Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Relationship Between Stress, Cortisol Reactivity And Memory Performance In Younger And Older Adults, Jessica L. Pruitt

Gerontology Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine age differences in cortisol reactivity and memory performance in younger and older adults exposed to cognitive stressors. The current study utilized data from the Anxiety, Memory, and Control study (ACME) conducted at Brandeis University. Stress was measured using a subjective assessment of anxiety and cortisol was measured using a saliva sample. Memory performance was measured using both declarative and working memory tasks. The final sample consisted of 28 younger adults (M = 19.8 years, SD = 1.5) and 29 older adults (M = 71.2 years, SD = 6.6). There were …

Men Feel It Too: An Examination Of Body Image And Disordered Eating Among Older Males, Amber S. Meadows

Gerontology Theses

This quantitative study examined body image and disordered eating in older males. Using a series of questionnaires and demographic questions, two research questions were explored: a) What are the characteristics of older males in terms of eating and body image? and b) Are disordered eating behaviors among older males related to dissatisfaction with body image, specifically physical appearance or physical functioning? Paired samples t-tests revealed that older males rated their ideal body figure as significantly smaller than their current figure, t(35) = -5.53, p < .01, which indicates the presence of body dissatisfaction. Twenty percent of participants were found to be at risk for disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. Furthermore, a correlation was found between disordered eating attitudes and body dissatisfaction particularly as it relates to physical appearance, (r(33) = -.486, p < .01).

Comparative Study Of The Effects Of Tai Chi And Strength Training On Osteoarthritis In Older Adults, Abhinandan Batra

Gerontology Theses

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disorder and one of the leading causes of disability in elderly. Tai Chi is seen to be effective in relieving symptoms of OA knee joint. The main aim of this study is to design a Tai Chi program and a strength training program for the elderly with knee OA and to compare the effects of these programs on the range of motion, gait, pain and balance. 20 participants age 55 and over were divided into two groups (Tai Chi and Strength training) based on predetermined criteria. Both the groups showed improvement in WOMAC scores, …

Intergenerational Solidarity And Its Effects On Life Satisfaction Among Chinese Elders, Qi Wang

Gerontology Theses

This study explores the association between intergenerational relationships and life satisfaction among urban elders in China, with a focus on the emotional dimension of intergenerational solidarity. Individual factors, effects of associational, affectual, functional and structural solidarity were examined by analyzing data collected from the Zhenjiang City Intergenerational Relationship Survey (ZJIRS) in 2007, Jiangsu province, China.

Study results revealed that elders’ marital status, educational background, pension, and self-rated health were closely related to the degree of intergenerational solidarity. A higher level of education, possession of a medical insurance, and better heath condition had a positive relationship with elders’ life satisfaction. Through …

Knowledge And Perceptions: Chinese Older Adults' Willingness To Use Institutional Elder Care, Zhiyu Chen

Gerontology Theses

This study explores explanations for Chinese elders’ willingness or lack of willingness to use institutional care. The data is drawn from a survey over intergenerational relationships and age models conducted in Zhenjiang, China, in 2007. Only the responses of interviewees aged 55 and above (310 males and 318 females) were used in this study. Using zero-order correlation and multi-nominal regression analyses, this study examined the factors associated with Chinese elders’ willingness to use institutional care. Study results reveal that Chinese elders’ confidence in availability of familial care was negatively related to their willingness to use institutional care; elders’ knowledge about …

"I Miss My Country, But My World Is With My Children": Examining The Family And Social Lives Of Older Indian Immigrants In The United States, Karuna Sharma

Gerontology Theses

Within the context of ongoing social and demographic transformation, including the trend towards globalization, changing patterns of longevity and increasing ethnic diversity, this thesis examines the lives older Asian-Indian immigrants in the United States. To date, much of what little research exists on this group of elders focuses on acculturation and related stress, but there is limited research on the daily life experiences of these older adults, particularly as they pertain to family life, the practice of filial piety, and informal support exchange within their households, as well as their social lives more generally. Informed by two theoretical approaches, Life …

