Meditation, Compassionate Love, and Mental Health in Later Life.

Purpose: Understanding of the mechanisms by which meditation imparts beneficial effects on later-life mental health is limited. The current study assessed the role of compassionate love in mediating the relationship between meditation and mental health in later life.

Method: Using data from a nationwide web-based survey ( = 1,861), we examined the indirect effects of meditation on depressive symptoms and anxiety via compassionate love.

Prayer and Mental Health in Later Life: The Role of Positive Emotions.

Prayer is used as a coping resource to mitigate the adverse influences of stressful life situations on mental health. However, the mechanisms underlying its impact on mental health in later life still need to be better understood. In particular, scant research attention has been paid to the significance of prayer in enhancing positive emotions (e.

The Primacy of Compassionate Love: Loneliness and Psychological Well-Being in Later Life.

Despite emerging research on compassionate love's positive influence on later-life psychological well-being, investigations on the mediating processes accountable for such effects are scarce. Using data from a nationwide web-based survey ( = 1,861), we performed a mediation analysis to assess the role of loneliness in explaining the impact of compassionate love on psychological well-being. Even after controlling for emotional support, our model estimates suggest that older adults who felt loved had significantly lower levels of loneliness (β = -0.

Psychological Factors Associated With Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior in Parkinson's Disease: The Role of Depression, Anxiety, and Catastrophizing.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between psychological factors (depression, anxiety, and catastrophizing) and fear of falling avoidance behavior (FFAB) among individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from 59 individuals with PD using hierarchical multiple regression.

Results: Disease severity (Movement Disorder Society - Unified PD Rating Scale) and catastrophizing (Consequences of Falling Questionnaire (CoF)) explained approximately 48.

Coping With Uncertainty: Use of Contemplative Practices Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States.

Scant research has attempted to understand the use and frequency of contemplative practices across social groups of older adults in the context of uniquely uncertain and stressful circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from a nationwide web-based survey (n = 1861), we examined the change in the frequency of contemplative practices and variation across sociodemographic, health, and psychological status and we documented a significant increase in the use of prayer and meditation since the beginning of the pandemic. Minority groups and those with lower income reported praying longer than their counterparts.

The intersection of race and financial strain: The pain of social disconnection among women in the United States.

Considerable attention has been directed at increased social isolation and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on later-life psychological well-being. There is a dearth of research on the effect of financial strain and associated psychosocial mechanisms on loneliness among women across racial groups. It is unclear how racial status and financial strain intersect to impact later-life loneliness amid immense uncertainty, social isolation, and anxiety induced by the pandemic.

Altruistic Attitudes Among Older Adults: Examining Construct Validity and Measurement Invariance of a New Scale.

Background And Objectives: Scholarly research has established the role of altruism in facilitating human cooperation and prosocial behaviors and highlighted its contribution to psychological well-being. Given the health significance of altruistic attitudes and orientations, we developed a valid and reliable measure of this construct that is suitable for use with older adults.

Research Design And Methods: Based on data from a long-term panel study on adaptation to frailty among older adults ( = 366; mean age = 86 years), we used confirmatory factor analysis to perform construct validation of a five-item Elderly Care Research Center Altruism Scale among older adults (e.

Implementation and outcomes of complementary therapies in hospice care: an integrative review.

Complementary therapies are increasingly integrated into hospice care, emphasizing the need to examine the evidence regarding implementation and effects on end-of-life outcomes. This review synthesizes the evidence regarding the implementation of complementary therapies and effects on end-of-life outcomes in hospice care. Whittemore and Knafl's five-step integrative review process was applied.

"A World Upside Down": Experiences of Informal Caregivers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The caregiving process may result in negative outcomes for caregivers. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has contributed additional challenges for family caregivers of older adults with chronic illnesses. Little is known about the additional impact of the pandemic on caregivers.

Development and Testing of a Spiritual Resourcefulness Scale: Holistic Expansion in Operationalizing the Resourcefulness Construct.

Research supports holistic expansion of the construct of resourcefulness by adding spiritual practices to the existing personal and social dimensions. This study describes the development and testing of items to measure spiritual resourcefulness. Study phases were: (1) focus group development of item stems and responses; (2) expert testing; (3) scale construction; (4) field testing in 234 family caregivers; and (5) psychometric analysis to identify items for inclusion in a final scale.

Nurse spiritual self-care: A scoping review.

Background: The health care research on spirituality has focused on patients. Less is known about the spiritual self-care of nurses who work with these patients in all types of challenging environments. Nurse spiritual self-care may be helpful in reducing workplace stress and burnout.

Risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease among adult Nevadans.

Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the number one cause of death in the US and Nevada is ranked 11th highest for CVD mortality. The study sought to examine the association between self-reported risk factors and CVD presence among adult Nevadans, between years 2011 and 2017.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional, population-based study that utilized the 2011 and 2017 Nevada Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data.

Loving Others: The Impact of Compassionate Love on Later-Life Psychological Well-being.

Objectives: Existing scholarship in social gerontology has paid relatively little attention to broader loving emotions, such as compassionate and altruistic love, as potentially meaningful mechanisms for improving later-life psychological well-being outside a family framework.

