, income, education, ...
121 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the potentially competitive relationship between paid work and parent care provided by daughters and daughters-in-law, in line with the scarcity hypothesis of role theory.
Abstract: This article investigates the potentially competitive relationship between paid work and parent care provided by daughters and daughters-in-law. In line with the scarcity hypothesis of role theory,...
114 citations
TL;DR: Compared with African Americans who attend religious services more than once a week, those who never attend are more than twice as likely to die during the nine-year follow-up period, even net of a large number of confounding and mediating factors.
Abstract: This article examines the effects of religious involvement on mortality risk among African Americans. The authors use a relatively new and innovative nationally representative data set—the National Health Interview Survey matched to the National Center for Health Statistics’ multiple cause of death file—to model this relationship. The results show that, compared with African Americans who attend religious services more than once a week, those who never attend are more than twice as likely to die during the nine-year follow-up period, even net of a large number of confounding and mediating factors. The strong effect of nonattendance on mortality risk is robust, pervasive, and remarkably strong across all subgroups of the population, whereas a moderate level of attendance is associated with higher mortality risk among young adults, men, and Southerners, but not among older adults, women, and non-Southerners. Among African Americans, lack of religious involvement appears to be associated with risk of prematu...
109 citations
TL;DR: For example, this paper found that women are less likely to be married, especially at older ages, and personal care may be associated with traditional gender expectations, while men are more likely to mention "no one" and have a wider variety of expected sources of care, but children are the modal choice.
Abstract: Among other benefits of marriage, spouses are particularly well suited for providing sick or personal care due to proximity and motivation. Yet, spouse care may vary by gender: Women are less likely to be married, especially at older ages, and personal care may be associated with traditional gender expectations. Using data for a representative sample of middle-aged and older persons, this article poses two questions. First, who is expected, by married and unmarried men and women, to provide personal care? Second, how does the gender of the individual or of children structure expectations for care? For married persons, particularly in high-quality marriages, spouses are likely care providers. However, for women, spouse help is less reliably available, and other sources, particularly children, are more available. Unmarried persons are more likely to mention “no one” and have a wider variety of expected sources of sick care, but children are the modal choice.
86 citations
TL;DR: There are relatively few differences in older as compared to younger persons living with HIV/AIDS, yet mortality rates are higher in older samples, and the relationship between the areas where there are differences and whether they affect morbidity and mortality need further exploration.
Abstract: Mortality rates are higher in older persons with AIDS. The Wilson and Cleary health-related quality-of-life model was used to explore whether there were differences on health-related quality-of-life variables between persons aged 50 or older (n = 73) and younger persons (n = 640) in a national sample. Depending on the level of the data, either independent t tests or chi-squares were calculated. Older participants reported significantly more medical conditions such as diabetes or hypertension (p = .000), more limitations in physical functioning (p = .006), and self-disclosure of HIV infection to fewer people (p = .000). There were no significant differences on any of the other variables. There are relatively few differences in older as compared to younger persons living with HIV/AIDS, yet mortality rates are higher in older samples. The relationship between the areas where there are differences and whether they affect morbidity and mortality need further exploration.
85 citations
TL;DR: This research uses data from the National Survey of Families and Households to examine the role that friends play in the provision of care and finds that among caregivers, women providing care to a friend are more likely to be age peers and less likelihood to be employed or married than family caregivers.
Abstract: Changes in the formal health care system and in the health of the population are likely to increase the need for informal care of the sick and disabled. At the same time, high rates of divorce, a retreat from marriage, and increasing participation of women in the labor force are likely to decrease the ability of families to provide care. This research uses data from the National Survey of Families and Households to examine the role that friends play in the provision of care. The authors find that among caregivers, women providing care to a friend are more likely to be age peers and less likely to be employed or married than family caregivers. Friends seem less likely than family to take on care responsibilities when those responsibilities may conflict with other roles. If friends are to become a greater part of the care network, policies that encourage and enable the participation of nonfamily members will be important.
TL;DR: This paper examined the impact of economic, cultural, and social factors on five different dimensions of emotional well-being for immigrants and natives at midlife and found that economic factors and human capital variables are the most important determinants of emotional health for both immigrants and native.
