Geriatric Nursing Commons^™

Social Activity Restriction And Psychological Health Among Caregivers Of Older Adults With And Without Dementia, Elliane Irani, Kylie Meyer, Scott Emory Moore, Kedong Ding

Faculty Scholarship

Objectives: We examined associations between social activity restriction and psychological distress and well-being for caregivers of older adults with and without dementia, and if the identified associations are different for the two groups. Methods: Using data from the 2017 National Study of Caregiving, we identified caregivers of older adults with (N = 541) and without (N = 1701) dementia. Linear regression models were estimated, adjusting for caregivers’ age, gender, race, education, relationship to care recipient, and self-rated health. Results: Restriction in visiting friends and family and attending religious services were associated with higher distress in dementia caregivers. Restriction in visiting …

Resilience As A Moderator Of Role Overload And Sleep Disturbance Among Caregivers Of Persons With Dementia, Elliane Irani, Fei Wang, Stephanie Griggs, Ronald L. Hickman

Faculty Scholarship

The purpose of this study was to examine if resilience moderates the association between role overload and sleep disturbance among caregivers of persons with dementia. This was a secondary analysis of data on 437 informal caregivers (mean age=61.77 years, SD=13.69) of persons with dementia in the United States. Data from the 2017 wave of the National Study of Caregiving were analyzed using multiple regression with interaction terms to evaluate the moderation effect of resilience, while controlling for caregivers’ age, race, gender, education, self-rated health, caregiving hours, and primary caregiving status. Higher role overload was associated with greater sleep disturbance and …

The Mediating Effect Of Caregiving Relationship Quality On The Association Between Caregiving Stressors And Mental Health Problems Among Older Spousal Caregivers, Fei Wang, Elliane Irani

Faculty Scholarship

Providing care to a spouse can be especially challenging for older adults given their compounding stressors resulting from aging and caregiving. This cross-sectional study examines the relationships between caregiving stressors and caregiver mental health problems and the potential mediator (i.e., caregiving relationship quality) of these associations. A total of 431 Americans (≥65 years) were selected from the National Study of Caregiving. Path analysis shows that care assistance was positively associated with caregiver mental health problems, and this association was mediated by negative relationship quality (Indirect effect =.14, p =.016). Moreover, role overload was positively associated with caregiver mental health problems, …

Assessing The Psychoeducational Approach To Transcendence And Health (Path) Program : An Intervention To Foster Self-Transcendence And Well-Being In Community-Dwelling Older Adults., Valerie Lander Mccarthy, Sharon Bowland, Lynne A. Hall, Jennifer Connelly

Faculty Scholarship

The late-life developmental process of self-transcendence shapes elders’ perspectives on self, others, the nature of this world, and of a dimension beyond the here and now. This qualitative pilot study evaluated the Psychoeducational Approach to Transcendence and Health (PATH) Program, a psychoeducational intervention to promote self-transcendence and well-being in community-dwelling women at a senior center. The intervention involved eight weekly group sessions using group processes, mindfulness practices, creative experiences, and independent at-home practice. The findings supported the underlying theory-based structure and content of the intervention and indicated the intervention may empower elders to attend to self-care, develop acceptance, and learn …

Promoting Self-Transcendence And Well-Being In Community-Dwelling Older Adults : A Pilot Study Of A Psychoeducational Intervention., Valerie Lander Mccarthy, Jiying Ling, Sharon Bowland, Lynne A. Hall, Jennifer Connelly

Faculty Scholarship

Self-transcendence changes how older adults perceive themselves, their relationships with others, the material world, and the metaphysical or spiritual dimension. It is associated with multiple indicators of well-being. The purpose of this pilot study (N = 20) was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a psychoeducational intervention to increase self-transcendence and well-being of older adults. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations. All variables trended in the directions hypothesized. Self-transcendence increased in the intervention group and decreased in the control group but not significantly. The group × time interaction for life satisfaction was significant (z = 2.89, …

The Role Of Transcendence In A Holistic View Of Successful Aging : A Concept Analysis And Model Of Transcendence In Maturation And Aging., Valerie Lander Mccarthy, Amanda Bockweg

Faculty Scholarship

BACKGROUND: Although successful aging is most often defined by the absence of disease and disability, older adults consistently report aging successfully even in the presence of chronic illness and functional limitations. A more holistic way of looking at old age suggests transcendence may be an important missing criterion for successful aging.

AIM: Transcendence, a late life developmental process, appears to have a profound effect within the spiritual domain, but is an abstract, complex and unfamiliar concept. A clear understanding of the meaning of transcendence is necessary to explore the concept’s usefulness as a potential basis for future interventions to increase …

Multisite Recruitment And Data Collection Among Older Adults : Exploring Methods To Conserve Human And Financial Resources., Valerie Lander Mccarthy, Karen Cassidy

Faculty Scholarship

The purpose of this article is to describe strategies that were effective in recruitment and data collection among older adults in 3 quantitative studies while decreasing costs in terms of time and money. Factors effective in reducing use of investigators' time and expenses included limiting exclusion of data because of abnormal Mini-Cog scores by careful initial screening and avoiding repeated reminders or follow-up, collecting data in small groups, collapsing consent, dementia screening, and data collection into single sessions, as well as accommodating for sensory and literacy deficits. The cross-sectional, descriptive studies were conducted among community-dwelling older adults attending senior citizen …

A New Look At Successful Aging : Exploring A Mid-Range Nursing Theory Among Older Adults In A Low-Income Retirement Community., Valerie Lander Mccarthy

Faculty Scholarship

The current view of successful aging excludes elders with disease or disability, limits the potential for success among disadvantaged populations, and fails to consider older adults’ own criteria for success, especially in the existential or spiritual domain. This cross-sectional study was a preliminary investigation of a mid-range nursing theory (Flood, 2005) of successful aging. A random, stratified sample (N= 112) was used. Questionnaires were administered to small groups of non-demented older adults. Relationships among study variables were examined using hierarchical multiple regression. Adaptation and transcendence explained 45.4% of the variance in successful aging, independent of age, income, function, and health. …