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Older adults were at particular risk for loneliness during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this instance, the use of computers for communication (i.e. computer-mediated communication, CMC) may help to enhance older people's social interactions and relationships. In the present study, 113 community-dwelling users of CMC, aged 65 years and over, were surveyed in order to better understand the effects of CMC in addition to the individual characteristics contributing to patterns of online communication. An opportunity to examine the impact of the pandemic on CMC behaviours presented approximately 12 months after the initial study with 70 participants resurveyed. High levels of social functioning, in addition to good physical and psychological health, were reported by this group of digitally active users. A positive association between high CMC use and social functioning was noted, even after controlling for differences in personality, frequency of face-to-face communication, health, gender, and relationship status. Interestingly, the pandemic saw a reduction in weekly CMC use, although CMC-based behaviours remained unchanged. The present findings highlight the important role that technology has in facilitating and maintaining supports and, potentially, reducing social isolation by helping older adults stay in touch with family and friends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Male Depression Risk Scale (MDRS-22) is a self-report scale that assesses externalising and male-typical depression symptoms with promising psychometric properties reported in young-to-middle aged men. However, studies are yet to consider the psychometric properties of the MDRS-22 in older men. This study examined the psychometric properties of the MDRS-22 in both younger and older males and its relationship to prototypic depression symptoms and self-reported depression history. A community sample of younger (n = 510; 18–64 years) and older (n = 439; 65–93 years) males completed the original 82 MDRS items from which the MDRS-22 was derived, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and provided information regarding previous depression diagnoses. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine factor structure. Generalised linear models examined the relationship between externalised and male-typical symptoms with prototypic depression symptoms in younger and older men. Model fit indices demonstrated that the MDRS-22 performs well in older males. Results also revealed that the MDRS-22 is associated with prototypic depression symptoms and a previous depression diagnosis in both age groups. Results support the psychometric validity of the MDRS-22 as a measure of externalising and male-typical depression symptoms in older men. Use of scales such as the MDRS-22 may help to improve the detection of depression in men across the lifespan and may also identify factors that put men at risk of poor physical and mental health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Investigate parents' recollections of resilience hindering experiences in the first year of parenthood. Background: The transition to parenthood is a significant period of change in the lifespan. Understanding the factors which undermine resilience during this process will help illuminate resilience theory and provision of perinatal support. Methods: We conducted a thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 10 parents (including four fathers) and examined factors hindering resilience as a global theme within a broader thematic network. Results: We identified two organising themes; context which related to external experiences and relationships and appraisals which related to parents' internal attributions and experiences. We refined these organising themes into 24 specific resilience hindering factors including ambivalence about parenthood, fear of judgement, compromised self-care and relationship change. We also collated parents' suggested changes to structural supports such as providing a comprehensive overview of services available to new parents, having credible resources online, engaging fathers directly in perinatal care and a greater focus on postnatal support such as prioritising continuity of care and making longer hospital stays available. Conclusion: Our work illuminates parents' own thoughts about factors hindering resilience in the transition to parenthood and provides direct recommendations from consumers about improvements to provision of support throughout this critical period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Investigate parents' recollections of resilience enhancing experiences in the first year of parenthood. Background: Resilience is a concept of emerging interest in transition to parenthood research. Little is known about parents' descriptions and experiences of resilience in the first year of parenthood and existing research is based on data about mothers only. Methods: We conducted a thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 10 parents (including four fathers) and created a thematic network of factors which participants described as enhancing their resilience in the first year of parenthood. Results: The thematic network comprised a number of subthemes (such as personal skills and support structures), and 39 specific resilience enhancing factors. These included personal skills such as acceptance, compassion, assertiveness and help-seeking; sources of support with the most preferred source for parents their partner, followed by mothers, peers, and midwifery; and important engagement characteristics displayed by support providers including attunement to the parent's needs and good communication skills. Conclusion: Our work contributes to an important gap in the literature and identifies factors for future research to explore and develop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Investigate the use of resilience theories in the transition to parenthood literature. Background: The transition to parenthood is a key developmental experience for many adults. Resilience is a unifying theoretical concept