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Measurement of human flourishing represents a salutogenic approach to epidemiological and behavioral research emphasizing factors contributing to "good lives" rather than pathology. The objective of this study was to translate and psychometrically test the 10‐item Flourish Index (FI) and 12‐item Secure Flourish Index (SFI) in a convenience sample of Danish adults. A total of 325 participants completed a cross‐sectional survey, with 148 of those participants completing the survey a second time (retest). Confirmatory factor analysis in a structural equation modelling framework was used to establish structural validity by comparing four different pre‐specified models of the indexes. Additionally, internal consistency, convergent and incremental validity, and retest reliability were examined. The FI models exhibited superior structural validity compared with similar models of the SFI, although all models had good fits. Internal consistencies with McDonald's omega were 0.89 and 0.87 for the FI and SFI, respectively. The five (FI) or six (SFI) domains were happiness & life satisfaction, mental & physical health, meaning & purpose, character & virtue, close social relationships, and financial & material stability (λ4 = 0.51–0.91). Convergent and incremental validity tests supported predefined hypotheses. Retest analyses with the FI and SFI showed a high degree of retest reliability. Based on the psychometric evidence reported in this study, the Danish Flourish Index and Secure Flourish Index seem suitable for use with healthy adult Danes. The authors hope that this psychometric evaluation of the FI and SFI will stimulate research on patterns, health and economic outcomes, and predictors of human flourishing in Denmark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectivesMethodResultsConclusionTo investigate the associations between sensory impairments and the development of depressive symptoms across sex, age, and European regions, and to examine the mediating role of cognitive function, activities of daily living (ADL), and physical activity.A cohort study including 56,847 Europeans aged 50+ participating in at least two waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Associations were analyzed using mixed effects logistic regression models considering several confounders.Overall, 17.8% developed depressive symptoms. Compared to participants with good vision and hearing, those with vision impairment (VI) (odds ratio (OR) = 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27–1.44), hearing impairment (HI) OR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.21–1.43, and dual sensory impairment (DSI, i.e. VI and HI) (OR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.75–2.13) had increased odds of depressive symptoms. The associations were consistent across sex and European regions but became stronger with advancing age among men. Dose-response relationships were found for all associations. Mediation analyses revealed that preventing cognitive decline, ADL limitations, and physical inactivity would eliminate 15.0%, 11.5%, and 21.4% of the total effect for VI, HI, and DSI, respectively.Our findings emphasize the importance of preventing sensory impairments to avoid depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the associations between several measures and categories of religiosity and cognitive function across sex and European regions. We conducted a longitudinal study including 17,756 Europeans aged 50 and older who participated in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe wave 1. Participants were followed for up to 15 years. Associations were analyzed using linear mixed effects models adjusted for several potential confounders. Religious service attendance was consistently associated with better cognitive function (coefficient: 1.04, 95% CI 0.71; 1.37) across sex and European regions. Praying was also associated with better cognitive function but only among men (coefficient: 0.55, 95% CI 0.15; 0.96). However, individuals who received religious education from their parents had poorer cognitive function (coefficient: −0.59, 95% CI −0.93; −0.25). The association persisted in women and among both sexes in Western Europe. Comparing different religious categories to the non-religious, participants who were religious in childhood showed an inverse association with cognitive function, while persistently religious men exhibited better cognitive function. Our findings indicate that religious service attendance and, to a certain extent, prayer is associated with better cognitive function. However, receiving religious education in childhood may be linked to lower cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine sex differences in quality of life (QoL) and depressive symptoms across age and European regions. We performed a large cross-sectional study based on 64,552 women and 53,647 men aged 50+ who participated in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) from 2004-2020. Linear and logistic regression models were used to examine associations with QoL (CASP-12) and depressive symptoms (EURO-D). Women reported slightly lower QoL (coefficient −0.78, 95% CI −0.92; −0.65) and more depressive symptoms (odds ratio (OR) 2.23, 95% CI 2.13; 2.34) than men. Sex differences in QoL increased with advancing age, whereas sex differences in depressive symptoms were stable across age groups. No overall sex difference in QoL was found in Northern Europe, but women had lower QoL than men in Western (coefficient −0.49, 95% CI −0.69; −0.29), Southern (coefficient −1.35, 95% CI −1.61; −1.09) and Eastern (coefficient −0.72, 95% CI −1.05; −0.39) Europe. However, sex differences varied within the specific CASP-12 items, with women having overall lower control and autonomy, but more self-realisation, than men. Women reported more depressive symptoms than men in all regions, with the largest overall sex difference in Southern Europe (OR 2.62, 95% CI 2.40; 2.86). A female disadvantage was found for most of the EURO-D items, with the largest sex differences for 'tearfulness', 'depression' and 'sleep'. Middle-aged and elderly European women report lower QoL and more depressive symptoms than European men, lending support for the male-female health survival paradox. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]