Feeling Younger on Active Summer Days? On the Interplay of Behavioral and Environmental Factors With Day-to-Day Variability in Subjective Age.

Background And Objectives: Subjective age, that is, how old people feel in relation to their chronological age, has mostly been investigated from a macro-longitudinal, lifespan point of view and in relation to major developmental outcomes. Recent evidence also shows considerable intraindividual variations in micro-longitudinal studies as well as relations to everyday psychological correlates such as stress or affect, but findings on the interplay with physical activity or sleep as behavioral factors and environmental factors such as weather conditions are scarce.

Research Design And Methods: We examined data from 80 recently retired individuals aged 59-76 years ( = 67.

"If this is what it means to be old…": a mixed methods study on the effects of age simulation on views on aging and perceptions of age-related impairments.

Age simulation suits are a promising tool to increase empathy and to promote positive attitudes toward older adults. However, studies have largely focused on (young) healthcare professionals, are probably biased by social desirability, and have not addressed participants' views of the aging process triggered by the simulation. The current work combines two studies addressing effects of aging suits on both general and personal views on aging among heterogeneous samples, and exploring spontaneous associations during the simulation.

Determinants of physical activity during cancer treatment: a longitudinal exploration of psycho-cognitive variables and physician counseling.

Individuals with cancer are recommended to engage in regular physical activity (PA) even during cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to explore how patient-reported physician PA counseling influences their PA intention and behavior in addition to psycho-cognitive determinants derived from the theory of planned behavior (TPB). A longitudinal study during cancer treatment was conducted among N = 115 patients with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer (M = 58.

What it takes to reduce sitting at work: a pilot study on the effectiveness and correlates of a multicomponent intervention.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and effects of a simple-to-implement multicomponent intervention to reduce sedentary time of office workers.

Methods: Six groups of eight to ten office workers took part in the two-week Leicht Bewegt intervention. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline (T0, n = 52), after 2 weeks (T1, n = 46), and after 5 weeks (T2, n = 38), including subjective sedentary measures and social-cognitive variables based on the health action process approach (HAPA).

Postponing sleep after a stressful day: Patterns of stress, bedtime procrastination, and sleep outcomes in a daily diary approach.

Sleep problems and stress are common among students and are associated with negative effects on academic performance as well as mental and physical health risks, but studies exploring mediating factors between stress and sleep on a daily basis are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of daily stress, Bedtime procrastination (BP) (i.e.

Aging in 10 Minutes: Do Age Simulation Suits Mimic Physical Decline in Old Age? Comparing Experimental Data with Established Reference Data.

Introduction: Age simulation suits are increasingly used in health care education. However, empirical evidence that quantifies the simulated performance losses in established geriatric tests and compares those declines with reference data of older adults is scarce.

Methods: In a standardized lab setting, we compared performance of  = 61 participants (46 middle-aged, 15 young adults) with and without age simulation suit, for example in the Timed Up and Go Test (+dual task), Short Physical Performance Battery, grip strength, and 30-Second-Chair- Standing Test.

Who uses technical aids in old age? Exploring the implementation of technology-based home modifications in Europe.

Introduction: Home modifications and features, e.g., handrails or ramps for people using wheelchairs, should allow residents with functional limitations to maintain social participation, health, and wellbeing for aging in place.

Effects of mental contrasting on sleep and associations with stress: A randomized controlled trial.

Mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII) has been successfully applied to improve health-related behaviors (e.g. exercise).

Acceptance of digital health services among older adults: Findings on perceived usefulness, self-efficacy, privacy concerns, ICT knowledge, and support seeking.

Background: Over the last decade, the rapid advancements in information and communication technologies (ICTs) have also driven the development of digital health services and applications. Older adults could particularly benefit from these technologies, but they still have less access to the Internet and less competence in using it. Based on the empirical literature on technology acceptance among older adults, this study examines the relations of perceived usefulness, self-efficacy, privacy concerns, ICT knowledge, and support seeking (family, informal, formal/institutional) with older adults' intention to adopt new digital health services.

Effects of age simulation suits on psychological and physical outcomes: a systematic review.

Unlabelled: Age simulation suits (ASS) are widely used to simulate sensory and physical restrictions that typically occur as people age. This review has two objectives: first, we synthesize the current research on ASS in terms of the observed psychological and physical effects associated with ASS. Second, we analyze indicators able to estimate the validity of ASS in simulating "true" ageing processes.

Using wearables to promote physical activity in old age : Feasibility, benefits, and user friendliness.

Background: Wearables provide new opportunities to promote physical activity also among older adults but data on effectiveness and user friendliness are rare.

Objective: The effects of a comprehensive self-regulative intervention on moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and number of steps were examined using commercially available activity trackers. Acceptance regarding the devices was analysed in various domains.

"Aging Means to Me… That I Feel Lonely More Often"? An Experimental Study on the Effects of Age Simulation Regarding Views on Aging.

Over the last decades, educational programs involving age simulation suits (ASS) emerged with the ambition to further the understanding of age-related loss experiences, enhance empathy and reduce negative attitudes toward older adults in healthcare settings and in younger age groups at large. However, the impact of such "instant aging" interventions on individuals' personal views on aging have not been studied yet. The aim of the current study is to address possible effects of ASS interventions on multiple outcomes related to views on aging, i.

Improving Sleep Among Teachers: an Implementation-Intention Intervention.

Background: Insufficient sleep is common among teachers and is associated with diverse health risks. This study aimed to predict intention and sleep duration by applying the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and to examine the effectiveness of an implementation-intention intervention to improve sleep duration and quality.

Method: Sixty-nine teachers (M = 36.

Predictors of Performance in Everyday Technology Tasks in Older Adults With and Without Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background And Objectives: The ability to use everyday technology has become a key competence for conducting activities of daily living, maintaining an autonomous life, as well as participating in society. However, studying this issue in older adults needs more attention, particularly among those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Research Design And Methods: We assessed the performance of N = 80 older adults (M = 73 years) in a range of tasks representing important life domains, i.

Older adults' performance in technology-based tasks: cognitive ability and beyond.

Considering both demographic and technological changes in society, the potential of technology to support older adults has recently attracted much attention. For physically frail individuals with cognitive impairment, user-friendly technologies may facilitate activities of daily living. The current study assessed the performance of older adults without cognitive impairment (n = 27) and with mild cognitive impairment (n = 26) using three types of technology.