Abstract: Linking theories of social stratification, ethnicity, and mental health with theories of human and social capital, the authors examine the impact of economic, cultural, and social factors on five different dimensions of emotional well-being for immigrants and natives at midlife. Based on data from the 1992 wave of the Health and Retirement Study, the authors found that economic factors and human capital variables are the most important determinants of emotional health for both immigrants and natives. The results indicate that cultural factors can enhance emotional well-being. Religious affiliation and participation are important for both immigrants and natives, but religious participation appears to be more beneficial for immigrants. Being part of a couple was also associated with better emotional health, especially for immigrants. The effects of several determinants of emotional health differed across immigrant groups. It was found that marriage, education, and the presence of economically stable kin are...
TL;DR: Social role identities are key components of self-concept, perceptions locating individuals in the larger matrix of social relationships as discussed by the authors. But it is unclear as to whether identities reflect currently held roles, past roles, or roles expected to be taken on in the future.
Abstract: Social role identities are key components of self-concept, perceptions locating individuals in the larger matrix of social relationships. These identities reflect the system of social positions held by an individual. But it is unclear as to whether identities reflect currently held roles, past roles, or roles expected to be taken on in the future. Moreover, this system of social role identities may well change during the life course,
TL;DR: In this paper, the social and health priorities of older African Americans and Latinos and their attitudes about participation in clinical research were examined in a focus group with focus group discussions with older adults.
Abstract: This study examines the social and health priorities of older African Americans and Latinos and their attitudes about participation in clinical research. Focus group discussions were conducted with...
TL;DR: The authors found that stress and negative mental health before institutionalization will have a significant effect on variables that reflect caregivers' postplacement involvement, including satisfaction with the nursing home environment, weekly visits, and problems with staff.
Abstract: Family members face a variety of challenges when placing a cognitively impaired relative in a nursing home. However, few studies have determined how stressors and psychological well-being prior to placement influence the institutionalization experience for caregivers. In this article, the authors hypothesize that stress and negative mental health before institutionalization will have a significant effect on variables that reflect caregivers’postplacement involvement, including satisfaction with the nursing home environment, weekly visits, and problems with staff. Primary caregivers (N = 185) were assessed prior to and after the institutionalization of a cognitively impaired elderly relative. A multivariate regression found that several preplacement stressors (behavior problems, activities of daily living dependencies, role captivity), depression, and socioemotional support were predictive of nursing home involvement. As these results suggest, the stress process has important implications for caregivers th...
TL;DR: Older Baptists who lived in rural areas and who attended services more often were less likely to use alcohol, and it was found that alcohol use had no effect on depressive symptoms.
Abstract: Recent research has shown the beneficial effects of religious activity for individual health and well-being among older adults. The purpose of this article is to determine whether breaking the norm...
TL;DR: Investigation of the care received from family members among a stratified random sample of community-dwelling older (65+) African Americans and Whites and suggests that coresidence may be a form of family caregiving among older African Americans.
Abstract: There are substantial uncertainties about key dimensions of the caregiving process as it is experienced by older adults from different racial groups. This investigation explores the care received from family members among a stratified random sample of community-dwelling older (65+) African Americans and Whites who reported difficulties performing daily living tasks. Findings support past research indicating that older African Americans are more likely to receive help from family members than are Whites when in need of assistance. However, this advantage does not extend across all types of family members but, rather, is only statistically significant in the final models with regard to the care received from grandchildren. Evidence is presented that indicates that the observed race differences in the receipt of care from children can be attributed to variations between racial groups in family and household structure. The findings suggest that coresidence may be a form of family caregiving among older Africa...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used longitudinal data to examine the potential moderating effects of social support and age among older adults exposed to an acute stressor and found that social support moderates the effects of flood exposure on depression only for the younger age group.
Abstract: This study uses longitudinal data to examine the potential moderating effects of social support and age among older adults exposed to an acute stressor. Using a sample of 651 older persons, data were gathered in the spring of 1992 and in the fall of 1993, approximately 60 days after the peak impact of flooding in the Midwest. Results indicate a positive association between pre- and postflood depression and a negative association between social support and postflood depression. For the youngest of the two older age groups, there is also a positive association between flood exposure and post-flood depression, controlling for prior levels of depression. Age interactions reveal that social support moderates the effects of flood exposure on depression only for the younger age group.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the patterns and correlates of currently married adult children's coresidence with their parents in Turkey using data from the 1993 Turkish Demographic and Health Survey and found substantial effects of traditionality measures on coresidence, especially with the husband's parents.
