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Past research indicates that an individual’s affective reactivity to daily stressors is associated with elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers such as interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein. Here, we assessed individuals’ positive and negative affective reactivity to daily stressors, and their association with expression levels of genes in the conserved transcriptional response to adversity (CTRA; proinflammatory and type-1 interferon antiviral genes). We hypothesize that gene expression levels of CTRA genes are a possible explanatory mechanistic link between higher levels of affective reactivity and inflammatory markers. Our study included 199 individuals from the Midlife in the United States Refresher study (ages 26-71, 52.8% female, and 17.9% non-white) who participated in the Gene Expression and Daily Diary Projects. Individuals provided whole blood for gene expression analysis and completed an 8-day telephone interview to assess daily experiences. Positive and negative affective reactivity scores were used to indicate magnitude of an individual’s changes in daily affect on stressor-days versus non-stressor-days, and were computed using multilevel modeling. Three CTRA gene expression scores were created for each individual, representing the average expression of proinflammatory, type-1 interferon, and a combination of both. Preliminary findings suggest a negative association between the CTRA composite score and negative affective reactivity to daily stressors (β = -0.963, p = 0.034), controlling for covariates. Further analyses will use affective reactivity to predict individual CTRA genes, correcting for multiple testing. This study will be the first to examine the relationship between daily assessments of emotions and gene expression levels in a representative U.S. cohort.

Being an “aged” society, only recently in Korea have there been growing interests in well-dying and end-of-life planning. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the factors associated with the level of end-of-life planning among Korean older adults. For the analyses, 2017 National Survey of Older Koreans was utilized and the sample was 10,073 older adults aged 65 and above. The independent variables were age, gender, employment, education level, marital status, household income, religion, number of children, and life satisfaction. The dependent variable, the level of end-of-life planning, was measured as the sum of five items of the question asking whether they have prepared the following items in preparation for end-of-life: shroud (8.3% prepared), cemetery/charnel house (25.1% prepared), mutual aid society (13.7% subscribed), will (0.5% prepared), lectures in preparation for end-of-life (0.4% participated). The results from multiple regressions using STATA 15.0 indicated that the level of end-of-life planning was significantly associated with age (b=.02, p

The years around menopause are the time that associates not only with hormonal changes but with psychological and social transitions, and previous studies have consistently revealed the relationship between menopause and depression. The present study examined the moderating effect of perceived partner responsiveness (PPR) on the association between menopausal symptoms (MS) and depressed affect (DA). The sample was middle-aged climacteric women (N = 754, Age=49-60) from the second wave of Midlife in the United States (MIDUSⅡ). Measurement for MS consisted of the frequency of five symptoms in the past 30 days (insomnia, heavy sweating, painful intercourse, hot flashes, and irritability). PPR was assessed using three items matched the core components of responsiveness (understanding, validating, and caring). Results revealed that there were significant interactions between menopausal symptoms and PPR (b = 0.05, p < 0.039). Specifically, the level of elevation of DA in response to MS was smaller in women with higher levels of PPR (b = 2.93, p < 0.001) than in those with lower levels of PPR (b =3.05, p < 0.001). According to the region of significance analysis, the coefficients of MS on DA were significant within the -2SD to +2SD range of PPR, but it decreased as the PPR increased. Findings suggest that partners’ careful responsiveness may mitigate the detrimental effects of MS on DA among climacteric women.

The aim of this study was to identify distinct patterns of cognitive function trajectory among Korean older women in single households and to investigate their associated factors. We used data from the five waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA), a nationally representative longitudinal survey collected biennially from 2006 to 2014. The sample was 244 women aged 65 or above who had maintained the single household status for the five waves. Using Growth Mixture Modeling, distinct patterns of cognitive function trajectory were identified. Then, multinomial regression analysis was employed to examine the associations between identified trajectories and various factors (socio-demographic, health-related, psychological, and interpersonal factors at wave 1). Results showed that there were three distinct patterns of cognitive function trajectory: ‘maintaining-low’ (20.9%), ‘moderate-decreasing’ (33.6%), and ‘maintaining-high’ (45.5%). Specifically, compared to the ‘maintaining-low’ group, younger women were more likely to belong to the ‘moderate-decreasing’ group and the ‘maintaining-high’ group. Furthermore, those with higher household income, and who participated in more various types of social activities (e.g., participation in leisure/culture/sports clubs, volunteering work) were more likely to belong to the ‘maintaining-high’ group. Compared to the ‘moderate-decreasing’ group, those who were younger and participated in more various types of social activities were more likely to belong to the ‘maintaining-high’ group. Findings suggest that socioeconomic status and social engagements may be critical for cognitive function among older women in single households, and encouraging them to remain socially active may help prevent poorer cognitive outcomes.