Age Differences In Word Recall Predictions, Amanda Kathryn Trujillo

Gerontology Theses

This study examined factors related to word list performance predictions made by younger and older adults. A performance prediction is an estimate made prior to being exposed to the material that is studied for a specific task. The current study examined the age differences in a sample of 59 older adults (M = 76.83 years old, SD = 8.28) and 51 younger adults (M = 21.19 years old, SD = 3.22) on performance predictions for both an immediate and delayed word recall task. Memory self-efficacy and other self-rating measures were not found to influence immediate or delayed predictions. A repeated …

The Relationship Between Subjective Memory And Objective Cognition, Depression, And Anxiety By Dementia Status, Nia Malika Reed

Gerontology Theses

This secondary data analysis of the Health and Retirement Study – Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS) examines the relationship between subjective cognition and objective performance, depression, and anxiety in cognitive impairment with no dementia (CIND) and dementia. With a cross-sectional design, this study consists of 480 older adults between ages 72-105. Participants completed the Mini-Mental State Examination. The Wechsler Memory Scale- Revised Logical Memory I/II measured memory. Anxiety and depression were measured by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Subjective memory was measured by the HRS Self-report Memory and Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly. Independent t-tests and Pearson correlation …

Lonliness Of Older Adults In Rural China, Zhen Guo

Gerontology Theses

This study examined factors that influenced loneliness among rural elders in China. Data were collected from the latest wave of Living and Employment of Population Survey in 2005 (provided by Renmin University, China). The sample of this survey consisted of 284 rural elders in China. T‐tests was used to examine the influence of gender, marital status, health, financial support, and living arrangements differences in loneliness perception among Chinese rural elders. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to understand the influences of age and socio‐economic status on loneliness among the rural elders. This study provided insights for a better understanding of individual, …

Death And Dying In Assisted Living, Amanda M. White

Gerontology Theses

This study examined death and dying in assisted living (AL) and the various factors that influence these processes. The study is set in a 60-bed assisted living facility outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Data collection methods included participant observation and in-depth interviews with 28 residents and 6 staff. Data were analyzed using the grounded theory approach and focused on the 18 residents who were dying and/or died during the study period. Findings show that AL residents experience a variety of dying trajectories that vary in duration and shape; for the majority of residents, hospice is an important element in their death …

Administrators In Assisted Living: Who They Are And What They Do, Ailie M. Glover

Gerontology Theses

The assisted living industry is predicted to experience considerable growth due to the simultaneous aging of the baby boom generation and their subsequent need for long-term care. This study investigates individuals’ pathways to administration in assisted living and the ways in which assisted living administrators define and carry out their roles. The study contributes to the understanding of the knowledge, skills, and personal traits needed by those who assume these vital leadership roles in an industry poised to care for the bourgeoning population of older adults. The sample for this study is 44 administrators who work in a random sample …

Age Differences In Substance Use And Social Support Among Recently Incarcerated Adult Females, Tiffany Lenell Young

Gerontology Theses

While men retain the highest rates of incarcerations, the female prison population has tripled in the last decade (Covington, 2007; Henderson, 1998). The goal of this study was to examine micro-level forces, such as social support, substance use, and childhood trauma, in a sample of 188 recently incarcerated women, aged 18-58. Using an ANOVA with ages grouped 18-29, 30-39, and 40-58, age differences in substance use were identified, with the 30-39 year old group reporting more alcohol and drug use than the 18-29 year old group. There were no age differences on social support or childhood trauma. Multiple regression analyses …

Client And Caregiver Perceptions Of Adult Day Services: A Program Evaluation, Dianne Maureen O'Donnell

Gerontology Theses

The MJCCA Weinstein Center for Adult Days Services provides social activities and medical services to older adults, including individuals with memory loss. Center administrators requested a program evaluation to explore attraction and retention of clients, beneficial effects of Center activities, and the current case management program. Regular members of the Center’s Traditional Group (n=14) and family caregivers of Memory Loss program attendees (n=10) participated in open-ended interviews in focus groups. Content analysis revealed that clients consider Center activities, staff, and social environment superior to the few other day care alternatives. The activities benefit clients primarily physically and emotionally. Potential areas …

Linking Social Support And Sexual Interest Among Older Adults In Intimate Romantic Relationships, Jennifer Leigh Griffith

Gerontology Theses

This study examines social support and sexual interest among coupled persons aged 57 to 85 in North America. Using quantitative data from the 2006 National, Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (n = 3,005), the dependent variable is sexual interest and the independent variable is social support received from an intimate partner. Using survey and quantitative interview data, I analyze social support older couples receive from their partner, sexual interest, health status, marital status, and gender. In my analysis, I predict that higher levels of social support will positively affect levels of sexual interest, with health, relationship status, and gender …