Abstract: This article investigates the patterns and correlates of currently married adult children’s coresidence with their parents in Turkey using data from the 1993 Turkish Demographic and Health Survey. The authors are particularly interested in traditional patterns of coresidence (i.e., coresidence with one or both of the husband’s parents) and the effect of variables measuring traditionality at the individual and contextual levels on coresidence with any parent and with the husband’s parents. The results indicate that coresidence among currently married children is not the norm. However, the odds of coresidence with the husband’s parents, given that a couple coresides with any parent, are very high. In addition, the authors find substantial effects of traditionality measures on coresidence, especially with the husband’s parents. Continued economic development, and the social changes that accompany it, can be expected to reduce the prevalence of parent-child coresidence in Turkey.
TL;DR: The odds of being discharged to their home were higher for those who received more care that is informal, and the quality and the amount of care that residents receive, thus, influencing rehabilitation outcomes and returns to home.
Abstract: This study examines the effect of family caregiving on the probability that nursing home residents would be discharged to the community. The effect of the number of hours of informal care on the pr...
TL;DR: The authors examined patterns of coresidence between elders and their adult children using a very large sample (N greater than 3.5 million) of individuals 60 and older from the 1990 decennial census.
Abstract: We examine patterns of coresidence between elders and their adult children using a very large sample (N greater than 3.5 million) of individuals 60 and older from the 1990 decennial census. The siz...
TL;DR: In this paper, item response theory was used to examine the psychometric properties of a cognitive screening measure used in several epidemiological surveys among Latino, African American, and White non-Latino elderly.
Abstract: Item response theory was used to examine the psychometric properties of a cognitive screening measure used in several epidemiological surveys among Latino, African American, and White non-Latino elderly. Estimates of precision (reliability) examined across several values of Θ (the estimate of degree of cognitive impairment) were good (.70s to .90s) in the range representing most respondents. Overall reliability, although adequate, was lower among the White non-Latino and high-education subgroups relative to other racial/ethnic and education subgroups. Differential item functioning (DIF) was examined using several area- and model-based tests. Tests of the magnitude of DIF showed the measure to be relatively free of DIF for the racial/ethnic subgroup and education subgroups examined. However, one item related to remembering the telephone number was more difficult for Latinos than for other racial/ethnic subgroups. Several other items evidenced mild DIF, and one (difficulty remembering words or names) was a ...
TL;DR: In this paper, a marginal model for binary longitudinal data was developed to associate covariates with repeated observations of agitation, the dependent variable; generalized estimating equations were used to estimate regression parameters.
Abstract: “Friendships” (ongoing interpersonal interactions) and agitated behavior were studied among 59 residents of a dementia special care unit; most residents had mild to moderate cognitive impairment. Behavior scan data were recorded by trained observers over six months. Three scans per hour were conducted, seven days a week, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., producing more than 17,000 observations. A marginal model for binary longitudinal data was developed to associate covariates with repeated observations of agitation, the dependent variable; generalized estimating equations were used to estimate regression parameters. Friendship behavior was significantly associated with (less) observed agitation in this group of dementia residents, controlling for additional variables expected to predict agitation. Opportunity for self-initiated interpersonal engagement may contribute significantly to the well-being of moderately impaired dementia residents. Repeated over-time assessments are important in understanding factors r...
TL;DR: The authors examined Canadian trends in income inequality over the middle and later stages of the life course of a person and used the Survey of Consumer Finances cross-sectional data from 1973 to 1996.
Abstract: Survey of Consumer Finances cross-sectional data from 1973 to 1996 are used in this article to examine Canadian trends in income inequality over the middle and later stages of the life course of a
TL;DR: The authors found that when parents and grown children co-reside, the child's progress toward full adulthood increases the likelihood that the generations will budget separately, but its effects differ for sons and daughters.
Abstract: Survey data from Baoding, China, show that the child’s life-course location affects the likelihood of residing with a parent. When parents and grown children co-reside, the child’s progress toward full adulthood increases the likelihood that the generations will budget separately. Marriage is the most significant marker of adulthood, but its effects differ for sons and daughters.