Method: Drawing from a 3-wave longitudinal survey of community-dwelling older residents (n = 334) of Miami, Florida, we utilized generalized estimating equation models to examine the influence of changes in compassionate love (i.e.

Differences among Caregivers on Coping Resources and Mental Health.

Given the growing number of family members who provide care to adults with a disability or illness, this study examined differences in coping resources and mental health among family caregivers of persons with various health conditions. Within the context of Ensel and Lin's stress paradigm, 234 family caregivers participated in an online study by completing validated measures of resourcefulness, spiritual practices, caregiver burden, anxiety, and depression. Caregivers were categorized into nine groups according to their care recipient's condition.

Caregivers of Persons with Diverse Health Conditions: Demographics and Burden of Care.

Although caregiver identity theory asserts there is no single generic caregiver identity, comparisons on demographic characteristics and burden of care have not been made among caregivers of persons with various health conditions. Using social media to access study participants, this cross-sectional study of 234 family caregivers of persons with various health conditions examined their demographic characteristics (age, gender, and race/ethnicity) and burden of care (daily care hours and caregiving years) using online data collection. Nine groups of caregivers were formed by the care recipient's health condition.

Episodic Memory in Later Life: Benefits of Prayer and Meditation.

To examine the effects of prayer and meditation on the episodic memory of older adults. Secondary analysis of Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Drawing from a subsample of HRS ( = 1,135), this study utilized generalized estimating equation regression models to examine the effects of meditation and prayer on changes in episodic memory of older adults over time.

Undergraduate nursing students' knowledge of aging, attitudes toward and perceptions of working with older adults in Kathmandu Nepal.

Objectives: This study aims to examine Nepalese undergraduate nursing students' knowledge of aging, attitudes towards older adults and perceptions of working with older adults, and to assess differences in these outcomes by socio-demographic characteristics as well as type of nursing program.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 385 undergraduate nursing students in six nursing colleges located in the Kathmandu Valley. Knowledge of aging, attitudes toward older adults and perceptions of working with older adults were assessed using standardized tools, the Palmore Facts on Aging Quiz, Kogan's Attitudes towards Older People Scale, and Nolan's Intent to Work with Older People Questionnaire, respectively.

Racial differences in future care planning in late life.

Although many older adults fear frailty and loss of independence in late life, relatively few make plans for their future care. Such planning is particularly limited among racial minorities. Given the benefits of future care planning (FCP), it is important to understand factors that facilitate or hamper FCP in late life.

Caregiver Reactions to Dementia Symptoms: Effects on Coping Repertoire and Mental Health.

Currently, 15 million informal caregivers, most of whom are women, provide care for older adults with dementia (Alzheimer's Disease Association, 2016). Caregiving for these individuals often creates distress and may adversely affect female caregivers' psychosocial and spiritual well-being. Approximately 35% of dementia caregivers complain of health deterioration after initiating caregiving responsibilities as compared to 19% of caregivers of older adults who do not have dementia (Alzheimer's Disease Association, 2016).

Early Origins of Later Life Psychological Well-Being? A Novel Application of Causal Mediation Analysis to Life Course Research.

Objectives: This study employs a novel approach to mediation analysis to clarify the influence of interrelated indicators of life course socioeconomic status (SES) on later life psychological well-being in India. Contrary to traditional approaches (i.e.

Resourcefulness Training for Dementia Caregivers: Establishing Fidelity.

Providing care for an elder with dementia can produce extreme stress that adversely affects caregiver health. Learning to be resourceful, which involves practicing resourcefulness skills using a journal or voice recorder, may reduce caregiver stress. However, before testing the effectiveness of journaling and voice recording as resourcefulness training (RT) practice methods, intervention fidelity should first be established.

Resourcefulness Training for Women Dementia Caregivers: Acceptability and Feasibility of Two Methods.

Almost 10 million women in the United States are caregivers for elders with dementia and many experience extreme stress that compromises their health. Acceptable and feasible interventions to teach them resourcefulness skills for managing stress may improve their health and facilitate continued caregiving. This study examined two commonly used methods for practicing skills taught during resourcefulness training (RT) to women caregivers of elders with dementia (n=63): journaling and digital voice recording.

Need for Resourcefulness Training for Women Caregivers of Elders with Dementia.

Nearly ten million American women are caregivers of elders with dementia and may experience overwhelming stress that adversely affects their mental health. Interventions to teach them resourcefulness skills for managing stress can promote optimal mental health and facilitate continued caregiving. However, effectiveness of resourcefulness training (RT) cannot be examined until its need is established.

Group visits for chronic illness management: implementation challenges and recommendations.

The group visit approach to improve chronic illness self-management appears promising in terms of selected outcomes, but little information is available about best ways to organize and implement group visits. This literature review of 84 articles identified group visit implementation challenges, including lack of a group visit billing code, inadequate administrative support and resources, difficult participant recruitment and retention, and logistical issues such as space and scheduling. Recommendations for future implementation initiatives were also abstracted from the literature.

Using mobile phones and short message service to deliver self-management interventions for chronic conditions: a meta-review.

Background: The worldwide burden of chronic disease is widespread and growing. This shift from acute to chronic care requires rethinking how resources are invested in managing these conditions. One response has been to create programs and interventions that have the goal of helping patients better manage their own conditions.