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Objectives: The present study evaluated the reciprocal temporal associations between one's subjective age (or felt age) and one's social relations in the adult day care center (ADCC) over two waves of data collection, spread about 1 year apart. Method: Participants from four ADCCs in Israel were approached in 2017 and repeatedly, in 2018 (N = 224 in Wave 1 and N = 259 in Wave 2). The ADCC social network included both outgoing ties of familiar relationships with other ADCC members as reported by the respondent (out-degree centrality) and ingoing ties, based on reports of other ADCC members who were familiar with the respondent (in-degree centrality). Results: Out-degree and in-degree centrality at baseline were not associated with change in subjective age. Subjective age at the first time point was not associated with change in out-degree centrality, but it was negatively associated with change in in-degree centrality. Even after controlling for sociodemographic and health variables, adults who felt younger were subsequently cited by more ADCC members. Conclusions: The findings stress the importance of subjective age to one's relationship in the ADCC. It is suggested that a younger subjective age is a desired quality in the ADCC.

Objectives: The present study examines how different lifelong employment patterns are related to social relationships in old age, and whether there are gender differences in the impact of lifelong employment patterns. Designs and participants: The study was based on data collected among European adults as part of the Health, Aging and Retirement Survey in Europe (SHARE) and focuses on retired adults. Measurements: The study combines data on social relationships, collected in 2015, with retrospective data on employment history (number of jobs and years of employment) collected in 2017. Results: The findings show that adults who worked in more jobs had overall better structural characteristics of their later life networks – they had larger social networks and were more likely to include children and friends within those networks but less likely to include their spouse. On the other hand, working in more jobs was related to less emotional closeness with the network. These results varied between men and women; women who were involved in the labor market over their life had larger social networks and tended to include friends as confidants. Among men, working for more years was related to higher emotional closeness with the social network. Conclusions: The study may indicate a gendered pattern of social advantages and disadvantages to involvement in the labor market over the work course. Practitioners should consider the lifelong employment of adults to identify those who might be at risk of social isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between social isolation, loneliness, and tooth loss and cognition in older people is poorly understood. We examine how social isolation and cognitive performance are associated prospectively among older adults, as well as how tooth loss and loneliness are related to this association. Using data from 26,168 participants aged ≥50 from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we explored the association between social isolation, loneliness, tooth loss and cognition. We used bootstrapping with resampling strategies for testing a moderated mediating model. Higher social isolation was associated with poorer cognitive performance (B = −0.20, 95% CI = −0.03, −0.01; R2 =0.60), an association mediated by the respondent's number of missing teeth (B = −0.001, 95% CI = −0.002, −0.001). Higher levels of social isolation were associated with a greater number of missing teeth, and a higher number of missing teeth was linked with poorer cognition. We also found that loneliness moderated the relationship between social isolation and both the number of missing teeth (B = −0.11, p = 0.047) and cognitive performance. In later life, social isolation and loneliness are associated with shoddy oral health and poor cognitive status. Clinicians and policymakers should be aware of both the association between social isolation and feelings of loneliness on dentition and oral health and their relationship to the cognitive status of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated a digital intervention program with aging Holocaust survivors. Participants received a tablet device and were coupled with a volunteer who assisted them to use the tablet. The study aimed to assess which characteristics of the Holocaust survivors are linked with more frequent use of digital communication at the end of the program. Information was collected by telephone interviews with 91 survivors before and 54 after participating in the program. We combined this data with digital usage data from the tablets. Regression models examined the characteristics of Holocaust survivors that were related to higher frequency of using digital communication technologies during the intervention. The Holocaust survivors expressed high satisfaction with the program. They increased their frequency of using digital communication technologies—text correspondence and video chats with friends and family. Regressions showed that Holocaust survivors who reported increased digital communication were characterized at the start of the intervention by having fewer post-traumatic stress symptoms, higher levels of flourishing (reflecting a more meaningful life and higher well-being), being lonelier, and were also more satisfied with the program at follow-up. The pilot program benefited the aging Holocaust survivors. Further programs should be developed to increase the digital communication of vulnerable older populations, such as trauma survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article from the International Psychogeriatrics journal discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the social health of older adults. Researchers found that loneliness doubled at the start of the pandemic but decreased over time. Factors such as living alone, not owning a pet, and gender were associated with negative social health, while feeling connected was related to positive social health. The study emphasizes the importance of considering both positive and negative aspects of social health in understanding the experiences of older adults during the pandemic. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: This study aims to enhance the understanding of longitudinal associations between two important facets of well-being in late life: social support and commitment to life and living (CTL). Methods: Structured home interviews were conducted with 824 Israelis ≥75 years of age, with three annual data collection timepoints. We hypothesized and tested a cross-lagged, longitudinal structural equation model (SEM) in which CTL and social support were assumed to predict each other over time, covarying for previously reported CTL and social support. Results: Social support has a positive, contemporaneous effect, predicting commitment to living at T1 and T3, while CTL predicts social support the following year (i.e., T1–T2 & T2–T3). Satisfaction with relationships significantly contributes to measurement of both latent constructs at each point of data collection. Discussion: Commitment to life and living and social support are intertwined phenomena. Whereas social support has a concomitant effect on CTL, the effect of CTL on social support emerges over time. This suggests that greater social support fosters greater CTL, leading older adults to nurture social networks and relationships; the effect of which is greater social support in the future. The implications of these results warrant further research over longer periods and across cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We examined differences across three groups in Israel to test the double jeopardy versus the intersection escape hypotheses-which evaluate whether being older and belonging to an underrepresented group serves as a double burden, exposing older minorities to higher levels of perceived ageism or on the contrary, older age serves as a protective factor, especially for underrepresented groups.Design: A cross-sectional, nationally representative sample, consisting of three groups: Veteran Israelis, Israeli Arabs and immigrants from the Former Soviet Union. The latter two groups represent underrepresented (minority) populations in Israel.Setting: Community-dwelling Israelis over the age of 50.Participants: The sample was composed of 1570 participants.Measurement: To examine the double jeopardy versus the intersectional escape hypothesis, self-perceptions of aging (SPA) and perceived age-based discrimination in the healthcare system were examined as outcome variables.Results: Among Israeli Arabs, being older was related to better SPA, whereas among the immigrants being older was related to worse SPA. As immigrants became older, they were more likely to report ageist experiences. Israeli Arabs reported higher levels of ageist experiences, regardless of their age.Conclusions: The findings point to certain groups that require education about ageism and the aging processes and might require further protection from the experiences of ageism. The findings also point to the relevance of different theoretical paradigms that advocate for the consideration of culture and group membership in the understanding of the experiences of ageism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The present study aims to examine possible pathways that potentially account for the relationship between perceived age discrimination in healthcare settings (as one form of ageism) and health outcomes. Methods: We relied on 1570 complete surveys, which constitute a representative national sample of adults aged 50 and above in Israel. Results: We found a direct link between perceived age discrimination and health outcomes. This link was partially mediated by self-perceptions of aging and subsequently by health behaviors (e.g., eating vegetables) and preventive health behaviors (e.g., medical check-ups). The link between perceived age discrimination and health behaviors was moderated by age, thus, particularly detrimental for older people over the age of 65 as compared with those between the ages of 50 and 65. Discussion: This study adds to the literature as it examines comprehensive mechanisms to account for the path between perceived age discrimination and health status. Our findings point to the unique aspects associated with perceived age discrimination, which potentially make older people more susceptible to its negative effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Depression is a major health concern for both individuals and societies. Hence, understanding the risk factors for depression is of importance. As individuals grow older, the way in which they perceive the aging process may have a significant influence on their physical and mental health. More negative perceptions of aging could put individuals at risk for social withdrawal, causing loneliness and resulting in higher levels of depressive symptoms. Methods: We use the Health and Retirement Survey, a large and longitudinal dataset spanning over a period of 8 years, to examine a model in which loneliness mediates the relationship between self-perceptions of aging and depressive symptoms. Results: Our findings suggest that loneliness indeed mediates the relationship between self-perceptions of aging and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: The results highlight to the importance of the way people view the aging process in shaping their social and mental well-being. Practitioners may want to address self-perceptions of aging when helping older adults cope with loneliness and depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]