African American Longevity Advantage: Myth Or Reality? A Racial Comparison Of Supercentenarian Data, Robert Douglas Young

Gerontology Theses

Demographic researchers have identified a crossover pattern between the mortality rates of the Caucasian-American and African-American oldest-old (80+) populations for over a century. Debate has centered on whether the crossover effect is due to age misreporting or the heterogeneity hypothesis or if it continues beyond age 99. This thesis addresses these issues by using new data from the SSA’s study of supercentenarians. The study identified 355 persons aged 110 or older whose ages could be verified, creating the first reliable American dataset for this population group. Analysis of the data has indicated that mortality rates at ages 110-115 were significantly …

The Exercise Attitudes, Perceptions, And Perceived Outcomes Of Older Minority Women Participating In A Fall Prevention Program, Porsha Hall

Gerontology Theses

Fall prevention is a serious issue in the health and aging fields, and much attention and research is now being focused on examining why older adults fall and ways to prevent them from falling. Although it has been well-documented that older adults benefit from programs designed to decrease falling by promoting exercise participation, balance training, and fall education; little research has focused on specifically examining how older minority women view preventive exercise programs. This qualitative study explores the experiences of older minority women participating in a fall prevention program. The specific aims of the study are to: 1) gain an …

Factors Contributing To Job Retention Of Direct Care Staff In Urban Assisted Living Facilities, Zhiqing Li

Gerontology Theses

This study examined the influence of personal and workplace factors on direct care workers¡¯ retention in Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs). The sample includes 11 ALFs in urban areas in Atlanta, Georgia and 13 participants from the sample facilities. The findings show that personal and workplace factors interact with each other to influence retention in the long-term care field and retention in a particular facility. The findings of this study may have implications for facility policy and practice to retain workers.

Job Satisfaction Among Case Managers For Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Ying Tang

Gerontology Theses

The significant role of case managers in improving the health status of clients and in achieving cost-containment has been increasingly recognized. However, very few studies have touched on the emerging group of case managers who work exclusively with frail older adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of overall job satisfaction and some of its determinants among case managers of the Visiting Nurse Health System, Atlanta, Georgia, working primarily with older adults in two community-based programs. The objectives were to learn: (1) the level of overall job satisfaction among these case managers; (2) how these case …

Adding Life To Years: Predicting Subjective Quality Of Life Among Chinese Oldest-Old, Huali Qin

Gerontology Theses

This study is proposed to examine the relationship between individual and socio-economic factors and subjective quality of life (SQOL) among the Chinese oldest-old. Data was collected from the latest wave of Chinese healthy longevity survey in 2002. The sample of this survey consisted of 11,175 oldest-old who were aged 80 and above at the time of the survey. Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to examine age, gender, and living arrangements differences in SQOL among Chinese oldest-old. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to understand the influences of individual and socio-economic factors as four groups of predictor variables in …

Older Adults' Satisfaction With Physical Therapists' Communication And Physical Therapy Treatment, Neela M. Lakatoo

Gerontology Theses

Little research documents the impact of communication on the relationship between the physical therapist and the older patient. As key health professionals, physical therapists need to know the degree to which a therapeutic relationship is occurring with the older adults they treat, and what aspects of the communication process can be improved to effectively meet the needs of this unique patient population. This exploratory study examines the relationships between older adults’ perceptions of physical therapists’ patient-centered communication (PCC), and their satisfaction with communication and physical therapy treatment (SPT). The sample consisted of 40 participants from 4 different physical therapy sites, …

Senior Multipurpose Facilities And Quality Of Life Among African American Older Adults: A Case Study, Davette A. Taylor-Harris

Gerontology Theses

Little is known about the impact of senior multipurpose facilities on the quality of life of African American elders. This thesis examined the context of African American elders’ participation in these facilities. Qualitative methods were used. Fifteen in-depth participant interviews, one facility program coordinator interview and eighteen weeks of participant observation were completed. The principles of grounded-theory method were used during data analysis. Findings reveal that racial experiences played an important role in participants’ sense of community. Female and male participants engaged in different types of activities. While some participants reported physical improvements, all participants recounted social and emotional benefits …