TL;DR: In this study, the authors employ data from the Hispanic Established Population for Epidemiological Studies of the Elderly to examine the concordance between a self-reported measure of the ability to walk across a small room and a performance-based assessment of the respondent’s ability to perform the same task.
Abstract: In this study, the authors employ data from the Hispanic Established Population for Epidemiological Studies of the Elderly to examine the concordance between a self-reported measure of the ability to walk across a small room and a performance-based assessment of the respondent’s ability to perform the same task. The data reveal that although these two ways of assessing this particular aspect of functional capacity are roughly concordant, other psychological and social factors affect self-reports independent of actual physical ability. A large proportion of individuals who are unable to complete the performance-based task report that they are mobile. The analysis indicates that performance-based measures are better predictors of mortality than self-assessments, but when viewed in terms of the disablement process, it is clear that performance-based and self-reported measures tap something different. The authors conclude that each type of measure conveys useful information about functioning in complex daily ...
TL;DR: Residence with relatives may well decline notably in Chile and Mexico in the next 25 to 50 years among unmarried elderly people, and the question could become how to retain valuable kin ties while respecting increased autonomy.
Abstract: Using census microdata this article describes living arrangements among unmarried elderly women in Chile and Mexico around 1990. Specifically it aims to examine the importance of kinship and solitary living among unmarried elderly women in these two very different Latin American countries. In addition to bonds between elderly women and their adult children bonds between elderly women and other extended family members are also considered. This included bonds between grown siblings bonds between grandparents and grandchildren and bonds between aunts and nieces/nephews. Overall it is noted that the traditional situation in both countries are consistent with the idea that kinship has an effect on the likelihood of living alone even in settings in which there are some differences in the living arrangements of unmarried elderly women. This traditional situation is due to change however as elders become more numerous and increasingly covered by reformed pension systems. Nevertheless there is still a need for a place socially for elders to share living arrangements with others and to give and receive assistance.
TL;DR: The results of factor analyses reveal that the overall reliability of each scale, as measured by Cronbach’s alpha, was near or above .70, but the item-to-scale correlations of many of these scales were low, indicating that the measurement of the constructs may be different for older African Americans and Caucasians.
Abstract: Increasing attention is being paid to racial and ethnic differences in the structure and measurement of physical health and mental health constructs. The objective of this study was to examine the reliability of four measures of physical health and mental health in a sample of 400 older (50+ years) African Americans and Caucasians. These measures are the instrumental activities of daily living and activities of daily living scales of the National Chronic Care Consortium Health Risk Appraisal Survey, the SF-12, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, and the John Henryism Active Coping Scale. The measures were tested by racial group. The results of factor analyses reveal that the overall reliability of each scale, as measured by Cronbach’s alpha, was near or above .70. However, the item-to-scale correlations of many of these scales were low. This finding indicates that the measurement of the constructs may be different for older African Americans and Caucasians.
TL;DR: The easily administered COOP charts can improve communication across barriers of class, race, and generation to encourage better quality of care and quality of life for older Native American patients.
Abstract: The Dartmouth Primary Care COOP Charts are used to characterize the health-related quality of life of patients in five clinics operated by the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. A profile of COOP scores for older Native American patients is presented, as well as the relationships of COOP scores with selected health-related and sociodemographic variables, a partial assessment of construct validity. Data are from a nonprobability sample of adult patients surveyed in 1995 and 1997. This article reports on 157 patients age 55 to 87. More limitations were reported in relation to physical function, bodily pain, and health perceptions. Fewer limitations were reported in social activities and social support. Correlations among COOP dimensions were similar to other studies of chronic disease patients. There was substantial, although partial, agreement between expected and observed relationships, particularly for the health variables. The easily administered COOP charts can improve communication across barriers of class,...
TL;DR: Results indicate that education, income, and age are consistent predictors of disability, and that arthritis and obesity have consistently stronger effects on disability than do other chronic conditions.
Abstract: Data from community-dwelling older adults (65+) with two or more chronic health conditions who participated in a 30-month longitudinal panel survey (N = 898) are used to examine the factors that are associated with the presence and development of functional disabilities. Both logistic regression and discrete time hazard models are used to address the risk factors associated with the presence and development of activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living disabilities. Results indicate that education, income, and age are consistent predictors of disability, and that arthritis and obesity have consistently stronger effects on disability than do other chronic conditions. A need for stronger conceptual models focusing on disability is discussed.