The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between social exclusion and suicidal ideation among bereaved older people living alone. When people with a significant loss in the familial relationship are exposed to social exclusion, they likely experience poor mental health and suicidal ideation. Using the Korean Community Health Survey 2017, logistic regression model was applied to the bereaved older people living alone, 65 to 110 of age (N=14,659). Social exclusion was comprised of three network-based components: exclusion from relationships, social participation, and community. Relationship exclusion means the lack of contact with family, friends, and neighbors, respectively, at least once a week. Social participation exclusion refers to the lack of participation in a religious, socializing, and leisure activity, respectively, at least once a month. Community exclusion covers two indicators of trust in neighbors and perception of neighborhood reciprocity. Results showed that indicators of relationship, social participation, and community exclusion were associated with suicidal ideation. Bereaved, living-alone older people were likely to have suicidal ideation when they lack contact with neighbors (OR=1.13, p

Previous studies note daily emotional well-being and sleep duration as significant correlates of cardiovascular health including cardiometabolic syndrome. However, not much is known about the interactive effects of emotional well-being and sleep. Expanding upon current research, this study examined whether sleep deficiency, defined as having on average

This study aimed to examine how stressors and positive events are related to sleep duration in daily life and whether these associations differed by age. The second wave of National Study of Daily Experiences of Midlife in the United States study was used (N=1,851). Reports of daily events was coded as two categorical variables indicating experiences of concurrent and previous-day daily events: experiencing both stressors and positive events, only stressors, only positive events, and neither (reference). Results from multilevel analysis showed that experiencing an event, either a stressor or a positive event, was associated with shorter amount of sleep the same day compared to a non-event day. In particular, sleep duration was shorter when individuals experienced stressors compared to when they only reported positive events the same day. There were no age differences in these associations. Findings suggest that stressors exert a stronger influence on daily sleep than positive events.

The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of employment on depression and life satisfaction among old-aged. Using 12th (2017) wave and 13th (2018) wave of Korean Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS), three stages of analyses were conducted. First, through propensity score matching (PSM) method, sample with similar propensity scores was matched between the group that did not work in 12th wave but worked in 13th wave (experimental group, N=180), and the group that did not work in 12th and 13th wave (comparative group, N=180). Second, the matched sample was used to conduct multiple regression analysis with the group dummy variable (experimental group, comparative group) as an independent variable, and depression and life satisfaction as the dependent variables. Third, combined model of propensity score matching (PSM) and double difference (DD) method was conducted to more appropriately derive the net effect of employment. The results of multiple regression after propensity matching showed that employment had a positive effect on reducing depression (B= -1.70, p< .01) and increasing life satisfaction (B= .12, p< .01) in old-aged. Furthermore, in combined model of PSM and DD, life satisfaction was improved when employed compared to non-employed (B= .15, p< .05). The results of this study are meaningful in that the meaning of employment in old-aged is more clearly derived by solving selection bias and endogenous problems. Also, this study may provide reference for establishing welfare policies related to employment among old-aged.

Previous studies show that physical activity is beneficial for emotional well-being. This study extends prior research by examining whether engagement in physical activity moderates the association between daily stressor severity and daily emotional well-being. We used data from the second wave of the National Study of Daily Experiences, a sub-project of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Respondents (N = 1,851; ages 33 to84) reported their daily experiences across eight consecutive days. Multilevel models explored concurrent and lagged interaction effects between daily stressor severity and physical activity on negative and positive affect and whether these associations differed by age. Physical activity was measured by engagement in vigorous physical activity for at least 30 minutes. Results showed significant interactions between stressor severity and physical activity on same-day negative and positive affect. Specifically, stressor severity was associated with smaller elevation in daily negative affect on physically active days (b = 0.08, p < 0.001) compared to non-active days (b = 0.11, p < 0.001). Reductions in daily positive affect were greater on physically inactive days (b = -0.11, p < 0.001) compared to active days (b = -0.08, p < 0.001). These associations did not differ by age, but additional findings revealed that stressor severity was associated with greater elevation in negative affect among younger respondents (b = 0.12, p < 0.001) than older adults (b = 0.10, p < 0.001). These results highlight the importance of engagement in physical activity for emotional well-being under stressful situations in daily context.

The present study aims to examine whether duration of sleep moderates the relationship between daily stressor severity and headache severity and test age differences in these associations. We used the second wave of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study and its subproject, the National Study of Daily Experiences (N=1,590). Stress severity was measured based on the respondents’ perception of reported stressors, and headache severity was indicative of subjective rating of the symptom. Multilevel analysis results showed significant interaction effects between concurrent-day stressor severity and duration of sleep. Specifically, stressor severity was associated with more severe headache when people slept for shorter amount of time the same day. There were no differences by age in these associations. These results suggest that shorter-than-usual sleep may aggravate the intensity of headache on stressful days in daily life.

Although 89% of older Korean adults have at least one chronic disease, most self-management interventions are clinic-based, delivered through face-to-face education, and highly focused on disease information. This pilot study developed and tested a mHealth protocol to empower older adults to manage their chronic diseases at home.

In examining the dynamics between positive and negative experiences on health, previous studies suggest two possible pathways – the buffering hypothesis and blunting hypothesis. Buffering hypothesis suggests that positive experiences offset the harmful effects of negative experiences, while blunting hypothesis predicts that negative experiences will nullify the benefits of positive experiences. To test these hypotheses, this study examined interactions between daily positive events and daily stress severity on inflammation and whether the associations differ by age. Sample used were adults aged 34 to 82 (N = 597) from the Midlife in the United States Study Wave 2. Reports of respondents’ daily experiences of positive events and stress severity were used as predictors, and log-transformed interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were used as outcome variables. Results showed significant interaction between daily stress severity and daily positive events, with evidence supporting the blunting hypothesis. Specifically, daily positive events were associated with lower levels of IL-6 (b = -0.16, p < .01) and CRP (b = -0.27, p < .01) among adults with lower levels of stress severity, but not for those with high stress severity. Buffering hypothesis was not supported; that is, daily positive events did not attenuate the associations between daily stress severity and IL-6 or CRP. Age did not moderate the interaction between daily positive events and stress severity on inflammation. Findings suggest that with severely stressful experiences, the benefits of positive events on inflammation diminishes significantly among midlife and older adults.