which incorporates many of the skills and resources linked with the transition to parenthood, but the uptake of resilience theory in this literature is unknown. Methods: We used a scoping review to examine the use of resilience theory in published transition to parenthood research. This included a systematic search of the literature, descriptive analysis of theories and methods used and an assessment of theoretical integration. Results: We identified 17 studies which met inclusion criteria. Explicit use of theory occurred in six studies and quality of theoretical integration was high for all of these. Resilience was seen as a desirable concept for mapping complex data, taking a holistic approach to psychological health and acknowledging environmental and systemic influences. We also identified 29 resilience supporting factors including positive self-concept, optimism, social support, family relationships, community services and social connectedness. Conclusion: Resilience is a useful concept for synthesising information about the transition to parenthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To quantitatively review the literature comparing depressed mood, anxiety and psychological distress in caregivers (CGs) of older adults with Alzheimer's disease (AD) with non-caregivers (NCGs) Methods: Eighteen independent studies comparing AD CGs (N = 2378) with NCGs (N = 70,035) were evaluated in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Standardised mean differences (Hedges' g) with associated 95% confidence intervals and p-values were calculated using a random-effects model. Results: Studies generally conformed to STROBE criteria in terms of their methodological and procedural detail, although data management issues that may contribute to methodological bias were identified. Pooled effect estimates revealed medium to large group differences in depression (gw = 1.01 [CI: 0.73, 1.29] p < 0.01) and anxiety (gw = 0.64 [CI: 0.39, 0.89] p < 0.01): AD caregivers reported higher symptom severity. Gender was a significant moderator: female caregivers experienced poor self-reported mood (gw = 1.58 [CI: 1.11, 2.05], p < 0.01), although this analysis was limited in power given the small number of contributing studies. Discussion: Caregivers of patients with AD experience poor mental health in comparison to the general population, with female caregivers being disproportionately affected. Further exploration of the psychosocial variables that contribute to these group differences is needed to inform effective support services and, in turn, help caregivers manage the emotional demands of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the experience of women parenting toddlers and babies older than 6 months after taking part in a therapeutic support group for postnatal depression ( PND). Method Thematic analysis was conducted following individual semi-structured interviews conducted in 2014 with eight women whose children were aged between 6.5 months and 2.5 years. Results Three overarching themes and six subthemes reflecting how PND can affect parenting experiences beyond the immediate postpartum period were identified: (1) parental self-perception; both positive: strength gained and unbroken bonds, and negative: high expectations, comparison to others and concerns about judgement; (2) parenting behaviour including difficulties regaining and managing control, and anger attributed to PND directed at siblings; and, (3) mixed feelings around partner support. Conclusion PND can impact parenting of children into toddlerhood, including parenting of an older sibling even when PND was not experienced at their birth. The importance of support in enhancing parenting skills following PND was highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case-study approach was used to determine the effectiveness of transitioning the spaced retrieval (SR) intervention to aged care facility staff to maintain resident goals achieved, with a further exploratory goal to investigate the effectiveness of training two functional goals simultaneously. Frequency, severity, distress, and disturbance caused by targeted problem behaviors were recorded at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-week follow-up for six clients with dementia in an aged care facility. Reductions in each area were found for four participants, including where two goals were trained simultaneously. Staff believed that barriers to maintenance of SR interventions would be staff time pressure, staff turnover, and staff forgetting to use the SR intervention. Despite this, the research shows that SR can be used successfully in aged care facilities to train single- and dual-functional goals and can be transitioned to staff, thereby reducing problem behavior associated with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations International Year of Older Persons (IYOP) in 1999 prompted the Australian Psychological Society (APS) to review its responsibilities and to consider the contribution of psychological research and practice to the wellbeing of older Australians. This article reports a series of recommendations for public policy, research, training and psychological practice, drawn from a larger Position Paper that addressed a spectrum of issues. The aim is to encourage psychologists to turn a critical gaze on themselves and to examine ways in which psychology can be used to promote successful ageing. The article begins with a definition of "successful ageing". This is followed by an examination of ageism and how this affects community expectations of older people and the quality of aged care services. Attention also is given to the low visibility of psychologists in service planning and delivery and to the overemphasis of much psychological research and practice on deficits and decline in later years. The International Year of Older Persons has come and gone, but the true test of its effectiveness will lie in evidence of longer-term changes in attitudes, policies and practices. Psychologists have much to contribute to these changes and to enhancing the wellbeing of older Australians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]